In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Mitch Creedy, a digital accessibility consultant from Canada. Mitch talks about their background in digital accessibility, and the training they received through the Blind Institute of Technology, also called the BIT Academy. They also refer to the WCAG, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, as a tool that can be used by web developers wishing to make their work more accessible. The second half of the conversation revolves around the topic of...

In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Nick Smit, who works as an educator in Johannesburg. With Nick having a strong background in disability awareness and accessibility through his work with the organisation, Smergos, they discuss the accessibility of the teaching profession, both of his teacher training and in his work experience. They chat about how Nick, who did not consider maths to be a strong subject for him, was drawn into specialising as a maths teacher.. They also talk about the...

In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Vhutshilo Masibigiri, founder of Diversity SA, a South African company working in the diversity, equity and inclusion space. During the conversation, Lois and Vee discuss the reason that disability seldom enters the DEI conversation in South Africa, the work Vee is doing to raise awareness about disability and empower people living with disabilities. As an HR and DEI practitioner, Vee shares her work in tackling difficult conversations, and some of the...

In today’s episode, Lois speaks with Shakila Maharaj, managing director at ShazaCin Accessible Media, about making the visual world accessible through the use of audio description. We chat what audio description is and who, beyond the blindness community, is using audio description, as well as digging into some of the more technical aspects including the use of AI in audio description, the various role-players in creating the audio description tracks, and how audio description is both an...

In today’s episode of Job Talk, Lois speaks with rare warrior, Kerry Walsh, about the upcoming launch of her new book “Finding My Feet: A Rare Warrior’s Journey Through SMA and the Unknown”. During the interview, we chat about the book – why Kerry wrote it, some of the central themes and touch on her lived experience with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Kerry also shares the details of the book launch party, which is being held at Dreambox, Johannesburg, on 1 March at 18:30. Links to book...

In today’s episode of Job Talk, Lois speaks with Tyron Harding about his career as a data analyst. Tyron outlines the skills he believes make a good analyst, the training he undertook, and the type of work he does within the scope of his job. During the conversation, Lois and Tyron discuss his previous careers, both before and following the home invasion-related incident that resulted in his becoming a wheelchair user. Tyron also shares some practical advice for anyone considering...

**To book a disability coaching discovery call with Lois, go to https://www.loisstrachan.com/contact-lois/ In today’s episode of Job Talk, Lois speaks with Winston Fani, South Africa’s first qualified blind tour guide. We chat about Winston’s early life in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the reason he moved to Cape Town (hint: it was to follow the love of his life), and his start in the tourism and hospitality field. Winston also shares a little about some of his tours, including a street...

As a podcast host I am usually the one posing the questions. Today I’m sharing an episode from one of my favourite podcasts, where I am the one in the hot seat, facing the questions. If you are not already following Reimagining Life Podcast : from Pain to Purpose, I’d suggest subscribing so you can catch all RiRi’s shows as soon as they are published. I’m given the links to the show and to RiRi’s socials below. Reach out to RiRi and the Reimagining Life podcast at: Podcast feed:...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Anel Coetzee, a legal practitioner who is visually impaired. Anel speaks openly and honestly about her experiences looking for, finding and transitioning into work, first as a practicing attorney, and then shifting into the corporate world where she currently works as a legal advisor. This is a valuable episode for anyone considering the legal field, studying towards a law degree, and anyone working in human resources or recruitment in the industry....

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Brittany McCormick, a woman living with Cerebral Palsy who uses her passion for motivational speaking to shift people’s awareness of how to overcome challenges. Brittany chats about how discovering her love of speaking turned her wish to make a difference from a spark into a flame. Brittany also discusses The Purpose Walk, a highly successful and ambitious fundraising campaign she undertook to raise funds to assist a local school for learners with...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Katie Selby, paraeducator and advocate, on her experience of growing up with a learning disability. During the conversation we discuss Katie’s schooling and college education, how she learned to self-advocate and how she teaches that important skill to the students with whom she now works. We also talk about the book Katie has started writing, that was inspired by her reading of Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedian Who Almost Didn't Happen by Nina G. And,...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with the co-founders of Smergos, Nicole Vergos and Nick Smit, about their organisation and the work they do enabling disability employment. During the conversation we discuss: • The founding of Smergos • How they became involved in the disability employment space, • The challenges facing disabled people seeking employment and the employers themselves, • The work that Smergos does • Advice for disabled persons seeking employment. Reach out to Smergos...

In today’s bumper episode Lois speaks with disability and inclusion specialist, Lidia Pretorius. During the conversation we chat about Lidia’s involvement with the disability sector in Africa, the importance of allyship and how to be a good ally for the disabled community. We also discuss online and digital inclusion. Lidia shares useful ideas on ways to improve the way you show up in both areas. Reach out to Lidia at: Social media: https://linktr.ee/DisabilityMojoCoach Web:...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with fellow podcaster, RiRi on the launching of the Reimagining Life Podcast: from Pain to Purpose During the conversation we chat about RiRi’s own journey with chronic pain and how it led her to start the podcast as a resource for others, as well as some of the tools and techniques RiRi uses to manage her condition and move forward with all she plans to do. Reach out to RiRi at: Social media: linktr.ee/reimagininglifepodcast Podcast:...

In today’s episode Lois speaks with Marthe-Marie Kohne, founder of Abilities without Limits, about the work being done by Abilities without Limits and Marthe-Marie’s experience of living with Cerebral Palsy. We also talk about writing and Marthe-Marie’s co-authorship of two books, one in English and one in Afrikaans. Support Marthe-Marie on World Cerebral Palsy Day on 6 October 2023 – more details on the Abilities without Limits website. Books mentioned in the episode: "Forgotten Women:...

Inclusion specialist Jeremy Opperman returns to speak to us on a strategy to improve levels of the employment of persons with disabilities in a holistic way. Topics covered in this far-ranging discussion with Jeremy and Lois include: • The concept of disability confidence and how it affects all aspects of a company’s operations • Moving disability employment beyond just HR • Using corporate social investment to stimulate disability empowerment and corporate ROI • The perceived challenge...

In this episode I chat with George Abraham, founder of Score Foundation in India. During the conversation we discuss George’s involvement in blind cricket in India, and his role in the creation of the World Blind Cricket Council, of which he was elected as the first Chairperson in 1996. In this role he and his team conceived and organised the inaugural World Cup of Cricket for the Blind. George also shares the work he is doing with Score Foundation to support visually impaired people in...

In this episode I chat with road accident survivor, social media influencer, and model, Nobathembu Peter, aka Royalti On Wheels, on the importance of shifting society’s stereotypes of disability. During the conversation we discuss the advocacy work being done by Nobathembu, the book she is currently writing, and the importance of companies understanding that persons with disabilities are also consumers, and reflecting that awareness in the media. Reach out to Nobathembu at: Facebook:...

In this third conversation on employment and disability, inclusion specialist Jeremy Opperman and I explore the business case for greater levels of inclusion. This final part of Jeremy’s tri-nocular perspective model explores the topics of persons with disabilities as consumers, case studies of successful inclusive thinking, and the impact on employment and strategy. If you missed our previous conversations on this topic, you will find them here: Lens01: Legislative Compliance,...

Returning to the subject of employment and disability, in this episode inclusion specialist, Jeremy Opperman, and I explore some of the myths that impact on employment. This is the second phase of Jeremy’s tri-nocular perspective model: the human rights lens, which he refers to as the reality check. During our conversation we discuss: 1 the prevalence of disability in society 2 Under-employment of persons with disabilities 3 the perceived lack of skills amongst the disabled sector 4 The...

The reasons for low levels of employment of persons with disabilities in South Africa are complex. In the next few episodes of the podcast we will be looking at some of the factors making this so complicated. This is the first in a series of conversations with Jeremy Opperman, who is an expert in this field. In this episode Jeremy and I chat about his work as a disability inclusion consultant working with organisations to make themselves more disability confident. We discuss Jeremy’s...

In this episode I chat with Emma Roos, co-founder of Higher Ground, from Durban in South Africa. Emma and I speak about the Higher Ground holiday camps for persons who are blind and partially blind, as well as some of the other activities of Higher Ground: • A chess club • In-person social meet-ups • Virtual meet-ups, • Holiday camps for persons with acquired brain injury • Holiday camps for persons with intellectual impairments. Find out more about Higher Ground and their events at:...

In this episode, during Lupus Awareness month, I chat with Nurjawaan Rawoot from Cape Town, in South Africa. Nurjawaan was diagnosed with Lupus when she was years old, and it resulted in her blindness. Nurjawaan and I also discuss how she, as a blind youth, found herself a job, and her work as a volunteer leader of the South African Blind Youth Organisation (SABYO). Find out more about Nurjawaan Rawoot at: Email: [email protected] Facebook:...

In this episode I chat with the Audio Book Wizard, Richard Rieman about making illustrated children’s books accessible to all children. After a long career as a radio news reporter, anchor, and Washington Bureau Chief, Richard turned his storytelling skills to the world of audiobooks. He has narrated and produced hundreds of Indie-published audiobooks and is the author of the award-winning book, “The Author’s Guide to Audiobook Creation.” Richard was a volunteer narrator for Learning Ally,...