To Table of Contents
MÉLANGE : What is Kelly and Company ? KELLY : Kelly and Company on AMI Audio is awesome . The goal is to discuss topics directly affecting the blind community but also arts , entertainment and lifestyle , in a conversational , relaxed atmosphere . We appreciate that people are taking two hours out of their day to listen to us , so we try to inject some entertainment into their lives where we can , and as of October 31st , 2020 , we celebrated four years on the air which is humbling .
Kelly and Company is a conversation in which you ’ re included . We sit back and try to try to make it as easy going as possible . We love to laugh on the show and we want to educate . But do we expect you to sit there for the full two hours ? Not necessarily . But we hope you ’ ll come back 15 minutes later and see what else we ’ re talking about .
MÉLANGE : What are your thoughts on social media ? KELLY : We ’ re all working on being more aware . I love what social media does , because I think people get to learn about things they may not have otherwise heard about .
You have a chance to see more stuff presented , more people are talking to you from marginalized communities , and I like the interest shown in our Canadian culture , especially in the Aboriginal community . People have started to hear more , read more and see more of their beautiful art that ’ s out there and I find the same is happening with the disability community . The well-spoken , very well-educated ones that get out there and aren ’ t the hard hammer , complaining , but instead , they ’ re using that softer hammer of wonderful word choice , articulation and writing great articles so now I don ’ t feel that someone is smashing down doors to say , don ’ t treat us like that .
MÉLANGE : What assistive technology do you use ? KELLY : I use a screen reader called Jaws , and I have a cane to help me get around . I use my iPhone for pretty much everything . I ’ m not a whiz , but I frequently use Zoom and social media . I enjoy listening to other radio stations , podcasts and audiobooks also .
MÉLANGE : Do you see yourself as an inspiration to others ? KELLY : I would like to say that I ’ m here to let blind people know that I ’ m speaking for them . When I think about my career and what I ’ ve done for the inclusivity of blind people on TV it fills me with pride .
MÉLANGE : You have a theatre production company , isn ’ t that right ? KELLY : Yes . Out of Sight Productions . I have written plays , rented marvelous theatre spaces for both sighted and low / no sighted people to get involved with performances – and I was surprised every time with how well the performances turned out .
MÉLANGE : What was the inclusive message of this theatre company ? KELLY : Our message or goal was to run a theater troupe that gave priority to low vision and blind people . We wanted to make sure we were inclusive all around , and that we didn ' t just put blind people on stage for them to play blind characters . Not only did we have to convince sighted people that blind people can do theater , we also had to convince blind people that , sure , you could do it !
We worked endlessly to find a balance between being inclusive , respecting people ’ s comfort zones and supporting those who wanted to develop their confidence . And I feel we did just that .