In May, 2023, the Toronto Chamber Choir presented its program “Musical Vision” about blind musicians and composers who did not let their visual disability prevent them from composing and performing great music. In this episode, Lucas Harris, Director of the Toronto Chamber Choir, and Michelle McQuigge, Concert Narrator, came on to talk with Naomi about how the concert came about, and some of the incredible things they learned during the research and preparation for the concert. The program included music from well known composers like Bach and Handel, both who had received “surgeries” from self-proclaimed eye surgeon John Taylor, as well as lesser known blind composers and musicians like Maria Theresia Von Paradis and Joachín Rodrigo. The concert took the audience through a historical “tour” of blind contributors to the musical canon, up to the modern period, and then featured a new piece by Toronto composer and pianist Michael Arnowitt. BALANCE was a proud partner on the concert, and is also proud to partner on the follow up fundraising concert on June 5, 2024.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org.

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Follow Michelle McQuigge on Twitter, and Lucas Harris on his website.

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Resources:

Past Concerts: 2022–23: A Season of Musical Vision

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Text only version (for screen readers)

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Large Print Version)

Musical Vision: A Brief History of Music & Blindness (Formatted Booklet with Images)

Learn more about the TCC 2024 Fundraiser, featuring more from blind composers.

The Canada Disability Benefit will come into effect in one year, and then it will take another year to produce it’s regulations. This is just one important fact we learn as we listen to one of it’s leading champions describe the CDB on this episode of Living Blind. Len Baker, President and CEO of March of Dimes Canada, worked with government and leaders of other national organizations serving people with disabilities, to ensure that the CDB, a long awaited income top-up, comes into effect and has the opportunity to make a much-needed difference in the lives of Canadians withdisabilities. In addition, Len and Naomi discuss the importance of collaboration in order to effect real change. Naomi has this to say about her interview with Len: “Speaking with Len Baker raised my awareness about the work he, March of Dimes, and other non-profit organizations are doing to support quality of life for Canadians with disabilities. It is important for Canadians to be aware not only of the services they can access themselves, but also the greater advocacy work that the very same organizations do at the legislative level. Len’s call to action for organizations across Canada to collaborate reminds us that we are better when we work together.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at ⁠livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org⁠.

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In this episode, Naomi talks with Jason Romero, author, athlete, inspirational speaker. Jason is an expert on Success & Resilience, who travels the world educating companies and classrooms about how they can achieve their dreams. Jason is the subject of a full-length documentary film, as well as a former attorney and CEO. The BBC, Today Show, Forbes, Runnersworld and NPR are just some of the media outlets that have reported on his accomplishments. Jason has been a national marathon champion, a Paralympian on Team USA and placed 4th at the Paralympic World Marathon Championships in 2015 in London. He holds more than 10 world records in extreme endurance sports including the 10-day run, 1,000 mile run and 6-day run. He is an IronMan triathlete, and an extreme endurance runner having completed some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world including the Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles in Death Valley in July), Spartathlon (153 miles from Athens to Sparta) and the Leadville 100. Jason is best known for being the 1st and only blind person to run across America, and his run still ranks as one of the top 10 fastest foot crossings in history at 51.5 miles per day. Our Executive Producer heard Jason speak at the VisionServe Alliance CEO Summit in April, 2023, and found it so inspiring she decided to ask him immediately afterwards if he would agree to be a guest on the Living Blind Podcast. Listening to Jason, one feels that anything is possible as long as we try, and that any obstacle can be overcome, even the toughest ones.

If you would like to weigh in on this topic, send us an email at livingblindpodcast@balancefba.org or in the Living Blind Listeners Group on Facebook.

Follow BALANCE for Blind Adults on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Donate to BALANCE