Reflections

When Siobhan Kilburn started to lose her sight, she assumed she would rely on a white cane to help her navigate her surroundings. That was until she attended an event at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) and realized how worth the 18-month wait for her new furry friend Ian would be.  There’s a common misconception that guide dogs just get handed out by national or local organizations, but Beth Deer w...

The anticipation for the 2026 Wheelchair Basketball World Championships to begin is at a fever pitch, but what about the long journey to create an inclusive and accessible environment for players and fans visiting Ottawa? Kelly MacDonald finds out how the city has been preparing. Wendy Gittens, CEO of Wheelchair Basketball Canada, guides us through the steps it took to get here, demonstrating what...

The Canadian Governments' Lawful Access Bill, Bill C-22, proposed to create a pathway for law enforcement to investigate individuals using technology for criminal activities. But businesses and civil rights groups alike are pushing back on what could end up being an unchecked overreach of government surveillance powers, while harming the security of our apps and devices. Grant Hardy breaks down th...

Getting an autism diagnosis can be incredibly challenging, especially for women later in life. Before she had the labels to understand her experiences, Vanessa Leu struggled with daily shutdowns and meltdowns without knowing why. The 21-year-old disabled artist, advocate, and AMI Apprentice takes us along on her journey of accepting her late autism diagnosis while confronting the internalized able...

After moving into her new home, Joeita Gupta was ready to tackle a new project: gardening! But as a self-proclaimed “black thumb,” Joeita turned to the experts to help her figure out how she can make gardening accessible. Co-facilitators of the CNIB’s garden program, John Bell and Scott Racine, were first to pick up the call. John and Scott shared how they identify plants by smell, taste, and touc...

The Accessible Canada Act has been described as landmark legislation with a single, ambitious goal: a barrier-free Canada by January 1, 2040. It takes a proactive approach. Instead of waiting for people with disabilities to ask for barriers to be removed, organizations must start finding, removing, and preventing them. To do that, three offices were created, each with a distinct role. Joeita Gupta...

Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Maryse Carmichael said “Flying over the parliament buildings was an experience of a lifetime.” She would know, being the first female pilot to be part of Canada's Snowbirds. Over his lifetime, Kelly MacDonald has taken in several airshows featuring the Snowbirds, and like many, has delighted in their performances. The aerobatics group that gave Canadians something to smi...

On June 6, 2026, Fighting Blindness Canada hosted their annual Move for Sight fundraiser, with in-person events taking place across the country. Joeita Gupta learns more about the event and its impact. Move for Sight Ambassador Ava Henderson is amongst the 1.2 million Canadians who lives with vision loss so significant, it cannot be corrected with glasses. Ava shared her optimism for the future, a...

Dawn LeFevre and Andrew Gough know a bit about discrimination, especially directed at their service animals. Despite them both being in law enforcement throughout their lives, a place where you and I might believe has a world of understanding, that isn't always the case. Kelly MacDonald explores this topic. Katy Viccary explains her life journey dealing with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,...

A new accessible fishing boat project is making a splash in the disability community! Grant Hardy has the story. Launched in 2025 as part of the Rick Hansen Foundation's Accessible Outdoors Program, the Everyone Everywhere boat aims to make fishing and fisheries research accessible while serving as a powerful model to follow. Matthew Shaw, Head of Accessibility Practice and Innovation at the Rick...

June is National Deafblindness Awareness month, and Joeita Gupta is sharing some conversations she recently had with people from the community to understand what is known as the most isolating disability.  Jamie is one of the almost 600,000 Canadians who identify as deafblind, she is a mother to two boys, and is joined by her faithful companion Holly, her black lab golden retriever guide dog.  Pen...

How does losing your parent at a young, formative age affect the rest of your life?  Beth Deer lost her father during the COVID-19 pandemic, and invited family friend Kayla to share her story about losing her father too.   As these women move through their lives, start their families, and grapple with such huge loss at a young age, they’ve courageously shared how the loss of their fathers has impa...

It's rare as a wheelchair user in Toronto that Vanessa Leu gets to be in a space where accessibility is truly put at the forefront. The Access to Success (ATS) Innovation Hub in Downtown Toronto is designed for people with disabilities to find community and thrive in a welcoming, inclusive workspace. Vanessa and her guests take us through the project. Varun Chandak is the Founder of the Access to...

Do you have a handle on how to wait for things without getting irritated? Nisreen Abdel-Majid spun her vent sessions on "hate having to wait" into an episode unravelling the psychology behind anticipation. Dillon Lewchuk, Founder of Honouring Home: Clinical Counselling, unpacks what goes on in our brains when we wait, and suggests coping strategies for the anxieties, impatience, and potentially ne...

A significant portion of water safety messaging focuses on motorized boats, but how about the swimmers, paddlers, and beachgoers? As we kick off the summer fun, Kelly MacDonald and his guests remind us how to stay safe in and around the water. Toronto Search and Rescue-Marine Deputy Unit Leader Ryan Lippert answers all our safety questions, from how to choose Personal Floatation Devices to how to...

It's never been more critical to integrate accessible design into our apps and websites. Join us as we examine the hopes and challenges of an AI-fueled digital landscape. With the proliferation of AI into everything from website design to coding, Grant Hardy evaluates the state of digital accessibility in 2026 and beyond. Joe Devon, Co-Founder of GAAD and the GAAD Foundation, and Jennison Asuncion...

When Joeita Gupta found out that Reflections Producer Grace Scoffield inherited a sewing machine and was taking up the hobby, she started to wonder if sewing was a lost art, or a growing hobby among people of all ages.  With the growth of fast fashion over consumption and trendy looks, it seemed as though sewing was losing popularity. So, what’s driving this comeback?  Leila Kelleher is an Assista...

Collin van Uchelen, a Community Psychologist, Conceptual Artist, and Pyro Technician, speaks to Kelly MacDonald about his love for fireworks and his efforts to make fireworks accessible to more people through creative exhibitions. Amy Amantea of Vocal Eye and Audio Describer JJ Hunt explore what is possible when it comes to describing fireworks for the blind and low vision community. Plus, are fir...

There are so many creative uses for AI that go far beyond chatbots. The Government of Canada's G7 GovAI Grand Challenge invited students and professionals across G7 countries and the EU to develop practical AI solutions for public service challenges. Grant Hardy spoke with two winning teams for a sneak peek at their cutting-edge AI technologies. Innervation AI’s “Debiaser” tool scans AI-generated...

After Joeita Gupta’s nephew was born, she started to think about what kinds of books to add to his first personal library. She's interested in books that show disability in a positive light and express disability as part of the full human experience. Joeita speaks to Dorothy Ellen Palmer about her book called The Scooter Twins, and they get into a discussion around disability representation in chi...

Are our fears around AI justified? Kelly MacDonald continues to figure out the answers to this question with a focus on AI's place in our personal lives. Registered Psychologist Dr. Christine Korol is back with insight into how AI is being used in Talk Therapy and other clinical settings as a mental health tool. Technology Analyst and Journalist Carmi Levy, who strongly supported Canada creating C...

When we think about Mother’s Day, we may be thinking about flowers, brunch, and mimosas. Or maybe we’re missing our mom, or contemplating being a mom. Mother’s Day is a reminder of motherhood, and maybe even what it takes to be a “good mom.” That’s the question we’re exploring today. Joeita Gupta spoke to Rabia Khedr, Shawnda Walker, and Nikki Dawe about the lens of disability realities attached t...

Grant Hardy digs into the art of stand-up comedy! He's joined by comics Megan Milton, Ryan Lachance, and Darwin Barcellano as they take us on a journey through comedy from disability perspectives. Whether you’ve always wondered how to craft the perfect joke, what performing in a big city like Vancouver is really like, or how comedy and disability intersect, these three guests give us food for thou...

Are the fears with AI being integrated into our jobs justified? Kelly MacDonald finds out. Registered Psychologist Dr. Christine Korol explains how we should pay attention to how we use AI in our everyday lives, from spell-check to talk therapy. Lisa Taylor, CEO of Challenge Factory, compares how some employers encourage AI use in the workplace, while others prefer a hands-off approach. Technology...

When Joeita Gupta received a record player from her mother-in-law as an anniversary present, she had no idea that it would blossom into a lifelong hobby of collecting records. Now, she’s noticed that so many other people are picking up the hobby too, and independent record stores are popping up all over. What is so attractive about this “old-school” medium? Courtney, the owner of Baxter’s Vinyl in...