On this episode of Change Makers, we are celebrating the 11th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday, May 19. We’ll learn about the importance of accessibility awareness and how to make your social media more accessible.  After that, we'll learn how to advocate for yourself in the workplace.

Podcast Guests (In Order of Appearance)

• Jeff Fox, Narrator
• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Tai Tomasi, APH ABIDE Director
• Abby Pullis, APH Digital Engagement Manager
• Sassy Outwater-Wright,  Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually impaired Executive Director

Additional Links

• Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• Tai Tomasi
• Moving Toward an Accessible Future: Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (2021)
• Using PowerPoint with JAWS
• Building Accessible Word Documents
• Accessibility Solutions
• Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

On this episode of Change Makers, we learning what educational offerings are available for professionals and students. We’ll talk to Amy Campbell, APH’s Learning Management System Administrator and hear the latest news and info, upcoming exciting projects and future goals for The Hive, Access Academy and ExCEL Academy.

On this Podcast (In Order of Appearance)

• Jeff Fox, Narrator
• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Amy Campbell, APH Learning Management System Administrator

Additional Links

• The Hive
• Access Academy
• ExCEL Academy

It's time for the 2022 National Coding Symposium, presented by APH and Partners. We’ll learn what to expect from this year’s event and hear what’s new and exciting. We’ll also speak with one keynote speaker, who invented a well-known computer screen reader. After that, we’ll hear what’s available for students interested in learning how to code.

Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Jeff Fox, APH Talking Book Narrator
• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Leanne Grillot, APH National Director of Outreach Services
• Gina Fugate, Maryland School for the Blind’s, Technology & Lego Engineering Instructor
• Ken Perry, APH Senior Software Engineer, Technology Product Research
• Jason Martin, Center for Assistive Technology Training, Assistive Technology Trainer
• Ted Henter, Computer Programmer and Businessperson (retired)
• Tai Tomasi, APH ABIDE Director

Additional Links

• JAWS for Windows 20th Anniversary Video
• APH Youtube Videos Featuring JAWS
• 2022 National Coding Symposium Website
• Register for the 2022 National Coding Symposium
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Hello and welcome to Change Makers. On this episode, we're celebrating Arts and Crafts month. Listen as we learn about APH products, new and legacy-wise that help users learn about music and those that help users learn how to create. We’re also learning about InSights Art and its upcoming submission deadline.

Podcast Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Jeff Fox, Narrator
• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Laura Zierer, APH Independent Living and O&M Product Manager
• Tristan G. Pierce, APH Multiple Disabilities and Physical Education Product Manager
• Rob Guillen, APH Special Programs

Additional Links

• A Tune for National Train Day!
• Feel The Beat
• Music Braille Code, 2015, Braille
• Music Braille Flash Cards
• Joy Player
• Paint Pot Palette
• Paint by Number Safari ™ – Tropical Rainforest
• Braille Beads
• Picture Maker Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit
• TactileDoodle
• InSights Art
• Enter InSights Art Contest

In honor of Women’s History Month, Change Makers highlighting Ever Lee Hairston. Hairston came of age during a pivotal time in U.S. history and shares her story of living on a plantation, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., trials and tribulations stemming from her undiagnosed eye issues to finally getting a diagnosis and how attending an NFB conference changed her life.


Podcast Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Ever Lee Hairston, NFB Board of Directors

Additional Links
Nominate a Leader to the Hall of Fame

On this episode of Change Makers, we're talking to GoodMaps officials. We’ll learn the latest on their new app, what projects they’re working on in the U.K. and what’s next for the accessibility app. This podcast is moderated by Greg Stilson.

Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Greg Stilson, APH Head of Global Innovation
• Jose Gaztambide, GoodMaps CEO
• Mike May, GoodMaps Chief Evangelist
• Neil Barnfarther, MBE, GoodMaps Europe, Vice President
• Steve Ewell, Consumer Technology Association Foundation Executive Director

Additional Links

• http://www.CTAFoundation.tech/
• https://www.CES.tech

Email Addresses

• [email protected]

On this episode of Change Makers, we are celebrating Black History Month. We're talking to Denna Lambert who works for NASA headquarters in their Space Technology Mission Directorate, as their DEIA Lead. DEIA stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.

Podcast Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Denna Lambert, NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate

On this episode of Change Makers, learn why it’s important your child be counted in the upcoming census. We’ll hear from APH officials and talk to an EOT about the upcoming census.

Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Craig Meador, Ed.D., APH President
• Leanne Grillot, APH National Director of Outreach Services
• Nancy Mothersele, Braille Coordinator, Department of Aging and Disability/Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind
• Paul Ferrara, APH Communications Accessibility Editor
• Jenine Stanley, Aira Director of Communications

Additional Links

• Aira
• Recording AIRA produced with Mike Hudson about our Museum

On this episode of Change Makers, we’re celebrating braille history with a look at some of our high-tech braille that feature braille technology. We’ll look at a brand-new product that’s in the works, learn what new feature is coming to Chameleon 20 and go waaaaay back and learn about the history of braille. We will also have a check-in with Partner’s With Paul.

Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Sara Brown, APH Public Relations Manager
• Donna McClure-Rogers, APH Early Childhood Product Manager
• William Freeman, APH’s Product Manager, Educational Product Innovation
• Micheal Hudson, APH Museum Director
• Paul Ferrara, CPACC, ADS, Certified Braille Transcriber
• Kim Nova , Mystic Access, Director of Product Development
• Chris Nova, Mystic Access Founder

Additional Links

• Chameleon 20
• Thinkerbell Labs
• Mystic Access
• https://downloads.mysticaccess.com/ From here, you would select “APH products.”

This Change Makers episode is looking toward 2022. Listen as we talk to APH officials about what they want to see from renovations, innovations, finances and equality. We also talk to APH committee members about what they want to see for APH in 2022.

Participants (In Order of Appearance)

• Craig Meador, Ed. D, APH President
• Anne Durham, APH Vice President of Innovation and Strategy
• Paul Schroeder, APH Vice President Community, Government Affairs
• Tai Tomasi,  APH Director Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity
• Kathy Segers, Ex Officio Trustee for the State of Tennessee, EPAC Committee Member
• Scott McCallum, Superintendent at the Washington State School for the Blind, EPAC Committee Member
• Beth Pieters, Literacy Consultant for the State of Iowa, Teacher of Visually Impaired, O&M Specialist, ESAC Committee Member
• Jared Leslie, Director of Media and Development for the Foundation for Blind Children, Ex Officio Trustee for Accounts 8-9 for the Arizona Department of Education, ESAC Committee Member

Additional Links

• Email Tai Tomasi at [email protected]