In this episode, Anthony Frisina (he/him) and Maddy Dever (they/them) , The Autistic Rambler, dive into the reality of accessibility in Ontario following the missed 2025 barrier-free deadline. They discuss the challenges faced by the disability community, from navigating everyday barriers to advocating for meaningful change in policies and attitudes.

Key topics include:

🔹 The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) progress—or lack thereof.

🔹 The role of government, businesses, and communities in creating a barrier-free world.

🔹 Strategies for effective advocacy and the importance of allyship.

🔹 Personal stories of resilience and the push for accountability in accessibility reforms.

This episode is packed with insights, passion, and humor as Maddy and Anthony explore how to build a more inclusive future.

📣 Join the conversation by leaving a comment! Share your thoughts, advocacy plans, or stories on accessibility. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on new episodes.

📢 Follow us:

🌐 AboveBeyondPodcast.com

🌐 TheAutisticRambler.com

https://fb.com/aboveandbeyond.anthonyfrisina

https://x.com/anthony_frisina

https://fb.com/autisticrambler

https://instagram.com/autisticrambler

https://x.com/mattjdever

Check out Maddy Dever’s other podcast at https://youtube.com/@autisticrambler

#AccessibilityMatters #DisabilityRights #InclusionNow

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusion

03:57 - Political Landscape and Disability Advocacy

08:59 - Goals for 2025 and Beyond

12:23 - Government Accountability and Accessibility Standards

15:55 - Community Involvement and Attitude Shifts

20:28 - Building Alliances for Change

26:15 - Conclusion and Call to Action

#accessibility, #inclusion, #disabilityrights, #advocacy, #Ontario, #government, #community, #barriers

In this episode of the Above and Beyond the Accessibility and Inclusion podcast, hosts Anthony Frisina and Maddy Dever, The Autistic Rambler, reflect on the transition into 2025, discussing the ongoing challenges and successes in accessibility advocacy. They emphasize the importance of recognizing positive changes while continuing to push for further improvements. The conversation covers the need for actionable advocacy, the significance of addressing attitudes towards disability, and the political landscape affecting disability rights. They also discuss expectations for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and the upcoming Canada Disability Benefit, highlighting the importance of community engagement and collaboration in driving change.

Takeaways

• We have reached January 2025, a significant milestone.
• Kudos should be given when progress is made in accessibility.
• Advocacy requires both recognition of challenges and celebration of wins.
• The past 20 years have been a journey towards accessibility.
• Manifesting change is essential for the new year.
• Advocacy must involve people with disabilities in decision-making.
• Attitudes towards disability need to change for real progress.
• Political engagement is crucial for advancing disability rights.
• The Canada Disability Benefit is set to launch in July 2025.
• Community support and allyship are vital for advocacy efforts.

Follow us on Social Media at

https://fb.com/aboveandbeyond.anthonyfrisina

https://x.com/anthony_frisina

https://fb.com/autisticrambler

https://instagram.com/mattjdever

https://x.com/mattjdever

And our new website https://abovebeyondpodcast.ca

And our individual websites

https://anthonyfrisina.ca

https://autisticrambler.com

Chapters

00:00 - Welcome to 2025: A New Era of Accessibility

02:20 - Kudos to Progress: Celebrating Small Wins

05:08 - Advocacy in Action: Setting Goals for Change

07:10 - Manifesting Change: New Year, New Opportunities

09:35 - Challenging Attitudes: The Key to Accessibility

12:11 - The ODSP Dilemma: Navigating Disability Benefits

15:00 - Political Landscape: Elections and Advocacy

17:30 - Looking Ahead: What to Expect in 2025

#accessibility, #advocacy, #disabilityrights, #2025, #New Year resolutions, #ODSP, #CanadaDisabilityBenefit, #inclusion

In this episode of Above and Beyond the Accessibility and Inclusion Podcast, hosts Anthony Frisina and Maddy Dever, The Autistic Rambler, “celebrate” the upcoming full accessibility deadline under the AODA while discussing the realities of accessibility in Ontario. They emphasize the need for urgent action, the role of allies, and the importance of autonomy and agency for individuals with disabilities. The conversation culminates in a call to action for a barrier-free future, highlighting the necessity of collaboration and accountability in achieving true accessibility.

Takeaways

• Celebrating the milestone of full accessibility under AODA is significant.

• Expectations for immediate change in accessibility may be unrealistic.

• Urgency is needed in addressing accessibility issues, not just patience.

• Allies play a crucial role in advocating for accessibility.

• Individuals with disabilities must have autonomy and agency in decisions affecting them.

• The community needs to be involved in creating accessibility plans.

• Accountability is essential for enforcing accessibility standards.

• The phrase 'nothing about us without us' emphasizes the need for inclusion.

• An aggressive approach is necessary to address long-standing accessibility issues.

• The time for action is now, and collaboration is key to success.

Follow us on Social Media at

https://fb.com/aboveandbeyond.anthonyfrisina

https://x.com/anthony_frisina

https://fb.com/autisticrambler

https://instagram.com/mattjdever

https://x.com/mattjdever

And our new website https://abovebeyondpodcast.ca

And our individual websites

https://anthonyfrisina.ca

https://autisticrambler.com

Chapters

00:00 - Celebrating Accessibility Milestones

03:32 - Expectations vs. Reality of Accessibility

04:38 - The Urgency for Action

07:49 - The Role of Allies in Accessibility

10:05 - The Importance of Autonomy and Agency

11:57 - Call to Action for a Barrier-Free Future

#Accessibility, #Inclusion, #AODA, #DisabilityRights, #Advocacy, #Ontario, #Barrier-Free, #Autonomy, #Agency, #Allyship