Voices of ABLE2

In this episode, Teresa Ethier, grandparent of 3 young adults living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), shares the emotional realities of receiving a diagnosis later in life, the frustration of navigating systems and waitlists, and the strength it takes to keep advocating when the answers aren’t easy to find. Transcript available here.   Thank you to Voices of ABLE2's Presenting Sponsor ...

In this episode of Voices of ABLE2, Director of Programs Thony Jean‑Baptiste, and Social Worker Azra Alibhai talk about the care, insight, and intention behind ABLE2’s Matching Program. They share how Friends and Allies are thoughtfully paired, why these relationships matter, and the powerful impact of connection in addressing loneliness and isolation. Transcript available here.    Thank you to Vo...

Access to justice is a fundamental right, but for many people with disabilities, the legal system can feel complex, intimidating, and out of reach. In our latest episode of Voices of ABLE2, we’re joined by Frank McNally, founding partner of McNally Gervan Law, former President of Reach Canada, and current ABLE2 board member, who brings both legal expertise and lived experience as a hard-of-hearing...

Voices of ABLE2 Episode 4: Redefining Strength– Life After Disability After a life-altering brain injury ended her Olympic equestrian career, Claire Smith was forced to confront profound changes to her body, identity, and sense of self. In this episode of Voices of ABLE2, Claire reflects on grief, adaptation, and the long process of coming to terms with life after disability—including later living...

For far too long, decisions about accessibility, inclusion, and community design have been made without the people most impacted by those decisions. In this episode, disability advocate, entrepreneur, and speaker Michael Lifshitz joins us to discuss why lived experience must be at the center of every conversation about disability and why “Nothing About Us Without Us” remains a vital call to action...

For many families, finding safe and affordable housing is a challenge — but for people with disabilities, the wait can stretch into years. Joelle and her mother Patti have been on Ottawa’s social housing waitlist for more than a decade. Ten years of searching, hoping, and wondering when Joelle will finally have the chance to live independently. In this episode, Patti shares her fears about aging w...

Voices of ABLE2 Episode 1: The Ally That Changed Everything For years, Michael lived with agoraphobia, or fear of open and crowded spaces, almost all his life. During the pandemic, he shares that these feelings of loneliness and isolation heightened even more, which shaped his daily reality. Isolated from the world and unsure if meaningful connection was still possible, everything changed when he...

Voices of ABLE2 Pilot Episode: Amplifying Voices with Sequence Marketing Welcome to the pilot episode of Voices of ABLE2, featuring powerful, real conversations about disability, inclusion, and community.  Host Emelou Porquez sits down with Veronique Soucy, agency principal at Sequence Marketing, to explore the deep partnership between ABLE2 and Sequence Marketing, the story behind ABLE2’s impactf...