A Different Way of Seeing – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Lois Chats with Erica du Toit on the topic of loop systems and other assistive technology for those living with hearing loss

Having worked in the advocacy space for 30 years, Erica has a broad knowledge of tools and techniques that can assist those with hearing impairments and the people around them.

Reach out to Erica at the following links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-du-toit-13831370/

Western Cape APD
Tel: 021 555-2881
Email: awareness@wcapd.org.za
Website: https://wcapd.org.za/

National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD)
Email: erica@ncpd.org.za
Website: www.ncpd.org.za

Western Cape Network on Disability
Email: info@wcdisability.org.za
Website: www.wcdisability.org.za




Image Description:
A woman with short dark hair wearing a long-sleeved black top. Shehas a pendent around her neck with a circular pendent with a design on it.
I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
Website : loisstrachan.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

Today I chat with Angela Blackwell, the first blind person to hike the Pondo Trail in South Africa with her guide dog, Jaydee.

Angela discusses how Jaydee helped her regain her confidence and independence after her diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa resulted in significant loss of visual acuity.

Hiking the Pondo Trail, a four day hike on the
East coast of South Africa became a challenge that Angela set for herself as a way of raising awareness that blindness does not mean living small. She is also using the project as a fund-raiser for the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.

Follow Ange and Jaydees experience on the show and connect with them online:
Instagram: @Angel on the Blindside.

Please also support their fundraising at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/paws-on-the-path

Image Description:
A woman sitting on a large piece of driftwood on a sandy riverbank beside a white dog. The woman has short brown hair and light skin, and she is wearing a light gray T-shirt and denim shorts, barefoot, resting her chin on her hand and facing to the right with a calm, thoughtful expression. The dog is sitting close to her left side, wearing a collar, and also facing to the right. A wide, calm river stretches behind them, with green, tree-covered hills on both sides and a pale sky with light clouds.

I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
Website : loisstrachan.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

Dr Chiggy Oghotuama is the founder of the Seizure Support Foundation in Nigeria. As a mother to a special needs child, Chiggy encountered challenges when searching for support groups in her area from whom she could learn.

This led her to engage stakeholders at all levels, from parents to government, to advocate for the inclusion of children from marginalised groups in education, health and other areas of life.

In this episode, I chat with Dr Chiggy about some of the initiatives that the Seizure Support Foundation has put in place in Nigeria, including an education scholarship fund, a medical outreach programme, and the video modelling project, to assist parents of children with disabilities. She describes the challenges faced by those whose lives are impacted by disability in her community and introduces us to the ASK anagram that she uses when working with parents of children with a new diagnosis of disability.

Learn more about Dr Chiggy and the Seizure Support Foundation at:
Website: www.seizuresupportfoundation.org
e-mail: info@seizuresupportfoundation.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeizureCare
Instagram: seizure_support_foundation
Image description:
A woman of colour with short hair wearing glasses and a white button-up shirt, earrings, a bracelet, and a wristwatch. On a wooden stool next to her is an award plaque recognising her as a woman that Builds. Her right arm is bent and her fist is raised in a gesture of determination or celebration.
I’d love to hear from you – contact me at
Web: https://www.loisstrachan.com/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lstrachan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loisstrachanspeaker

This episode edited by Craig Strachan using Hindenburg PRO – find out more on Hindenburg.com
Credits and music by Charlie Dyasi.

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan, speaks with Adam Perry from Minneapolis in Minnesota in the USA. He is a 49 year old man who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in the 70s. Over time he lost his peripheral vision, night vision and then total vision.

Adam has travelled extensively both for personal leisure and for work and shares his insights and experiences as a traveller who is blind.

Today's travel quote is by British author Jane Wilson Howarth - "Travel is a joy, full of surprises. Perhaps some of the most enjoyable times are those where one comes close to disaster: the risks add spice, and make for great stories when you are safely back home again."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan, using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

In this episode, Lois Strachan chats with Normie Eckard from Ventures4Jesus who is an adventurer and traveller who uses his adventures to raise funds for others. Normie became a T7/T8 paraplegic after a motor vehicle accident when he was 18 years old.

Today's travel quote comes from the ancient Roman philosopher, Seneca: "Travel and change of pace imparts new vigour to the mind."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

In this episode, Lois Strachan speaks with Renee Keuster-Sebranek, our first international guest from the USA. Renee shares her experiences travelling as a person who is blind.

Today's travel quote is by Mary Anne Radmacher: "I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

In this episode, our host, Lois Strachan, chats with Elizabeth Maphike. Elizabeth became blind as an adult and the first time she travelled outside of her home city was after she lost her sight.

Elizabeth is the provincial chairperson of the Western Cape branch of the South African National Council for the Blind.

Follow Elizabeth's blog on:
Literature with Love by Liz : https://www.facebook.com/bethslit

Today's travel quote is from the actor, Sir Richard Burton: "Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg Software. Credits read by Musa E. Zulu.

Following on from the previous episode, Lois Strachan continues the conversation with Chaeli Mycroft, an ability activist in Cape Town, South Africa.

In this episode, Chaeli speaks about summiting mount Kilimanjaro and shares some of her other experiences travelling internationally in her wheelchair.

Today's travel quote Simon Raven: "Since life is short and the world is wide, the sooner you start exploring it, the better."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

In this episode, Lois Strachan chats with Chaeli Mycroft, an ability activist based in Cape Town, South Africa, about a number of topics related to accessible travel and Chaeli's summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent.

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.

In this episode, marking our 2 year anniversary, Lois Strachan has a conversation with Jeremy Opperman who is a disability inclusion consultant, and they discuss how this impacts the travel and tourism industry.

Today's travel quote is by Melody Truong: "I'm in love with cities I've never been to, and people I've never met."

This episode was edited by Craig Strachan using the Hindenburg software. Credits read by Musa E Zulu.