Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

In this episode of Limitless, Shawn sits down with author Jamie Estelle Roth as she shares how a sudden change in your vision altered her life. After months of medical uncertainty and health challenges, Jamie recounts how she set out on an unconventional healing journey while learning to navigate a world that had changed almost overnight. Jamie reflects on the impact of vision loss on her family, identity, and independence and how she turned her experience into her memoir, 'Should Have Seen That Coming' and shares her writing process. It’s an honest and fascinating conversation about resilience, creativity, and finding a new way forward when life takes an unexpected turn. Show Notes Should've Seen That Coming on Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Shouldve-Seen-That-Coming-Between-ebook/dp/B0DJQ2KCD9  

Episode 240: Crafting Children’s Books About Blindness with Jan Milusich & Megan Dausch In this episode Shawn sits down with TVI and author Jan Milusich and her former student, poet and digital accessibility professional Megan Dausch, to explore storytelling, representation, and the writing process. Jan shares the journey behind her children’s book “I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea”, a story for ages 4–8 that follows a young girl discovering the changing seasons through touch, sound, smell, and taste. Jan explains how Megan became a sensitivity reader on the project, and what it meant to rework the book into a first-person narrative at the request of the publisher. She also talks about making picture books more accessible through tactile “story boxes” while Megan reflects on being one of Jan’s first students, her own path into poetry and creative writing, and the importance of disabled voices in publishing.  Show Notes: I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea https://www.amazon.ca/Hear-Snow-Smell-Sea/dp/0593308174 Blind Beginning’s mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind and low vision and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

In this episode Shawn sits down with Mark and Graham from Braille Mountain Initiative to explore what it really takes to go backcountry hiking when you’re blind and low vision. They share how blind and partially sighted adventurers tackle 40-pound packs, rocky trails, basecamp life, bear safety, and the mental game of doing something that feels “impossible.” If you’ve ever wondered whether serious hiking or even backcountry skiing is possible without full sight, this conversation shows why the backcountry isn’t off-limits—it’s waiting for you! Show Notes Braille Mountain Initiative Blind Beginning’s mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind and low vision and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

In this special episode, Shawn shares an edited recording of a webinar she gave for the BVI Psych webinar series at the California School for the Blind earlier this year. Drawing on over 40 years of lived experience with blindness and over two decades working with children, youth, and families, Shawn explores what mental well-being looks like for students who are blind and low vision and why counseling from professionals with lived experience can be incredibly impactful. Shawn also introduces her “5 C’s Formula to Limitlessness”, a practical, hopeful framework for moving blind and low vision children and their families from hopelessness to possibility. Show Notes: California School For the Blind https://www.csb-cde.ca.gov/ California School For the Blind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@CSBfremont Blind Beginning’s mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind and low vision and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

What happens when a young man who is blind and non-verbal finally gains a reliable way to share his thoughts with the world? In this powerful episode of Limitless, Shawn speaks with Corinne, whose 22-year-old son Cody was born blind with bilateral anophthalmia and later diagnosed with autism. After years of communication approaches that did not work for him, along with professional assumptions that his cognitive abilities were limited, Cody began using a Braille-adapted letter board through the Speller method, revealing his intelligence, humour, patience, emotional insight, and passion for subjects such as chemistry. Corinne shares the emotional journey of watching her son’s world open up, the importance of understanding full-body apraxia and the inspiration that led their family to keep searching for a communication method that worked. This is a fascinating episode you won't want to miss! Show Notes More about the Speller Method https://www.spellers.com/ Spellers Freedom Foundation https://www.spellersfreedomfoundation.org/ 'Spellers' Documentary on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h1rcLyznK0 Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more

In this episode of Limitless, Shawn speaks with Stacy Cervenka and Diane Debrovner, co-authors of the middle-grade novel Roxie in Color. The story follows Roxie, a 12-year-old sighted girl with blind parents, and explores real-life themes including blind parenting, guide dog access denials, common misconceptions about blindness, and more. Stacy and Diane discuss the lived experiences that helped shape the novel, including Stacy’s perspective as a blind parent, and why authentic representation of blindness in children’s literature matters for both blind and sighted young readers. Show Notes Roxie In Color on Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/Roxie-Color-Diane-Debrovner/dp/1536246603

On this week's episode of Limitless, Shawn sits down with Rita Duarte from Portugal 4 All Senses to reflect on Shawn's recent trip to Portugal, where she learned to surf. Together, they explore what it took to create an inclusive surf camp — from adapted surfing with experienced volunteers to immersive cultural excursions in Sintra and Lisbon. They also discuss the trust it takes to step outside your comfort zone in a foreign country, what accessible tourism really looks like, and how to fully experience a destination's food, history, sounds, and culture while feeling safe and empowered. If you've ever wondered whether traveling abroad is possible for someone who is blind and low vision or hesitated to say yes to a new adventure, this episode is for you! Show Notes Portugal 4 All Senses https://portugal4allsenses.pt Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more

This week, we’re celebrating six years of Limitless with a very special behind-the-scenes episode! Join host Shawn and members of the Limitless Committee that include Clement, John, Randi, Acacia, Jugaad, Russell, and producer Rob as they pull back the curtain on how the podcast and blog come together every month. You’ll hear how a “sourdough project of COVID” became a long-running show with 234 episodes and listeners in over 70 countries. The committee shares updated download stats, reacts to the surprising global reach of the podcast, and discusses ideas for future episodes. If you’ve ever wondered how topics are chosen and how youth and alumni shape the show, you won't want to miss this episode. A huge thank you to our audience that has made this six year anniversary possible. Thank you for listening! Blind Beginning’s mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind and low vision and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

This week Shawn sits down with Youth Leaders Kaia, Nolan, and Jugaad to introduce 3B Printing, a new youth-led initiative by Blind Beginnings that creates low-cost, custom 3D-printed braille signage. They share how the idea grew out of the Youth Leadership Program and into a full-fledged venture, why braille signage is essential for freedom, inclusion, and safety, and some of the funny (and frustrating) braille 'fails' they’ve encountered in the wild. You’ll hear how a team of blind and low vision high school and university students are handling design, production, marketing, and sales, all while proving that accessibility doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. For more information on 3B Printing Services, visit: https://www.blindbeginnings.ca/3b-printing Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more

This week Shawn is joined by returning guests and newly trained Blindness 101 facilitators Jennie Bovard and Kerry Kijewski to celebrate National Accessibility Week (May 31–June 6, 2026) and dive into Blind Beginnings’ exciting new initiative: taking the Blindness 101 workshop across Canada. If you’re part of a business, community group, school, medical office, cultural institution, or tourism organization anywhere in Canada and want your team to feel more confident, respectful, and inclusive when engaging with blind and low vision folks, this episode shows exactly why a Blindness 101 workshop is a powerful place to start. Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more