The Blind Side

Podcast chapters are a cool and convenient way to skip between sections of a podcast, making it easier to hear the portions of a podcast that interest you. We've now implemented podcast chapter support for The Blind Side Podcast. Jonathan Mosen demonstrates how they work using his favourite podcast app, Overcast for iOS.

There are listener comments on travel anxiety, gun control, Microsoft Soundscape and Apollo 8.

We update you with attempts to overturn the Nepalese Government's blanket ban on disabled people climbing Everest.

Frustrated by constant jostling and rudeness, Amit Patel, based in London England, has attached a video camera to his guide dog's harness. He uploads the interesting bits to social media. Amit explains how he got the idea and talks about his experiences.

New Zealand's House of Representatives can hardly be called representative from a disability perspective, with no members of Parliament bringing a personal perspective on disability. Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has taken up an initiative begun by Mojo Mathers, a Deaf MP who lost her seat at the last election. The Election Access Fund Bill seeks to provide resources to make it easier for disabled people to participate in the democratic process.

Read the Election Access Fund Bill on Parliament's website.

In news briefs, we hear about a beeping Easter egg hunt being organised by the Corpus Christi Police Department's bomb squad. Nice one!

A blind woman has filed a class action lawsuit against McDonalds, alleging that their drive-throughs discriminate against blind people at times when no other option is available.

Microsoft has released yet another free blindness-related app. Soundscape for iOS is available in the US and UK App Stores.

Jonathan makes mention of the Mosen Consulting audiobook, "Imagine there's no countries". You can read about and purchase it here.

Our feature interview is with Mike Shinabery of the New Mexico Museum of Space History, and Jeff Killebrew of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Recently, thanks to a partnership between these two entities, students at the school were part of a link-up with astronauts aboard the space station. Jonathan Mosen talks with Jeff and Mike about how the opportunity came about, the reaction of the students, and whether we might ever see a blind astronaut.

Jonathan then discusses his self-advocacy on the New Zealand census, and shares some of his thoughts on the wider question of modern advocacy methods. You can read his official complaint to Statistics New Zealand which summarises the issue. Sign Jonathan's Parliamentary petition calling for a public Parliamentary inquiry into the census. Read Pam MacNeill's concerns about the health-focused disability questions in this year's census.

Remember, to join our listener community and discuss the podcast with other listeners, send a blank email to [email protected]

Episode 75 begins with more exciting news about how increasingly easy it is to hear The Blind Side Podcast wherever you need it. We're now on iHeart Radio, and we now have our very own cool Alexa skill for the Amazon Echo, which Jonathan Mosen demonstrates.

Jonathan then demonstrates a hidden but cool Spotify trick, how to speed up playback of the podcast when listening through Spotify.

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S9, complete with some interesting news features, plus others that Apple has abandoned, and some customers miss, such as a fingerprint sensor, and the all-important headphone jack. Bixby has also been enhanced. Jonathan brings you the key points of the launch, and some analysis.

Remember, to discuss all accessible phones, you're welcome to join the Blind Phones email group. Send a blank email to [email protected]

There's good news, as we follow up on a story we've covered previously relating to Delta's new policy on service animals. Advocacy has paid off, and guide dog handlers won't need to provide documentation 48 hours before they fly.

We report further on the ADA Education and Reform Act, which has passed the US House of Representatives and is on a fast track in the Senate. We urge our listeners in the US to be in touch with advocacy organisations to find out what you can do.

Our featured guest is Anna Dresner, who has written a new book, "You and your Apple Watch", published by National Braille Press. What does an Apple Watch do, why would you want one, how accessible is it, and how does it compare with cheaper alternatives?

A reminder, to discuss the podcast with other listeners, you're welcome to join our discussion group by sending an email to [email protected]

We're pleased to welcome Spotify as another outlet now carrying The Blind Side Podcast. Feel free to search for and follow us there if you're a Spotify user.

Still recovering from your Valentine's Day or lack thereof? Jonathan Mosen speaks with Nicole Ellis, a journalist and film maker who produced a documentary called Blind Date. It traces three blind New Yorkers' quest for love and lust in the digital age. Nicole tells Jonathan about herself, and what led her to make this fascinating documentary. Learn more about the Blind Date documentary at BlindDateDocumentary.com.

To show solidarity for the brave survivors of the latest school shooting in the United States, and in the belief that any change is possible when we advocate firmly enough for it, Jonathan comments on the need for America to put down its guns and face up to its serious gun violence problem.

Remember, to discuss this episode or the podcast in general with other listeners, join our discussion group. Send a blank email to [email protected]

Jonathan's featured guest in this episode is David Woodbridge, who talks about his first impressions of Apple's HomePod smart speaker. David has already produced a couple of demonstration podcasts, which you can hear on his iSee podcast. Search for David Woodbridge in any good podcatcher, or visit this page to listen online or subscribe.

This interview first aired on Mushroom FM's technology magazine show, The Daily Fibre. To find out when it's on where you are, check out The Mushroom FM Schedule page which displays show times in your local time zone.

The podcast also makes mention of TapinRadio, a Windows app which many listeners use for recording The Daily Fibre. Check out TapinRadio here.

The Blind Side Podcast now has a discussion group for listeners and Jonathan to communicate with each other. If you'd like to join, send an email to [email protected]

Jonathan makes mention of his address to the 20th Retina International world congress, called Breaking the Barriers of Blindness. Read his address here.

Jonathan discusses Apple's decision to curtail new features in iOS 12 in favour of fixing bugs and rounding out existing features. He applauds the move and hopes for a little more.

Following Delta Airlines' decision to require all service animal handlers to submit documentation at least 48 hours before they fly, it was inevitable that other airlines would follow. United has chosen to clamp down on emotional support animals, while acknowledging the high standards to which most guide dogs are trained.

Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind, talks to Jonathan Mosen about the challenges of protecting the rights of blind people in the United States to travel when they need to.

Chris also talks about the ADA Education Reform Bill which, if enacted, may have a detrimental impact on disabled people in the United States being able to seek redress.

The interview ends with a discussion on playing the long game when it comes to advocacy, a discussion relevant given the news that Apple is curtailing new features in iOS 12 to instead focus on fixing bugs. They discuss the NFB's 2016 resolution relating to serious VoiceOver bugs in this context.

On the day we publish this episode, some of the Amazon Echo products, with their Alexa voice assistant, went on sale in New Zealand and Australia. While Australia has had Google Home for some time. Amazon Echo is the first smart speaker to be available in the New Zealand market officially. The popular Echo range has around 80% of the US smart speaker market. It’s useful, and just plain fun to use. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Robin Christopherson, host of The Dot to Dot podcast, a podcast devoted to all things Alexa. He describes the Echo range, what you can do with the products, and what the future might hold for this growing market.

In the first episode for 2018, Jonathan discusses The Daily Fibre, a new technology magazine show with news and analysis, heard every week day on Mushroom FM.

There’s a summary of some stories about blindness issues making news around the world, including the banning of the word “blind” from legislation in Pakistan, and protection of the exclusive right for blind people to be massage therapists in South Korea.

Our main feature this week relates to Delta Airlines in the United States requiring all people travelling with animals in the cabin, including guide dog handlers, to submit documentation at least 48 hours before they fly. This will make it impossible for guide dog handlers to use Delta to travel for urgent matters such as a family bereavement or an urgent business trip. Penny Reader is President of Guide Dog Users Incorporated, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. She joins us to discuss the problems caused by [...]

In our last episode of The Blind Side Podcast for 2017, what better time to think about being healthier and happier in the new year. Jonathan Mosen speaks with Mel Scott, founder of BlindAlive, which offers a range of work-outs and strategies to be healthier, all put together with a blind audience in mind. If you’re tired of feeling fatigued and out of shape, if you’re concerned about your quality of life, and if you get frustrated by inaccessible workout videos, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss.

Visit BlindAlive’s website.

If you’re on your iPhone, choose this link to go to the BlindAlive app in the App Store.

A reminder that Mosen Consulting is closed from 22 December until 22 January. We wish you a restful, safe, and happy festive season.

It’s 2017, and in some respects, we’ve come a long way. But there are still too many occasions when blind people seek to go about our business like anyone else, only to find that airlines leave us feeling humiliated and undervalued. Emma Bennison, CEO of Blind Citizens Australia, tells Jonathan Mosen about the day her status as a frequent flier made not a blind bit of difference as she was treated shabbily.

As the weather warms up and summer is well and truly here, it’s beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas in New Zealand. Jonathan brings you a couple of Christmas offerings, one you might like to consider for Mushroom FM’s holiday countdown, vote right away if you’ve not yet done so, and the other is a children’s story Jonathan wrote in 2014, Louis, the Blind Christmas Elf.