Grant Hardy attended the Abilities Expo in Burnaby, BC on June 9th, 2025.

Today, we’re sharing a compilation of interviews that were recorded right on the conference floor of the Abilities Expo!

First up, we’re going to find out more about the Abilities Expo with the Connectra Program Coordinator, Emily Chambers.

Then, Kara Stanley and Simon Paradis collaborated to write the book The Pain Project: A Couple’s Story of Confronting Chronic Pain. They joined Grant at the conference to talk about their presentation called “I’ve Been Better, I’ve Been Worse”, and how they’ve utilized music to navigate talking about traumatic injuries and chronic pain.

Accessible Services at the Vancouver Public Library provide access to the library for people with mobility challenges and print disabilities. Jennifer Streckmann, the Coordinator of Accessible Services, joined Grant to share why the Library wanted to be present at the Abilities Expo.

Kids Brain Health Network Investigator Dr. Stephanie Glegg joined Grant at the Abilities Expo to share some of the projects that KBHN is funding and working on. Plus, learn about the importance of physical activity from Dr. Glegg.

Next Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, we’ll share more of our interviews from the Abilities Expo 2025!

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AMI 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.

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Mara Pagliaro is the 2025 Ambassador for MOVE FOR SIGHT, Fighting Blindness Canada’s fundraiser that challenges participants to move their way and raise funds for vision research.

On June 22nd, 2025, Mara will be leading a walk in North York for the MOVE FOR SIGHT event.

Mara shares her vision loss journey, beginning with her recent diagnosis of Stargardt’s disease, and explains how FBC has been such a crucial support as she copes with her diagnosis.

Taking part in the fundraiser? Use the hashtag #MoveForSight to share how you’re moving for vision research.

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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The CNIB’s Deaf Blind Community Services is marking DeafBlind Awareness Month this June with several campaigns across Canada. Grant Hardy spoke with Sherry Grabowski, the Vice President of DBCS, and Sheena Hill, the Manager of Client Engagement about their mission to “Make a Wave from Coast to Coast” this June.

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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It’s time for another panel conversation on The Pulse! Grant Hardy invites the hosts of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, and the host of AMI Today and AMI Audiobook Review, Jacob Shymanski, for a conversation about assistive tech.

Steven, Shaun, and Jacob share some of their favourite pieces of assistive tech, and a few things that they doubted at first, but have become integral parts of their daily lives.

For more of Steven and Shaun’s perspectives on the latest tech news, listen to Double Tap at Noon Eastern on AMI-audio.

Listen to Jacob Shymanski on AMI Today at 1pm Eastern and AMI Audiobook Review at 1:30pm Eastern on AMI-audio.

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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Krista Carr is joining us on the show again to give us an update about the recommendations for Track 2 MAiD policy changes. Back in March, Grant Hardy spoke to Krista, the CEO of Inclusion Canada, after she had appeared before the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Review Committee at the United Nations in Geneva. 2 months later, she is here to explain some of the committees’ recommendations to us.

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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Jessica Hall is a film maker living in Yukon, and on The Pulse she speaks with Grant Hardy about the making of her film Saturday.

Saturday is a heart-warming and uplifting real-life tale of Katherine, a Whitehorse-based woman with an intellectual disability, and her close friendship with her mother Frances. Jessica was inspired by her mother and sisters’ close relationship, and tells Grant how this relationship inspired this film, and how she portrayed her familial dynamic on screen.

They also discuss the importance of diversity, disability and local representation in film.

You can watch Saturday, with described video available, on the NFB’s streaming platform: nfb.ca

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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Jessica Slice is a disabled author, speaker, and essayist. She wrote a book called “Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World” that has been shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Prize. In this book, Jessica debunks the myths and stereotypes that people with disabilities are “unfit” to care for their children. Join Jessica and Grant for an interesting conversation about parenting, attitudinal barriers in the healthcare system, and Jessica’s journey as an author.

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About AMI

AMI 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.

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Matthew Shaw is the Head of Accessibility Practice at the Rick Hansen Foundation. To kick off National AccessAbility Week, Matthew moderated The Power of Championing Disability Inclusion. Today on the Pulse, Matthew shares the highlights from the panel, the importance of National AccessAbility Week, and some of the other events the Rick Hansen Foundation is holding this week!

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About AMI

AMI 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+

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Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

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