May 16 is the 5th annual Access Day!
Global Accessibility Awareness Day is every third Thursday in May and this year CiTR & Discorder are celebrating with campus and community radio stations from across Canada who contributed content that touches on accessibility, self advocacy, and adaptive technology in their communities. With performances by Greg Spokes Labine and Kristina Shelden through the Vancouver Adapted Music Society, we’re able to enjoy 10 straight hours of programming all about accessibility.
Check out the 2019 programming below!
10am ~ CFCR 90.5FM, Saskatoon, SK
Listen to the podcast here!
The program features two discussions, originally broadcast on People With Disabilities Speak Out on CFCR 90.5FM (Saskatoon Community Radio). The first is with Cheryl, a person who has a severe physical disability (Spina Bifida). Cheryl talks about her experience when trying to utilize a service which is provided with government funding. The second discussion is with Kara Fagnou, Director of Building Standards with the City of Saskatoon’s Engineering Department who talks about the building codes for accessibility in the city.
These two discussions will help the listeners to see that Access Day should be every day, not just on one day. Access should be for all and not just for some.
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Debbie Windsor is the host of the radio program called People With Disabilities Speak Out, which is aired every Thursday evening at 7:00 pm CST on Saskatoon Community Radio CFCR 90.5FM, and at www.cfcr.ca/onair.
Debbie started the radio program in August of 2018, with a purpose of enlightening and educating people with disabilities, the general public, and politicians from all levels of government about disability issues.
Debbie herself lives with a physical disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
11am ~ CJLO 1690AM, Montreal, QC
Listen to the podcast here!
On CJLO 1690 AM, the accessibility collective has a show every second Friday called the Audio Penpals. The show is a collaboration with participants (both past & present) from the Centre for the Arts in Human Development at Concordia University, which is an educational, clinical and research centre serving adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs populations.
First, the Audio Penpals are joined in studio by Meaghan Tardif-Bennett from Alinker, a walk-assist company now based in Montreal. Alinker is partnering with Santropol Roulant, a Montreal food hub, to provide workshops on accessibility for the community. Meghan and the Penpals discuss accessibility and inclusivity, along with what actions communities and individuals can take in order to bridge this gap. Following Meaghan’s interview, the Audio Penpals are joined by Pam and Jenna, two occupational therapy students from McGill University. The Penpals attempt to get to the bottom of what exactly is meant by occupational therapy, and how it ties to
accessibility.
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Allison O’Reilly is the program director at CJLO 1690 AM. She has been involved in campus/community radio for eight years, first getting her start at CHMA 106.9 FM in Sackville, New Brunswick while attending Mount Allison University. She is also the co-facilitator for the CJLO Women’s+ Collective.
Cameron McIntyre, originally from Toronto, Ontario, is the current coordinator of CJLO’s accessibility collective, the Audio Penpals. He is currently completing his Master’s in Philosophy at Concordia University. Prior to living in Montreal, Cameron spent many summers as a counselor at Camp Rotary in Fredericton, New Brunswick, a camp for children with physical and mental disabilities.
12pm ~ LIVE PERFORMANCE, Greg Spokes Labine
Listen to the podcast here!
Greg ‘Spokes’ Labine has been writing songs and rapping for the last 20 years. Spokes writes spiritually-driven conscious hip hop lyrics. He has performed in various venues throughout Greater Vancouver over the years, and done multiple shows with VAMS. He has recorded more than five albums worth of material. Each performance is a genuine taste of the life of an artist who has overcome many struggles, and a celebration of faith and love through song.
1pm ~ CJSR 88.5FM, Edmonton, AB
Listen to the podcast here!
Autism is a complicated and highly individualized disability. Yet most government disabilities programs do not provide the necessary services and resources for adults with Autism. This documentary explores the limitations of Alberta’s Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program with a focus on unfunded adults on the spectrum and the political context surrounding them.
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Meagan Miller is a recent graduate of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Alberta. She is interested in story-listening and educating herself on issues relating to (dis)ability, race, and incarceration. Meagan can often be spotted with her headphones on, listening to podcasts like Code Switch or Ear Hustle.
1:30pm ~ CJSR 88.5FM, Edmonton, AB
Listen to the podcast here!
Stump Kitchen is an online video series that showcases the interesting and ‘Stumptastic’ ways that Alexis Hillyard uses her body when she cooks, accompanied by a whole lot of charming co-hosts along the way! With a sprinkle of cheekiness and a hearty dose of good humour, Alexis expands the vocabulary of what’s possible in the kitchen while celebrating diversity and limb difference.
2pm ~ CJSW 90.9FM, Calgary, AB
Listen to the podcast here!
Accessible Airwaves
In this episode, Adam conducts two interviews about disability and parenting. Dr Brent MacDonald is a registered phycologist and discussed learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and how parents and children can overcome barriers. Adam also interviewed Sue and Darby. Sue talked about parenting children who have autism spectrum disorder. Darby is one of her children and also joined in the interview.
Bumping into Walls
In this episode, Kathryn interviewed Lynn Swenson where she talks about innovative ways to tech yoga to blind and low vision students.
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“Accessible Airwaves” is dedicated to the education and exploration of disabled life, giving voice to the life and experience of people with disabilities. We cover a wide array of issues and disabilities. We are people who discuss issues we are passionate about and topics we are interested in. We show how disability is in the mind of the beholder.
“Bumping into Walls” is a monthly, conversation-style spoken word program about living with vision loss, the challenges, the successes, and the day-to-day walls we all bump into. Hosts Anthony Hodgetts, Kathryn MacLeod, and Jesse Tregarthen talk about their lived experiences and share the stories of others.
3pm ~ LIVE PERFORMANCE, Kristina Shelden
Listen to the podcast here!
Kristina Shelden is a Canadian singer, songwriter and performer of aboriginal descent based in Vancouver, BC. Her voice smolders in indie folk, jazzy, and soulful genres. Her voice and music has been described as honest, stripped-down, soulful, and moving.
Kristina started performing at an early age in choirs, musicals, and jazz bands. After putting herself through a year of basic musicianship in college, however, she suffered a c4/c5 spinal cord injury that threatened to end her advancing musical ambitions. But through hard work and determination, and despite her physical limitations, she is again performing at venues throughout the city, writing new music, and has joined the board of directors for the Vancouver Adapted Music Society.
As a self-taught songwriter, Kristina is hiring professional producer Harvey Small (Peach Pit, Sarah Jickling) to develop her first full length album, to be fully released by the end of 2019. This record will explore the emotional challenges of love and loss, all the while emoting through the social lens of living and working with a disability, and as a First Nations woman.
5pm ~ CiTR 101.9FM, Vancouver, BC
Listen to the podcast here!
Adaptive Technology and Fashion
CiTR’s Accessibility Collective poses a question: is there accessible and adaptable clothing and accessories for people with disabilities? Thanks to the interview with Taylor Bryom (founder of TAYLORHART.DESIGN clothing) and stories like Tommy Hilfiger, slowly and surely, it is! We also talk to Jennifer Light Chan (a fashion designer, beautifier and makeup artist) who has a disability herself. Followed by a conversation with panelists Kevin Tija, Alison MK, and Yat Li to discuss adaptive technology and fashion.
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CiTR’s Accessibility Collective produces ‘All Access Pass‘ which explores issues of inclusion, equity, and accessibility for people with diverse cognitive and physical abilities, on campus and beyond.
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