We are thrilled to launch a new A List venture.

A podcast called Travelling Blind

– seeing the world with a disability.

Our amazing autistic ambassador, Sam Valavanis, has been working hard on creating his new podcast, Travelling Blind – seeing the world with a disability, all about his love of travel and the ways he navigates it with a disability. In his first two episodes he interviews his parents about their harrowing decision to have his eyes removed when Sam was a toddler to save his life from cancer.  Sam shares about his gratitude for his parents who did everything they could to keep his eyes as long as they could until they finally had to have his second eye removed at age 4.

Whilst Sam faced so many challenges growing up, he showed great courage and vitality and with his family met each challenge head on.  After allowing themselves to go through all the spaces of grief, fear, anger, they came to the conclusion that they would focus on what Sam could do, not what he couldn’t.  It became clear that Sam was not going to be stopped in life, in fact he was going to get more out of it then most.

Same discovered a love of travel, trains in particular, but mostly he discovered his love of independence and adventure. Sam travels throughout Melbourne solo and has been many places with his family.  He longs to have a life of new adventures and is leading the charge for people with disability having full access.

The A List is proud to support Sam with this podcast and his dream to be a radio host.   It is our privilege to empower this freight train of enthusiasm and brilliance.

You can listen to Travelling Blind – seeing the world with a disability, by clicking on the links below.

Episode One – Losing my eyes as a child.

Episode Two – Dad’s view. 

If you would like to read more from Sam, click here to read other articles.