The Disability Diaries With Steven Vine – Details, episodes & analysis

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In this episode, Steve talks with Joseph Resendes, who has Cerebral Palsy. Joseph talks about some of the challenges he faced with CP as a younger person. But Joe has not let his disability stop him from travelling, working with kids as an Educational Assistant, playing soccer and his involvement with the Paralympics. He shares his story with enthusiasm, humor and positivity. Joe is truly an inspirational guy, living his best life in Port Moody, British Columbia.

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In the first episode, Steve talks about his journey from an able-bodied individual to a person with multiple disabilities. Steve shares some intimate aspects of his life and how it changed for him from a sudden devastating medical condition. His story may not be for the faint of heart, but it’s Steve’s story. This episode is the beginning of more stories about individuals involved in the disabled community.

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In this episode, Steve talks with his friend Robert Pascal. Robert has been a quadriplegic for over 36 years, due to a devastating car accident where Robert was a passenger. Robert gives an honest account of his transition to relearning most aspects of his daily activities. Robert Pascal is an example to anyone who is living a full-abled life that a sudden, severe disability can truly happen to anybody. He is truly a perfect example of someone who has accepted his disability and tries to live each day the best way that he can.

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Steve and Chris together have a great discussion with Paul Gauthier in regards to him as the founder of the CSIL program (Choice in Supports for Independent Living) They also discuss his involvement with his other significant initiatives that make Paul such a prominent and influential individual in the disabled community. He was born with Cerebral Palsy. As a young person, he grew up in foster care. When he turned 19, he decided that he didn’t want to live in a care facility, but he wanted to live independently. Luckily for many people today (including Steve), that Paul decided to put his positive energy into this, which is now the CSIL program. He is currently the Executive Director of the IFRC (Individualized Funding Resource Centre). Under this umbrella are many other programs to help the disabled community with independence, resources, wellbeing, and support. Paul and Steve talk about these other programs, and we learn a lot about Paul including: his previous Paralympic accolades, his numerous awards, and the great work that he continues to pursue. As you listen, you will recognize the passion that Paul has brought to these extraordinary endeavors. If you are interested in learning more about the CSIL program in British Columbia, contact the IFRC at ifrcsociety.org or 604-777-7576 / 1-844-604-7576

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Steve has a conversation with the delightful Amy Amantea, an actor/performer, writer, arts administrator, disability strategist and advocate. She is also legally blind, as well as neurodivergent, and she experiences chronic pain from Gastropareses - nerve damage in the stomach. Her Type 1 diabetes rendered her into a coma and when she emerged from that experience, she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, which caused her to become legally blind. None the less, she navigates through her life with positivity, passion and purpose. Amy gets a lot of joy from creating her own work, her current project is entitled: Through my Lens, where she takes her own pictures by finding the 'light' - without actually seeing the images of her own photos. She creates personal stories through her performance art. You can find Amy here: Accessing Art With Amy - Podcast - Apple Podcasts, https://throughmylens.ca and Vancouver Co-op Radio – CFRO 100.5 FM

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In this episode, Steve talks to Monica Gartner. Monica is 3’ & 1.5” foot tall in stature, but 10X taller in gumption! When Monica was born, she was affected with scoliosis and a bone disease. She tells some stories about growing up, some of her hospital experiences, and her family support. She has a degree in Business, has done some acting, as well as wrote a book! Monica is truly an inspirational lady!

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Steve has a very lively conversation with Marco Pasqua. Marco was born with Cerebral Palsy, but that is hardly the story. When he was only 10 years old, Marco was invited to be the ambassador/host of the Timmy’s Christmas Telethon with local radio legend Red Robinson. This was his first opportunity to speak in front of a large audience. Later in life, he pursued a career in technology, lost his job in 2010 due to the recession, and then decided to use his voice as a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and accessibility consultant. Rick Hansen and Michael J. Fox may be his heroes, but we think that Marco is in some great company. If you want to know more about Marco, please go to his website. www.marcopasqua.com and get his book ‘From Potential to Purpose’. He may be a person with a disability, but he’s by no means a disabled person. 

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Steve and Chris talk to Liz Hunter, a Community Librarian at the New Westminster Public Library in New Westminster, British Columbia. We talk to Liz, because she helped teach us in learning about Podcasting. This is an initiative Liz started at the library, including procuring equipment and a space that library card holders can use to facilitate their own podcast. Liz also talks about some of the other library initiatives and how libraries have changed in her 16 years on the job. 

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In this episode, Steve talks to Joey Hsieh – who has a son who is disabled. Her son Matthew has a rare disease, is nonverbal, blind, and in a wheelchair. As a child, he was misdiagnosed with Autism. Joey is truly a loving mother full of positivity and acceptance. She gets her strength from Matthew, and she prefers the term different ability over disability. Joey also talks about the challenges in getting the right caregiving help for Matthew. 

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In this episode, Steve talks to the listeners about his experience with depression. He shares intimate details of some of his experiences and what led up to his depression. He also shares some of his coping strategies and what worked for him to try and cope with some of the negative thoughts he had using positive strategies. Steve does not claim to be the expert in this topic but rather shares some of his own personal accounts that other people might be able to relate to.