Newest Episode of “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast” Digs into the Disability Barriers Facing Air Passengers with Disabilities

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance Update

United for a Barrier-Free Ontario for All People with Disabilities

Website: www.aodaalliance.org

Email: aodafeedback@gmail.com

Twitter: @aodaalliance

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aodaalliance

 

Newest Episode of “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast” Digs into the Disability Barriers Facing Air Passengers with Disabilities

 

January 13, 2026

 

SUMMARY

 

Would you like to learn about the struggle to improve airline travel in Canada for passengers with disabilities? Check out the latest episode of the AODA Alliance’s “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast” wherever you get your podcasts. It is entitled:

“Airline Accessibility: How Maayan Ziv Turned a Mangled Wheelchair Into Real Change.”

 

MORE DETAILS

 

This episode of “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast” highlights a powerful story of advocacy that illustrates an important reality of the work of an advocate: golden opportunities for progress can present themselves at any time.

 

In this case, Maayan Ziv, a respected disability rights advocate and entrepreneur, took a cross-Atlantic flight in September 2022 with her power wheelchair stowed away in the cargo hold. Despite having taken multiple measures to keep it protected during the flight, she found it mangled and destroyed on arrival. The emotional video she posted on social media just after the incident went viral, stirring up a media storm that finally brought attention to an issue people with disabilities know all too well: the accessibility, or lack thereof, of Canadian airlines. Maayan lays out the many barriers she and many others face when travelling by air and reflects on the impact of the video. A key feature of every episode of this podcast is that it offers practical tips on lessons we can learn from this saga about doing disability advocacy.

 

More Background

 

For more background on the issue addressed in this episode, check out:

 

 

 

 

 

More About “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast”

 

All earlier episodes remain available, and are worth a listen, including:

 

  1. “The 12 Year Fight for Automated Stop Announcements on the TTC” about Lepofsky’s long struggle to make transit in Toronto accessible for blind riders, with host David Lepofsky.
  2. “Beyond Building Codes: Designing Spaces for Everyone,” with guest built-environment accessible design expert Thea Kurdi
  3. “Smart Strategies, Real Change: Lessons from a Landmark Autism Campaign” covering how targeted advocacy resulted in policy change for autism therapies, with guest autism advocate Bruce McIntosh.
  4. “Turning Barriers into Headlines: Practical Tips from a Veteran News Reporter,” with former journalist Michelle McQuigge.
  5. “How to get a Politician’s Attention Part 1” with the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Premier.
  6. “How to get a Politician’s Attention Part 2” with the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario Premier.

 

You can listen to this podcast at no charge on your smart phone, tablet or computer. Get this podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or download it directly from various podcast platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeart.

 

Ask your smart phone, Alexa, or Google Nest (if you have one): “Play podcast ‘Disability Rights and Wrongs!’”

 

Do you want a transcript of each podcast? Apple Music can generate transcripts.

 

Are you new to podcasts, and want to know what a podcast is? Think of it like a custom-made radio show, but one that did not get broadcast on any radio station. Download episodes for free and listen to them whenever you want.

 

How You Can Help

  • Help us increase the number of people who listen to our podcast. Most learn about new podcasts when a friend or family member tells them about it. When you are talking to someone about it, and they sound interested, encourage them to take their smart phone out then and there. Get them to open a podcast app, search for “David Lepodcast” and subscribe! It is that easy. Otherwise, they can forget to subscribe.

 

Email us about the podcast. How did you like it? What did you learn from it? How did you hear about it? What other topics and guests should we include? Write us at aodafeedback@gmail.com