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Steve interviews Ean Price from Kelowna, British Columbia. Ean is the Peer Support Manager at Technology for Living, a non profit group from Vancouver that works with people who have severe physical disabilities and helps them to live as well and as independently as possible. TFL provides people who experience physical barriers with peer support, innovative technologies, respiratory therapy services and equipment that addresses unmet needs and increases independence, inclusion and wellbeing. Ean himself has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, (a genetic condition) has a power wheelchair, uses a ventilator and a feeding tube. He doesn't really see himself as a disabled person, until he runs into obstacles. He has very supportive family and friends; lives his life taking risks, and would prefer to be defined by his accomplishments. If that's not enough of a resume, Ean is also the founder & CEO of ICAN Resource Group Inc. ICAN focuses on 3 areas: website design, accessible travel, and assistive technology. You will be blown away by Ean's positivity, as he strives and thrives to change lives with technology. This is truly a feel good episode !

technologyforliving.org icanresource.ca

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In this episode, Steven and Chris talk with Penn and Moses Street from Colorado. Penn became blind as a young child from a rattlesnake bite, developing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Her family of 12 moved to Colorado from Arkansas because Penn could get better care from the children’s hospital in that area. Penn had a tomboy spirit, and refused to accept that she couldn’t do something as a visually impaired youngster. Fast forward many years later, and she met the love of her life – Moses Street, a professional photographer. Today, they live life to the fullest by travelling, spending time in the great outdoors, and working for Aftersight; a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing audio access to print information and empowering services for the blind and low vision community. They also host a podcast together, called 'The Blind Chick', doing great on the Aftersight network among other podcasts focusing on low or non vision hosts and guests. We had a lot of laughs on this episode, not even sure how we got off topic (many times), but we hope that you will enjoy listening to this lively episode. Go to Aftersight.org to find all of their podcast offerings.

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Today we have an internationally acclaimed singer. If you are a Vancouver Canucks Fan, you certainly don’t need an introduction to Steve’s current guest. He has been a frequent singer of the Canadian and American Anthems before the hockey home games at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Jugpreet lost his sight from retinoblastoma eye cancer when he was only 6 months old. He started his music career at a young age. Performing live in English, French, Hindi and Punjabi, the 2009 Canadian Desi Idol runner-up has appeared at many events ranging from the Surrey Fusion Festival to B.C. Children’s Hospital fundraisers. Steve and Jugpreet have a thought provoking and lively conversation about his musical influences, his favourite types of music, and his supportive family background.

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Steve talks with his friend Iris, whom he met through the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) when Steve first went blind. Iris and Steve share the rare condition of being 100% blind. While Steve’s was sudden, Iris slowly lost her vision, starting when she was a teenager. She had various operations without success but eventually accepted her non-vision as her lifestyle. She is involved with CNIB, curling, and worked at a restaurant in Vancouver called The Dark Table, where patrons dine in total darkness. She also shares her experiences in acquiring service dogs because she wanted to be independent. She also discusses the rights pertaining to ownership of a service dog and the process involved in acquiring a support animal.

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Scott has been in the Prosthetic and Orthotic profession for over 30 years. He completed a 2 year residency with Russell Prosthetics in New Westminster, BC. When the founder retired, he took over the clinic and has continued to serve patients ever since. Scott continues to stay up to date with the latest techniques and technologies in this rapidly changing field. Scott’s volunteer work has taken him to 6 countries across 4 continents. Steve and Scott have a very informative conversation about the process of getting a prosthetic, something which Steve is quite familiar with himself.

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In this episode, Steve talks to Monica Gartner. Monica is 3’ & 1.5” foot tall in stature, but 10X taller in gumption! When Monica was born, she was affected with scoliosis and a bone disease. She tells some stories about growing up, some of her hospital experiences, and her family support. She has a degree in Business, has done some acting, as well as wrote a book! Monica is truly an inspirational lady!

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Steve has a very lively conversation with Marco Pasqua. Marco was born with Cerebral Palsy, but that is hardly the story. When he was only 10 years old, Marco was invited to be the ambassador/host of the Timmy’s Christmas Telethon with local radio legend Red Robinson. This was his first opportunity to speak in front of a large audience. Later in life, he pursued a career in technology, lost his job in 2010 due to the recession, and then decided to use his voice as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and accessibility consultant. Rick Hansen and Michael J. Fox may be his heroes, but we think that Marco is in some great company. If you want to know more about Marco, please go to his website. www.marcopasqua.com and get his book ‘From Potential to Purpose’. He may be a person with a disability, but he’s by no means a disabled person.

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Steve and Chris talk to Liz Hunter, a Community Librarian at the New Westminster Public Library in New Westminster, British Columbia. We talk to Liz, because she helped teach us in learning about Podcasting. This is an initiative Liz started at the library, including procuring equipment and a space that library card holders can use to facilitate their own podcast. Liz also talks about some of the other library initiatives and how libraries have changed in her 16 years on the job.