AODA Alliance
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ALLIANCE
NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To Mark the International Day for People with Disabilities, Disability Advocate David Lepofsky Interviews Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast.”
December 2, 2025 Toronto: A decade ago, Premier Kathleen Wynne and disability advocate David Lepofsky would meet in the Premier’s Office. He vigourously pressed her on issues important to two million Ontarians with disabilities. She grilled him on how and whether his “asks” would work. They now meet again in a dramatically different setting.
On a new podcast hosted by Lepofsky, they have a probing discussion about strategies and tactics when advocating to a senior politician. This latest episode of “Disability Rights and Wrongs — The David Lepodcast” is timed to mark December 3, the International Day for People with Disabilities.
“Our new podcast gives listeners tips on how to advocate on disability issues or any social justice issues, whether here in Canada or around the world, via stories from those on the front lines,” said blind lawyer, long-time disability rights activist, part-time law professor, and AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky, the podcast’s creator. “In two episodes, the first of which drops on December 2, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne shares invaluable advice from the opposite side of the advocacy desk – offering her unique perspective of a veteran political leader with mountains of urgent issues on her desk, whom we’re trying to convince to add our issues to her agenda.”
Over Kathleen Wynne’s many years in public office, Lepofsky met with her a number of times to try to get on her radar and persuade her to rev up action to tear down disability barriers. On this podcast, Wynne and Lepofsky compare their back stories. Both experienced social justice advocates and lay individuals with no advocacy experience will get a practical guide on how to bring their disability barriers or other social justice concerns to elected politicians and maximize their chance of making progress.
“It’s wonderful to be able to have a relaxed, open and informative conversation like this with Ontario’s former Premier, in contrast to the high pressure of a formal meeting in the Premier’s Office,” said Lepofsky. “The podcast includes a discussion about a crucial question I got the opposition Tories to confront Premier Wynne with in the Legislature’s Question Period nine years ago about education for students with disabilities, still a vital topic mired in a political mess at Queen’s Park. The answer she gave in Question Period that day has resounding significance for one third of a million students with disabilities to this day.”
The first four podcast episodes include:
- “The 12-Year Fight for Automated Stop Announcements on the TTC” about Lepofsky’s unbelievably long legal battle that forced the Toronto Transit Commission to audibly announce all subway, bus and streetcar stops to accommodate blind passengers.
- “Beyond Building Codes: Designing Spaces for Everyone,” which explores why new buildings keep being constructed with preventable disability barriers, with guest built-environment, accessible design expert Thea Kurdi
- “Smart Strategies, Real Change: Lessons from a Landmark Autism Campaign,” which dives into the decades of relentless grassroots advocacy in Ontario by parents of children with autism, featuring guest advocate Bruce McIntosh of the Ontario Autism Coalition.
- “Turning Barriers into Headlines: Practical Tips from a Veteran News Reporter” on how to get media attention on a disability barrier or other social injustice, with veteran journalist Michelle McQuigg, formerly with the Canadian Press.
Future episodes will dive into struggles people with disabilities have had getting barriers removed in access to air travel, health care, and much more.
“This podcast aims to give people all over the world helpful tools to advocate to overcome disability barriers. Full accessibility is their legal right, but too often, that right has not been honoured,” said Lepofsky. “By using tips we are sharing, anyone and everyone can make a huge difference, as our guests on the David Lepodcast demonstrate from their own life experience.”
The podcast is available wherever people get their podcasts, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and iHeart. People can also ask their smart phone, Alexa, or Google Nest: “Play podcast ‘Disability Rights and Wrongs!’”
This podcast is produced by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI). Its skilled producer and co-host is Jacob Shymanski.
Contact: AODA Alliance Chair David Lepofsky, aodafeedback@gmail.com
Twitter: @aodaalliance
Learn more about the grassroots non-partisan advocacy campaign in Ontario since 1994 for accessibility for all people with disabilities by visiting the AODA Alliance’s website.