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Why Access Matters
Accessibrand will launch its podcast in May 2022. “Why Access Matters” is a new podcast focusing on Thoughts and Talks about accessibility.

Accessibrand, an accessibility-focused design, marketing and communications agency located in Waterloo Region, Ontario, is set to launch a new initiative thanks to a grant from CCRW (Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work). Jolene MacDonald, the founder of Accessibrand states, “we are so excited to announce the upcoming launch of our new podcast titled “Why Access Matters”.
“Why Access Matters” is a podcast about all things related to accessibility and features discussions and chats with our team and selected guest speakers. The podcast is one of a few initiatives Accessibrand is doing to help educate others about the importance of accessibility and the value of lived disability experience – she added.
The first season of “Why Access Matters” includes one pre-episode and 5 episodes which will be published once a month starting on the last Friday of May 2022.
Episodes
Episode 5 – S2

Hello everyone!
Welcome to the 5th and the last episode of our second season and the 10th episode overall of our podcast “Why Access Matters”.
In this episode, I talked to Alison Tedford Seaweed. Alison is an Indigenous Relations consultant based in Abbotsford, BC.
In this conversation, she shares her valuable thoughts and experiences regarding her commitment to working alongside Indigenous communities, people, and cultures to create transformative change and its intersectionality with her lived experience as an entrepreneur with disability. And also about how social determinants of health impact the experience of disability for Indigenous persons. She emphasizes the diversity within Indigenous communities and how cultural beliefs, worldviews, and language shape perspectives on disability.
There is a vital opportunity to learn from each other cross-culturally and to reflect on how various aspects of our lives contribute to our experiences with health and wellness, including their barriers and disabilities: June is Canada’s National Indigenous History Month, and there are lots of programs and activities that would be perfect opportunities to learn more and listen to Indigenous voices!
Please feel free to share your feedback and suggestions with us by sending an email to: jolene@accessibrand.com
Host: Jolene MacDonald | Production Manager: Farshid Sadatsharifi
Transcript Available: read the podcast transcript
Episode 4 – S2

Hello everyone!
Welcome to the 4th episode of our second season and the 9th episode overall of our podcast “Why Access Matters”.
To better understand how important it is to break down barriers and address societal openness to accessibility, we talked to Alicia Jarvis. Alicia is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion researcher and strategist. She is a creative force for change and a thought leader, offering a positive perspective and innovative solutions to complex problems relating to universal usability.
She shared her valuable thoughts about the importance of accessibility, her difficult but fruitful personal journey, and many other key points about identifying our barriers and moving toward a more accessible world.
Please feel free to share your feedback and suggestions with us by sending an email to: jolene@accessibrand.com
Host: Jolene MacDonald | Production Manager: Farshid Sadatsharifi
Transcript Available: read the podcast transcript
Episode 3 – S2

Welcome to the 8th episode of “Why Access Matters.”
Today, we have two amazing guests, Allan Redford and Isabella Lamanna, who are involved in Little People of Canada, the Little People of Ontario, and the Dwarf Athletic Association of Canada. They will share their experiences and insights into the organization and their work to raise awareness and acceptance around dwarfism. Please check the links below to no more about their fabulous work:
https://littlepeopleofontario.com/
https://littlepeopleofcanada.com/
Please feel free to share your feedback and suggestions with us by sending an email to: jolene@accessibrand.com
Host: Jolene MacDonald | Production Manager: Farshid Sadatsharifi
Transcript Available: read the podcast transcript
Episode 2 – S2

Welcome to the second season and the 7th episode of our podcast “Why Access Matters”! It is also our 2nd episode of season 2.
This episode will not only cover the question about the connections between accessibility and advocacy but also will cover lots of thought-provoking topics about accessibility.
In this episode seeking a better understanding of how important it is to address that everyone –including non-disabled people- can and should do their part towards a more equitable and accessible world, I spoke to Cam Beaudoin, the founder of “Accelerated Accessibility.”
In our conversation, he spoke not only as a disability inclusion advocate and social media influencer in accessibility but also shared his own story with me about how he, as a non-disabled person, entered the Accessibility sphere in the first place.
Please feel free to share your feedback and suggestions with us by sending an email to: jolene@accessibrand.com
Host: Jolene MacDonald | Production Manager: Farshid Sadatsharifi
Transcript Available: read the podcast transcript
Episode 1 – S2

We want to welcome you to the second season and the 6th episode of our podcast “Why Access Matters”!
In this episode, we talk about how important it is to break down barriers to make a more inclusive and accessible world and also we address the intersection with neurodiversity.
In this topic, we talked to Aditya (Adi) Bikkani, the CEO and Founder of AdvancedBytez, a company with the mission “to ensure all users of the web are included while using your products and services.”
Please feel free to share your feedback and suggestions with us by sending an email to: jolene@accessibrand.com
Host: Jolene MacDonald | Production Manager: Farshid Sadatsharifi
Transcript Available: read the podcast transcript
