Being a Good Mom: On Disability and Motherhood episode artwork

EPISODE · May 12, 2026 · 28 MIN

Being a Good Mom: On Disability and Motherhood

from Reflections · host Joeita Gupta, Ramya Amuthan, Rabia Khedr, Shawnda Walker, Nikki Dawe, Dr. Jewelles Smith

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 to their own experiences of motherhood. They share their stories of learning to parent, what support systems they had to lean on, and how they advocate for their children in an ableist society that shapes what being a “good mother” means. She also chatted with Dr. Jewelles Smith, who shares the results of her research on the experience of disabled mothers, from the moment someone decides they want to have a child until the child is all grown up. About AMIAMI 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 is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 to their own experiences of motherhood. They share their stories of learning to parent, what support systems they had to lean on, and how they advocate for their children in an ableist society that shapes what being a “good mother” means. She also chatted with Dr. Jewelles Smith, who shares the results of her research on the experience of disabled mothers, from the moment someone decides they want to have a child until the child is all grown up.

NOW PLAYING

Being a Good Mom: On Disability and Motherhood

0:00 28:29

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Reflections?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this Reflections episode published?

This episode was published on May 12, 2026.

What is this episode about?

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...

Can I download this Reflections episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!