In May, 2023, the Toronto Chamber Choir presented its program “Musical Vision” about blind musicians and composers who did not let their visual disability prevent them from composing and performing great music. In this episode, Lucas Harris, Director of the Toronto Chamber Choir, and Michelle McQuigge, Concert Narrator, came on to talk with Naomi about how the concert came about, and some of the incredible things they learned during the research and preparation for the concert. The program included music from well known composers like Bach and Handel, both who had received “surgeries” from self-proclaimed eye surgeon John Taylor, as well as lesser known blind composers and musicians like Maria Theresia Von Paradis and Joachín Rodrigo. The concert took the audience through a historical “tour” of blind contributors to the musical canon, up to the modern period, and then featured a new piece by Toronto composer and pianist Michael Arnowitt. BALANCE was a proud partner on the concert, and is also proud to partner on the follow up fundraising concert on June 5, 2024.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org.

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Follow Michelle McQuigge on Twitter, and Lucas Harris on his website.

⁠Donate⁠ to BALANCE

Resources:

Past Concerts: 2022–23: A Season of Musical Vision

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Text only version (for screen readers)

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Large Print Version)

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Formatted Booklet with Images)

Learn more about the TCC 2024 Fundraiser, featuring more from blind composers.

The Canada Disability Benefit will come into effect in one year, and then it will take another year to produce it’s regulations. This is just one important fact we learn as we listen to one of it’s leading champions describe the CDB on this episode of Living Blind. Len Baker, President and CEO of March of Dimes Canada, worked with government and leaders of other national organizations serving people with disabilities, to ensure that the CDB, a long awaited income top-up, comes into effect and has the opportunity to make a much-needed difference in the lives of Canadians withdisabilities. In addition, Len and Naomi discuss the importance of collaboration in order to effect real change. Naomi has this to say about her interview with Len: “Speaking with Len Baker raised my awareness about the work he, March of Dimes, and other non-profit organizations are doing to support quality of life for Canadians with disabilities. It is important for Canadians to be aware not only of the services they can access themselves, but also the greater advocacy work that the very same organizations do at the legislative level. Len’s call to action for organizations across Canada to collaborate reminds us that we are better when we work together.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at ⁠livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org⁠.

Follow BALANCE for Blind Adults on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠.

⁠Donate⁠ to BALANCE

In this episode, Naomi talks with Jason Romero, author, athlete, inspirational speaker. Jason is an expert on Success & Resilience, who travels the world educating companies and classrooms about how they can achieve their dreams. Jason is the subject of a full-length documentary film, as well as a former attorney and CEO. The BBC, Today Show, Forbes, Runnersworld and NPR are just some of the media outlets that have reported on his accomplishments. Jason has been a national marathon champion, a Paralympian on Team USA and placed 4th at the Paralympic World Marathon Championships in 2015 in London. He holds more than 10 world records in extreme endurance sports including the 10-day run, 1,000 mile run and 6-day run. He is an IronMan triathlete, and an extreme endurance runner having completed some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world including the Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles in Death Valley in July), Spartathlon (153 miles from Athens to Sparta) and the Leadville 100. Jason is best known for being the 1st and only blind person to run across America, and his run still ranks as one of the top 10 fastest foot crossings in history at 51.5 miles per day. Our Executive Producer heard Jason speak at the VisionServe Alliance CEO Summit in April, 2023, and found it so inspiring she decided to ask him immediately afterwards if he would agree to be a guest on the Living Blind Podcast. Listening to Jason, one feels that anything is possible as long as we try, and that any obstacle can be overcome, even the toughest ones.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org or in the Living Blind Listeners Group on Facebook.

Follow BALANCE for Blind Adults on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Donate to BALANCE

In this episode, Ben Fulton, a private solo practitioner in the GTA and Hamilton area, talks with Naomi about the human rights case he has been working on since law school based on his own personal experience; his interest in restorative justice, the value of mentorship, and his advice to other blind people who would like to become lawyers.

His practice focuses primarily on human rights and minor criminal matters, where diversion is a practical solution. Ben Fulton employs a wholistic approach to the legal challenges faced by his clients. This approach goes beyond the singular legal issue that brought that person into contact with the legal system, and addresses the systemic issues at play in any given circumstance. He belongs to the Canadian Federation of The Blind (CFB) and focuses on advocacy for the most challenged members of society.

His award winning report on David Lepofsky was published by the Parliamentary committee on Human Resources, Skills, Social Development, and the Status of Persons with a Disability.

Get in touch with Ben: bfulton@benlaw.ca

Other Resources:

• Ben’s website
• Ben on LinkedIn
• Ontario Bar Association Peer Support Network News

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org or in the Living Blind Listeners Group on Facebook.

Follow BALANCE for Blind Adults on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Donate to BALANCE

In this episode of the Living Blind Podcast, Naomi sat down not once but twice with the amazing and accomplished Kim Kilpatrick. While many blind tech users in Canada know Kim as the co-founder and leader of the Get Together with Technology Program of the Canadian Council of the Blind, in fact, Kim has a rich and varied career path, starting with Music Therapy and moving through technology coaching all the way through to a writer and storytelling performance artist! She began her career as a music therapist working with people with dementia and in palliative care. She has served on many boards and committees including Braille Literacy Canada where she is currently the vice president. Kim shares all the fascinating little stories from a lifetime devoted to the welfare of others and the sharing of knowledge, and what shines through in this conversation is how much she has loved every aspect of her multiple career experiences. As Naomi says: “Kim’s natural ability to connect with people of all ages and abilities through the arts struck me as we talked. It is clear that this, along with her passion for technology and Braille, are what enables her to connect with others to inspire change.”

Organizations with which Kim is affiliated:

• MASC offers schools and communities arts experiences led by professional artists
• Ottawa StoryTellers promotes the art of storytelling in Ottawa.
• Radical Connections transforms healthcare with all kinds of artists.

Get in touch with Kim: kimstoryteller@icloud.com

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org or in the Living Blind Listeners Group on Facebook.

Follow BALANCE for Blind Adults on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Donate to BALANCE

In this first episode Season 4 of Living Blind, we delve just a little bit into the complex gender area of masculinity and how it intersects with the lived experience of blindness. Wikipedia defines “masculinity” as “a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behaviors considered masculine are influenced by both cultural factors and biological factors. To what extent masculinity is biologically or socially influenced is subject to debate. It is distinct from the definition of the biological male sex, as anyone can exhibit masculine traits.” While our society (and many cultures) stereotypically emphasizes the attributes of strength, capability and the role of “provider” with being “manly”, it (our society, and many cultures of the world) also stereotypically associates disability (even in the use of the word) with weakness or frailty, and dependence or lack of capacity (hence often the use of the word “handicapped”). In this episode, Paul Mack, Life Coach, and Jeffrey Rainey, former podcast producer, two men of different ages who are blind, discuss what it has meant to them to grow up and become men, and how their masculinity, and the expectations that go with it, both external and internal, intersect with their experiences as men who live with sight loss. Yes, blindness exists in a sighted world where it is associated with a lack of capacity, but Paul argues that his blindness doesn’t keep him from being a reliable partner or parent. And Jeff points out the challenges inherent in important life experiences such as dating. The following is a link to a research article about the subject of Masculinity and Disability, available online.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org or in the Living Blind Listeners Group on Facebook. We realize we have only just scratched the surface of this challenging and important subject.

During our Because of BALANCE campaign, our Grand Prize included the opportunity to be a podcast episode curator, selecting a past episode to discuss “on air.” Our top fundraiser, Elizabeth Mohler joins us for a special Throwback Thursday episode. Elizabeth chose to discuss her favorite episode, "Mental Health Matters with Lisa Derencinovic," where Lisa delved into the crucial topics of mental health, overcoming stigma, and prioritizing self-care. With mental health always a major challenge for so many, we couldn’t think of a better way to complete our season and start the summer break. Our producer Jeffrey Rainey enjoyed chatting with Elizabeth, and her insights add a fresh perspective to this important conversation. It's the perfect way to wrap up the season on a high note! 

Links:

Elizabeth C. Mohler – Creating a Culture of Accessibility in the Sciences: https://elizabethmohler.ca/.

All about her book: Creating a Culture of Accessibility in the Sciences.

All about Lisa Derencinovic: https://www.healingcollective.ca/collective-members/lisa-derencinovic/

What did you think of this episode? Get in touch with the podcast by joining our Listeners Facebook group, or by sending us an email at LivingBlindPodcast@BalanceFBA.org.

Follow BALANCE For Blind Adults on Facebook,

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The show notes and transcription for this podcast can be found at BalanceFBA.org/Podcast.

Donate to BALANCE: BalanceFBA.org

In this episode, Alexis Fabricius introduces us to the world of self-defense tailored specifically for the visually impaired and individuals with vision loss. Join us as we cover a wealth of knowledge and techniques that will empower individuals to navigate their surroundings with confidence and safety. From specialized training methods to assistive technologies, we explore the innovative approaches that equip and empower the visually impaired community to defend themselves effectively. Tune in to gain invaluable insights and embark on a transformative journey of empowerment and self-defense mastery.

Links:

Study: Navigating violence and risk: A critical discourse analysis of blind women's portrayals of self-protective measures.

Email Alexis at alexis.fabricius@gmail.com.

What did you think of this episode? Get in touch with the podcast by joining our Listeners Facebook group, or by sending us an email at LivingBlindPodcast@BalanceFBA.org.

Follow BALANCE For Blind Adults on Facebook,

Twitter,

Instagram, and

Youtube.

The show notes and transcription for this podcast can be found at BalanceFBA.org/Podcast.

Donate to BALANCE: BalanceFBA.org