The Pulse

Italian photographer and visual designer Stefano Sbrulli discusses his candid photographs of people who are blind and partially sighted during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. His pictures document the lives and stories of blind Italians, which he hopes to include in a forthcoming book. This is the October 4, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entert...

Cathy Browne joins us to discuss her CBC series, Access Denied, which discusses the challenges faced by People with Disabilities during COVID-19. Cathy makes a case for journalism that asks provocative questions. This is the October 3, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broad...

We speak to Toni Pickard of Coalition Canada about the history of Basic Income programs in the country. Why might Basic Income programs be effective? Why have they never been implemented? What it mean for People with Disabilities? This is the September 26, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilitie...

We talk to Christine Malec and JJ Hunt about their groundbreaking podcast, “Talk Description to Me”. Christine and JJ are warm and lively and talk about the relevance of image description in understanding and contextualizing current affairs . This is the September 20, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with...

We discuss the importance of networking and mentorship with legally blind lawyer Joseph Danowsky. Joseph is a long-time disability advocate and believes in the power of good communication, finding your champions, and showcasing your abilities. This is the September 19, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians wit...

Meghan Hogg, a contributor to Knots Journal of Disability Studies at the University of Toronto describes her work, which examined the relationship between fatphobia, saneism, and the treatment of disabled bodies. Her research examines the role of the health and wellness sectors, which force bodies to conform, and provokes conversation about alternatives where different bodies are accepted. This is...

University of Alberta psychology professor Peggy St. Jacques discusses her ongoing research into the formation and retrieval of memories and the role of visual perspective. We find out how memories are formed, stored, and retrieved as well as ways to improve our memory. This is the September 12, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs...

We hear from Isaac Ohana, head of business development for Disability Credit Canada, about their agency and scholarship program for Canadian students with a disability. We also meet Preston Swan Merrison, recipient of the 2020 DCCI scholarship and learn about the transition from high school to university as a student with a disability. This is the September 6, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on...

We speak to Leilani Farha, Global Director of The Shift and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing. Leilani describes the commodification of housing and the role of private equity in driving up housing costs. She discusses alternative proposals and articulates housing as a human right. This is the September 5, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media com...

We speak to Carleton University professor Jacqueline Kennelly about her research into the relationship between affordable housing and the experiences of homelessness and housing insecurity. This is the August 30, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv...

We speak to Jessica Rauchberg, PhD student at McMaster University, about the ways in which People with Disabilities utilize social media to organize around common causes and find community. This is the August 29, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv...

We discuss modern conceptions of good parenting, motherhood, and the idea of a good childhood with Sam Brunet on their article in Knots, a journal on disability studies. We learn how a desire to eliminate disability equates with a happy childhood and heightened pressure on mothers. This is the August 23, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains...

We discuss the social determinants of health, such as disability, income inequality, and housing, with Dennis Raphael of York University’s Faculty of Health. We inquire about possible solutions and recommendations to improve the overall quality of public health in Canada. This is the August 22, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs...

We talk to University of Michigan law professor Margo Schlanger about the barriers faced by prisoners with disabilities. We consider the need for prison reform given the overrepresentation of inmates with disabilites in US and Canadian prisons. This is the August 16, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with...

We speak with Rabia Khedr, former Ontario human rights commissioner and president of DEEN Support Services. We talk out about the first annual Global Conference on Disability and Islam being held on August 18th. This is the August 15, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadc...

We discuss the issues surrounding the plan to reopens schools in Ontario in September during COVID-19. Our first guest is high school teacher Jason Kunin, who provides his perspective as an educator. Our second guest is disability advocate David Lepofsky, who discusses the impact on students with disabilities. This is the August 9, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a m...

We speak with Keith McArthur, founder of the CureGRIN Foundation and host of a medical mystery podcast, “Unlocking Bryson’s Brain”. Keith talks to us about his journey as a parent of a son with a disability, about the ethics and dilemma of seeking a cure. This is the August 8, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canad...

We speak to Professor Sarah Bell of the University of Exeter about the linkages between nature, health, wellness, and disability. We enquire about ways in which people can engage with nature on their own terms, regardless of ability. This is the August 2, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities...

We speak to Erin Willman, CEO of White Cane Coffee and Bob Willman, her father and business partner. White Cane Coffee, based in Warren, Pennsylvania, is an online coffee distributor with a conscience. Erin and her team provide organic, fair-trade, and affordable coffee with a view to create employment for People with Disabilities. This is the August 1, 2020 episode Check out the Pulse on YouTube!...

We speak with Jessica Ponting from the Industrial Accidents Victims Group of Ontario (IAVGO) Community Legal Clinic about migrant workers’ concerns. This is the July 26, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in Fr...

We speak with Elizabeth Ellcessor, from the University of Virginia, about social media accessibility and usability. This is the July 25, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI...

We speak with Alex Bulmer, co-artistic director of Common Boots theatre, about inclusivity in theatre. This is the July 19, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision...

We speak to Dr. Nadine Bartlett of the University of Manitoba about the use of physical restraint and seclusion in schools for students with disabilities. This is the July 18, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé...

We speak to Shawn Marsolais of Blind Beginnings in British Columbia about online programming for blind youth engagement during COVID-19. This is the July 12, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and s...

We discuss the challenges of traveling while blind, during COVID-19, with Dr. Nicholas Giudice of the University of Maine. This is the July 11, 2020 episode. Check out the Pulse on YouTube! About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platf...