Épisodes

  • Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Debra Erickson, Founder, The Blind Kitchen

    Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Debra Erickson, Founder, The Blind Kitchen
    Feb 17 2026
    🎙️ Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Debra Erickson, Founder, The Blind Kitchen | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/dwd-02-17-2026/ In this inspiring episode of Dining With Donna, Donna J. Jodhan welcomes Debra Erickson, founder of The Blind Kitchen, for a candid conversation about vision loss, resilience, and reclaiming confidence in the kitchen. Debra shares her journey from a shocking diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa at age 28 to learning essential blindness skills and fully embracing her identity, while Donna connects through her own experience of having to re-learn cooking without relying on sight. Together, they explore Debra's core message: vision loss does not have to end your love of cooking, and with the right support, techniques, and mindset, fear can be replaced with competence and joy. Debra explains how her frustrations with inaccessible online cooking content, especially videos that offered no useful description, pushed her to build The Blind Kitchen as a structured, one-stop teaching hub with extensive audio-described instructional resources. She and Donna dig into practical, immediately usable strategies: setting up a clean, predictable work area (trays, a scraps bowl, and a "parked" spot for sharp tools), preventing cross-contamination with warm soapy sink water, and adopting family-friendly safety systems like a dedicated sharps basket. Debra highlights favorite tools that replace visual cues with sound and touch (like a boil-alert disc and auto-measuring spout), plus methods for labeling and identification from low-tech (rubber bands) to higher-tech options (Be My Eyes, Aira, Meta smart glasses). The episode closes with a forward-looking note as Debra shares her hope to build more community and connection through cook-alongs and shared learning, so no one has to navigate blind cooking alone. TRANSCRIPT Advertisement: This podcast brought to you by Pneuma Solutions. Advertisement: I can't see it. Advertisement: ADA Title II has a real compliance deadline. April 2026. Public entities are required to make their digital content accessible, including websites, PDFs, reports, applications, and public records. If a document cannot be read with a screen reader, it is not compliant and if it is not compliant, blind people are still being denied equal access. For a clear explanation of what the rule requires, visit www.title2.info. It's one of the leading resources explaining what agencies must do and when. This message is brought to you by Pneuma Solutions, we have remediated hundreds of thousands of pages in days, not months or years, aligned with WCAG 2 AA guidelines at a fraction of traditional costs. Accessibility isn't a privilege, it's a right. Now that you know, ask your agencies a simple question, are your documents actually accessible? Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Dining with Donna, the podcast where we make cooking approachable, enjoyable, and accessible to everyone. I'm your host, Donna Jordan, and I am inviting you into my kitchen today to explore step by step recipes, smart kitchen hacks, and more meal ideas that fit real life. Whether you are cooking on a budget, planning a busy weeknight dinner, or preparing something special for family and friends, will focus on cooking with confidence without relying on sight, using sound, touch, aroma and simple tools that keep you safe and in control. So grab your apron, bring your curiosity, and let's get cooking. Debra Ericksen it is my privilege and my pleasure to welcome you to my podcast. Debra Erickson: Well, thank you for the kind introduction. I'm very excited to be here and to have this conversation with you. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Great. So let's get started, Debra, for listeners who are meeting you for the very first time, can you share your story of vision loss when you first notice symptoms when you were diagnosed and what that transition was like for you personally and professionally. Debra Erickson: Well, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa when I was 28, and I had just gone to the eye doctor to get a pair of glasses because I had astigmatism, a mild one since I was a child. Yeah. And when he looked in my eyes and said, I think you have an eye disease, and I want you to see a specialist, I couldn't have been more shocked. There was no history of vision loss in either side of my family. And I'm one of 12 children and there was absolutely no, no history. So I ended up going and it was confirmed. So my parents were recessive gene carriers, but I had no symptoms that I was aware of. Of course I had decreased peripheral vision and I had I knew I couldn't see very well in the dark, but how much can another person see in the dark? So I had no suspicion at all that I had a serious eye disease. And so, like many people who have RP, some people call it resistant people. That's what RP stands for. I tried to fake it as long as I ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    43 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #75: Interview with Richard Marion, Accessibility Professional

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #75: Interview with Richard Marion, Accessibility Professional
    Feb 12 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #75: Interview with Richard Marion, Accessibility Professional | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-02-12-2026/ In this thought-provoking episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan welcomes longtime mentor and friend Richard Marion ("Rich") for a wide-ranging conversation about disability advocacy, inclusive transit, and what real accessibility looks like in daily life. Richard shares how his work has evolved over roughly 35 years, spanning behind-the-scenes advocacy, peer support around access technology (especially mobile devices), and a deep focus on public transit accessibility through multiple roles with TransLink, including years on its Access Transit Committee. He also reflects on how identifying as Métis and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community has shaped his equity work and broadened how he brings disability issues into other communities, while continuing to center lived experience and practical solutions. Donna and Richard dive into specific, street-level changes that make systems usable, most notably TransLink's system-wide rollout of Braille and tactile bus-stop signage (which Richard helped technically advise, down to ensuring Unified English Braille conventions and fixing real-world dot/spacing issues as materials changed). They explore common mistakes agencies make, consulting too late, treating "accessibility" as wheelchair-only, and overlooking the needs of Deaf riders, neurodivergent riders, and people with sensory disabilities, alongside the "make-or-break" features for blind travelers (tactile cues, clear faregate tap points, reliable audio/wayfinding, and human assistance when needed). Richard also unpacks the promise and limits of high-tech tools (GPS shines; camera-based wayfinding often struggles outdoors; smart glasses and services like Be My Eyes can be powerful but aren't always seamless), arguing that low-tech, always-there design must remain the foundation, especially as cities introduce complex street redesigns like floating/island bus stops near bike lanes. The episode closes with Richard's "what's next" (more accessible arts and travel), a nod to his leadership history in the blindness community, and a direct message to younger advocates: social media helps, but lasting change still comes from organized, in-person community advocacy and advisory work. TRANSCRIPT Advertisement: This podcast brought to you by Pneuma Solutions. Advertisement: I can't see it. Advertisement: ADA Title II has a real compliance deadline. April 2026. Public entities are required to make their digital content accessible, including websites, PDFs, reports, applications, and public records. If a document cannot be read with a screen reader, it is not compliant and if it is not compliant, blind people are still being denied equal access. For a clear explanation of what the rule requires, visit www.title2.info. It's one of the leading resources explaining what agencies must do and when. This message is brought to you by Pneuma Solutions, we have remediated hundreds of thousands of pages in days, not months or years, aligned with WCAG 2 AA guidelines at a fraction of traditional costs. Accessibility isn't a privilege, it's a right. Now that you know, ask your agencies a simple question, are your documents actually accessible? Podcast Commentator: Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA, invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, sight loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: And hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Remarkable World Commentary. I'm Donna Jodhan, a lifelong disability advocate and one who sees the world mainly through sound, touch and stubborn optimism. I am a law graduate, accessibility consultant, author, lifelong barrier buster who also happens to be blind. You may know me from a few headline moments, as in November 2010, I won the Landmark Charter case that forced the Canadian government to make its websites accessible to every Canadian, not just recited once. And in July of 2019, I co-led the Accessible Canada Act with more than two dozen disability groups to Turin, equal access into federal law, and most recently on June 3rd, 2022. I was greatly humbled by Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Award for tireless commitment to removing barriers. When I'm not in a courtroom or a committee room or in a pottery ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    41 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #74: Interview with Freek van Welsenis, Co-Founder, Hable

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #74: Interview with Freek van Welsenis, Co-Founder, Hable
    Feb 10 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #74: Interview with Freek van Welsenis, Co-Founder, Hable | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-02-10-2026/ In this insightful episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan sits down with Freek van Welsenis, co-founder of Hable, for a practical, no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to build assistive technology that people can rely on. Donna introduces Freek as a mission-driven innovator, and Freek traces his motivation back to growing up alongside two siblings with disabilities, learning early that technology can either empower people or frustrate them beyond belief. Freek shares how Hable began at Eindhoven University of Technology as a student attempt to help his co-founder's blind grandfather communicate independently, and how the project "accidentally" became a company once blind testers and community members began asking for a product they could actually use day-to-day. Together, Donna and Freek dig into why touchscreen gestures can be slow, tiring, and "too public," and how Hable's devices (including Hable One and Hable Easy) prioritize physical buttons, safer phone use (even with the phone kept in a pocket), and simpler learning curves, especially for seniors and people new to screen readers. Freek also highlights real user impact, Hable's approach to staying compatible through ongoing iOS/Android updates, and the company's expansion into more affordable daily-living tools like SpeechLabel and Stack Tiles, all grounded in a philosophy Donna strongly agrees with: listen first, build with the community, and keep things as simple as possible without sacrificing power. TRANSCRIPT Advertisement: This podcast brought to you by Pneuma Solutions. Advertisement: I can't see it. Advertisement: ADA Title II has a real compliance deadline. April 2026. Public entities are required to make their digital content accessible, including websites, PDFs, reports, applications, and public records. If a document cannot be read with a screen reader, it is not compliant and if it is not compliant, blind people are still being denied equal access. For a clear explanation of what the rule requires, visit www.title2.info. It's one of the leading resources explaining what agencies must do and when. This message is brought to you by Pneuma Solutions, we have remediated hundreds of thousands of pages in days, not months or years, aligned with WCAG 2 AA guidelines at a fraction of traditional costs. Accessibility isn't a privilege, it's a right. Now that you know, ask your agencies a simple question, are your documents actually accessible? Podcast Commentator: Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Remarkable World Commentary. I'm Donna Jodhan, a lifelong disability advocate and one who sees the world mainly through sound, through touch and stubborn optimism. I am a law graduate, accessibility consultant, author, lifelong career barrier buster who also happens to be blind. You may know me from a few headline moments. In November of 2010, I won the landmark charter case that forced the Canadian government to make its websites accessible to every Canadian, not just to cited ones. And in July of 2019, I co-led the Accessible Canada Act with more than two dozen disability groups to turn equal access into federal law. And most recently, on June the 3rd, 2022, I was greatly humbled. Humbled by Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Award for tireless commitment to removing barriers. When I'm not in a courtroom or a committee room or a pottery studio, you'll find me coaching kids with vision loss, producing audio mysteries, or helping tech companies to make their gadgets talk back in plain language. Everything I do circles one goal to turn accessibility from an afterthought into everyday practice. I invite you to think of this show as our shared workbench where policy meets lived experience and lived experience sparks fresh ideas. Before we jump into today's conversation, let me shine a spotlight on today's guest, a change maker whose work is every bit as remarkable as the world that we are trying to build, Freek van Welsenis, I hope I got that correct? Freek van Welsenis: Hi. Yes, Freek van Welsenis. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    43 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #73: Interview with Aisling Redican, Communications Director and Fundraising Manager, Xavier Society for the Blind

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #73: Interview with Aisling Redican, Communications Director and Fundraising Manager, Xavier Society for the Blind
    Feb 4 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #73: Interview with Aisling Redican, Communications Director and Fundraising Manager, Xavier Society for the Blind | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-02-04-2026/ In this thought-provoking and deeply human episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan sits down with Aisling Redican, Communications Director and Fundraising Manager at the Xavier Society for the Blind, for an engaging conversation about faith, accessibility, and global inclusion. Aisling shares her personal journey into disability service work and explains how the Xavier Society has, for more than 125 years, quietly ensured that blind and low-vision Catholics around the world have free access to religious materials in Braille, large print, and audio formats. Together, Donna and Aisling unpack what true accessibility means, not as charity, but as dignity, participation, and belonging. The discussion explores the Society's worldwide reach, its production of hundreds of thousands of Braille pages annually, and the critical role accessible Mass propers play in enabling blind Catholics to fully participate as lectors, congregants, and clergy. Aisling also reflects on the organization's evolving work in Spanish-language materials, accessible web design, and future projects such as large-print Roman Missals. Grounded in lived experience and practical advocacy, this episode highlights how sustained commitment, thoughtful design, and listening to blind users can transform faith practice, and serves as a powerful reminder that accessibility is not optional, but essential to an inclusive world. TRANSCRIPT ADVERTISEMENT: This podcast brought to you by Pneuma Solutions. ADVERTISEMENT: I can't see it. ADVERTISEMENT: ADA Title II has a real compliance deadline. April 2026. Public entities are required to make their digital content accessible, including websites, PDFs, reports, applications, and public records. If a document cannot be read with a screen reader, it is not compliant and if it is not compliant, blind people are still being denied equal access. For a clear explanation of what the rule requires, visit www.title2.info. It's one of the leading resources explaining what agencies must do and when. This message is brought to you by Pneuma Solutions, we have remediated hundreds of thousands of pages in days, not months or years, aligned with WCAG 2 AA guidelines at a fraction of traditional costs. Accessibility isn't a privilege, it's a right. Now that you know, ask your agencies a simple question, are your documents actually accessible? Podcast Commentator: Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA invite you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, sight loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello everybody, and welcome to another episode of Remarkable World Commentary. I'm Donna Johnson, a lifelong disability advocate and one who sees the world mainly through sound, touch and stubborn optimism. I am a law graduate, accessibility consultant, author, lifelong barrier buster who also happens to be blind. You may know me from a few headline moments, as in November 2010, I won the Landmark had a case that forced the Canadian government to make its websites accessible to every Canadian, not just to cited ones. And in July of 2019, I co-led the Accessible Canada Act with more than two dozen disability groups to turn equal access into federal law. And most recently, on June 3rd, 2022, I was greatly humbled by Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Award for tireless commitment to removing barriers. When I'm not in a courtroom or in a committee room or in a pottery studio, you will find me coaching kids with vision loss, producing audio mysteries, or helping tech companies to make their gadgets Top back in plain language. Everything I do circles one goal to turn accessibility from an afterthought into everyday practice, and I invite you to think of the show as your shared workbench where policy meets lived experience and lived experience sparks fresh ideas. Now, before we jump into today's conversation, let me shine a spotlight on today's guest, a change maker whose work is every bit as remarkable as the world that we are trying to build. I'm very pleased and I'm very privileged to welcome Aisling Redican. I hope I got this correctly of the Xavier Society. Welcome to my podcast Aisling, you and I have been ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    46 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #77: Ask Advocate Donna

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #77: Ask Advocate Donna
    Feb 2 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #77: Ask Advocate Donna | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-02-02-2026/ In this practical episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan introduces her monthly "Ask Advocate Donna" feature, an advocacy-focused segment designed to help listeners think on their feet, build confidence, and approach everyday barriers with courage and strategy. She opens with a favorite quote about speaking and listening with care, then leads a quick "word game" that contrasts respect vs. disrespect and courteous vs. condescending, urging advocates to keep respect front and center, ignore disrespect when it arises, and aim for genuine courtesy rather than talking down to others. Donna then shares three listener-inspired stories that turn real-life challenges into advocacy lessons: a blind student excluded from a school play because of assumptions about learning lines and stage cues; a child who uses a wheelchair being denied a kitten because adults doubt her ability to care for it; and a hard-of-hearing retiree barred from a community concert despite using hearing aids effectively. In each case, Donna breaks down what advocacy looks like, who should get involved, why speaking up matters, and how persistence, often with support from parents, allies, or the broader community, can change attitudes and remove unfair barriers. TRANSCRIPT Podcast Commentator: Greetings. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA, invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and expertise in access technology and information as someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello, I'm Donna, and welcome to the second Remarkable World commentary from me for the month of February 2026. I started in January to include the Ask Advocate Donna feature every month, and this is a rollover from my Ask Donna Advocacy in Action podcast, because after having received so much feedback, comments, and thoughts from my listeners, I wanted to continue in this mode. And every month I'll be bringing you the Ask Advocate Donna feature. I have restructured it and what I'm doing is trying to share stuff with you and encourage you to think on your feet when it comes to advocacy. Be not afraid of advocacy. Embrace it. Cherish it, and let's roll with it. Okay. I have a quote I like to start with. Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. And listen in such a way that others love to speak to you. I like that quote. Okay, I want to start with a word game, and many of my listeners have said to me that they really appreciate this word game because I give you two sets of words, and I encourage you to think about how you view these words. I'll tell you how I view these words. And before I continue, please do not hesitate to send me your feedback to Donna Jordan at gmail.com. That's d o. N at. So let's dive into the word game for this month. Okay, here we go. What do you think of these two words respect versus disrespect. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Do you think that respect is something that advocates need to keep uppermost in their minds? Do you agree with me that respect is earned? It is not given. It is earned. It is not given. If you engage in disrespect. I don't think that advocacy would be meaningful or productive. Sometimes it is awfully difficult to avoid disrespect when engaging and communicating with others because, you know, people either inadvertently or intentionally give out disrespect either that they're angry, upset, disappointed, or just plain old mad. So they offer disrespect. My advice to this is ignore the disrespect. Just keep on going. Keep on showing respect and it will all come out in the better for you. Okay, so here is the next set of words. Courteous or Condescend. Are some people courteous to you meaningfully, or they're just being courteous for being courteous? Sick do they? Condescend and condescension often comes when someone is perceived to be overly courteous. It comes across as being, you know, condescension or it's con. It's being condescending. One has to be really careful when it comes to the difference between courteous and condescending. So courteous versus condescending. What is it going to be? I do my best to be courteous, but boy oh boy, sometimes it is awfully difficult to avoid the condescension route. Let's stay on the side of being courteous. For what it's worth. Let's do our best to always be courteous. Donna J. ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    19 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #76: The Cost of Vision Loss

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #76: The Cost of Vision Loss
    Feb 1 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #76: The Cost of Vision Loss | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-02-01-2026/ In this thought-provoking episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan reflects on "the cost of vision loss" and how it can abruptly and profoundly reshape a person's life, especially when a child loses their sight. She describes how vision loss forces children and their parents to find "workarounds" for navigating a fast-moving world, while also confronting social attitudes and the real-life barriers that can suddenly appear in everyday situations. Donna also expands the conversation to adulthood, noting how vision loss in the workplace can change how an employer and co-workers perceive the individual, and can create risks like being sidelined, limited in advancement, or even downsized. She points out that the impact ripples into healthcare and education as well, where medical professionals and educators must adapt to help people manage shifting needs, whether learning is happening in-person, virtually, or online. Donna credits a recent conversation with advocate Ian White for raising her awareness, and she hopes to continue the discussion with him in a future episode. TRANSCRIPT Podcast Commentator: Greetings. Donna J Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello, I'm Donna and welcome to my Remarkable World commentary first podcast of On My Own for February 2026. You know, I never really gave much credence or much thought to this topic that I'm about to discuss with you, and I only did so after my podcast with the great Ian White of Toronto, terrific advocate who has worked tirelessly to ensure that persons stay connected. He was the CEO of visionaries chapter for the CCP for quite some time, and he retired or stepped back quite probably a few months ago. And he is now in moving in a different direction, but I wanted to talk about this topic for today. Based on the podcast interview that I had with Ian, and I'd like to thank him for raising my awareness, and I apologize to myself that I never really thought about this topic before. Okay, it's all about the cost of vision loss for the child who loses their vision. It means that their future has been changed dramatically and drastically, and now them and their parents will have to find workarounds, as I call it, to deal with vision loss for the parent. It's also dramatic and drastic because they now have to find ways to help their child to grow up in a world that is so fast moving, to help them navigate the landscape and to help them deal with both social and artificial attitudes as well as real life attitudes. That's what vision loss does for a parent. And in the workplace, it means that if someone has lost their vision while working, they too have to find ways to deal with their vision loss. Things will never be the same. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: The employer looks at the one losing their vision differently now, for better or for worse, and their co-workers do the same. The person losing their vision in the workplace now has to find ways to cope, find ways to keep up. And they run the risk of being, you know, either downsized or being stymied at their job or being told that they can't go any further because of their loss of vision. That is the cost of vision loss. The medical community as well suffers a lot from, you know, the cost of vision loss because now and this may not be a good way of putting it, but a good way of looking at it, they too, have to work harder to ensure that their patients can deal most effectively with vision loss. This is what vision loss brings. This is what the cost of vision loss is all about. And then when we think of education, both in the classroom, virtually in the classroom, face to face, virtually and online, everything changes with vision loss, health wise, education wise, socially, everything changes with the cost of vision loss. But we don't realize it until it happens to us. And maybe there is some little thing that I, Donna, can do to start raising more awareness to the meaning of the term, the cost of vision loss. And I am hoping to have Ian White back on my podcast, Remarkable World Commentary, sometime early in the new year to continue his discussion. A very, very interesting and ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    6 min
  • Remarkable World Commentary Episode #72: Interview with Robin East, IT Analyst / Accessibility Specialist, Canada Revenue Agency

    Remarkable World Commentary Episode #72: Interview with Robin East, IT Analyst / Accessibility Specialist, Canada Revenue Agency
    Jan 28 2026
    🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #72: Interview with Robin East, IT Analyst / Accessibility Specialist, Canada Revenue Agency | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-01-28-2026/ In this wide-ranging episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan sits down with her longtime friend, mentor, and fellow "barrier buster" Robin East for a candid conversation about advocacy, law, and the lived reality of navigating inaccessible systems. East traces his path back to Saskatchewan, describing how he became legally blind in 1982 at age 22 and how the struggle to access basic information, like textbooks and timely research, sparked his lifelong push for equal access. From there, he reflects on his 2007 tenure as national president of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians and explains why he insisted on a "rights-holder" approach (not "stakeholders"), including coalition-building across blindness organizations and backing Jodhan's landmark Charter challenge on inaccessible federal websites, an outcome he says proved that systemic change can be forced when communities organize and persist. The interview also revisits East's own landmark 2008 transportation victory tied to flying with a guide dog, what triggered it, how he pursued it (including the Federal Court of Appeal), and what the rulings mean in practical terms for space and seating accommodations. From his vantage point inside the federal public service and through transportation advisory work, East then lays out why progress still feels slow: inaccessible legacy systems, flawed procurement, and a culture that treats accessibility as an afterthought instead of a requirement "from the get-go." He distinguishes "checking the box" from real compliance by emphasizing meaningful engagement early in design and policy-making, measurable timelines, and enforcement, calling out that the Accessible Canada Act's teeth (including potential penalties) haven't been used and that mandated reviews appear overdue. The episode closes with a call to action: disability organizations (both "of" and "for" people with disabilities) must rebuild coalitions, scrutinize accessibility plans, and press regulators to act, while also acknowledging burnout and the need for a funded, coordinated national forum to turn frustration into a concrete action plan. TRANSCRIPT Advertisement: This podcast brought to you by Pneuma Solutions. Advertisement: I can't see it. Advertisement: ADA Title II has a real compliance deadline. April 2026. Public entities are required to make their digital content accessible, including websites, PDFs, reports, applications, and public records. If a document cannot be read with a screen reader, it is not compliant and if it is not compliant, blind people are still being denied equal access. For a clear explanation of what the rule requires, visit www.title2.info. It's one of the leading resources explaining what agencies must do and when. This message is brought to you by Pneuma Solutions, we have remediated hundreds of thousands of pages in days, not months or years, aligned with WCAG 2 AA guidelines at a fraction of traditional costs. Accessibility isn't a privilege, it's a right. Now that you know, ask your agencies a simple question, are your documents actually accessible? Podcast Commentator: Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ASCP and MBA, invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles, she just wants to make things better than possible. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Remarkable World commentary. I'm Donna Jodhan, a lifelong disability advocate and one who sees the world mainly through sound, touch and a stubborn optimism. I am a law graduate, accessibility consultant, author, lifelong barrier buster who also happens to be blind. You may know me from a few headline moments. In November of 2010, I won the Landmark Charter case that forced the Canadian government to make its websites accessible to every Canadian, not just to sighted ones. And in July of 2019, I co-led the Accessible Canada Act with more than two dozen disability groups to turn equal access into federal law. And most recently, on June 3rd, 2022, I was humbled and greatly humbled by Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Award for tireless commitment to removing barriers. When I'm not in a courtroom or in a committee room or a pottery studio, you'll find me coaching ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    49 min
  • Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Renée Rentmeester, Creator and Executive Producer, The Cooking Without Looking TV Show

    Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Renée Rentmeester, Creator and Executive Producer, The Cooking Without Looking TV Show
    Jan 8 2026
    🎙️ Dining With Donna Podcast: Interview with Renée Rentmeester, Creator and Executive Producer, The Cooking Without Looking TV Show | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/dwd-01-08-2026/ On this Episode of Dining with Donna, Donna Jodhan sits down with Renée Rentmeester, the creator and executive producer of The Cooking Without Looking TV Show, for a lively conversation about food, accessibility, and changing how the world understands blindness. Renée shares her path from an early start in television to a long media career and entrepreneurial work, then explains what moved her to create a show that highlights blind and visually impaired cooks as capable, creative, and completely "everyday," without pity or stereotypes. Together, Donna and Renée talk about building a welcoming space where guests can be honest about vision loss while keeping the tone upbeat, practical, and empowering. The episode also delivers plenty of real-world kitchen takeaways for blind and visually impaired listeners. Renée and Donna explore sensory cooking, relying on smell, texture, thickness, and feel, along with tools, hacks, and strategies that boost confidence and safety in the kitchen. Renée explains why Cooking Without Looking embraces authenticity (including the occasional on-air mistake), how the show's virtual era expanded its reach, and what she hopes comes next as the program continues to grow across platforms. TRANSCRIPT Podcast Commentator: Greetings. Donna J. Jodhan invites you to draw culinary inspiration from her podcast, Dining with Donna. Here, Donna serves up approachable step by step recipes, kitchen hacks, and meal themes. From quick weeknight dinners to comfort food classics and healthy meal prep with tips for cooking without relying on sight using sound, touch, aroma and smart tools. You'll build confidence, cook safely, and enjoy every bite. You can expect budget friendly ideas, seasonal specials, and the occasional guest chef. If this makes you hungry, grab your apron, subscribe and let's get cooking! One delicious, accessible meal at a time. Now let's dive in to today's episode. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode. I am Donna Jodhan, a lifelong disability advocate and one who sees the world mainly through sound, touch, and a stubborn optimism. I am a law graduate, accessibility consultant, author, lifelong barrier buster who also happens to be blind. You may know me from a few headline moments, as in November 2010, I won the Landmark Charter case that forced the Canadian government to make its websites accessible to every Canadian, not just to sighted ones. And in June of 2019, I co-led the Accessible Canada Act with more than two dozen disability groups to turn equal access into federal law, and most recently, on June the 3rd, 2022, I was greatly humbled by Her Late Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Award for tireless commitment to removing barriers. When I'm not in a courtroom or a committee room or a pottery studio, you'll find me coaching kids with vision loss, producing audio mysteries, or helping tech companies to make their gadgets talk back in plain language. Everything I do circles one goal to turn accessibility from an afterthought into everyday practice. I invite you to think of this show as our shared workbench where policy meets lived experience and lived experience sparks fresh ideas. Now, before we jump into today's conversation, let me shine a spotlight on today's guest, a changemaker whose work is every bit as remarkable as the world that we are trying to treat. Renee Rentmeester, I'd like to welcome you to my Remarkable World commentary, and I'm very honored and privileged to have you be part of it. Renee Rentmeester: Well, thank you, Donna, I'm honored and privileged to be with you today. Thank you so much for having me. Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: I can't wait to get started because I'd like to know a lot more about you. So, Renee, for listeners meeting you for the first time, how would you describe your personal journey from your early years in television and journalism to becoming the creator and executive producer of the Cooking Without Looking TV show. Renee Rentmeester: Well, okay, I guess we should sit back and relax here for a moment. Go for it. No, no, I'm just joking. It's it's a long story. It started when I was like, 17, and I wanted to be in TV and be a reporter and all that sort of stuff, and I did that. I got out of high school early and I would go half days and I'd work in a TV station in town, professional TV station. And, you know, I think no matter where we come from, we all know that once you have your foot in the door, no matter what you're doing that's a plus, because if they know you, they're probably willing to hire you along the way? Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Right. Renee Rentmeester: So. So that did happen. I had some interesting stories along the way. I I was working as, like, an ...
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    50 min