AMI-audio Live

On April 20th, 2024, Andy Frank hosted the live broadcast of the annual CNIB Guide Dogs with Purpose Gala. It was a formal event from the Delta Hotel in Regina which raised money for the training of guide dogs in Saskatchewan. The evening included a live description of the guide dog red carpet, a speech from Guide Dog owner Louise Michaud, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Housing; President & CEO Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, and an interview with AMI podcaster Becki Zerr and her son Bennett! Technical Support from Samuel Baba and Grace Scoffield.

The Canadian National Junior Goalball Championships were held at the Bob Niven Centre on Canada Olympic Road in Calgary on April 21, 2024. Nicco Cardarelli delivers the play by play of the exciting men’s and women’s championship games! Andy Frank speaks with referee Claude Dagenais about the rules of goalball, Stephen Burke of Canadian Blind Sports, Linda McPhail of ASRAB, and some young aspiring goalball players. Technical support from Samuel Baba and Grace Scoffield.

AMI-audio's Jacob Shymanski visits Accessible Sports Expo in Niverville, Manitoba, presented by Accessible Sport Connection Manitoba on March 30, 2024. During this hour, Jacob speaks with representatives from Prairie Strides , Blind Hockey Manitoba, Beyond the Perimeter Badminton , Wheelchair Fencing Manitoba , Para Storm Swimming , Underground Adaptive, VIRN , and Volt Hockey. This event provided a unique opportunity for people of all abilities to come together, explore various accessible sports and recreation opportunities in Manitoba, and connect with organizations that offer these fantastic programs. Produced by Andy Frank with technical support from Marc Aflalo.

The final game of the 50th Western Canadian Blind Curling Championships from The Granite Curling Club in Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Finalists are the teams from Prince George and Vancouver. Play-by-play and colour commentary by Jim Jerome and Marcel Rocque, with Andy Frank, Carrie Anton and various curlers and organizers.

Every year, The Zero Project seeks inclusive, innovative and scalable solutions from around the world to submit their nominations. They are then evaluated in a multi-step process that includes peer review by thousands and voting. A select number of solutions receive a Zero Project award and support through the Zero Project network. The following is a compilation of AMI-audio readers reading a brief bio for each of the winning solutions. These are the people and organizations that are truly making a difference. Originally broadcast on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3, 2023.

As part of AMI-Audio’s coverage of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we asked a group of our friends, regular contributors and employees with disabilities for their thoughts on the IDPD. More specifically, we asked: 1. What does the IDPD mean to you? 2. What are steps society can take to tangibly improve the lives of persons with disabilities? This is an audio collage, of sorts, showcasing nuanced approaches and differing opinions people within the community have towards the IDPD. Work needs to be done but it’s important to recognize the work that has been done as well as maintain an optimistic outlook.

The 30th annual Canadian Disability Hall of Fame Awards Induction Ceremony luncheon took place on October 13th, 2023, at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. It was presented by The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons. The following is the podcast version of AMI-audio’s live coverage of the event. As mentioned in the broadcast, the interviews with this year’s inductees, along with one of the King Clancy Award recipients, will soon be available on The Pulse, which can be found on AMI’s YouTube channel, as well as any of your favourite podcast platforms. Link to AMI’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AccessibleMedia

The Great Valentine Gala, held every February in Toronto, is the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP)’s No. 1 fundraising event. It has raised over $35 million and has become a glittering showcase for the unheralded achievements of Canadians of all abilities. In 2023, the Gala was hosted by Suhana Meharchand, and featured the presentation of numerous awards issued to individuals and organizations. AMI-audio presented the Gala live to air on February 11, 2023. It is hosted by Dave Brown and Greg Westlake of AMI-tv, and Andy Frank of AMI-audio. Technical producers were Sam Baba and Nisreen Abdel Majid. More info here: https://www.cfpdp.com/great-valentine-gala/

AMI's Mike Ross, a Durham Region resident and supporter of the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ont., interviews athletes, organizers and coaches that are participating in the Durham Region 2023 Ontario Parasport Games. Guests include Don Terry (0:10), James Titmarsh (5:45), Ramya Amuthan (10:35), Joe Millage (15:45), Jon Thurston (22:28), Mike Frogely (28:58) and Nico Iemma (37:01).

Coverage from the bronze and gold medal games.

Broadcasting live from the historic Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, AMI-audio brings you the inaugural Girl's and Women's program at the Canadian National Blind Hockey Tournament (2022). Hosted by Jeff Ryman, play by play by Nicco Cardarelli with colour commentary by Mike Ross and Claire Buchannan.

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) presents a special virtual conference titled “Breaking Barriers - Making the Invisible Visible”. It focuses on the realities of living with an invisible disability. Opening Remarks: Minette Samaroo, AEBC National Vice President, AEBC Toronto Chapter President Keynote Speaker: Melanie Taddeo, author of “The Power of You” Guest Speaker: Maddy Dever, “The Language of Acceptance – Changing the Language of Autism and Disability" Panel Discussion featuring: Aime Hutton, Kevin McShan, Chantal Oakes, Dorothy Riddle Hosted by Joeita Gupta of AMI Technical Producer for AMI: Matt Agnew

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) Toronto Chapter presents a special virtual conference titled “Together One Voice, More Choices - Don’t Leave Us Behind”. It focuses on the way the disability community has been disproportionately left behind during the pandemic. Hosted by Joeita Gupta of AMI. AEBC host Minette Samaroo Opening Remarks-Michael Prince, Professor, University of Victoria Keynote Speaker-Louise Gillis, National President, Canadian Council of the Blind Speaker-Ramya Amuthan, co-host of Kelly and Company, Accessible Media Inc. Panel Discussion featuring Rex Banks, Au. D,, Doctor of Audiology Samantha Moore, Co Chair 2019 National Young Leaders Program, Fighting Blindness Canada Alicia Grace Official, Advocate for People with Disabilities John Rae, Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians Technical Producer for AMI: Matt Agnew

In this fourth episode, we meet tech-related awardees from among the Innovative Practices category, including Phia Damsma of Australia regarding Sonokids/Ballyland (1:20), Adriana Gomes Alves of Univali University in Brazil (8:51), James Northridge of UrAbility in Cork, Ireland (15:19) and Robert Palmquist of Streamer in the USA (23:12) Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total Run Time 28:56

In this seventh and final episode, we celebrate the Innovative Practice award issued to Canadian Rick Hansen with an excerpt from a recent interview with AMI-audio host Joeita Gupta about his foundation’s Accessibility Certification Program (1:52). Plus, we meet Evgeny Bukharov of the All-Russian Society of Disabled People, who run training programs for people with disabilities and representatives of non-profit and commercial organizations toward the effective removal of barriers in the built environment. (7:45). We close with Vishal Gupta of Grassroots Comics, which teaches children with various disabilities how to develop and produce hand-drawn comics on paper as a medium for self-expression and a tool for self-advocacy. (19:30) Program Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total Run Time 24:11

In this sixth episode, we continue our look at Innovative Practices, including interviews with Sheri Horn-Bunk of Taft Community College in California about their Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Program (1:46) and Michal Rimon of Access Israel about training teachers for inclusive education (17:15). Program Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total Run Time 26:18

In this fifth episode, we examine Zero Project’s Impact Transfer Program, which is a partnership between the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme and Ashoka. It supports organizations to replicate their social impact and innovation in other countries and contexts. We speak with Löic van Cutsem of Ashoka, (1:11), Carlos Pereira of Livox in Brazil, (4:50) Dr. Ayesha Saeed Husaini of The Manzil Center in UAE, (10:41), and Nils Woebke of Capito in Germany (17:15). Program Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total Run Time 26:18

In this third episode, we meet an awardee from among the Innovative Practices category: Betsy Beaumon, CEO of Benetech which launched Bookshare in 2001. Available nationwide in the United States and in 87 other countries, Bookshare provides books and printed materials in five accessible formats, such as electronic Braille and DAISY synchronized text with audio. Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total Run Time 26:26

Description: In this second episode, we meet awardees from among the Innovative Practices category: Roshan Galvaan, Harsha Kathard and Teresa Lorenzo from University of Cape Town, South Africa (1:06) and Kavita Murugkar of The Universal Design Centre at BNCA University in India (15:05). Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen. Total run time 24:28

In this first episode, we meet Michael Fembek, the Director of the Zero Project who provides an overview of Zero Project and the conference. Then, we meet awardees from among the Innovative Policies category: Regina Hausiku of the Ministry of Education in Namibia, as well as Julie Michaud and Isabelle Cowan of the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood. Produced and hosted by Andy Frank, with technical assistance from Paula Dineen and Sam Robinson.