Amanda Listens Blog

This past month has been eventful in Nova Scotia. With the 1.19 billion dollars deficit, there were funding cuts that significantly impacted Mi’kmaw, African Nova Scotian, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disability communities. The cuts were towards staff, operations, and programming that support…

I have been wearing my cochlear implant for 20 years (mind boggling, I know). Read my reflection on my rollercoaster journey with my cochlear implant from the highs to the extreme lows and how it has impacted me and my…

It is close to 3 years since Amanda Listens was launched. Learn more in the 100th blog post.

Last week was International Development Week in Canada which many people and organizations celebrate with the 2026 theme, Prosperity through Partnership. Learn the importance of including persons with disabilities in the process to ensure that sustainable development and progress is…

There are many expectations on persons with disabilities. All of these expectations impact how a person with a disability may ask for help or choose not to. Learn how asking for help is complicated as a person with disabilities.

When it comes to accessibility conversations, there is the assumption that it will only improve for people with disabilities and consider a small portion of the population. But people with disabilities are not a small portion of the population. Accessibility…

Another November has passed and I did the writing challenge again. I was not sure if I was going to do it this year due to how busy I was expecting to be and the overwhelm I felt when thinking…

It is International Day of Person with Disabilities today which is one of those reflective days for me in how we as a society are doing to improve experiences and access for persons with disabilities. Read for the reflection.

How much do you think about accessibility in your process? Check out this post for a reflection on accessibility.

No one can know about your event unless you promote and communicate about it. Have you thought about how your communications and registration process is accessible? Read for quick highlights on what to look for in communications.

Planning is key to ensure an accessible and inclusive event but the decisions and actions that need to be made is what is reflected at the event. Read to learn how logistics is part of the planning.

What is critical to an accessible event? Learn how planning is important to provide access for persons with disabilities and the community.

It is International Week of Deaf People and Deaf Awareness Month which is exciting for me as a deaf person. Learn about my relationship with my deafness and how important access ot sign language was to my experience.

Having something labelled accessible only explains part of the story when evaluating accessibility. With different levels of regulations and standards, meeting standards and removing barriers are two different situations. Learn how the label accessible can be limited in providing accessible…

Just ask, don’t assume seems like a simple concept to put in practice. More often than not, it is not a reality that is happening. Learn why it is important to ask.

As inspired by International Youth Day's 2025 theme of having youth getting involved locally, learn how important getting youth to participate in local community will help the SDGs.

Community is a big part of connection that improves our quality of life. Inspired by International Friendship Day today, read about the importance of community connection and the challenges for people with disabilities.

in honour of Disability Pride Month, I started thinking about my journey living with my disabilities. Read my reflection about my disabilities and how my disability pride got reignited.