Advertise on podcast: The Disability Diaries With Steven Vine

Send us a text Jeff Tiessen is a 45+ years double-arm amputee, Canadian Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder. He is the publisher of 'Thrive' magazine - Living Well with Limb Loss, an award winning journalist with over 1,000 published features to his credit, and multiple recipient of numerous disability related and sports awards. He's an educator, advocate and sought after public speaker. He also hosts a monthly podcast - 'Life and Limb', all about living well with limb loss, sharing lived experiences and practical advice.  Life & Limb - A monthly podcast about Living Well with Limb Loss

Send us a text Kent was born with poor vision. He was active in sports as a young person, in spite of his vision issues. As time went on, his vision continually lessened. He had to change career paths a few times because of his vision. He was considered legally blind by the time he was in his 30's. He eventually started to work for the CNIB (Canadian Institute for the Blind) and started a peer support group. Once he went totally blind, he started up his own business which he still manages today. 'Magnify' supplies low vision equipment and serves the needs of anyone experiencing vision loss utilizing Kent's experience, knowledge, and expertise. Through empathy and understanding and by providing physical and education tools, the barriers of vision loss can be conquered. Kent keeps active in Kelowna, British Columbia with Dragon Boating, Curling and Outdoor hiking.  MagnifyMe! | We help you conquer the barriers of vision loss.

Send us a text Steve and Chris talk with Kari Krogh, PhD Psychology and the founder of Eco Wisdom. Kari's quote from meditation teacher, Tara Brach, has a special meaning for people with disabilities who experience social and systemic barriers (outside the personal body) that shape our experience of living with disability. Within the EcoWisdom Community where accessibility in forest bathing/ shinrin yoku is promoted, we find that nature reminds us that our disabled body/minds are simply a natural expression of biodiversity. As part of Kari’s journey of living with a fluctuating, complex chronic illness disability, she has become certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher, interfaith spiritual director and forest therapy guide. We hope that you enjoy this episode. ecowisdom forest preserve

Send us a text Prior to having ostomy surgery, Janet spent more time in the hospital than out of it. Crohn’s disease had been ravaging her entire digestive system and had necessitated multiple bowel resections. It finally reached a point in 1996 when Janet was in her early twenties and 31 weeks pregnant that the doctors declared that she had reached a point where ostomy surgery was her only option, and it was imperative that they deliver her daughter immediately and give her a jejunostomy. (When you listen, Janet gives great medical explanations). Janet and Steve also discuss invisible disabilities, as well as illness and gender bias in the medical community. She eventually turned to Ostomy Hamilton for support, a local non-profit group based out of her hometown. Both Janet and her partner Mike are proud to serve as co-presidents of Ostomy Hamilton and are pleased to be able to facilitate a safe space where new ostomates and their families can learn to better understand their ostomy and express their feelings, good or bad in a supportive environment. About — Ostomy Hamilton     HOME - Ostomy Canada Society   Mrs. Janet Elaine Paquet | The Governor General of Canada

Send us a text Steve interviews former mayor of Vancouver Sam Sullivan, in an open discussion that gets quite candid. Sam talks about his former political life and his current life with his foundation: The Disability Foundation.   Sam broke his neck in a 1978 skiing accident, aged 19. He found himself tetraplegic, unable to dress or feed himself, let alone continue playing active sports or making music. Or so it seemed at the time. Over an intensive 20-year period, Sam built a succession of non-profit groups offering opportunities to people with physical disabilities in Vancouver and across Canada. As much as anything, he formed the groups because of his years of depression – to send a message of hope to people in despair. Sam’s Story - Disability Foundation

Send us a text Chantal was born with no vision, grew up in Quebec, and moved to British Columbia as a child and she learned how to live with her disability. Chantal loves her involvement and responsibility as she engages with the CCB (Canadian Council of the Blind) BC/Yukon Division. The Canadian Council for the Blind (CCB) is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals who are blind, deaf-blind, or living with low vision through advocacy, support, and community engagement.  Email: [email protected] Toll-Free: 1 877-304-0968

Send us a text In this episode, the last guest on our show (Walter Lawrence from GF Strong), interviews Steve! Walt asks Steve some very intimate questions about Steve's recovery, outlook, goals and his future. Walt's experience as a mentor and counsellor at GF Strong, makes him a very curious and straightforward interviewer. Steve shows his vulnerability as he reflects on his life post his accident. We hope that you enjoy listening to this special episode during the holiday season. 

Send us a text In this episode, Steve talks with Walt Lawrence from GF Strong rehabilitation hospital. When he was 17 years old, he took a dive in shallow water off a seawall, hit the bottom and broke his neck. Walt instantly because a quadriplegic. In the hospital in Kelowna, he was hooked up to a ventilator, and he could not speak. He remained positive that he was going to get through this. Walt wondered how his parents coped with his injuries; but he just knew that he could count on them. An educator by nature, he would engage with people and started to adjust to his vulnerability, and he eventually allowed people to help him. While doing rehabilitation at GF Strong, he was asked to help other injured clients with consulting, counselling and support, which he's done for the past 36 years. Walt is the epitome of a guru/mentor for others.  G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre | Vancouver Coastal Health

Send us a text In this episode, Steve talks with Zafira Nanji who is a caregiver on many different levels. Besides her son who is neurodivergent, which can be an exploding controversy in some circles; Zafira has also had challenges with her parents' health, their passing, and her own grief. She is a doula, a human resources manager and an author of children's books. Her motto is 'Have Fun' (inspired by her father) and 'Never alone' (inspired by her mother). These phrases are indelible to Zafira as permanent tattoos on her arm in her parent's own handwriting using tattoo technology. 

Send us a text In this episode, Steve talks with Agust who lives in Iceland. Our guest has had 2 serious conditions: Ostomy care and bouts of manic episodes. He's had a very challenging life as he was affected with manic episodes when he was 19 years old. He also dealt with colitis and cancer, which led to the removal of his colon and getting an ostomy. He is an avid mountaineer and leads an active outdoor lifestyle. The news of his health challenges was very difficult. To help in his healing process, he started to move and get back to the outdoors - which turned out to be a very positive motivation for him. He found a supportive network in the ostomy community which gave him life and opportunities. His manic condition at 19 manifested itself in bizarre beliefs of something powerful. He struggled with institutions and medication, but he finally found positive care and was ready to heal and become whole again. He is very open about his struggles, which he wrote a book about based on his own life. His story is his strength. His Book: "Nights of Nonsense: an Icelandic memoir of healing and hope"

Send us a text In this episode, Steve interviews Deborah James Sabo - a student of Therapeutic Recreation, which is therapy designed to improve the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of the individual seeking help with cognitive challenges. Debra has a diverse background, but found her interest to be in the emerging field of therapeutic recreation. She is working mostly with older adults with dementia; but the other areas that she also works with are children, youth, mental health and workplace wellness. She enjoys helping other people and seeing their quality of life improving, with the additional domain of spiritual fitness and wellness coaching. Adult Cognitive Wellness CentreWe Focus on Ability | Langley

Send us a text As a younger man, Marty was into sports big time. He eventually worked in the tech industry as a technician for Apple.  He slowly lost his vision completely. Marty eventually applied his technical experience into 2 Podcasts entitled 'Unmute' and 'Code Orange' (on the Aftersight Network). Unmute is a podcast focused on technology for blind and visually impaired users. Code Orange is the disability inclusive guide to emergency preparedness for the blind and low-vision community. No hype - just what to do before, during and after a crisis.  You think your life is tiring? Try being a blind person - it takes a lot of energy to compensate for the lack of sight.  Unmute Podcast Network - Podcast - Apple Podcasts Code Orange - Podcast - Apple Podcast Stream Podcasts - Aftersight

Send us a text Steven talks with Seaver Stafford, a representative from the Neil Squire Society, a Canadian national not-for-profit organization that helps Canadians with disabilities through advocacy, computer-based, assistive technology, research and development, and various employment programs. There are four locations across Canada. Seaver also hosts a podcast on Spotify "We have solutions"

Send us a text Unedited, uncensored, and raw. Please join Steven and Chris as we warmly reflect the project’s first year, including memories of: unforeseen challenges, memorable episodes, and other anecdotal stories. All said with a sense of humor and candor over a bottle of bubbly. Don’t miss the announcement at the end (before the abrupt ending)

Send us a text Steve has a candid discussion with Andy Manson, a recently retired Ostomy nurse about the crappy and not so crappy sides of having and caring for an Ostomy You will find topics that you can slide right into, it's a slippery slope - but Steve and Andy think you won't find anything stinky about this episode. After all, as Andy reminds us: it's just poop. HOME - Ostomy Canada Society