Lois Strachan

In this episode, Lois Chats with Erica du Toit on the topic of loop systems and other assistive technology for those living with hearing loss Having worked in the advocacy space for 30 years, Erica has a broad knowledge of tools and techniques that can assist those with hearing impairments and the people around them. Reach out to Erica at the following links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Today I chat with Angela Blackwell, the first blind person to hike the Pondo Trail in South Africa with her guide dog, Jaydee. Angela discusses how Jaydee helped her regain her confidence and independence after her diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa resulted in significant loss of visual acuity. Hiking the Pondo Trail, a four day hike on the East coast of South Africa became a challenge that Angela...

In my first ever solo episode, and possibly my shortest, I’m inviting you to reach out if you, or someone you know would be a great guest for the show. In the episode, I talk about the types of stories I like to share, and tell you how to contact me if you, your organization, or someone you know might be a good person for me to interview. Reach out to me on my website loisstrachan.com Or drop a co...

In this episode, Lois speaks with Simalumba Nawa on the business case for increased inclusion in business. This wide-ranging conversation covers Sima’s story of becoming visually impaired, gaining blindness skills, how he began his work as an inclusion advocate, and some of the work he has done in this space. Sima also discusses his work with corporates in Africa demonstrating the value of increas...

In this episode, Lois speaks with recruitment agent Karen Armour on the topic of employment for persons with disabilities. During the conversation, they explore the role of a recruiter in advocating for job seekers with disabilities, the importance of a CV to showcase your skills, and thoughts on approaching interviews. This is an episode that is filled with practical details on how to set up your...

In this episode, Lois speaks with Dr Erna van der Westhuizen about the concept of voice economy as a way for marginalized groups, including those with disabilities, to empower and advocate for themselves. Erna developed the concept of voice economy after leading an advocacy project to explore the out of pocket expenses experienced by parents of children with disabilities. When she initially strugg...

In this episode, Lois speaks with Dr Julie Siemers, a specialist in patient safety. So often we hear of patients with disabilities who experience poor communication from medical professionals when undergoing treatments. While talking with Dr Julie, I learned that this form of medical gaslighting is not limited to our community, but may happen generally. Julie lists various factors that may result...

With November being disability awareness month in South Africa and 14 November being the annual day dedicated to recognising those living with diabetes, it seemed an appropriate time to publish this interview. In this special two-part episode, I unpack my journey with chronic kidney disease in conversation with Jeremy Opperman. In episode 138, we discuss my diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes when I wa...

With November being disability awareness month in South Africa and 14 November being the annual day dedicated to recognising those living with diabetes, it seemed an appropriate time to publish this interview. In this special two-part episode, I unpack my journey with chronic kidney disease in conversation with Jeremy Opperman. In episode 138, we discuss my diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes when I wa...

In today’s episode, Lois chats with Mlimbisi Msibi (also known as Coach Jack) from Corinthians Africa, a youth empowerment organisation in Gauteng, South Africa. Amongst the programmes they offer youth, Corinthians Africa have started an active blind football team. For his work empowering both youth with and without disabilities, Mlimbisi Msibi was the recipient of a Young Mandela Award in 2025. D...

Dr Chiggy Oghotuama is the founder of the Seizure Support Foundation in Nigeria. As a mother to a special needs child, Chiggy encountered challenges when searching for support groups in her area from whom she could learn. This led her to engage stakeholders at all levels, from parents to government, to advocate for the inclusion of children from marginalised groups in education, health and other a...

In this episode, I chat with Cary Lowe and Trish Butler about the complexities of travelling with a mobility impairment like multiple sclerosis. The conversation centres around a new book released by Cary, entitled “On Two Legs and Three Wheels” in which he shares some of the global travel adventures he and his wife Trish, who is a wheelchair user, have had over the years. During the chat, Cary an...

In this episode, I chat with Talitha Humes about her app which enables users to easily identify and take the prescribed medications required for their chronic and auto-immune conditions. After receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2005, Talitha realized that her medications were complex and increasingly difficult to manage accurately. Despite trying various available apps to assist her wi...

** Do you have a goal you’d love to achieve and need help reaching it? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges you face? Contact me for a free 30 minute discovery chat to see if she is the coach to help you. Drop me a mail: https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In this episode, we return to the subject of inclusive sport. Lois chats about inclusive archery with three-time Paralympian Sh...

** Do you have a goal you’d love to achieve and need help reaching it? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges you face? Contact me for a free 30 minute discovery chat to see if she is the coach to help you. Drop me a mail: https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In this episode, Lois chats with Sayyida Victoria, The Blind Butterfly. Sayyida is a woman of many talents. she works as the ma...

** Want to introduce the topic of inclusion to young children? My illustrated children’s books, The Adventures of Missy Mouse, are a great tool to open conversations that normalise disability. Order them at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Naomi Riley, a consultant, brain injury survivor and advocate with a passion for making a difference. During the...

Show Notes: ** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Belinda Sampson, an empowerment coach and programme coordinator focused on lifelong learning. Following on from the last episode, where I highlighted two adaptive sp...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Joseph Fleeks, one of the hosts of the Blind Table Talk Podcast. At the age of 16, a drive-by shooting resulted in Joseph becoming blind. An active athlete when he was sighted,...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Tarryn Tomlinson from LiveAble Universal Access Consultants, an organisation that specialises in universal access solutions for the hospitality industry. The conversation focuse...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (seco nd edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today’s episode, Lois chats with Michelle Nell, a post-graduate psychology student and musician about living with complex disabilities. Michelle was born with glaucoma, a visual impairment, and has since re...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today’s episode, Lois chats with Katrina (Kat) Paz, the compiler of a recently published bestselling book, Trailblazing and Transforming: Success Stories of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities. Trailblazing and...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today’s episode, Lois chats with Guillaume Hervier, host of the French language podcast, Les Voyages A L'Aveuglette. Guillaume chats about his life growing up in France with retinitis pigmentosa and the acce...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available. Get your copy at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today’s episode, Lois chats with host of the Different Ability Podcast, Katey Fortun, about her work as an interior designer. During the conversation, Katey talks about the relief of receiving a diagnosis of dyslexia at the age of 10 years of age, because it helped...

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available. Get your copy at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In today’s episode, Lois chats with Dr Lionel Smith, a medical doctor who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at the age of 60. Despite his diagnosis, he continued to work in the medical field. During the conversation, Lionel describes his life both before an...

** My new Kindle book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available. Get your copy at https://www.amazon.com/Paws-Thought-second-Seeing-Through-ebook/dp/B0DRTJF95G/ In today’s episode, Lois chats with Geertje van den Broeck, who runs a wheelchair accessible guesthouse in Cape Town, South Africa. On moving to South Africa from Belgium, Geertje decided to open the guesthouse, drawing on her pa...