Lois Strachan

**To book a disability coaching discovery call with Lois, go to https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In today’s episode of Job Talk, Lois speaks with Winston Fani, South Africa’s first qualified blind tour guide. We chat about Winston’s early life in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the reason he moved to Cape Town (hint: it was to follow the love of his life), and his start in the tourism and...

As a podcast host I am usually the one posing the questions. Today I’m sharing an episode from one of my favourite podcasts, where I am the one in the hot seat, facing the questions. If you are not already following Reimagining Life Podcast : from Pain to Purpose, I’d suggest subscribing so you can catch all RiRi’s shows as soon as they are published. I’m given the links to the show and to RiRi’s...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Anel Coetzee, a legal practitioner who is visually impaired. Anel speaks openly and honestly about her experiences looking for, finding and transitioning into work, first as a practicing attorney, and then shifting into the corporate world where she currently works as a legal advisor. This is a valuable episode for anyone considering the legal field, studying to...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Brittany McCormick, a woman living with Cerebral Palsy who uses her passion for motivational speaking to shift people’s awareness of how to overcome challenges. Brittany chats about how discovering her love of speaking turned her wish to make a difference from a spark into a flame. Brittany also discusses The Purpose Walk, a highly successful and ambitious fundr...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Katie Selby, paraeducator and advocate, on her experience of growing up with a learning disability. During the conversation we discuss Katie’s schooling and college education, how she learned to self-advocate and how she teaches that important skill to the students with whom she now works. We also talk about the book Katie has started writing, that was inspired...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with the co-founders of Smergos, Nicole Vergos and Nick Smit, about their organisation and the work they do enabling disability employment. During the conversation we discuss: • The founding of Smergos • How they became involved in the disability employment space, • The challenges facing disabled people seeking employment and the employers themselves, • The work that...

In today’s bumper episode Lois speaks with disability and inclusion specialist, Lidia Pretorius. During the conversation we chat about Lidia’s involvement with the disability sector in Africa, the importance of allyship and how to be a good ally for the disabled community. We also discuss online and digital inclusion. Lidia shares useful ideas on ways to improve the way you show up in both areas....

In today’s episode Lois speaks with fellow podcaster, RiRi on the launching of the Reimagining Life Podcast: from Pain to Purpose During the conversation we chat about RiRi’s own journey with chronic pain and how it led her to start the podcast as a resource for others, as well as some of the tools and techniques RiRi uses to manage her condition and move forward with all she plans to do. Reach ou...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Marthe-Marie Kohne, founder of Abilities without Limits, about the work being done by Abilities without Limits and Marthe-Marie’s experience of living with Cerebral Palsy. We also talk about writing and Marthe-Marie’s co-authorship of two books, one in English and one in Afrikaans. Support Marthe-Marie on World Cerebral Palsy Day on 6 October 2023 – more details...

Inclusion specialist Jeremy Opperman returns to speak to us on a strategy to improve levels of the employment of persons with disabilities in a holistic way. Topics covered in this far-ranging discussion with Jeremy and Lois include: • The concept of disability confidence and how it affects all aspects of a company’s operations • Moving disability employment beyond just HR • Using corporate social...

In this episode I chat with George Abraham, founder of Score Foundation in India. During the conversation we discuss George’s involvement in blind cricket in India, and his role in the creation of the World Blind Cricket Council, of which he was elected as the first Chairperson in 1996. In this role he and his team conceived and organised the inaugural World Cup of Cricket for the Blind. George al...

In this episode I chat with road accident survivor, social media influencer, and model, Nobathembu Peter, aka Royalti On Wheels, on the importance of shifting society’s stereotypes of disability. During the conversation we discuss the advocacy work being done by Nobathembu, the book she is currently writing, and the importance of companies understanding that persons with disabilities are also cons...

In this third conversation on employment and disability, inclusion specialist Jeremy Opperman and I explore the business case for greater levels of inclusion. This final part of Jeremy’s tri-nocular perspective model explores the topics of persons with disabilities as consumers, case studies of successful inclusive thinking, and the impact on employment and strategy. If you missed our previous con...

Returning to the subject of employment and disability, in this episode inclusion specialist, Jeremy Opperman, and I explore some of the myths that impact on employment. This is the second phase of Jeremy’s tri-nocular perspective model: the human rights lens, which he refers to as the reality check. During our conversation we discuss: 1 the prevalence of disability in society 2 Under-employment of...

The reasons for low levels of employment of persons with disabilities in South Africa are complex. In the next few episodes of the podcast we will be looking at some of the factors making this so complicated. This is the first in a series of conversations with Jeremy Opperman, who is an expert in this field. In this episode Jeremy and I chat about his work as a disability inclusion consultant work...

In this episode I chat with Emma Roos, co-founder of Higher Ground, from Durban in South Africa. Emma and I speak about the Higher Ground holiday camps for persons who are blind and partially blind, as well as some of the other activities of Higher Ground: • A chess club • In-person social meet-ups • Virtual meet-ups, • Holiday camps for persons with acquired brain injury • Holiday camps for perso...

In this episode, during Lupus Awareness month, I chat with Nurjawaan Rawoot from Cape Town, in South Africa. Nurjawaan was diagnosed with Lupus when she was years old, and it resulted in her blindness. Nurjawaan and I also discuss how she, as a blind youth, found herself a job, and her work as a volunteer leader of the South African Blind Youth Organisation (SABYO). Find out more about Nurjawaan R...

In this episode I chat with the Audio Book Wizard, Richard Rieman about making illustrated children’s books accessible to all children. After a long career as a radio news reporter, anchor, and Washington Bureau Chief, Richard turned his storytelling skills to the world of audiobooks. He has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks and is the author of the award-winning book, “...

In this episode I chat with Charlie Dyasi about his work as an audio engineer and voice artist. We discuss Charlie’s curiosity about audio that started at a young age and how it led him to explore working in various aspects of the audio field including radio deejaying, audio editing and creating radio jingles. Find Charlie and his audio work at any of the following:: e-mail: charliesa.dyasi@gmail....

In this episode I chat with Michelle Steiner, from the blog Michelle’s Mission, about her lived experience with a learning disability. Michelle talks about the impact her invisible disability had on her while growing up, and some of the adaptations she has made to accommodate her disability as an adult. We also discuss how Michelle’s learning disability empowers her in her work as a paraeducator o...

In this episode I chat with Kristin Secor, founder of the World on Wheels Blog. Kristin describes how she has adapted to accommodate living with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and how she has managed to turn her love of travel and of helping people into an accessible travel blogsite. Kristin also shares some of the details of her first small group tour to South Africa in 2024, where she is par...

In this episode I chat with Barbara Hinske, a USA Today bestselling author about her newest book, Over Every Hurdle, the third book in the Guiding Emily series about a blind woman and her guide dog. We learn about Barbara’s inspiration for the series, the research she does into creating a realistic lived experience for both Emily and her guide dog, Garth, and the response to the series so far. PS...

In this episode I chat with Nadine McKenzie, Artistic Director of the inclusive performing arts company, Unmute Dance. Nadine shares a little of the history of the Unmute Dance Company and explains some of the logistics of running a mixed abilities performance group of dancers. She also tells us about the upcoming Arts Ability Festival that will be happening from 27 November – 3 December in Cape T...

In this episode I chat with Siva Moodley about his latest book, “A Passion for Success”, and his career as an educator and inclusive education advocate in South Africa. In “A Passion for Success”, Siva shares the stories of alumni of the Arthur Blaxall school for the blind, showing how success is due to a lifelong dedication to growth and determination to achieve. To contact Siva Moodley, e-mail h...

I’m currently on leave and thought I would share a guest episode from Global Network, a podcast published by Charlie Dyasi of Naledi Media, who recorded my podcast credits. Find Global Network at https://anchor.fm/s/2668542c/podcast/rss Or contact Charlie at E-mail: charliesa.dyasi@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lujadee.paul LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-dyasi-713525a...