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2049 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 2 (Dec. 2, 2020)
Show Notes
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers many services and resources for people of all ages whose lives are affected by vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue their conversation with Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives for the NFB, about their programs aimed at helping those with vision loss, especially adults.
2048 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 1 (Nov. 25, 2020)
Show Notes
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers many services and resources for people of all ages whose lives are affected by vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives for the NFB, about their programs and how they aim to help those with vision loss, especially youth.
2047 Using Various Web Browsers with a Screen Reader (Nov. 18, 2020)
Show Notes
Sometimes one web browser just isn’t enough. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Kingsbury from the Carroll Center for the Blind about his new book that describes why this is true and why you might find need for more than one browser. He talks about the book and how the various web browsers can be used with popular screen readers.
2046 Card Mechanic (Nov. 11, 2020)
Show Notes
Close-up Magician of the Year Award winner, Richard Turner can do things with a deck of cards that you would think are impossible even if you could see them. Well, he can’t see them either. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Richard about how, despite his lack of vision, he works the cards and amazes audiences with his skills as a professional card mechanic.
2045 Music Lessons By Ear (Nov. 4, 2020)
Show Notes
Have you ever wanted to play a musical instrument but never got around to it? No matter how well you see it can be done. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bill Brown, founder of Music for the Blind, about the wide range of audio courses he offers for many instruments based on playing by ear. Lessons are available either to download or on CD.
2044 Advocacy from NFB (Oct. 28, 2020)
Show Notes
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has long played a leading role in advocating for the rights of people with visual impairments in the areas of education, employment and civil rights. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John Paré, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy at the NFB about some of this work and its impact on people who are blind.
2043 Using Zoom with a Screen Reader (Oct. 21, 2020)
Show Notes
Zoom is a popular video conferencing service that enables people to work from home, connect with friends and family, attend performances, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Heather Thomas about her new book, “Getting Started With Zoom Meetings: A Guide for JAWS, NVDA, and iPhone Voiceover Users”, that describes how Zoom can be used with a screen reader.
2042 Becoming a Chiropractor (Oct. 14, 2020)
Show Notes
After losing her vision in her mid-20’s, Jackie Ouellet was forced to reassess her life and dreams. Shortly after going through a blindness rehabilitation program she had a plan. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jackie about how she coped with her vision loss, found a blind chiropractor as a mentor, and went on to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
2041 Capturing and Sharing the World (Oct. 7, 2020)
Show Notes
Judy Dixon has written a number of books about fun and useful apps for iOS devices and how they can be used with VoiceOver. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy about her most recent book “Capturing and Sharing the World: Taking Photos and Videos with an iPhone” that describes how you can take photos and videos even if you don’t have any vision.
2040 Non-Visual Theater (Sep. 30, 2020)
Show Notes
Mack Gordon, artistic producer of Theatre in the Dark, describes how the group has turned lemons into lemonade despite being unable to hold public performances due to the pandemic. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mack about their upcoming live virtual audio-only presentation of “War of the Worlds” and how you can join in this evening of creative theater.
2039 Acesight Electronic Eyeglasses (Sep. 23, 2020)
Show Notes
Digital eyewear devices offer vision impaired users the ability to customize their viewing experience in order to optimize what they see based on their own special needs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Bradburn, President of Zoomax USA, about the Acesight family of products, how they work, and which device might be right for you.
2038 Race and Blindness (Sep. 16, 2020)
Show Notes
Anil Lewis is the executive director of blindness initiatives for the National Federation of the Blind. He says that “Being Black Helped Me Be Blind and Being Blind Helped Me Understand that #BlackLivesMatter.” Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anil about his experiences as a blind person of color and how those experiences affected his life and ambitions.
2037 The New Mantis and More from APH (Sep. 9, 2020)
Show Notes
The Mantis Q40 is a refreshable 40-cell braille display that distinguishes itself from similar devices with its built in QWERTY keyboard. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Larry Skutchan from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) about the device and how the APH and Humanware partnered to develop it. We also discuss other products from the APH.
2036 Guiding Emily (Sep. 2, 2020)
Show Notes
Barbara Hinske is a best-selling author whose tour of the Foundation for Blind Children inspired her latest novel, “Guiding Emily”, about a woman who suddenly goes blind and learns to adapt. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Barbara about the book, the extensive research she did for the book, and her plans for developing the concept into a series.
2035 Digital Accessibility (Aug. 26, 2020)
Show Notes
Lucy Greco is the Web Accessibility Evangelist for the University of California at Berkeley. As a blind technologist, she understands how peoples’ lives are impacted by resources that have not been made accessible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about the current state of accessibility and the outlook for the future.
2034 Positive Experiences During COVID-19 Pandemic (Aug. 19, 2020)
Show Notes
The COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders have turned life upside down for many people. For some, this has been a time of anxiety, frustration, and even depression. On the other hand, there have also been some positive outcomes experienced by people during this unusual period. This week we highlight some positive experiences shared by our listeners.
2033 Amazon and Accessibility for All (Aug. 12, 2020)
Show Notes
Amazon makes a vast array of products from smart speakers to microwave ovens that incorporate universal design concepts that enable their devices to be useable by and accessible to everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, director of accessibility at Amazon Lab 126, about a number of these products and what makes them special.
2032 Navigating Health Care (Aug. 5, 2020)
Show Notes
Navigating the ins and outs of the health care system can be a confusing and daunting task even if one is sighted. But what if you’re not? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deborah Kendrick about her book “Navigating Health Care: When All They Can See is That You Can’t” which offers useful suggestions and strategies when you might most need them.
2031 Disability Rights and the ADA (Jul. 29, 2020)
Show Notes
The Americans with Disabilities Act was a pivotal point in codifying the rights which all disabled people are afforded in the U.S. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tim Elder, a blind disability rights attorney, about the long journey in recognizing the rights of the disabled, developing the current law, and why the journey is not yet done.
2030 Cross Country Skiing (Jul. 22, 2020)
Show Notes
Participating in sports can not only help to keep you healthy but can also be a rewarding social activity. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tim McCorcle, president of the Ski For Light organization, about programs run by the organization in which blind skiers can partner with sighted guides to enjoy the outdoors and make new friends.
2029 The Blind Soprano (Jul. 15, 2020)
Show Notes
Cristina Jones is a dramatic coloratura soprano who refers to herself as The Blind Soprano. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cristina about how she became interested in music as a youth, how she dealt with losing her eyesight as she got older, and challenges she has had to overcome as a professional opera singer both on stage and off.
2028 The Case For and Against Service Animals (July 8, 2020)
Show Notes
There was a time that a “service animal” was a trained and certified guide dog for the blind. Now it seems that service animals are everywhere and the rules of acceptance have become considerably relaxed. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deni Elliott, a blind professor of Media Ethics, about what has changed, the implications, and what we can do about it.
2027 Why See a Low Vision Specialist (Jul. 1, 2020)
Show Notes
Ophthalmologists are trained to treat medical conditions associated with the eye and should be consulted if you are experiencing vision loss. But what about getting around in daily life? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Neelam Patel, a low vision specialist, about the array of services and resources available of which you might not have been told.
2026 A Musical Career in the Shadow of Sound (Jun. 24, 2020)
Show Notes
Joey Stuckey is an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, radio and television personality, music columnist, educator and sound engineer. He is also the official music ambassador for his home town of Macon, Georgia. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joey about his life journey and keys to his success.
2025 Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst (Jun. 17, 2020)
Show Notes
Despite being totally blind since childhood, Robert De Young acquired the training to become a practicing clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert about what those positions entail and the services he provides to his clients. They also talk with him about how he works with clients despite being blind.
2024 Encore of 1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Jun. 10, 2020)
Show Notes
Many visually impaired people have experienced the frustrations of operating cable TV or searching for a movie. If you’re a Comcast customer, however, your problems are solved! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tom Wlodkowski, Vice President of Accessibility at Comcast, about their solutions that provide the blind with almost complete access to all functions.
2023 On the Move Again (Jun. 3, 2020)
Show Notes
In a prior episode, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked about their long distance move from Rochester, New York to Golden, Colorado. Well they are on the move again! In this episode they talk about their recent move to another part of Golden, a few miles from the old house. Hear what was different about this move and how it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 Offerings from Freedom Scientific (May 27, 2020)
Show Notes
Eric Damery is VP of Software Product Management of Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company, a worldwide leader in providing assistive technology for visually impaired people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eric about the company, features of JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion, and special offerings for students as well as during the Covid-19 pandemic.
2021 BARD Mobile Gets an Update (May 20, 2020)
Show Notes
The BARD Mobile app from the National Library Service (NLS) has recently had a major update. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon of the NLS about some of the exciting new features you will find in the new app including the ability to find books by the same author, in the same series or genre, and subscribe to new releases.
2020 Band-in-a-Box 2020 and the Updated JAWS Scripts (May 13, 2020)
Show Notes
Band-in-a-Box from PG Music continues to evolve and introduce new features that are appealing to both professional and amateur musicians alike. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tobin Frank, chief development officer at PG Music, about the program and how the scripts Peter developed make this program accessible with the JAWS screen reader.
2019 The Sunu Band for Navigation (May 6, 2020)
Show Notes
Even if one is proficient at using a white cane for navigation there are still some obstacles that will go undetected by even the most experienced traveler. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Diego Mendoza, Business Development director at Sunu Inc., about how the Sunu Band, worn around one’s wrist, can provide tactile feedback to help avoid such obstacles.
2018 Encore of 1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Apr. 29, 2020)
Show Notes
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has over 400 sites that are visited by over 300 million people each year. They strive to make these sites as accessible as possible for everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ray Bloomer, Accessibility Specialist for Accessibility Support Programs, about the NPS and how their sites can be enjoyed by all.
2017 NCAR Tactile and Audio Tour (Apr. 22, 2020)
Show Notes
NCAR, or the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is a worldwide resource focused on earth system sciences. They have worked hard to make their public displays very accessible. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they take a tour of a number of interactive exhibits with Becca Hatheway, manager of teaching and learning at the center.
2016 Braille Displays - Dot Watch and Beyond (Apr. 15, 2020)
Show Notes
Dot Incorp has developed an innovative braille technology for refreshable braille displays that is less costly and bulky than traditional refreshable braille designs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ah-rum Choi, director of Social Impact at Dot Incorp, about their new braille Dot Watch, and what we might expect from this technology in the future.
2015 Coping While Isolated (Apr. 8, 2020)
Show Notes
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to dramatically change our daily routines and develop new strategies for navigating through this difficult time. In this special episode hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss tools and resources you might find useful in work, chores, play, and socializing with friends and family while practicing social distancing.
2014 A Career with Computers (Apr. 1, 2020)
Show Notes
Jeff Bishop is a program manager on Microsoft’s accessibility team. Despite being blind from birth, he was an active and adventurous youth, learned programming on a Commodore Computer, and has had a fun and rewarding professional career. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff about his experiences and what he considers to be some of his keys to success.
2013 Narrator, Now Better Than Ever (Mar. 25, 2020)
Show Notes
Over the past few years, Microsoft has added a number of major enhancements to the Narrator screen reader that is built into Windows. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff Bishop, a program manager in the accessibility team at Microsoft, about some of Narrator’s new features, and why, if you haven’t used Narrator in a while, it might be worth a second look.
2012 Accessible Prescription Labels and More (Mar. 18, 2020)
Show Notes
En-Vision America provides labeling solutions for the visually impaired including voice-enabled products like i.d. mate, the talking bar code reader, and ScriptAbility, which includes Braille, large print and talking prescription labels. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with representative Jenna Reed about these products and how you might find them useful.
2011 Encore of 1744 Buying a Rental Property (Mar. 11, 2020)
Show Notes
Have you ever wanted to purchase a house either to live in or as an investment? Are you thinking that as a blind person that might be a questionable thing to do? Well think again! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ana Garza, who has been blind since childhood, about her experiences buying a rental property and how she is making it work for her.
2010 Android Accessibility Then and Now (Mar. 4, 2020)
Show Notes
A lot has changed over the years in the Android world, especially in terms of accessibility features that are available for the visually impaired and how well these features perform. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey once again talk with Ana Garza who gives us an update on the accessibility of Android devices and why you might consider using them.
2009 When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You (Feb. 26, 2020)
Show Notes
Although many people really enjoy having the power and flexibility of a smart phone right in their pockets, smart phones aren’t for everyone. Sometimes a simple phone with buttons and without all the frills will do the trick. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Jones about what options are available if a smart phone isn’t for you.
2008 Updated Guide to Accessibility of iOS 13 (Feb. 19, 2020)
Show Notes
Every new release of iOS for Apple devices brings a host of new features and functionality, but trying to learn what is new can be quite daunting. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin about the updated version of her easy to follow reference book “iOS Access for All” that details what you need to know to work effectively with iOS devices.
2007 Dealing with the Challenges of Vision Loss (Feb. 12, 2020)
Show Notes
Hannah Fairbairn’s book “When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery” is based on her experience as an instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind as well as her own personal journey with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about the book and some of the guidance it offers for those new to vision loss.
2006 Astreos Stargazing App (Feb. 5, 2020)
Show Notes
Just because one has limited vision doesn’t mean that one can’t enjoy investigating the heavenly bodies in the universe around us. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Yuma Antoine Decaux and Jake Dean from OSeyeris about the accessible Astreos Stargazing App they are developing to open up new vistas for both amateurs and professionals.
2005 Free Music Reader App from Sao Mai (Jan. 29, 2020)
Show Notes
The SM Music Reader is a free Android app that enables the visually impaired to access music scores imported onto their devices. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dang Hoai Phuc, executive director of the Sao Mai Center for the Blind in Vietnam, about the app and how it can be used to read and listen to complex musical scores.
2004 Build a Better Book Program (Jan. 22, 2020)
Show Notes
The Build a Better Book project works with school and library Makerspaces to engage youth in the design and fabrication of inclusive media, including picture books, games and graphics. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jesse Swift, a STEM teacher at Golden High School, and his students about the project and how it worked at their school.
2003 Communicating with Zoom (Jan. 15, 2020)
Show Notes
Zoom is a powerful communications tool that has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. The software can be run from desktop or mobile devices for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Carter Jenkins, a Customer Success Manager at Zoom, about the accessibility of Zoom and some of its features.
2002 Books with Blind Characters (Jan. 8, 2020)
Show Notes
Blind since birth, Phyllis Campbell is a prize-winning author who started writing as a young child. Over the years she has written a number of books including both fiction and non-fiction as well as many magazine articles. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Phyllis about her writings and how she portrays blind characters in some of her books.
2001 A Tribute to Jim Thatcher (Jan. 1, 2020)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey honor the life and work of Jim Thatcher who passed away last month by reprising episode 1420 in which we interviewed Jim about his pioneering work in the development of the first screen readers and years later of the first standards for web accessibility. Thanks to Jim for his continued contributions to the field of accessibility.
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