2321 Awarewolf Gear All Terrain Cane (May 24, 2023)
Show Notes
The All Terrain Cane (ATC) is a sturdy folding cane designed for blind hikers. Made of lightweight titanium and having an adjustable length, the ATC is suitable for a variety of terrains. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sedona Dave, founder of Awarewolf Gear, about how he came up with the idea, and the benefits of using it for hiking and other outdoor activities.

2320 Firefox Accessibility Enhancements (May 17, 2023)
Show Notes
Accessibility has always been an important factor in the development of the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jamie Teh, technical lead for accessibility at the Mozilla Foundation, about recent improvements to both the accessibility and responsiveness of Firefox for those using screen readers as well as how that work is done.

2319 NVDA – A Community Driven Project (May 10, 2023)
Show Notes
The NVDA screen reader was first released in 2006 and continues to be used by people around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Michael Curran about the ongoing development efforts of NVDA, including the active community involvement and feedback-driven approach that continue to shape the future of this free and open-source software.

2318 BrailleDoodle Tactile Tablet (May 3, 2023)
Show Notes
The BrailleDoodle is an inexpensive refreshable 2-sided tablet for learning Braille and creating tactile images. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with inventor Daniel Lubiner, CEO and founder of TouchPad Pro Foundation which makes the device, about the inspiration for the device, its features, and the role it can play in education and daily life.

2317 Trailblazing for Inclusivity (Apr. 26, 2023)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Daniels, who has been blind since youth, about his journey of overcoming challenges and achieving success as a computer programmer for over 35 years. Before “inclusion” was popular, Greg's story exemplifies the power of determination, resilience, and the importance of the support of family, teachers, and employers.

2316 Musical Scores with the Accessible MuseScore 4 (Apr. 19, 2023)
Show Notes
MuseScore is a sophisticated and feature rich program for creating and listening to musical scores. The release of version 4 brings many improvements to accessibility for people using screen readers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Sabatella, an educator and one of the developers of MuseScore, about this free, open source application.

2315 The Beat Goes On – The Life of a Blind Music Producer (Apr. 12, 2023)
Show Notes
Scott Chesworth is a blind music producer who also offers mixing and mastering services for his clients. He can often be found tutoring and training others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott about his journey into music, his passion for working with others and his commitment to making music accessible for people with disabilities.

2314 Memoirs of a Guide Dog (Apr. 5, 2023)
Show Notes
Mark Carlson is familiar with blindness as it runs in his family. He has come to view his lack of sight as second nature and approaches life with a positive outlook and sense of humor. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mark about his life and the books he has written about his guide dogs as well as his other passion, military strategy.

2313 Innovations from the DAISY Consortium (Mar. 29, 2023)
Show Notes
The DAISY Consortium is an international organization that aims to improve access to information for people with print disabilities around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Kerscher and Richard Orme about their impact on e-pub standards and their latest work to reach more people in underdeveloped countries.

2312 Braille Ignition Kits from NBP (Mar. 22, 2023)
Show Notes
The National Braille Press produces a variety of braille books and manuals for all ages and interests. Now they have released a set of resource kits developed specifically for teachers of the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kesel Wilson, editorial director at the NBP, about what is in these resource kits and how they can be used effectively.

2311 Victor Reader Stream 3 (Mar. 15, 2023)
Show Notes
The popular Victor Reader Stream from Humanware has recently been updated with an improved design and new features. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mathieu Paquette, Product Manager of Victor Reader products, and Peter Tucic, Director of Strategic Partnerships, about this accessible palm-sized multimedia device and why you might enjoy using it.

2310 The Blind Kitchen (Mar. 8, 2023)
Show Notes
Debra Erickson is the executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen where adaptive tools, helpful strategies, and specialized knowledge are provided to blind and vision-impaired people who want to cook safely, confidently, and independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Debra who shares tips and tools that make working in the kitchen safer and easier.

2309 Eschenbach's Haus Call Tele-low-vision Program (Mar. 1, 2023)
Show Notes
Although assistive devices can’t improve your vision, they can help you use the vision you do have to perform tasks more easily. Now you can work with a specialist remotely to find the device that’s right for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Gels, director of marketing for Eschenbach Optik of America about their tele-low-vision service.

2308 An Inside Look at Audio Book Narration (Feb. 22, 2023)
Show Notes
Listening to audio books has become a very popular way of reading. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hillary Huber, a voice actress who has narrated over 700 audio books for both blind and sighted listeners, about how audio books are made, the challenges faced by narrators, and what makes her job fun and rewarding. There’s more to it than you’d expect.

2307 The Path to Employment with NSITE (Feb. 15, 2023)
Show Notes
NSITE is an organization that trains, prepares, and helps blind clients obtain employment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matthew Kehl, a blind job seeker who completed a program through NSITE and obtained a Sourcing Specialist certificate. He shares his experiences with the training and support from NSITE in helping him secure employment.

2306 Encore of 1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Feb. 8, 2023)
Show Notes
Join hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey as they explore their new home state of Colorado in celebration of their 35th anniversary. Follow them as they prepare for their journey, walk trails along raging rivers, hike along narrow ledges hanging on steep canyon walls, and more. You might even learn the true story of Mike the headless chicken!

2305 Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (Feb. 1, 2023)
Show Notes
Vision impairment affects many people around the world. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach and treat people who live in remote areas. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Maria Montero, an ophthalmologist and assistant director of clinical services of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital about how their model addresses the problem.

2304 Equipping Beep Baseball Worldwide (Jan. 25, 2023)
Show Notes
Learn how beep baseballs are made as well as about the surprising connection between beep baseball and the phone company when hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John Cruz, lead volunteer for the group that assembles beep baseball equipment, and J Kelly, chapter president of the Colorado Legacy West Pioneers. We’ll also talk about how the game is played.

2303 The View from Inside at Vispero (Jan. 18, 2023)
Show Notes
Ryan Jones has recently stepped up to take on the role of Vice President of Software Products at Vispero following the retirement of Eric Damery who held that position for many years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ryan about how his long career with Vispero has prepared him for this role and his outlook for the future of accessibility.

2302 JAWS Evolves to Meet Changing Needs (Jan. 11, 2023)
Show Notes
In this second of a two-part series, we talk about how the JAWS screen reader has had to adapt to advances in computer technology as well as to the evolving requirements of users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with long time colleagues and friends Ted Henter, Eric Damery, and Glen Gordon as they reminisce about their contributions to accessibility.

2301 Early Days of JAWS (Jan. 4, 2023)
Show Notes
In this first of a two-part series, we trace the history of the JAWS screen reader and how it has evolved to adapt to advances in technology over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ted Henter, founder of Henter Joyce, Eric Damery, retired vice president of blindness products, and Glen Gordon, lead software developer now at Freedom Scientific.