Disability with Possibility

Clare Li

This conversation with Clare Li [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/about/leadership/clare-li/#:~:text=Clare%20was%20diagnosed%20with%20psoriatic,to%20others%20what%20she%20needed.] marks the final episode of Season 1. Hosts Amanda and Michelle reserved Clare's time for this season-ender so you, our listener, bask in her positivity and optimistic spirit … until you hear from us again! Clare is the only non-dancing member of Luca Patuelli [https://open.acast.com/public/streams/66ece9080807ffb4e8905d7d/episodes/674d80ac603b9bf59ac31290.mp3]'s (previous episode) crew. Clare has survived multiple health scares from a young age, from psoriatic arthritis as an 11-year-old to undergoing a double vasectomy and living with an autoimmune disease as an adult.  "As a kid I felt I was constantly trying to keep up with everybody else," recounts Clare in this episode. Then, Clare turned to writing … and it changed everything.  By enrolling into workshops and surrounding herself with supportive writers, Clare felt empowered as she navigated one health challenge after another.  In this interview, she talks about how her cancer diagnosis brought her from behind the scenes, right to the front. Even her Instagram feed started to tell a different, bolder story.  If there's one thing this chat will inspire you to do, it is to take action. To say "yes" more often. To not give in to "what ifs" and "maybe later", and to follow your heart and your passions when you're in the pink of health—or not! If you haven't already, tell your family and friends about Disability With Possibility. And to learn about a movement led by people with disabilities, visit: https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/ [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Luca Patuelli

In this episode, we have Luca Patuelli - a Canadian breakdancer who goes by the stage name 'Bboy Lazylegz'. He's also the Vice Chair of Disability Without Poverty. Luca was born with Arthrogryposis, a condition that limits the use of joints and growth of muscles in his legs and causes stiffness in his shoulders.  At the age of 15, prevented from skating on his knees after an alignment surgery, Luca took to breakdancing and started using his crutches as part of his dance movements. Soon, Luca became popular, viral—in fact— in a time before YouTube and social media.  He exemplifies 'Possibility' through and through. Today, Luca is a father, motivational speaker, a breakdance judge for both able-bodied and disabled dance contestants, and a touring artist having performed in 41 countries till date.  Luca's personal stories and infectious positivity will inspire you to overcome odds, and find a passion or activity that will distract you from your self-doubts and insecurities. Watch a TEDx talk [https://youtu.be/U8htBtRBtIs?si=S127H7TZUmVeyJMq] by Luca titled 'No Excuses, No Limits'. And to learn about a movement led by people with disabilities, visit: https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/ [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Marie LeBlanc

Hosts Michelle and Amanda sit-down with the multimedia artist and photographer Marie LeBlanc for a conversation filled with stories of adventure, activism and action. Marie lives with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Lyme disease. Her MCS renders her sensitive to a host of exposure risks: from cleaning products and perfumes to electrical devices, and the most crippling - mold. Today, her disability has forced her to live a nomadic life in a camper van to prevent the risk of exposure to chemicals found in conventional housing.   Despite the disability, Marie's story—explored by Michelle and Amanda in this episode—is truly an inspiration. She is extremely resourceful around her constraints, has the uncanny ability to connect and collaborate with people and groups to raise awareness about MCS, create art and fearlessly venture into the unknown.  A true testament to her creativity is her photography exhibition: Overdressed [https://aanm.ca/overdressed/]. In this exhibit, Marie shows how doing the most ordinary tasks as a person with disability can feel overburdening and fatiguing.  Join this conversation to learn more about Marie's life and her work in raising awareness on MCS and advocating for people with disabilities to get more access to nature and the outdoors.  And to learn about a movement led by people with disabilities, visit: https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/ [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/].  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sandra Pronteau

Hosts Amanda and Michelle follow the journey of Sandra Pronteau, an inspiring and resilient Indigenous woman from the Cree-Metis community. Sandra lives in Vancouver with a congenital birth defect that's rendered her with disabilities, that include weak hearing.  But perhaps the challenge that's most defined her life, and her inspiring story, is that she's a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. This refers to the racist policy enacted by Canada's colonial machinery that removed, or “scooped,” Indigenous children out of their homes, communities and families of birth through the 1960s. They were then forced into predominantly non-Indigenous families across the United States and Canada—leading to trauma, as well as loss of language and culture caused by the rupture from their Indigenous families and communities at an early age. "Indigenous children were seen as commodity and government property," says Sandra.  In this episode, Sandra offers a glimpse of her journey toward resilience. She talks about reuniting with her mum as a teenager, and how understanding her family tree, her roots and culture as well as 'beading' forged a path towards healing.  "Every bead I put on is like a prayer for that child," describes Sandra, referring to the children of the Sixties Scoop, many of whom have been missing, or found to be deceased.  Click the play button to learn about Sandra's story, and how she's empowering the next generation of Indigenous children to stand up for themselves. And to learn about a movement led by people with disabilities, visit: https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/ [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/].  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Amy Amantea

Today's guest is Amy Amantea, a writer, comedian, radio playwright, a advocate and much more. Put simply, she's a powerhouse that embodies 'Disability With Possibility.' Type-1 diabetes pushed Amy into a comma. And after she emerged from it, she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy that rendered her legally blind. And that wasn't the only disability she had to navigate. Amy also lives with Gastroparesis—nerve damage in the stomach—and a host of other disabilities that gives her a unique vantage point in advocating for the disabled community and their rights in society.  In this episode, Amy takes the host Amanda on her journey with theater, writing and acting. She talks about her role as a founding board member and Associate Director of Vocal Eye, a not-for-profit that does live audio description for blind and partially-blind audiences at live cultural events and theater productions. She also talks about her solo show: Through My Lens, an incredibly creative project comprising photographs that Amy has clicked—without actually seeing the subject of the photos.  Amy and Amanda also discuss the all important Canada Disability Benefit—what's worth celebrating, what's not, and how impending elections next year could derail some of the work. But overall - this is a conversation infused with love, inspiration and hope.  To learn about a movement led by people with disabilities, visit: https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/ [https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/].  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.