• On In The Know with Margrett Weldon, Tim Ellis, the Co-President of Etobicoke-Lakeshore NDP, highlights the importance of Bill C-18, authored by the Federal NDP Party, and how this bill will benefit Canadians.
• In Alberta, scientists are optimistic about research that could lead to a cure for diabetes. Jim Krysko has the details.
• We meet the new Executive Director at the Centre for Equitable Library Access, Laurie Davidson. She tells us about her role and some new partnerships!
• Leanne Baarda and her guest Mark Rankin, Orientation & Mobility Instructor with the CNIB, talk to us about safe Winter travel.

Invitation for Family Members, Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, and O&M Specialists to Participate in an Important and Timely Survey

Access and Engagement 2: Survey to Examine the Education of Students with Visual Impairments during COVID-19

In spring 2020, 455 families and 1,028 TVIs and O&M specialists shared how COVID-19 was impacting the education of students with visual impairments. Read the Access and Engagement Report at AFB.org/AccessEngagement.

We want to understand the successes, challenges, and concerns of family members, TVIs, and O&M specialists now during the 2020-2021 school year.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!
Survey open October 28 to November 30, 2020

Please take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete the accessible survey at:

https://www.accessengagement.com/
  
Why should you complete the survey?

• If your child or student is experiencing accessibility issues, we need to let companies, school districts, and policymakers know, so solutions can be developed and implemented.
• We need to know if children with visual impairments are progressing in their education. If children are not progressing, we need to advocate for additional services and time on their IFSPs and IEPs.
• We need to understand if children have the technology tools they need, Internet access, and if their family members have the skills to support students in their technology use. If they don’t, we need to advocate for changes.
• We need to understand the impact of online, hybrid and in person instruction on students with visual impairments, their families, and professionals. We need to develop a plan that ensures our students have success.

PLEASE REACH OUT TO FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT BE ONLINE AND OFFER TO SUPPORT THEM IN COMPLETING THIS IMPORTANT SURVEY!

• We’re very used to getting over the counter medications for ourselves, but is the same thing available for pets? We discuss with Vet Danielle Jongkind.
• Nutritionist Julia Karantjas talks to us about Collagen, what it is and the benefits of consuming it.
• HearingLife, wants Canadians to enjoy all of the sounds of the season. We speak with Jillian Price, Chief Audiologist at HearingLife Canada about some tips for virtual family gatherings as well as gift guide inspiration for those with hearing loss.
• Community Reporter Annette Dennis highlights Kitchen Creations, a social cooking experience filled with kitchen hacks.
• Today’s Parenting topic is COVID-19 and education, and some of the biggest challenges being faced by students with disabilities in today’s learning environment.
• On our Book Club meeting, we discuss Nine Lives, a Lily Dale Mystery, by Wendy Corsi Staub, with the recommender of the book, Pamela Hodge.

• What are Read It Later services and how can we use them? We learn more with Michael Babcock on our Tech Talk.
• Where are the Toronto Raptors going to play this upcoming season? Brock Richardson gives us the details in his sports report
• We check in with Laura Bain from Halifax, who tells us about a Stock Car Builder named Robert Hearn.
• The Windsor Art Gallery has been incorporating more accessibility to it’s exhibits. We learn more about this with Executive Director, Jennifer Matotek.
• On Know Your Rights, Danielle McLaughlin gives us an update on the case in which Quebec’s Bill 21 is being challenged in the courts.

• Apple is set to lower App Store fees for small developers, but some critics not impressed. Why is that? Graham Williams of The App Show joins us with our end-of-the-week App Update.
• While the Erin Fall Fair wasn’t held in person this year, they have been working on improvements to make the annual event more accessible; Karen Magee has the details.
• There’s a really cool project going on right now encouraging Canadians to write digital postcards about their experience through the pandemic. Ryan Hooey explains more on the Chatty Bookshelf.
• It’s a battle between Danielle and Brock as Jeff Ryman rejoins the program to deliver an intense, skill testing quiz!

• Bone Conduction headphones offer compelling advantages for people who have specific needs while listening to audio. Michael Feir has put the Aeropex Headsets through its paces and will share his thoughts about them with us.
• UK Contributor Fern Lulham talks about accessibility at airports, and includes experiences she has had when traveling.
• Drawing inspiration directly from Charles Schulz's beloved comic strips, Peanuts Worldwide announced a campaign that reminds all of us to be good global citizens. It’s called Take Care With Peanuts. We learn more!
• Montreal Community Reporter Nick D’Ambrosio highlights the current situation for vaccines in his region.
• On Curious Minds, Christine Malec introduces us to a unique music video that comes with audio description.