Aira presents this Blind Abilities production of an interview with Sassy Outwater-Wright. Sassy is the Director of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. MABVI is the first business partner to join the new Aira Employer Network, whose objective is to increase BVI employment across the nation by allowing businesses to purchase and provide free access to Aira for employees. Listen as Sassy describes the enthusiasm she felt as she chatted with Aira, and the significant benefits this program offers to MABVI and employers everywhere. 

 

Pete, Jeff and Sassy discuss Sassy’s myriad duties as Director of this nonprofit organization which serves the state of Massachusetts and beyond, with various programs, including the VIBRANT Program leveraging multiple volunteers to teach seniors and others in the community, Team With A Vision, whose marketing strategy promotes MABVI’s role, her thoughts about the Aira technology and its potential in the future, and more. Listen to Sassy’s views on the BVI community, its interdependence for skill-building, the “silver tsunami” and her advice to transition-aged students moving from high school to college and/or into the workforce. Join blind Abilities for this insightful conversation with a leader in blindness advocacy     and a pioneer for the employment of the blind and visually impaired. Check out more information about MABVI at: MABVI.Org

 

The advent of the Aira Employer Network coincides with the February 19, 2018, announcement of the Aira Employment Program in which Aira Explorers will receive free service for job-seeking purposes. Find more on these new programs at: Aira.IO

And of course, check out Aira and subscribe at: Aira.IO

 

Thank you for listening.

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

I’m a Set of Abilities, Not a Disability! Meet Monique Wollan, A Success Story

Monique Wollan joined us in the studio and talked about her journey from high school to college and the workplace. From one side of the Earth to the other, Monique traveled, lived and worked as a volunteer and an English teacher. After 10 years of being abroad Monique came to Minnesota and sought out State Services for the Blind as she wanted to get updated since technology had probably changed from a decade ago.

Monique found her present job by searching Indeed and is now happily employed, raising bees, landscaping her own backyard and reading non-fiction books on her Kindle Reader.

Join Jeff Thompson and Monique Wollan as she shares her story and her perspectives in this 30 minute interview.

Be sure to check with your State Services and find out what they can do for you. Summer programs are opening registration right now so find out and enhance your opportunities for success.

 

Blind, Inc Summer Programs

 

Summer Transition Program (STP) Extended School Year Program

Deb Peterson at [email protected]

 

Check out your State Services by searching the Services Directory on the AFB.org web site.

 

State Services for the Blind of Minnesota

We offer tools and training for employment and for helping seniors remain independent and active. As Minnesota’s accessible reading source we also transcribe books and other materials into alternative formats, including audio and braille. We assist Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind, losing vision, or who have another disability that makes it difficult to read print.

I hope you find what you need here. We've also created a Tips for Using Our New Website page.

If you’d like to apply for services, learn more, or have more questions, just give us a call. You’ll find contact information for all of our offices on our contact page, or you can call our main office at 651-539-2300.

 

Thank you for listening.

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

ADA Being Attacked! Call To Action! Stop HR620! Chris Danielson Public Relations Director on HR620

Chris Danielsen fills us in on HR620, a proposed law that will chip away at the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join Jessica Hodges and Jeff Thompson along with the National Federation of the Blind Public Relations Director Chris Danielsen and learn more about HR620 and what you can do to help stop this attempt at dismantling the ADA.

 

 

The House of Representatives will most likely be voting next week on a bill that will strip away civil rights of people with disabilities.

 

HR 620 would do the following:

 

·         Eliminate the need for businesses and other entities that offer services to the public to meet accessibility requirements until a complaint is filed against them

·         Limit the ability to file a complaint unless it is in writing, specifies the exact part of the law that is being violated, whether the person complaining has made a direct complaint to the business, and whether the barrier or lack of access is permanent or temporary

·         The person with a disability must then wait up to 180 days for the business to “fix” the complaint; therefore denying the person with a disability access to the services for the waiting period

·         Also, a business could have more than 180 days to fix the complaint if they are making “substantial progress” to fix the complaint

 

This bill attacks the rights of people with disabilities because of “frivolous” law suits being brought by lawyers against businesses. This “problem” is about lawyers who are bad actors and should not be “solved” by gutting the rights of people with disabilities.

 

As of yesterday afternoon this is what our House folks are looking at for timelines:

 

Tuesday the 13th—The House Rules Committee will meet to set the process for consideration of the bill

Wed or Thursday (14th or 15th)—probable floor vote on the bill

 

The House leadership looks like they really want to push this through next week. Congressmen and women in the House of Representatives need to hear from the community now.

To find out how to contact your Representative  check out this House web site.

Thank you for listening.

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Chris Danielsen fills us in on HR620, a proposed law that will chip away at the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). Join Jessica Hodges and Jeff Thompson along with the National Federation of the Blind Public Relations Director Chris Danielsen and learn more about HR620. at dismantling the ADA.

The House of Representatives will most likely be voting next week on a bill that will strip away civil rights of people with disabilities.

HR 620 would do the following:

· Eliminate the need for businesses and other entities that offer services to the public to meet accessibility requirements until a complaint is filed against them

· Limit the ability to file a complaint unless it is in writing, specifies the exact part of the law that is being violated, whether the person complaining has made a direct complaint to the business, and whether the barrier or lack of access is permanent or temporary

· The person with a disability must then wait up to 180 days for the business to “fix” the complaint; therefore denying the person with a disability access to the services for the waiting period

· Also, a business could have more than 180 days to fix the complaint if they are making “substantial progress” to fix the complaint

This bill attacks the rights of people with disabilities because of “frivolous” law suits being brought by lawyers against businesses. This “problem” is about lawyers who are bad actors and should not be “solved” by gutting the rights of people with disabilities.

As of yesterday afternoon this is what our House folks are looking at for timelines:

Tuesday the 13th—The House Rules Committee will meet to set the process for consideration of the bill

Wed or Thursday (14th or 15th)—probable floor vote on the bill

To find out how to contact your Representative check out this House web site.

Thank you for listening!

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App

You're Invited...

To a virtual Super Bowl party with Aira on Sunday, Feb 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST.

Listen in as Aira agents Patrick and Emily provide the best-in-class live description of the game to Greg Stilson, football fan and Aira Explorer, who is attending the big game in Minneapolis, MN.

Greg will use Aira to get play-by-play visual descriptions of all the exciting action on the field, the commercials, and the half-time show. Aira agents will provide vivid audio narration as Greg sees the field for the first time, shops for souvenirs, navigates the stadium, and experiences the energy of the crowd.

The best part: you can listen to the entire experience live. While most of us will be watching from home, Aira intends to make it easier to get a little closer to the big game.

Ways to Listen

You don’t need to be a current Aira Explorer to listen in -- anyone can join the party starting at 6:00 p.m. ET by doing any of the following:

1Call 1-877-568-4108 and enter 536565714

2Listen to the Webcast

3Listen on YouTube

4Listen on Facebook Live 

Don't Forget to Share

Tweet us @airaio on gameday using #airabowl. Tell us about your favorite commercials, comment on the halftime show, and of course let us know who you’re rooting for!

Have Questions or Need Help?

Contact [email protected].

 

A Heads Up

The Aira Virtual Super Bowl party is part of a live stream of Greg's experience at the big game in Minneapolis. If you are also watching the game on television, following on social media, or listening on the radio, be advised that there may be a delay.

What is Aira?

Ever spoken with an Aira Agent? Aira agents are trained and certified professionals that provide vivid descriptions and live information to people who are blind or low vision to greatly enhance an experience or to accomplish any task. From stopping for morning coffee, to making that dream journey around the globe, or experiencing an iconic sporting event; as Aira Explorers have said: “Aira agents provide audio description of life”

Advanced wearable technology with wireless access to a distributed network of trained human professionals unlocks the potential for Aira explorers to efficiently accomplish any task, big or small. Learn more about Aira at aira.io

Thank you for listening.

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

 Blind Abilities presents the TVI Toolbox. Where the collaboration between Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Agencies and the Students themselves help enhance the opportunities for success.

Transitioning from high school to college and the workplace is  a major step and the beginning of lifetime goals and aspirations. As Jeff Mihiletch, this month’s featured interview in the Success Stories portion of this podcast, puts it, “Braille is a tool he wished he would have given a better chance.” 

 

Full Transcript:

 

From the TVI’s to the Agency counselor’s and program specialist, working together along with parents as well, is creating more opportunities and successes for Transition age students.

Sharing experiences through Success Stories, sharing programs that make a positive impact, sharing ideas, findings, upcoming events and the Tools for Success all play a part in making the transition process a natural progression and better understood by all.

 

Here are the links to the information we bring to this episode.

 

Scholarships from the National Federation of the Blind

 

Perkins Program for Students

 

Blind, Inc Summer Programs

 

Summer Transition Program (STP) Extended School Year Program

Deb Peterson at [email protected]

 

State Services for the Blind of Minnesota

 

We offer tools and training for employment and for helping seniors remain independent and active. As Minnesota’s accessible reading source we also transcribe books and other materials into alternative formats, including audio and braille. We assist Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind, losing vision, or who have another disability that makes it difficult to read print.

I hope you find what you need here. We've also created a Tips for Using Our New Website page.

If you’d like to apply for services, learn more, or have more questions, just give us a call. You’ll find contact information for all of our offices on our contact page, or you can call our main office at 651-539-2300.

 

 

Thank you for listening.

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Blind Abilities presents the TVI Toolbox. Where the collaboration between Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Agencies and the Students themselves help enhance the opportunities for success.

Transitioning from high school to college and the workplace is a major step and the beginning of lifetime goals and aspirations. As Jeff Mihiletch, this month’s featured interview in the Success Stories portion of this podcast, puts it, “Braille is a tool he wished he would have given a better chance.”

From the TVI’s to the Agency counselor’s and program specialist, working together along with parents as well, is creating more opportunities and successes for Transition age students.

Sharing experiences through Success Stories, sharing programs that make a positive impact, sharing ideas, findings, upcoming events and the Tools for Success all play a part in making the transition process a natural progression and better understood by all.

On The Horizon is a bulletin space for upcoming events, information and resources submitted by listeners and our staff. You can submit to On the Horizon by emailing Jessica Hodges.

The Success Stories feature an experience of a Transition Student, whether they are attending college, preparing for college or are now employed, the Success Stories brings a positive and a sharing of the experience of transitioning from high school to college and the work place.

Here are the links to the information we bring to this episode.

Scholarships from the National Federation of the Blind

Perkins Program for Students

Blind, Inc Summer Programs

Summer Transition Program (STP) Extended School Year Program

Deb Peterson at [email protected]

Check out your State Services by searching the Services Directory on the AFB.org web site.

State Services for the Blind of Minnesota

We offer tools and training for employment and for helping seniors remain independent and active. As Minnesota’s accessible reading source we also transcribe books and other materials into alternative formats, including audio and braille. We assist Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind, losing vision, or who have another disability that makes it difficult to read print.

I hope you find what you need here. We’ve also created a Tips for Using Our New Website page.

If you’d like to apply for services, learn more, or have more questions, just give us a call. You’ll find contact information for all of our offices on our contact page, or you can call our main office at 651-539-2300.

You can submit to the On The Horizons segment by email to [email protected]

Thank you for listening!

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

You’re Invited…

To a virtual Super Bowl party with Aira on Sunday, February 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST.

Listen in as Aira agents Patrick and Emily provide the best-in-class live description of the game to Greg Stilson, football fan and Aira Explorer, who is attending the big game in Minneapolis, MN.

Greg will use Aira to get play-by-play visual descriptions of all the exciting action on the field, the commercials, and the half-time show. Aira agents will provide vivid audio narration as Greg sees the field for the first time, shops for souvenirs, navigates the

stadium, and experiences the energy of the crowd.

The best part: you can listen to the entire experience live. While most of us will be watching from home, Aira intends to make it easier to get a little closer to the big game.

Ways to Listen

You don’t need to be a current Aira Explorer to listen in — anyone can join the party starting at 6:00 p.m. ET by doing any of the following:

1 Call 1-877-568-4108 and enter 536565714

2 Listen to the Webcast

3 Listen on YouTube

4 Listen on Facebook Live 

Don’t Forget to Share

Tweet us @airaio on gameday using #airabowl. Tell us about your favorite commercials, comment on the halftime show, and of course let us know who you’re rooting for!

Have Questions or Need Help?

Contact [email protected].

A Heads Up

The Aira Virtual Super Bowl party is part of a live stream of Greg’s experience at the big game in Minneapolis. If you are also watching the game on television, following on social media, or listening on the radio, be advised that there may be a delay.

What is Aira?

Ever spoken with an Aira Agent? Aira agents are trained and certified professionals that provide vivid descriptions and live information to people who are blind or low vision to greatly enhance an experience or to accomplish any task. From stopping for morning coffee, to making that dream journey around the globe, or experiencing an iconic sporting event; as Aira Explorers have said: “Aira agents provide audio description of life”

Advanced wearable technology with wireless access to a distributed network of trained human professionals unlocks the potential for Aira explorers to efficiently accomplish any task, big or small. Learn more about Aira at aira.io

Thank you for listening!

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Michael Feir’s Empowering Guide - Personal Power for the iPhone and A Hero’s Call is Out of Sight

 

Michael Feir is an author, a radio personality on the Accessible Media, Inc network in Canada and has quite a passion for accessible games. Michael joins Nick and Jeff of the Blind Abilities Team and talks about a new book that he is releasing by year’s end.

Personal Power for the iPhone is a Guide for those who may not be realizing the potential of the equipment or device they have been provided or may be considering and want to understand how it can be incorporated into their daily life. The guide is aimed at new users and starts from the absolute beginning leaving no one behind.

Michael wants to empower those who may not have the benefit of being around others who are “in the know’ and bring to them a guide that they can enhance their opportunities and gain access to the technology in their hand. 

The iPhone is a great accessible tool and Michael Feir wants to let people know just what they have in their iPhone.

Michael has been a backer of a new accessible game from Out of Sight Games called, “A hero’s Call.” Michael talks a bit about the recently released game and how it is a game changer for those interested in accessible games and how gaming can be a tool for gaining necessary skills. He also brings to attention an app that he uses for writing and working on his books. Ulysses is available in the App Store.

You can find out more about Michael Feir on Twitter @MFeir

And contact Michael by email.

Michael Feir is an author, a radio personality on the Accessible Media, Inc network in Canada and has quite a passion for accessible games. Michael joins Nick and Jeff of the Blind Abilities Team and talks about a new book that he is releasing by year’s end.

Personal Power for the iPhone is a Guide for those who may not be realizing the potential of the equipment or device they have been provided or may be considering and want to understand how it can be incorporated into their daily life. The guide is aimed at new users and starts from the absolute beginning leaving no one behind.

Michael wants to empower those who may not have the benefit of being around others who are “in the know’ and bring to them a guide that they can enhance their opportunities and gain access to the technology in their hand.

The iPhone is a great accessible tool and Michael Feir wants to let people know just what they have in their iPhone.

Michael has been a backer of a new accessible game from Out of Sight Games called, “A hero’s Call.” Michael talks a bit about the recently released game and how it is a game changer for those interested in accessible games and how gaming can be a tool for gaining necessary skills. He also brings to attention an app that he uses for writing and working on his books. Ulysses is available in the App Store.

You can find out more about Michael Feir on Twitter @MFeir

And contact Michael by email.

Thank you for listening!

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities

On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com

Send us an email

Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.