Kirk Adams sits down with the Blind Abilities team members Pete Lane and Jeff Thompson for this informative podcast on the American Foundation for the Blind. Kirk talks about the history and some of the latest happenings at AFB and the resources available to all students, teachers, TVI’s and parents. You can find a multiple of categories of articles ranging in topics from Transitioning to college,Life skills, Work Preparedness, Access Technology, Parents of Blind Children and much more. 

You can find out about the apps available from AFB that put the information in the palm of your hand.

Kirk also mentions the AFB Leadership Conference coming up on April 5-7 2018 in Oakland, California. Where AFB brings together all the entities around Blindness can be part of the conversation.

Check out AFB.org on the web and download their apps so you can stay in touch with the latest happenings and information available from the American Foundation for the Blind.

 

Full Transcript

 

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.

Kirk Adams sits down with the Blind Abilities team members Pete Lane and Jeff Thompson for this informative podcast on the American Foundation for the Blind. Kirk talks about the history and some of the latest happenings at AFB and the resources available to all students, teachers, TVI’s and parents. You can find a multiple of categories of articles ranging in topics from Transitioning to college,Life skills, Work Preparedness, Access Technology, Parents of Blind Children and much more.

You can find out about the apps available from AFB that put the information in the palm of your hand.

Kirk also mentions the AFB Leadership Conference coming up on April 5-7 2018 in Oakland, California. Where AFB brings together all the entities around Blindness can be part of the conversation.

Check out AFB.org on the web and download their apps so you can stay in touch with the latest happenings and information available from the American Foundation for the Blind.

Check out the Apps below!

Access World:

This is the official app of the American Foundation for the Blind’s online publication AccessWorld.

AccessWorld is an online magazine dedicated to technology and people with vision loss

This app has been optimized for iOS VoiceOver and Accessibility features.

With this free app you can:

• Browse and read articles from the latest issue of AccessWorld.

• Browse and read any article in AccessWorld’s entire archive of back issues.

• Contact any member of the AccessWorld team.

AFB Career Connect:

This is the official app of the American Foundation for the Blind’s resource center AFB CareerConnect.

AFB CareerConnect is a free online resource center specific to career exploration, job seeking skills, transition from school to work, e-mentoring, and navigating the employment process as a person who is blind or visually impaired.

This app has been optimized for iOS VoiceOver and Accessibility features.

With this free app you can: · Browse and utilize transition lesson plans from AFB CareerConnect · Browse and read “Our Stories,” firsthand accounts from AFB CareerConnect mentors · Browse and read blog posts from the CareerConnect Blog · Contact AFB and the AFB CareerConnect team

You can find out more about Aira on the web and follow Aira on Twitter @Airaio

Explore your world

like never before

From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before.

Accessible devices

Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones.

Real-time request

The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity.

Certified agents

Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever.

Team Sea To Sea and the Race Across America!

check out Team Sea To See on the web

And follow the Team Sea To See on Facebook.

(from the web)

Team Sea to See is committed to proving that blind people can succeed in any field. We believe that demonstrating this capacity to succeed is critical to empowering oth...

AT&T and Aira Present: The #ExperienceMore Campaign

 

AT&T and Aira present the first in a series of interviews featuring individuals who have influenced the blindness community through their passions and actions. This podcast is produced by Blind Abilities. 

 

Jeff Thompson andPete Lane chat with Deborah Sunday, representing AT&T, and Kevin Phelen, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Aira, to discuss the Experience More Campaign, a social campaign observing the achievements of various blind and visually impaired people across  the blindness community, including Christine Ha, Erich Manser and others. Also captured in this campaign will be a series of visits to AT&t stores in eleven cities across the nation, and perhaps most appealing: a Sweepstakes for which the winner will receive two tickets to Dallas to attend a professional football game. Add to this the fact that they will also have use of a pair of Aira glasses and the Aira Agent for the game will be the one and only Emmitt Smith, NFL Hall of Famer, and all-time leading rusher. Emmitt will call the play by play for the entire game. What better way to experience more at a professional football game!  Stay tuned to Blind Abilities for more interviews around the Experience More Campaign, and Aira.

 

You can read more about the campaign at: www.ExperienceMore.ATT.com

 

You can enter the sweepstakes on Instagram or Twitter by using the Hash Tag: #ExperienceMore #Sweepstakes @ATT, or by going to the web site above.

You can find out more about Aira and find the plan that fits your needs.

good luck and enjoy the podcast… and the trip to Dallas!

 

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.

Jack Chen, Daniel Berlin, Tina Ament and Micheal Somsan are putting together the first All-Blind Stoker team for the epic endurance bike race in the world, the “Race Across America,” (RAAM). The RAAM is a non-stop race from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast on a Tandem bike and the logistics and preparations are well underway. 

Listen to Jack, Tina and Daniel talk about putting the Team together and all that goes into such an epic endurance event.

Jack is a Google lawyer, Tina is a US Attorney in DC and Daniel is a co-founder of a major company producing Vanilla extract. Besides their business success they all train and seek out challenges that are out of this world. From Kilimanjaro, to Ironman races, ultra marathons and mountain climbing on a tandem, the RAAM was just waiting for them, I guess, just because it was there.

Join Jeff Thompson from the Blind Abilities Podcast team as Jack, Dan and Tina invite you all to share their event and spread the word about Success in Plain Sight.

You can read below and to learn more check out Team Sea To See on the web

And follow the Team Sea To See on Facebook.

 

Full Transcript

 

 

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.

Jack Chen, Daniel Berlin, Tina Ament and Micheal Somsan are putting together the first All-Blind Stoker team for the epic endurance bike race in the world, the “Race Across America,” (RAAM). The RAAM is a non-stop race from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast on a Tandem bike and the logistics and preparations are well underway.

Listen to Jack, Tina and Daniel talk about putting the Team together and all that goes into such an epic endurance event.

Jack is a Google lawyer, Tina is a US Attorney in DC and Daniel is a co-founder of a major company producing Vanilla extract. Besides their business success they all train and seek out challenges that are out of this world. From Kilimanjaro, to Ironman races, ultra marathons and mountain climbing on a tandem, the RAAM was just waiting for them, I guess, just because it was there.

Join Jeff Thompson from the Blind Abilities Podcast team as Jack, Dan and Tina invite you all to share their event and spread the word about Success in Plain Sight.

You can read below and to learn more check out Team Sea To See on the web

And follow the Team Sea To See on Facebook.

(from the web)

Team Sea to See is committed to proving that blind people can succeed in any field. We believe that demonstrating this capacity to succeed is critical to empowering others in the blind community and changing society’s perceptions of the blind. We are illustrating this capability by building a team of blind people to tackle RAAM and an accompanying media and outreach campaign.

We believe that lack of exposure to and understanding of blindness plays a major role in keeping employment rates so low for the blind community. Employers aren’t intrinsically hostile to the blind; they just don’t understand how blind people can, through ingenuity and adaptive technology, enjoy the same success as their sighted colleagues. We’re taking on the high-profile challenge of the Race Across America to show what blind success looks like, on and off the bike. 

We are a team of successful businesspeople and athletes who share blindness as a common characteristic. We’re entering the world’s most grueling endurance cycling race, the 2018 Race Across America (RAAM), to show the immense capabilities of blind people and to raise awareness of the abysmal employment rates of the blind. We will be highlighting our achievements through a major media campaign and a full-length documentary. And we need your help.

Your tax-deductible gift can help us shed light on the unacceptable employment rates for blind people across the nation and bring the inspiring stories of our team members into plain view. By supporting Team Sea to See, you will interact with an international audience through conventional and social media, showing your support of diversity and inclusion and helping to change the way the world sees the blind.

Check out the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and see how they are expanding possibilities for people with vision loss.

Find out more about USABA.

USABA is a Colorado-based 501(c) (3) organization that provides life-enriching sports opportunities for every individual with a visual impairment.

See complete transcript below.

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.

That Blind Tech Show: Echo, Dot, Siri, Home Pod and Possibly, The Bryan?

That Blind Tech Show Episode 5 with Bryan Fischler and Randy Rusnak.

This episode is filled with tech news from a texting law suit to memories changing on Facebook. Check out the list below and the provided links to see what these two boys are up to in this episode of That Blind Tech Show.

 

Judge throws out lawsuit of Apple being responsible for driving and texting accidents

 

Facebook again making changes to your News Feed with memories

 

 First experiences with Aira

 

 NFB Newsline wants your feedback

 

iOS and iPhone 8 expectations

Has Apple lost touch with a price point of $1000

 

What are you excited for in the upcoming iOS 11

C. Anything you are looking forward to with the iPhone 8?

 

Amazon Echo What Skills are you using?

 

ESight Glasses

 

What’s Pissing Off Brian Now

An over reaction to Yahoo fantasy

What’s Pissing off Randy?. 

 

Watcha Watching Whatcha Reading?

Anything you have been watching and liking with described video or anything you have been reading.

 

You can find That Blind Tech Show on Twitter @BlindTechShow

Email us at [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.

BVA17: Introducing BrainPort and Low Vision Simulators - Two New Kinds of Accessibility Products

Blind Abilities brings you their final installment from the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) 2017 national convention in Jacksonville, Florida. With this episode, Pete introduces two products which he has not previously encountered. 

 

first, BrainPort V-100 Vision Aid, a pair of sun glasses possessing a video camera that converts images into electronic impulses to a square disk that sits on the tongue. This device allows blind users to detect contrast in an image: the lighter the image, the more intense the sensation will be on the tongue. It is used in conjunction with a navigational tool, such as a cane or dog to provide an additional piece of sensory information for the user - any information is good information!  Check out BrainPort at: www.Wicab.com

 

Next, Pete learns about Low vision simulators, created by Marshall flax who converts ‘welders goggles” into devices that simulate various visual conditions, such as Macular Degeneration, RP, etc. These goggles can be purchased in a package of all 13 units, or individually to show sighted people what blind or visually impaired folks actually see. These devices can be shared with friends or family, or used by Rehab specialists, trainers or other professionals help family or friends better understand and cope with blindness. 

Check them out on the web.

www.LowVisionsimulators.com

Blind Abilities would like to thank all the folks who chatted with us at #BVA2017, and special thanks to the Blinded Veterans Association for all they do for the heroes who served our country, and for holding a great convention!

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 brings you their final installment from the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) 2017 national convention in Jacksonville, Florida. With this episode, Pete introduces two products which he has not previously encountered.

first, BrainPort V-100 Vision Aid, a pair of sun glasses possessing a video camera that converts images into electronic impulses to a square disk that sits on the tongue. This device allows blind users to detect contrast in an image: the lighter the image, the more intense the sensation will be on the tongue.

It is used in conjunction with a navigational tool, such as a cane or dog to provide an additional piece of sensory information for the user – any information is good information! Check out BrainPort at: www.Wicab.com

Next, Pete learns about Low vision simulators, created by Marshall flax who converts ‘welders goggles” into devices that simulate various visual conditions, such as Macular Degeneration, RP, etc. These goggles can be purchased in a package of all 13 units, or individually to show sighted people what blind or visually impaired folks actually see. These devices can be shared with friends or family, or used by Rehab specialists, trainers or other professionals help family or friends better understand and cope with blindness.

Check them out on the web.

Blind Abilities would like to thank all the folks who chatted with us at #BVA2017, and special thanks to the Blinded Veterans Association for all they do for the heroes who served our country, and for holding a great convention

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.

BVA17: The Hadley Institute and Orcam

BlindAbilities brings you more great audio from the Blinded Veterans Association 2017 national convention as Pete Lane introduces an old friend of the podcast. Meet Larry Muffett and The Hadley Institute. 

Larry discusses some of the programs offered for veterans, as well as some general information about Hadley’s 2017 focus.

You can find Hadley on the web

 

Also featured in this episode is Orcam, a smart glass device that offers many features, including OCR, facial recognition, bar code reading, color identification and more. Stay tuned as Orcam version 8.0 of their software is announced in the next few weeks.   Check out more about their two products at Orcam on the web 

 

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.

BVA17: What’s New With Aira For Vets? A Chat With Amy Bernal

Aira is the focus of the fifth installment of the Blind Abilities coverage of the Blinded Veterans Association 2017 national convention. Pete chats with Amy Bernal, VP of Customer Experience, who brings us up to date on what Aira has to offer blind veterans. Aira has worked closely with the VA to provide funding for the Aira hardware (Glasses and WiFi Hotspot), allowing qualifying vets to enjoy the full Aira service for only $29 per month. Listen as Amy outlines how vets can take advantage of this funding arrangement, and check out the details at the new Aira web page, specifically created for veterans:

 

 

 

Of course, you can find out all about Aira on the web

 

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.