2522 Join the Insert J Club as JAWS Turns 30 (May 28, 2025)

Show Notes

The JAWS screen reader for Windows is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker about Freedom Scientific’s education initiatives, training resources, and new AI-powered FS Companion. They also introduce the new Insert J Club, a community for users to communicate and to access exclusive content and support.

2521 Advancing Treatments for Inherited Retinal Diseases (May 21, 2025)

Show Notes

Research is key to fighting blinding eye diseases. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, about advancing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, funding research initiatives, and launching new mental health resources to support individuals with blindness and low vision.

2520 Accessible Devices Change Diabetes Care (May 14, 2025)

Show Notes

How do visually impaired individuals manage diabetes independently? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Veronica Elsea and Patricia Maddix about accessible insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and their advocacy work for non-visual medical tools. Both women share their personal journeys navigating diabetes care as blind individuals.

2519 From Braille Music to the Big Screen (May 7, 2025)

Show Notes

Rod Clemmons, who has been blind since birth, shares his journey from being a classically trained pianist to an R&B performer, producer and composer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rod about his experiences as a visually impaired musician, his passion for rhythm and blues, and his work scoring the upcoming film ‘A Jeannie for Christmas’.

2518 Lighting the Way with the See Me Cane (Apr. 30, 2025)

Show Notes

Navigating in low light can be risky for blind pedestrians. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelvin Crosby about the See Me Cane, which increases visibility with built-in LED lighting. Kelvin also shares his path from vision loss to advocacy, vocational training, and launching an assistive tech program that hires blind professionals.

2517 The Able Artist Foundation (Apr. 23, 2025)

Show Notes

The Able Artist Foundation supports low-income disabled musicians around the world by providing discounted music software and hardware to its members. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Stephen Letnes about what motivated him to start the organization, their company partners, and about the special programs they offer for their members.

2516 Dinner Delivered (Apr. 16, 2025)

Show Notes

“Dinner Delivered” is a guide for visually impaired individuals on using grocery and meal delivery services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Loftis Nova, who co-authored the book with Chris Grabowski Nova, about navigating platforms like Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Kim shares her experiences using these services as well as practical tips for using them.

2515 The Dark Room Podcast for Movie Lovers (Apr. 9, 2025)

Show Notes

Dive into the world of movies from a visually impaired perspective. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Howard and Lee Pugsley, co-hosts of The Dark Room podcast, about what motivated them to start the podcast, their experiences at movie theaters, challenges with some audio description services, and improving theater accessibility.

2514 Re-learning Life Skills After Vision loss (Apr. 2, 2025)

Show Notes

What does it take to relearn life skills after vision loss? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser about his experiences with blindness training programs, transitioning from magnification to screen readers, and finding value in non-visual techniques. Erich’s journey offers insights into overcoming challenges and learning new skills.

2513 Arizona Vacation with PiccyBot and Be My Eyes (Mar. 26, 2025)

Show Notes

Experience the vivid landscapes of Arizona as enhanced by detailed descriptions by AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey used various AI services like PiccyBot and Be My Eyes to describe their adventures in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, Sedona’s trails, and more. Explore how technology can enhance the visually impaired’s experience of nature.