Accessibility Hamilton Alliance (AHA!)
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aha-hamilton.bsky.social
Accessibility Hamilton Alliance (AHA!)
@aha-hamilton.bsky.social
8 followers 8 following 43 posts
AHA! promotes a City designed for opportunity, free from barriers, and full of accessibility and acceptance. A place you love to call and make your home.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AHA_Hamilton
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aha-hamilton.bsky.social
AHA! members and Westdale Theatre staff weren't the only ones hard at work at the second annual HAFF Time Show! Yolanda, a future McMaster SAS guide dog, attended with her trainer Jade to gain "paws-on" experience and join in the festivities 🐾🦮. We can’t wait to welcome Yolanda back next year! 💛
Yolanda (golden retriever guide dog in training) is posing in a seated position at the aisle in the Westdale theatre wearing a green guide dog in-training vest, during the Hamilton Accessibility Film festival, presented by the Accessibility Hamilton Alliance (AHA!). The background is the image from AHA thanking their donors and sponsors of the event.
November 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
Another successful HAFF Time Show in the books! We are immensely grateful to our collaborators, sponsors, volunteers, and the community who've come to support our mission! We are so very excited to see you all again next year 💛
A collage of photos showcasing the guests and volunteers at the HAFF Time Show, as well as Hettie, our resident AHA! hedgehog mascot! Top right corner writes: "Thank you to all of our STAR visitors who came to support us!" Top of the page writes "There is no HAFF Time Show without the people who have made it ALL possible!" Below shows a picture of City of Hamilton Ward 4 councillor Tammy Hwang, and a video of AHA! student Lyka and ASL interpreter..(cannot recall the name, please advise). On the slide writes: "Thank you to the wonderful ASL interpreters, Kerry Grandfield and Jill Scott for donating their time to make HAFF more accessible, and Councillor Tammy Hwang for coming to support and bring greetings from the Mayor!" Top writes: "We are proud and grateful to have received support from organizations who believe in our mission. Thank you to our sponsors for HAFF 2025" The page displays all the sponsors of HAFF Time Show 2025 including The Boland Foundation, McMaster Student Success Centre, Accessible Media Inc., the McMaster Bachelor of Health Sciences Society, The McMaster Impact Initiative and the McMaster Department of Biology. Top of the page writes: "Our most heartfelt gratitude to The Westdale for your continued support and hosting the HAFF Time Show." Then shows 2 pictures, one with Niki Poirier, theatre manager with AHA! members Kimberly and Ava. The other picture is an AHA! group photo with members (left to right): Ava, Mya, Lyka, Tim, Kimberly, and Enya. Beneath the photos are the names of individuals from The Westdale: Niki, Paul, Daniela. There are also names of all members of AHA!: Ali, Amy, Ava, Caterina, Chian, Enya, Hannah, Kimberly, Lyka, Mya, Miguel, Saanya, Tim, and William. At the bottom of the page writes: "And last, but certainly not least - a round of applause for our amazing AHA! team! We can’t wait to see you all again next year!"
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
Yesterday, AHA! team members, Tim, Mya, Ava, Enya, and Hannah hosted a discussion about disability education and allyship at the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation! Thank you to HHSF for being such a wonderful and interactive audience, and making Hamilton a more accessible and inclusive place! 💡💙
AHA! team members (left to right): Mya, Hannah, Ava, Tim, Enya stand in from of the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation sign. A photo of 2 television screens on the walls of a conference room showing the 'Thank you for participating' slide of the AHA! presentation.
November 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
"Music was his world. Then silence revealed a new one."

Ruben Stone (Riz Ahmed) is a metal drummer whose life is turned upside down when he rapidly loses his hearing. The final film at the HAFF Time Show this September 20 at 7pm. Get your FREE tickets on the Westdale website or link in comments! 🎶
black background with the AHA logo at the very top. In the centre of the page is the movie poster for Sound of Metal with arrows going to the side. One arrow points to "Saturday, September 20, 7pm" at the top right. One arrow points to "The Westdale Theatre" on the top left. Another arrow points to "Hamilton, ON" near the middle left. There is a dashed arrow with the text "slide to description" near the middle right. At the very bottom of the page writes "HAFF Time Show 2025". black background with "HAFF Time Show 2025" written at the top of the page. On a white square writes "Sound of Metal (2019). Rated R. Genre is Drama/Musical". Below that is the film description "The film stars Riz Ahmed as Ruben Stone, a metal drummer whose life is turned upside down when he begins to lose his hearing rapidly. Struggling to come to terms with his new reality, Ruben enters a rural deaf community for support and learns American Sign Language while confronting his fears, addiction recovery, and identity. This film premiered in the Platform Prize program at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. This film will have open-captions."
September 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
"My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for?"

"Still Alice" (2014) is showing for FREE this upcoming Saturday, September 20 at 4pm at the annual HAFF Time Show. Reserve your tickets on The Westdale website or link in comments below!
black background with the AHA logo at the very top. In the centre of the page is the movie poster for Still Alice with arrows going to the side. One arrow points to "Saturday, September 20, 4pm" at the top right. One arrow points to "The Westdale Theatre" on the top left. Another arrow points to "Hamilton, ON" near the middle left. There is a dashed arrow with the text "slide to description" near the middle right. At the very bottom of the page writes "HAFF Time Show 2025". black background with "HAFF Time Show 2025" written at the top of the page. On a white square writes "Still Alice (2014). Rated PG-13. Genre is Drama". Below that is the film description "Adapted from Lisa Genova’s 2007 novel, Alice Howland is a renowned linguistics professor whose life is upended by a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As she struggles to hold on to her identity and relationships, she is supported—sometimes imperfectly—by her husband, played by Alec Baldwin, and their children, portrayed by Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth, and Hunter Parrish. This film will have open-captions and descriptive audio."
September 18, 2025 at 11:37 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
🚨 LESS THAN ONE WEEK UNTIL HAFF TIME SHOW 2025! 🚨

This September 20, take a stroll to The Westdale Theatre with your friends and family to watch one (or 4) award-winning films FOR FREE 🎬. Reserve your tickets through the Westdale website TODAY 🎟
Top of the page is the Accessibility Hamilton Alliance logo. Underneath that writes "HAFF Time Show". Underneath that in smaller letters writes "Hamilton Accessibility Film Festival". In the left middle of the page reads "Sept 20 | The Westdale" and underneath that is the Westdale address in glowing letters (1014 King St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 1L4). "Free entry" is writen in the right middle of the page. Underneath that is a picture of a cat with a text box that says "see you there!" At the bottom of the page are showtimes "10am The Unbreakable Boy (open captioned), 1pm Harvey (open captioned), 4pm Still Alice (open captioned and described audio), 7pm Sound of Metal (open captioned)". At the very bottom of the page are social media logos (website, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Youtube), with "Follow us!" written on the side.
September 17, 2025 at 2:31 AM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
The second podcast in the DHM x TV series! This week, Triple Vision host Hanna Leavitt speaks with Miguel Aguayo of AHA! about the book “The Blind Mechanic: The Amazing Story of Eric Davidson, Survivor of the 1917 Halifax Explosion”. Listen to the full conversation on Spotify!
top of the page writes "Disability History Month" followed by "DHM 2025". Below that are 2 circles, one with the AHA! logo and one with the Triple Vision logo with a microphone in the middle. Underneath is the title of the podcast: "Barometer Rising: The Making of a Blind Mechanic". There is a large rectangle with the book cover and author name on the left side. On the right side is a short quote from the podcast “He continually took the engine apart, and put it back together again to create a mental map of what goes where. He also experimented by disconnecting a part, listening to the engine, feeling its vibration...He would listen to find what made that noise, what made the vibration, what made that smell."
September 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
"This is my friend, Harvey: an invisible, 6-foot tall rabbit!" 🐇

Elwood P. Dowd (played by James Stewart) stars in Harvey (1950), the second film to be showed at the HAFF Time Show, this upcoming Saturday, September 20 at 1pm - don't miss out! Tickets on @thewestdale.bsky.social website
black background with the AHA logo at the very top. In the centre of the page is the movie poster for Harvey with arrows going to the side. One arrow points to "Saturday, September 20, 1pm" at the top right. One arrow points to "The Westdale Theatre" on the top left. Another arrow points to "Hamilton, ON" near the middle left. There is a dashed arrow with the text "slide to description" near the middle right. At the very bottom of the page writes "HAFF Time Show 2025". black background with "HAFF Time Show 2025" written at the top of the page. On a white square writes "Harvey (1950). Rated PG. Genre is Comedy". Below that is the film description "A James Stewart classic from the 1950s, this whimsical film tells the story of a kindhearted man whose closest companion happens to be an invisible, human-sized rabbit. While those around him believe he’s lost touch with reality, his gentle wisdom and unshakable sincerity suggest he may understand life better than anyone else. Alongside Stewart’s unforgettable performance, the film features a talented ensemble cast from Hollywood’s golden era. This film will have open-captions"
September 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
🎉 ATTENTION ALL MAC STUDENTS + HAMILTONIANS! Our very first HAFF Time Show film this year will be The Unbreakable Boy at 10am @thewestdale.bsky.social! Get your tickets through the Westdale website 😉

#accessiblefilms #HAFFTimeShow #DisabilityHistoryMonth
black background with the AHA logo at the very top. In the centre of the page is the movie poster for The Unbreakable Boy with arrows going to the side. One arrow points to "Saturday, September 20, 10am" at the top right. One arrow points to "The Westdale Theatre" on the top left. Another arrow points to "Hamilton, ON" near the middle left. There is a dashed arrow with the text "slide to description" near the middle right. At the very bottom of the page writes "HAFF Time Show 2025". black background with "HAFF Time Show 2025" written at the top of the page. On a white square writes "The Unbreakable Boy (2025). Rated PG. Genre is Drama". Below that is the film description "This American biographical drama, written and directed by Jon Gunn, brings to life a remarkable true story. Based on the powerful memoir The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory, the film follows the extraordinary journey of LeRette’s son, Austin—a boy born with a fragile bone disease and on the autism spectrum, whose unshakable spirit transforms everyone around him. This film will have open-captions.". At the very bottom of the page are social media logos with "Follow us!" written on the side. Text below that writes "Visit The Westdale website for tickets! Link in bio"
September 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
This September, Hamilton celebrates the second year of Disability History Month (DHM)! DHM was created in 2024 with one goal in mind: to celebrate the achievements of our community members. We’ll be sharing stories, planning a FREE film festival, podcasts, and more! #HamOnt #DisabilityHistoryMonth
Top of the page is AHA! logo. Right underneath writes: "Disability History Month". Underneath that on the left side is "DHM", while the right side writes "September 2025". In the middle of the page is text: "How has the past shaped our present? How can WE shape the future of accessibility?". Underneath that writes: "Get ready for a month of: Podcasts, a FREE film festival..and more!" At the very bottom of the page writes "Stay tuned for more details" and social media logos, asking the audience to follow us. At the top of the page is the AHA! logo. Written on the page "Disability History Month (DHM) was first celebrated in Hamilton, ON in September 2024. Every September, AHA! aspires to celebrate and amplify the voices of community members. It is only through the lives of people with disabilities and the environment of the past that we can collectively learn about what is possible for the future of accessibility. This September, we’ll be sharing stories, planning a free film festival, podcasts, and more! DHM is an opportunity to reflect on the past so that we may build a more accessible future. We look forward to celebrating DHM with the community again this year!".
September 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
2 WEEKS LEFT!! 🚨 HAFF Time Show 2025 is THIS Saturday, September 20 at The Westdale! We'll be showing 4 award-winning films FOR FREE that spotlight characters with disabilities as they navigate the world around them ! Don't miss out and get your tickets through the Westdale website TODAY 🎟 👀
Top of the page writes "HAFF Time Show" in a marquee light box. Underneath that in smaller letters writes "Hamilton Accessibility Film Festival". In the left middle of the page reads "Free entry" and in the right middle of the page is the AHA! logo that has a spotlight shone on it. Underneath in glowing letters write: "Sept 20 | The Westdale" and underneath that is the Westdale address in glowing letters (1014 King St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 1L4). At the bottom of the page is a cinema light box with the film times and titles as well as the open caption and audio described symbols. "10am The Unbreakable Boy (open captioned), 1pm Harvey (open captioned), 4pm Still Alice (open captioned and described audio), 7pm Sound of Metal (open captioned)". At the very bottom of the page are red movie theatre seats and social media logos (website, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Youtube), with "Follow us!" written on the side.
September 6, 2025 at 8:16 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
To kick off DHM 2025, AHA! has worked with Triple Vision to bring our very first podcast: Ruth Vallis talks about her book "Love is Blind" which details her life as one of the first eight students to be integrated into Toronto’s regular classrooms in 1969. #DisabilityHistoryMonth
top of the page writes "Disability History Month" followed by "DHM 2025". Below that are 2 circles, one with the AHA! logo and one with the Triple Vision logo with a microphone in the middle. Underneath is the title of the podcast: "Love is Blind, At least according to Ruth Vallis". There is a large rectangle with the book cover and author name on the left side. On the right side is a short quote from the podcast “maybe someone who could see could look around and see what is going on here, not for blind people. So that was very, very challenging. And it almost overcame me. I almost wanted to not live anymore. But suddenly I got a grip and things got better. By the time I graduated I could have stayed living in England.”. At the very bottom writes "Listen to the full discussion on Spotify | Link in bio"
September 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
September is Disability History Month! This year we've partnered with Triple Vision to bring you 4 specially curated podcasts dedicated to showcasing Canadian authors with disabilities and disability history as told through books. #DisabilityHistoryMonth
Top of the page writes "Disability History Month". Below that are 2 circles, one with the AHA! logo and one with the Triple Vision logo with a microphone in the middle. The right side writes "September 2025" and below that "DHM 2025". Beneath that are 4 rectangular images with the 4 book covers with the corresponding author names on top of each rectangle in a 4 by 4 set up. These books include Love is Blind by Ruth E. Vallis, The Blind Mechanic by Marilyn Davidson Elliot, Stars Come out Within by Jean Little, and A Two-Spirit Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby. In the middle writes "Podcasts all month". Beneath that writes "4 books, 4 stories, 4 authors", and below that writes "stay tuned!".
September 5, 2025 at 2:44 AM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
♻️ What do blue box recycling bins have in common with advances in accessibility at McMaster University? Listen to find out!
September 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
🧩 A quest! Your voice can make a difference! Will you participate?

Lawyer and advocate David Lepofsky talks AODA, accessibility policies, and more with AHA! students Chian and Lyka. Listen to the full discussion on YouTube!
September 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
What piece of advice have you received or would like to give to students with disabilities?

Join Dr. Alan Neville as he recounts how academic accommodations and accessibility in medical training has changed with AHA! students Ali and Hannah. Full conversation on YouTube!
August 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
IT'S BACK!!! HAFF Time Show 2025 is this September 20 at The Westdale 🎬! We'll be showing 4 award-winning films (for FREE) that spotlight characters with disabilities as they navigate the world around them. This special screening series is all about celebrating disability representation...(1/3)
Accessibility Hamilton Alliance logo at the top of the page. Hamilton Accessibility Film Festival. September 20, 2025. The Westdale Theatre. 1014 King Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 1L4. Doors open at 9:00am. Show schedule follows in next page. A young girl holding popcorn in a theatre points: "see you there!". A text box that writes: "free entry". Image text: "During Disability History Month, the Accessibility Hamilton Alliance (AHA!) and Westdale Theatre hosts the Hamilton Accessibility Film Festival (HAFF Time Show) as an opportunity for both the disabled and non-disabled communities to watch both classic and contemporary films depicting either persons with disabilities or actors portraying characters who have a disability through a critical lens. The festival is held at the Westdale Theatre, which is located at 1014 King St. West in Hamilton (near to McMaster University). While there were many films of choice the following were selected because of their subject, popularity and availability. It is the hope of the AHA! that the film festival can grow in years to come in both size and volume of films." Following this text are the showtimes of the films. "10am The Unbreakable Boy, 1pm Harvey, 4pm Still Alice, 7pm Sound of Metal". At the very bottom are social media logos (website, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin)
August 22, 2025 at 1:56 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
📣 IT’S OFFICIAL: ONE MONTH UNTIL THE BEST EVENT IN HAMILTON…The HAMILTON ACCESSIBILITY FILM FESTIVAL 🎉 🙌 Stay tuned for more information on films + other secret projects we've has been working on…the only way to find out about this year’s event is to check out @thewestdale.bsky.social for now...🫢🤫
Image text: one month until the HAFF Time Show. Image with a cartoon person with popcorn sipping on a drink in a move theatre.
August 21, 2025 at 1:31 AM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
Is Ontario Failing People with Disabilities?

Lawyer and advocate David Lepofsky talks AODA, accessibility policies, and more with AHA! students Chian and Lyka. Listen to the full discussion on YouTube!

#Accessibility #advocacy #DisabilityHistoryMonth #accessibilityawareness #OntarioGovernment
August 19, 2025 at 1:58 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
How can we rethink medical curricula to include diverse and capable individuals in the healthcare space? Join Dr. Alan Neville as he recounts how academic accommodations and accessibility in medical training has changed with AHA! students Ali and Hannah. Listen to the full conversation on YouTube!
August 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
What does accessibility mean to you? AHA! Director Tim Nolan chats with AHA! students Caterina and Enya about the past, present, and future of accessibility at McMaster and in Hamilton. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation on our YouTube channel! #Accessibility #accessiblespace #DisabilityHistoryMonth
August 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
🗣 What's your take on current conversations surrounding disability?
McMaster Accessibility Consultant Kate Brown & past Chair of the McMaster Accessibility Advisory Council (MAAC) Anne Pottier discuss navigating accessible resources on campus and more with AHA! students Ava and Mya.
August 7, 2025 at 12:23 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
Accessibility and technology: how far have we come and have much further do we need to go?

Lawyer and advocate David Lepofsky talks AODA, accessibility policies, and more with AHA! students Chian and Lyka. Listen to the full discussion on our YouTube channel!

#Accessibility #accessibletech
August 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
What does ableism mean to you? Join Dr. Alan Neville as he recounts how academic accommodations and accessibility in medical training has changed with AHA! students Ali and Hannah. Listen to the full conversation on our YouTube channel!

#ableism #DisabilityHistoryMonth #accessibility
July 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
aha-hamilton.bsky.social
As language evolves, how can we balance individual preferences with broader efforts to create respectful, inclusive communities? AHA! Director Tim Nolan chats with AHA! students Caterina and Enya about the past, present, and future of accessibility at McMaster and in Hamilton.
July 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM