Accessible Airwaves

Episode 69: Councillor Keren Tang Today, Austin interviews Keren Tang, who has represented the Southeast Ward Karhiio community on the Edmonton City Council since 2021. As a Councillor, Keren has served on the Accessibility Advisory Committee and as a board member of Alberta Municipalities and Climate Caucus. Keren is passionate about participatory engagement bringing community perspectives to life and working with diverse communities to build healthier more connected neighbourhoods.

Episode 67: Bee You Kids Today, Austin and Morgan interview Andile Nyasha Pfupa, an early childhood educator and the founder of Bee You Kids. Bee You Kids is a Canadian based, multi-cultural children's store specializing in inclusive dolls, books, and educational tools. Bee You Kids aims to provide toys that represent diverse cultures, skin tones, and abilities, fostering self worth and representation in children's play.

Episode 66: Whimble Today Austin and Morgan interview Emma Brown the CEO and Founder of Whimble. Emma is an entrepreneur who turned over 3 decades of caregiving experience into a mission driven tech company that transforms how care is delivered. Her journey combines lived experience, innovation and leadership, offering a powerful perspective on accessibility. Whimble is a CareTech platform designed to fill gaps in personal care services. Whimble connects individuals to personal care attendants on demand offering timely and flexible support for urgent or short term needs.

Episode 65: Makers Making Change- The Neil Squire Society Today, Austin and Morgan are talking to Shanelle Gilman who is the Western Regional Coordinator of the Makers Making Change Program at the Neil Squire Society. The Neil Squire Society is a Canadian national non profit organization that empowers people with disabilities through accessible technology, innovation, digital literacy, and employments programs, aiming for economic and social inclusion by developing assistive devices and providing tailored support for independence.

Episode 64: Disability Action Hall Today, Austin interviews Collen Huston, Mary Salvani, and Alex Jack from the Disability Action Hall. The Disability Action Hall is a group of adults with disabilities and allies in Calgary that meets to advocate for social justice issues, celebrate disability pride and culture, and create positive change.

Episode 63: Treat Accessibly On today's show, Austin and Morgan interview Rich Padulo the co-founder of Treat Accessibly. Which is a grassroots movement that promotes an inclusive and barrier-free Halloween experience that encourages homeowners to offer treats from their driveway or yard. The initiative aims to ensure all children regardless of mobility, sensory or intellectual disabilities can fully participate. There are Halloween Villages happening during the month of October in the cities of AB: Calgary, St. Albert, Edmonton. BC: Surrey, QC: Montreal, NS: Halifax, ON: Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa. Please visit https://www.treataccessibly.com/halloween-villages-2025 for more information.

Episode 62: Diverse Moms Connect - Part 2 Today Austin and Morgan continue their interview with Elizabeth Lecerf and Hillary Beierle the founders of Diverse Moms Connect - a local group offering support for moms and parents of neuro-diverse kids in the Airdrie and Calgary area. The group provides a safe space for parents to connect, share experiences and events.

Episode 61: Diverse Moms Connect - Part 1 Today Austin and Morgan interview Elizabeth Lecerf and Hillary Beierle the founders of Diverse Moms Connect - a local group offering support for moms and parents of neuro-diverse kids in the Airdrie and Calgary area. The group provides a safe space for parents to connect, share experiences and events.

Episode 60: Milk Jar Candle Company (Part 2) Today Morgan and Austin continue their interview with Holly Singer, the founder of Milk Jar Candle Company which is a Calgary based business known for its nontoxic candles and products using an inclusive business model. This is Part 2/2.

Episode 59: Milk Jar Candle Company Today Morgan and Austin interview Holly Singer, the founder of Milk Jar Candle Company which is a Calgary based business known for its nontoxic candles and products while an inclusive business model. This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.

Episode 58: Open Discussion Morgan and Austin chat with their peer Alexandria Huddleston from DDRC (Developmental Disability Resource Centre of Calgary) about their experiences with disabilities and navigating things such as school, transportation and day to day life.

Episode 57: Bumping Into Walls Collaboration Austin and Morgan chat with Anthony Hodgetts and Dave Serani from CJSW's show Bumping Into Walls. It 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. They discuss how they all got involved with radio, their personal interests and experiences.

Episode 56: CNIB SmartLife Austin interviews Kathleen Delay, director of SmartLife at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). The CNIB Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers programs and advocacy to folks who are blind or partially sighted to live independent and full lives. CNIB SmartLife is Canada's largest retailer, training, and program service provider for assistive products for people with sight loss.

Episode 55: Simon's Soapbox Today's episode has 3 interviews. First, Morgan interviews cohost Austin about Cool Choir. Then Austin and Morgan interview Simon Vanderloo and Caroline Short, the founders of Simon's Soapbox which is an artisanal soap company committed to making high quality bath and home products. Their mission is to demonstrate the value of people with and without developmental disabilities working together. They are based in New Westminster, BC. The last interview Carleigh interviews Morgan and Austin about their volunteer work at CJSW.

Episode 54: Carrol's Caramels Corp. Austin and Morgan interview Murray Roddis, the founder of Carrols Caramels Corps, a home based caramel company in Red Deer who is using an inclusive business model. We may reference them as CC during the interview.

Episode 53: The Raw Carrot Austin and Morgan interview Diane Talbot-Schoenhoff, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at The Raw Carrot- a social enterprise that empowers people who face barriers to traditional employment to secure their own livelihood through the dignity of work. The Raw Carrot hires people living with disabilities and mental illness, who receive social assistance to make handcrafted gourmet foods that are sold at farmers' markets, high end grocery stores and online.

Episode 52: Shift Accessibility Austin interviews Griffon Simony, one of the founders of Shift Accessibility, a contracting company specializing in accessible and barrier-free construction, renovations and modifications to homes and businesses.

Episode 51: Kello Inclusive Morgan interviews Tori Lacey, a booking agent from Kello Inclusive a talent agency who exclusively supports folks with disabilities. Tori first got started with Kello as a model herself.

Episode 50: DisAbilityABD Morgan and Austin interview Brad Bartko, the founder of DisAbility ABD (Accessible by Design), a consulting company that works with other businesses to make events and spaces more inclusive to those who have disabilities.

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Episode 48 Accessible Chef JMorgan interviews Anna Moyer the Creter of the online resource Accessible Cheff. The history and how to use.

Episode 47 Adaptabilty Store June Adaptive John interviews Tara Nelson from the Adaptabilty Store in the University District. He interviews Wendy Wong the creator of June Adaptive an on-line adaptive clothing resource.

Episode 47: AdaptAbility Store/June Adaptive Today's episode is a 2 in 1 interview. John interviews Tara Nelson of the AdaptAbility Store in Calgary and Wendy Wong of June Adaptive in Toronto

Episode 46: ReelAbilities John is interviewing Lora Campbell of the ReelAbilities Film Festival in Toronto. They are talking about the film festival and their programs.

Episode 45 - 2023 Year In Review

AAFS movie Project Autism Asperger Friendship Society and their Movie Project

Adam Cairns is interviewing the Tamir Choir members and directors on Zoom. We discussed what the choir is all about, some of their favorite memories, and their greatest achievements.

Adam is interviewing Jodi Green. She is the coordinator of Judaic Outreach and Community Inclusion. She is also responsible for the management of the Tamir Choir, which runs out of Ottawa

John is interviewing David Kron he is the executive director of The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba. John talks with him over zoom about the Association and how they support people with disabilities.

Episode 39: Here's My Book Author Michael Jacques is the writer of two books called Can’t Read Can’t Write: Here’s My Book, and second, I Belong: Can I Play? As He can’t read or write he as found a creative way to adapt to challenges and inspire many people.

John Aguilar is interviewing Darcy Irwin on zoom. She is a co-owner of the Grizzly Boxing Club, an inclusive gym for all abilities. She runs a boxing program for people with Parkinson’s Disease.

Episode 37: Disability without poverty John Aguilar interviews Andrea Van Vugt from Disability without Poverty and she is the founder of Disability Pride Alberta discussing the disability benefit bill the Canadian Government is discussing. This episode was dedicated to Melisa Aguilar the mother of John.

Rocky Mountain Adaptive is making the mountains more accessible for people with disabilities. Hear Adam interview Janine and Dave of Rocky Mountain Adaptive. Janine is the community outreach coordinator of Rocky Mountain Adaptive. Dave is an athlete with Rocky Mountain Adaptive as part of his continued rehabilitation from a recent spinal cord injury and is now a lead instructor too. Listen to them share their healing and transformative stories of Rocky Mountain Adaptive.

John Aguilar interviews John Butterwick the Parkdale Accessible rink director and also he talks to Amanda Affsonso the Parkdale community Association president. In his first interview, they talked about the new outdoor accessible rink and the new Accessible building.

In this episode, Morgan interviews Belinda about her struggles with aphasia and functional neurological disorder. Belinda also discusses her book about her time in the hospital.

In this episode, host Adam talked about accessibility in the gaming industry. Alex joined as a guest to discuss her personal experiences playing video games as someone who is legally blind. Adam explored the state of accessibility in video games, especially the award winning, The Last of Us Pt. II released in 2020 for the PlayStation. The episode ends with a cover of a-ha’s Take On Me, from the protagonist of the Last of Us Pt II.

We spoke with Laura Dickson. She is the Executive Director of Epilepsy Calgary. In the interview, we talked about Epilepsy and how people with Epilepsy can be supported in the community. In the episode, she asked Morgan about her Epilepsy. We talked about the types and conditions of epilepsy. That epilepsy can be scary to those who have not seen seizures before but how a person can best be supported when one occurs. For more info on the Epilepsy Association of Calgary or how to get involved please go to their website at epilepsycalgary.com.

In this episode, Adam talked to Tayor Byrom about TAYLOR HART.DESIGNS. Taylor’s designs integrate functional adaptations while hitting the target on the style meter. Also featured in this episode Tim Balash, the producer and engineer from Baseline Brain Waves.

Adam talked to Graeme Wyman from the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS) over the phone. We discussed the virtual concerts that VAMS ihas on Youtube. This episode features two songs by Digger Dan and the Dirt Brigade.

In this episode Adam Cairns interviews JS Ryu, CEO of Indefinite Arts, here in Calgary over the phone. They talk about what Indefinite Arts is and how they are adapting to Covid 19. Also in this episode, we interviewed Rayn who is an artist from Indefinite Arts.

In this episode Adam interviewed Greme Wyman, the program director of Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS). We discussed how VAMS is adapting to covid-19 by continuing to provide music support, lessons, and song writing for people with physical disabilities in creative ways.

In this episode we had Morgan interview her brother Marshall who coaches downhill skiing with Special Olympics. Marshall's detocation to coaching and helping his sister is remarkable. Then Adam interviews Morgan and Marshall about their experiences on the hill.

Episode 25 - Basketball

Quinn interviews Rhonda about the Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) facilitates opportunities for diverse learners to cultivate their academic and social aspirations, at either the University of Calgary or St. Mary’s University.

Our Pets

In this episode, Michael interview's Andrea Van Vught about disability Pride. Andrea shares the differences between disability and Pride as well as shares her experiences with disability as well as giving us a big thank you for it. The second interview was Rene interviewing Jen Morton about Star Program a program that people with and without disabilities can partake in. Jen shares about her and her son experience with Star Program.