Join us for an illuminating conversation with returning guest Christine Malec, a passionate advocate from Toronto’s blind community, as she discusses her impactful role in making arts and culture accessible at the vibrant Luminato Festival. Running from June 4 to 22, this year's festival embraces the captivating theme of the "24-hour city," offering unique experiences like breathtaking dawn chorus performances and intriguing night shift exhibits. Christine dives into the festival’s inclusive features, highlighting audio descriptions, guided tours, and immersive storytelling that create meaningful accessibility for everyone. But that’s not all—Christine also gives us a fascinating glimpse into her groundbreaking collaboration with NASA, where she's helping to “sonify” astronomical data, making space exploration a reality for blind and visually impaired individuals.

Show Transcript https://atbanter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/at-banter-podcast-episode-429-accessibilty-arts-and-astronomical-adventures-with-christine-malec.pdf

Luminosity Festival https://www.luminatofestival.com/

LuminoCity Podcast https://www.luminatofestival.com/luminocity

Disability Collective https://www.thedisabilitycollective.com/

AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver.

Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Rob, Ryan and Lis welcome podcaster Steven Vine to the show where he shares his remarkable journey after experiencing a life-changing triple-A (abdominal aortic aneurysm) that resulted in the loss of his sight, a leg, and his colon. With warmth, humor, and raw honesty, Stephen explores how acceptance, strong support networks, and unwavering perseverance became cornerstones of his recovery and ongoing growth. He also introduces us to his podcast, "The Disability Diaries," dedicated to educating, empowering, and amplifying the voices of those thriving within the disability community. Together, they discuss the powerful, therapeutic impact of storytelling and emphasize the importance of diverse representation and authentic voices in disability advocacy.

Show Transcript https://atbanter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/at-banter-podcast-episode-428-stephen-vine.pdf

The Disability Diaries with Steven Vine https://www.buzzsprout.com/2385172

The Disability Diaries on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Svlg4ut3kjIOGNJ9QiVOY

AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver.

Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week, Rob Mineault, Ryan Fleury, and Steve Barclay dive into an exciting celebration—the 30th anniversary of JAWS, the groundbreaking screen reader from Vispero! Joined by special guests Rachel Buchanan and Elizabeth Whitaker from Vispero, the crew discusses JAWS’s incredible journey and impact on users around the globe. Rachel and Elizabeth share personal insights and highlight anniversary celebrations, including a fascinating timeline memorial wall at CSUN, the exclusive “Insert J Club” for dedicated JAWS users, and various engaging training events. Plus, they unveil the latest cutting-edge AI features, such as FS Companion and a handy new AI Text Grabber, designed to significantly enhance accessibility. Listen now to explore how community engagement, innovative training, and advanced technology have come together to empower JAWS users over the last three decades—and maybe even get a tidbit of what might be coming next.

Show Transcript https://atbanter.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/at-banter-podcast-episode-427-jaws-30th-anniversary.pdf

Vispero https://vispero.com/

Insert J Club https://www.freedomscientific.com/insertjclub/

JAWS Timeline https://vispero.com/jaws-timeline/

AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver.

Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.