A Different Way of Seeing

** Do you have a goal you’d love to achieve and need help reaching it? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges you face? Contact me for a free 30 minute discovery chat to see if she is the coach to help you. Drop me a mail: https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In this episode, we return to the subject of inclusive sport. Lois chats about inclusive archery with three-time Paralympian Shaun Anderson, and Ferdi van Eerden, who has competed four times in the World Archery Indoor Nationals. The conversation focuses on the ways in which archery can be adapted to accommodate people with differing needs, the high level of inclusion within the sport and the benefits of participating in a sport for persons with disabilities. Why not give inclusive archery a try? Reach out to Shaun and the South African National Archery Association (at the following links: Shaun website: https://odysseyarchery.co.za/ Shaun WhatsApp: +27 (0)83 658 2129 SANAA Website: https://www.sanaa.org.za/ Image description: Ferdi, A man in a wheelchair, who is wearing a blue and red shirt is aiming a bow, presumably at an archery target, On the wheelchair there is a dark blue bag containing various articles. Other competitors can be seen in the background as are archery targets and a digital scoreboard. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

** Do you have a goal you’d love to achieve and need help reaching it? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the challenges you face? Contact me for a free 30 minute discovery chat to see if she is the coach to help you. Drop me a mail: https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In this episode, Lois chats with Sayyida Victoria, The Blind Butterfly. Sayyida is a woman of many talents. she works as the manager of education and training at the Lighthouse in Housten, Texas. She is the founder of the Blind Professionals Network, an NGO focusing on improving the employability of those who are blind and partially blind. She is co-host of the Blind Table Talk podcast. And she is a mom to five children. During the conversation, Sayyida talks of how she became blind, what it was like being a blind mom to her five children, the importance of education and advocacy both within and beyond the blindness sector, and the eternal question of whether or not it is okay to ask for help as an empowered, independent person with a disability. Reach out to Sayyida: Blind Professionals Network Website: blindpronet.org Blind Table Talk Website: blindtabletalk.com Email: bviempowered@outlook.com Email: blindbutterfly@icloud.com Image description: A woman with shoulder-length black hair smiling gently at the camera. She is wearing a light purple shirt over a black top and a delicate chain necklace. The lighting is soft and emphasises her face. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

** Want to introduce the topic of inclusion to young children? My illustrated children’s books, The Adventures of Missy Mouse, are a great tool to open conversations that normalise disability. Order them at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Naomi Riley, a consultant, brain injury survivor and advocate with a passion for making a difference. During the conversation, Naomi talks about growing up with a disability and the challenges she faced during her schooling. She then discusses the distracted driver accident that left her with a brain injury as an adult and the rehabilitation she underwent as a result of the accident. Naomi is the founder of the Text Pledge Project, a nationally recognized initiative addressing mental health and digital wellness through collaborative community engagement. Her work has impacted thousands of students and educators across school systems and civic organizations. She’s been featured in national media in the USA, invited to speak at education conferences and advocacy panels, and has advised business leaders and policymakers on building equitable systems that support neurodiverse communities. Reach out to Naomi : Website: https://naomilriley.com/ Text Pledge Project: https://textpledge.us/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.l.riley/ Image description: A smiling woman with long, wavy blonde hair standing outdoors in a crowd. She is wearing a stylish orange blazer over a light yellow blouse, accessorized with layered necklaces and earrings. People in casual summer clothing are visible in the background. Trees and soft-focus buildings can also be seen in the background. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

Show Notes: ** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Belinda Sampson, an empowerment coach and programme coordinator focused on lifelong learning. Following on from the last episode, where I highlighted two adaptive sports for the blind community, the conversation with Belinda focuses on her involvement with wheelchair basketball. During her education, Belinda was exposed to several adaptive sports, but it was only when she discovered wheelchair basketball that she found a sport that worked for her. Belinda describes how the sport is played, including the means by which differing levels of disability can be incorporated. I found it interesting that non-disabled people can be accommodated into wheelchair basketball as long as they are also making use of a wheelchair during the game. Following on to our discussion of wheelchair basketball, we explored Belinda’s new career focus on coaching, empowering people with disabilities to achieve their goals. Reach out to Belinda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belinda-sampson-developer/ e-mail: abilityflexed@gmail.com Find out more about wheelchair basketball at: Website: https://basketball.co.za/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WheelchairBasketballSA Image description: A woman of colour with braided hair who is a wheelchair user. She is wearing a dark blue sleeveless top and is resting her chin on her raised right hand, while her left hand is placed on her lap. The background of the image is a soft blue purple colour. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

** My new book, Paws for Thought (second edition) is now available as a print book, an e-book and in audio – grab your copy today! Order it at https://www.loisstrachan.com/shop/#acc-content In this episode, Lois chats with Joseph Fleeks, one of the hosts of the Blind Table Talk Podcast. At the age of 16, a drive-by shooting resulted in Joseph becoming blind. An active athlete when he was sighted, Joseph began exploring adaptive sports soon after his rehabilitation. In this conversation, we discuss two of his sports, Beep Baseball and Goalball. From there we discuss what Joseph sees as challenges facing the blind and visually impaired community, ending off with an introduction to the Blind Table Talk platform, which will be discussed in greater detail in an episode of the membership site of this show. Reach out to Joseph at the following links: e-mail: Joseph@blindtabletalk.com Web: https://blindtabletalk.com/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@blindtabletalk?si=7gWmI0mwEl3HI68V Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5346006688800340 Image description: The logo of the show, A Different Way of Seeing with Lois Strachan. The image features a styalised human figure with long hair and a white cane. On the right is an image of an eye, indicating vision or sight. The colours are shades of teal blue and grey. I’d love to hear from you – contact me at Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.