In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street welcome special guest David Redmond from Vision Ireland. David shares his personal story growing up with congenital glaucoma and other vision conditions in Cork, Ireland, and how his journey led him into the world of accessible technology and media. He opens up about the challenges of vision loss, the role of assistive technology like JAWS, ZoomText, and VoiceOver, and how his career path shifted from mainstream radio to producing podcasts and tech content for Vision Ireland.

The conversation explores similarities and differences between Ireland and the United States when it comes to employment challenges, accessibility, and available resources for blind and low-vision individuals. David also highlights the mission of Vision Ireland as a one-stop shop for support, advocacy, and technology training, while sharing his own perspective on building community and friendships within the blind community.

Listeners are reminded about Aftersight’s upcoming Accessible Hike in Boulder, Colorado on September 13th, and encouraged to register for a day of inclusion, support, and adventure in the mountains.

Contact Info

Guest: David Redmond, Vision Ireland

Website: https://www.visionireland.ie

Aftersight

Phone: (720) 712-8856

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Guest: David Redmond (Vision Ireland)

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & banter with Penn, Moses, and Jonathan

02:01 — Aftersight Accessible Hike announcement (Sept. 13)

03:00 — Meet David Redmond: growing up in Cork, Ireland

04:15 — Navigating school with glaucoma and assistive tech

06:36 — Facing fears and preparing for possible vision loss

08:53 — Everyday independence vs. acting “more blind” in new settings

10:20 — From media studies to Vision Ireland

13:19 — Talking Technology: podcasts, newsletters, and advocacy

15:43 — Employment struggles and accessibility barriers

18:04 — Vision Ireland’s “one stop shop” of services

20:23 — Building friendships through camps and blind community events

22:42 — Differences between U.S. and Ireland’s blindness services

25:01 — Rebranding from NCBI to Vision Ireland

27:16 — Outro & preview of Part 2 with David Redmond