Tag Archives: AMI

Summer is heating up! AMI-tv announces new and returning original series and documentaries to celebrate the season

May 24, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Summer at Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is hotter than ever! Today, AMI-tv unveiled new and returning original series and documentary programming to entertain and inform Canadians of all abilities in the coming months.

It all begins with the Season 3 return of the Canadian Screen Award-nominated By Hook or By Cook, as Bruce Cook (above) and his friend, Christian Bagg, tackle their biggest adventure yet.

The new AMI-tv series Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey tells the story of the CNIB Guide Dog program. Returning programs to AMI-tv include new seasons of Postcards From, Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh, Our Community and Adaptable Animals and the all-new documentary Everyone Belongs in Nature.

Highlights of AMI-tv’s upcoming summer programming include:

June

By Hook or By Cook returns Wednesday, June 14, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Bruce Cook, a stunt motocross rider who is disabled, wants to help others with disabilities enjoy life’s possibilities with unique innovations that he and his friend, Christian, create. In Season 3, Bruce and Christian have spent many years facilitating adrenaline adventures for others. Whether racing on top of mountains or bungee jumping off the highest bridge in British Columbia, they know no fear and no boundaries. What will happen when two people whose passion lies in helping others get an opportunity to do something remarkable for themselves? In addition to this season’s eight episodes are two special instalments. Filmed live in front of a studio audience and moderated by AMI’s Dave Brown, the episodes feature in-depth discussion about representation, responsibility and being a role model when you are a member of the disability community, as well as never-before-seen footage and surprises. Season 4 of By Hook or By Cook is currently in production. By Hook or By Cook is produced by Render Digital Media.

Our Community returns Thursday, June 15, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

An all-new season of Our Community once again highlights the people, places, organizations, or things that have made life more enjoyable for Canadians with a disability. Upcoming episodes follow young adults who are partially sighted as they participate in a fashion show, Canada’s first medical daycare for children and The Capital City Condors, a hockey team Canadians of all abilities can play for. Our Community episodes are produced by such companies as Ascent Films, Honey Cut Studios and Bamboo Shoots.

Everyone Belongs in Nature debuts Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Everyone Belongs in Nature takes a look at the creation of Power To Be’s new world-leading accessible facility through the perspective of Marnie and Adam, two of its participants. Everyone Belongs in Nature is produced by M1 Films.

July

Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh returns Monday, July 17, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Join outdoors enthusiast Ron Walsh, who is blind, as he and his friends explore Saskatchewan and all of the exciting locations the province has to offer. Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh is produced by Thomega Entertainment.

Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey debuts Tuesday, July 25, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey tells the story of the CNIB Guide Dog program. From being raised on a farm in rural Manitoba, to training in Carleton Place near Ottawa, a guide dog’s journey is quite an adventure! Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey is produced by HalterMedia.

Adaptable Animals returns Tuesday, July 25, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Adaptable Animals looks at the world of animals with disabilities, and the advances in veterinary medicine that provide them with prosthetics, thanks to the specialized work of Janice Olynich. Adaptable Animals is produced by Mountain Road Productions.

Postcards From returns Thursday, July 27, at 7 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

New host, new adventures! Join Therese Estacion, poet and member of the disability community, as she embarks on a multisensory journey, revealing a secret side to Canada we taste, touch, smell, see and hear for the first time. Postcards From is produced by Black Rhino Creative.

All AMI-tv originals are available post-broadcast on demand at AMI.ca or the AMI-tv App.

About Accessible Media Inc.
AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Spring has sprung! AMI-tv announces new and returning original series and documentaries to celebrate the season

April 13, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

Spring is here, and with it comes warmer weather and flowers in bloom. Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is marking the season with new and returning original series and documentaries on AMI-tv to help viewers shake off the cold.

From discussing the misconceptions surrounding the sex lives of people with a disability in That Sex Show to new episodes of the ground-breaking Fashion Dis and Mind Your Own Business, AMI-tv offers a bouquet of programming for all Canadians.

Highlights of AMI-tv’s upcoming spring programming include:

April

That Sex Show debuts Wednesday, April 19, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Hosted by sex educator Rachele Manett, That Sex Show is a deep dive into the intersection of sex and disability. Join Rachele as she meets with experts and members of the disability community to discuss the myths and misconceptions surrounding the sex lives of people with a disability. That Sex Show is produced by Ocean Entertainment.

May

Disrupt debuts Tuesday, May 2, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Fast-paced, experimental and accessible, Disrupt showcases music, short films, poetry, animation, spoken word, comedy, dance, puppetry and other mediums, with a disability-first punk rock attitude. Produced by Rachel Bower Productions, Disrupt also features members of the disability community working in such key production roles as production manager, writer, assistant editor, assistant director, composer, assistant production designer and camera and sound assistants.

Fashion Dis returns Wednesday, May 3, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Hosted by Ardra Shephard, Season 2 of Fashion Dis celebrates the head-to-toe overhaul of a frustrated style seeker discouraged by an industry that lacks adaptive options. Utilizing innovative fashion design and transformative beauty techniques provided by partner companies, the Fashion Dis expert team reveals the latest in fashion-forward thinking and shows those ready to rock their best body exactly how to do it. Returning experts for Season 2 of Fashion Dis is makeup artist Bella Strange, hair stylist Susan Shipley, style expert Izzy Camilleri and art director Melonie Lawrence; Alkan Emin joins the team as the professional photographer.

Returning partners to Fashion Dis include Guide Beauty, June Adaptive, ByAcre, Rollz, MagnaReady, BILLY Footwear, Liberare, Slick Chicks and Cheekbone Beauty. New Fashion Dis partners include Will & Well, BeedleBug, Consonant Skincare, Elba London, Aille Design, MIGA Swimwear, Blue Dahlia, The Vault By Volpe Beringer, Chamiah Dewey Fashion, It Actually Fits, Auf Augenhoehe, Crease Piece, Deafmetal, Amaterasu Beauty, Sweet LeiLani, Elate Beauty, EazyHold, Roncy Packs, Ambutech and Sahajan. Fashion Dis is produced by Nikki Ray Media.

Womb Envy debuts Wednesday, May 10, on AMI.ca and the AMI-tv App

Created by Toronto drag artist Champagna, the previously announced web series Womb Envy is a story of second chances and inclusion. When a gay party boy’s estranged small-town best friend shows up expecting him to play baby daddy, even a lover who is partially sighted and an imaginary drag queen can’t stop his womb envy. Two episodes will be released weekly on AMI.ca and the AMI-tv App. Womb Envy is produced by Border2Border Entertainment.

Aging in Place airs Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

The original documentary Aging in Place examines the challenges seniors deal with and the path they follow to live comfortably and happily in their own homes. Aging in Place is produced by Mountain Road Productions.

Mind Your Own Business returns Tuesday, May 30, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv

Hosted by entrepreneur Kevin Shaw, who is blind, entrepreneurs in the disability community aim to take their businesses to the next level with some help from high-profile Canadian mentors. Entrepreneurs and companies featured in Season 2 of Mind Your Own Business include Sawchuk Accessible Solutions, Deafinite Contracting, THG’s Hot Chicken, Zed Cuff, StopGap Foundation, Tru Faces and Kingston Circus Arts. Mind Your Own Business is produced by Apple Orchard Productions.

All AMI-tv originals are available post-broadcast on demand at AMI.ca or the AMI-tv App.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

AMI announces the debut of Ness Murby: Transcending, March 8 on AMI-tv

February 7, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

AMI, in partnership with Anaïd Productions (Mind Set Go), is excited to announce the debut of Ness Murby: Transcending.

Debuting Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and on demand at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App, the six-part documentary series Ness Murby: Transcending (6 x 30), follows groundbreaking Paralympian Ness Murby as he trains and vies to become the world’s first openly trans man to compete at a Paralympic Games.

This intimate and unflinching series follows Ness and his family as they navigate the emotional and physical challenges of gender transition, juggle the stresses of first-time parenthood and break down barriers in the world of sport. Since completely losing his sight as a teenager, Ness is no stranger to adversity, but in this series, he will be pushed to his limit. Battling social stigma, discrimination and the physical limitations of his transitioning body, Ness bravely attempts to carve a new space for himself in the Men’s discus division on the national team and pave the way for trans acceptance in elite sport. But is the world and sport system ready to embrace this change?

Additionally, behind-the-scenes clips—available at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App—give viewers exclusive peeks into Ness’ life. From conversations about fertility inclusivity, misgendering and penile prostheses to struggling with a petulant lawnmower, they spotlight personal moments and conversations.

“We are proud to present Ness Murby: Transcending to Canadians,” said John Melville, Vice-President, Content Development & Operations, AMI-audio/AMI-tv. “Ness’ story is one of acceptance, perseverance and being true to yourself. We look forward to this series furthering the conversation about inclusion for all.”

Synopses for the first two episodes are below:

Episode 1 – “Stepping Into the Arena”
Debuting Wednesday, March 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern
In the debut episode, viewers watch Ness prepare for the lead-up to the Canadian Athletics Championships, his first national competition as an openly trans man. The pressure is on as Ness makes history in the men’s division, but right before the competition, he receives an email that jeopardizes his entire athletics career.

Episode 2 – “Comfortable in My Skin”
Debuting Wednesday, March 15, at 8 p.m. Eastern
Every Tuesday, Ness makes the life-affirming decision to inject his body with testosterone. We hear from Ness how this life-saving medicine has transformed his body, changing his appearance, strength and mindset. On a family walk, Ness has a hard conversation with his partner, Eva, about parenting, and a trip to the vet with Ness’ guide dog, Lexington, doesn’t go as expected.

About Ness Murby
Ness Murby (he/him) is a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Brand Strategist and Counselor, Paralympian and the co-founder of TougherThan. Lived experience and common humanity fuel his passion for diversity and inclusion and, with intersecting marginalized identities, he has long been led to push against prejudices, drive for systemic change and challenge the status quo.

Ness has an extensive background and credentials that include anatomy and physiology, applied psychology, business management, education and pedagogy, design, inclusive design, marketing and organizational strategy.

He has represented three countries in three Parasports—Australia, Japan and Canada in Goalball, Powerlifting and Para Athletics —and holds world records as well as world, continental and national titles. In 2020, Ness came out as trans. As the first openly trans Paralympian, Ness is carving out space for future generations. He currently competes in Men’s F11 discus and is aiming for the 2024 Paralympics. An advocate and public figure, Ness is a passionate contributor. His niche is asking “better questions,” he believes “everything is mentionable and from there manageable,” and he advocates “there is enough space for all of us.”

Ness Murby: Transcending airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and on demand at AMI.ca and on the AMI-tv App.

Ness Murby: Transcending is developed and produced by Anaïd Productions in association with Accessible Media Inc. and produced with the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, Rogers Telefund, the Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, and Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.

Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

AMI announces production is underway on Season 2 of Fashion Dis, hosted by Ardra Shephard

January 23, 2023 Greg David

From a media release:

AMI, in partnership with Nikki Ray Media Agency (Fire Masters, Home to Win), is pleased to announce that principal photography has started on six Season 2 episodes of AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis in Toronto.

Called “groundbreaking” by Postmedia, Season 2 of Fashion Dis promises to be a game-changer in the makeover space, challenging traditional norms that lack inclusion. Each episode of Fashion Dis celebrates the head-to-toe overhaul of a frustrated style seeker discouraged by an industry that lacks adaptive options.

Utilizing innovative fashion design and transformative beauty techniques provided by partner companies, the Fashion Dis expert team reveals the latest in fashion-forward thinking and shows those ready to rock their best body exactly how to do it.

“Universal design is exploding and it’s such an exciting moment in fashion and beauty,” says show creator and host Ardra Shephard. “Season 2 is stacked with more engaging and fun participants. I can’t wait to see the looks we create for these individuals and for the disability community at large.”

Meet the Season 2 experts:

Ardra Shephard, host
Ardra is an influential Canadian blogger, speaker, leader in the Multiple Sclerosis community and host of the Tripping On Air podcast.

Bella Strange, makeup artist
Bella is a makeup artist catering to the LGBTQ+, disability and special effects communities.

Susan Shipley, hair stylist
Susan is a master stylist with extensive experience in accessible hair care services.

Izzy Camilleri, style expert
Izzy is one of Canada’s leading fashion designers and a pioneer in adaptive clothing.

Melonie Lawrence, art director
Melonie is a fashion stylist who believes great style can be achieved regardless of size, colour, creed or cash flow.

Alkan Emin, photographer
Alkan is an award-nominated photographer.

Returning partners to Fashion Dis include Guide Beauty, June Adaptive, ByAcre, Rollz, MagnaReady, BILLY Footwear, Liberare, Slick Chicks and Cheekbone Beauty.

New Fashion Dis partners include Will & Well, BeedleBug, Consonant Skincare, Elba London, Aille Design, MIGA Swimwear, Blue Dahlia, The Vault By Volpe Beringer, Chamiah Dewey Fashion, It Actually Fits, Auf Augenhoehe, Crease Piece, Deafmetal, Amaterasu Beauty, Sweet LeiLani, Elate Beauty, EazyHold, Roncy Packs, Ambutech and Sahajan.

About Nikki Ray Media Agency
Nikki Ray Media Agency (formerly known as Architect Films) is a world-class creator of original mass-audience content. Since 2010, Nikki Ray has produced hundreds of hours of content that has been sold in territories all around the world. Titles include Fire Masters, The Big Bake, Great Chocolate Showdown, Hot Market, Extreme Ice Machines, Donut Showdown, Sugar Showdown and Home To Win.

Industry News

AMI’s Kelly and Ramya debuts January 9, 2023, on AMI-tv

November 1, 2022 Greg David

From a media release:

New name. New platform. Same great hosts. Today, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) pulls back the curtain on Kelly and Ramya.

Beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, Kelly and Ramya launches on AMI-tv while continuing to be a staple of AMI-audio and podcast platforms, where over 1,500 episodes have been broadcast as Kelly and Company.

Airing weekdays from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern from AMI’s state-of-the-art new production studio in Toronto, Kelly and Ramya gives a dynamic and compelling voice to the disability experience in Canada.

On Kelly and Ramya, viewers join hosts Kelly MacDonald and Ramya Amuthan for the latest on lifestyle and entertainment, community events across the country and thoughtful discussion on issues that impact the disability community. Joining the duo are over 30 contributors, who share expert advice on everything from assistive technology to human rights, employment, health and wellness, all through a disability lens. Additionally, eight community reporters from across the country—all from the blind and partially sighted community—share local events and happenings viewers and listeners should be aware of.

“I look forward to being able to smile at our audience every day and share with them the joy I feel about coming into their homes,” Kelly MacDonald says. “I can’t wait for new viewers to meet our amazing contributors, learn from them and to see how diverse and inclusive Kelly and Ramya is.”

“Moving to TV directly involves us with the conversations, and actions, around descriptive video and accessible TV experiences,” Ramya Amuthan says. “I’m very opinionated and vocal about my own TV-watching—what makes good descriptive video, where it can be improved, how we can make experiencing TV better and easier for people with disabilities—so I’m thrilled that I have a full-on opportunity to voice my lived experience and thoughts through this transition to TV.”

Kelly MacDonald
Kelly MacDonald’s radio career began in the dorms of the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind in Brantford, Ontario, with a Mr. Microphone and an FM transmitter. His love for radio only grew, earning himself a HAM radio ticket and call sign (VE3ONA) at the age 14, and later attending Fanshawe College’s Broadcasting program. Kelly has been a part of AMI since the company’s fledgling days as VoicePrint, where he joined as a studio producer. A ubiquitous presence in the blind and partially sighted community, Kelly launched Kelly and Company in 2016 to share a wealth of information, entertainment and thoughtful discussion on disability issues. His jovial persona makes every minute of Kelly and Ramya fun and inclusive!

Ramya Amuthan
An alumna of Seneca College’s Broadcasting – Radio program, Ramya Amuthan is a second-generation broadcaster following her mother, an acclaimed Tamil radio and TV personality. Ramya is also a talented jazz vocalist, voice over artist and avid volunteer. Her efforts in the community as Board Member of PAL Reading Services and Co-Chair of Fighting Blindness Canada’s Young Leaders Program have created programs that connect people with disabilities across the country. Soon after becoming an intern at AMI in 2017, Ramya joined Kelly and Company as a contributor in the early days of the show. Ramya began mentoring Kelly and Company’s team of contributors and took up the co-host seat a year later, where she has offered blind and partially sighted audiences her unique brand of quick-witted humour and insightful perspectives as a woman of colour with low vision.

Beginning Monday, January 9, 2023, Kelly and Ramya airs weekdays from 2-4 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and AMI-audio. Download the podcast version of Kelly and Ramya on demand from your favourite podcasting platform.