VO Starter Weekly

By iAccessibilityNews Education Tech News

VO Starter Weekly episodes

July 03, 2021 SafetyCast 15 Have Gun, Might Travel
Show Description
Do you own a gun? Can you own a gun if you are blind? Can you get a concealed carry permit? On this episode, Leslie, George, Meaghan, and Jim welcome TJ Meloy, to tell us about the processes and challenges he went through to buy a gun and get his concealed carry permit as some one who is blind. The team also provides information on how to find both open carry and concealed carry laws for each state and briefly discuss the process for military veterans and retired police officers.
Gun permits are handled by each state's Department of Public Safety. To get information about your state's laws check out the links below. These may not be up-to-date so contacting the DPS in your state is advisable.
USA Carry - for each state's gun laws
US Concealed Carry Association - for information specific to getting a concealed carry permit
Federal Hand Gun Laws - for federal laws and history
And of course, we can't leave out our Canadian friends
How to Get a Gun in Canada
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
1 hr 3 min
June 06, 2021 SafetyCast 14 Make Good Choices
Show Description
We all want to have a good time when we go out for a night out on the town. We make plans with our friends, fix ourselves up, and maybe even make arrangements to get home when we've had to much to drink; but do we include steps for being safe when we make our pre-party plans? On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan tell us how they stay safe while having a good time and discuss additional tips and tricks to help everyone else stay safe as well.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
49 min
May 01, 2021 SafetyCast 13 On the Road Again
Show Description
Summer is fast approaching and we all know what that means… That’s right! Travel season is here. Leslie, George, and Meaghan discuss staying safe while traveling no matter what mode of transportation you choose. Some of the topics covered are planning your trip, navigating airports, safeguarding documents and identification, hotel rooms, and taking care of service animals.
George tells us a little about being interviewed by Nick Isenberg, host of the podcast, “The Tactile Traveler”, about active shooter situations, and we can’t wait to hear it.
For more information on what you might encounter when navigating airport security, visit the TSA’s page for traveler’s with disabilities.
If you are traveling with a service animal, you may find this blog post helpful.
For additional tips from other blind travelers, check out the following links:
Tips and Tricks from a Blind Business Traveler
Travel Tips for People Who Are Visually Impaired
Travel tips aren’t just for people with disabilities. These 7Essential Travel Safety Tips are also good to know.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
57 min
April 03, 2021 SafetyCast 12 Growth of a SEED
Show Description
Meaghan, George, and Leslie welcome Amy Wilson to the show. Amy is the director of the newly formed SEED program. SEED, which stands for, Safety Education and Empowering Defense, aims to bring safety education courses and self defense classes to the blind community through peer to peer training. Seed is one of three programs which will be offered by the STRIVE organization. For more information on Seed and the other programs offered through STRIVE, check out their website.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
44 min
March 06, 2021 SafetyCast 11 It's the Most Taxable Time of the Year
Show Description
This month, George, Meaghan, and Leslie welcome Brad Martin, a tax preparer for United Way, to the show to discuss the best tips for finding a reputable tax preparer, what can happen if you don’t, and the pros and cons of doing your own taxes.
Don’t feel comfortable doing your own taxes? Here are some resources for finding someone to help you for free. Check out VITA, a free tax prep program through the IRS, call 2-1-1 locally to get in touch with the United Way’s call center to find local tax preparers, or check out the My Free Taxes website to either find a preparer or get assistance while doing your own.
If you do want to do your own taxes, the following resources are useful tools that also work with screen readers for blind users.
Tax Slayer
Turbo Tax
IRS Free File
And finally, if you want to go with a paid preparer, here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you have a reputable person.
A good preparer will…
Ask you a lot of questions about your finances
Will explain your return and make sure you understand it
Give you a copy of your return
Charge based on the form used, not a percentage of your return
Many other tips can be found on the web. Here is a good place to start.
And because we can’t forget our Canadian friends… contact the CRA in Canada to see if there are similar programs in your area.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
58 min
February 07, 2021 SafetyCast 10 Do You Consent
Show Description
In the last few months there has been a movement in the blindness community to bring sexual abuse and harassment to light and take steps to put an end to it. On this episode, Leslie, George and Meaghan welcome Laura Millar, a researcher and teacher of sexual health for people with disabilities, and Bobbi Pompey, a living skills instructor at the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Fransisco, to discuss consent and boundaries, not only in relationships but in our everyday interactions as well.
If you have been a victim of sexual assault or would like more information, visit RAINN or call 1-800-656-HOPE. To find more information on this movement in the blindness community, search for #marchingtogether on Facebook or visit the Blind Survivors Support Collective on Facebook. The support collective can also be contacted by email at [email protected]. You can also find more information on the Marching Together movement and the NFB’s Safety and Support task force on their website. To get more information the “Navigating Consent” classes for survivors and transgressors, check out the Navigating Consent website.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . You can also find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
1 hr 7 min
December 05, 2020 SafetyCast 9 Shop Til You Drop
Show Description
With the holidays fast approaching. Meaghan, George, and Leslie discuss methods for keeping yourself safe while shopping in stores and online. They discuss the added need to be aware of and practice safety protocols during COVID 19 as well as how to look out for such things as; porch pirates who try to steal your packages, online scams, and your social media exposure. For more information about online shopping safety, visit the FBI's 12 Days of Online Safety Tips. If you do become a victim of cyber crime, the FBI asks victims to report cybercrime immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the local FBI office. For tips on protecting your home and yourself during the holidays, check out the Washington Metropolitan Police Department's page.
We would like to take this time to wish a very heartfelt Happy Holidays to all our listeners and we look forward to bringing you more new shows in the new year. We are taking the month of December off, but you can look for our next show to be released on February 6th. Again, Happy Holidays and stay safe.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . Soon, you will also be able to find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
43 min
November 07, 2020 SafetyCast 8 Its A Date
Show Description
Dating is tough enough without adding an extra element of danger. On this episode, George, Meaghan, and Leslie discuss what you need to be aware of to protect yourself in the dating world, specifically when it comes to online dating and managing your online profile.
assault and harassment are never acceptable and are never the victim’s fault no matter what you were wearing, drinking, or whom you were with. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) and online.rainn.org is here to listen and provide resources, and is anonymous, free, and available 24/7.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . Soon, you will also be able to find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
1 hr 2 min
October 03, 2020 SafetyCast 7 Spam Likely
Show Description
On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan discuss scams; types of scams, how to protect against them, and how to report them. Since they couldn’t possibly cover everything in one show, here is more information on the various types of scams. You can also find information specifically about imposter scams that appear to come from the US government here. This is also a census year in the US, be aware of people impersonating census takers. For more information on what to expect, check out the Census Bureau page.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . Soon, you will also be able to find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
56 min
September 06, 2020 Safety Cast 6 College Rules
Show Description
Meaghan, George, and Leslie discuss navigating college life, and important safety tips for using ride share services. Some of the most important tips covered in this episode are: limiting distractions while walking at night, letting others know where you are going , signing up for campus security alerts, getting to know your neighbors, and researching your campuses safety resources, such as call boxes and escort services. For a more comprehensive list, check out this article from the college express website.
Although use a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft can be a great option for getting home safe, there are some important things to remember when scheduling your ride. Confirm that you are getting in the correct vehicle buy asking your driver's name and who they are there to pick up. Never give them your name or ask, "is your name...?" It is too easy for a impersonator to lie and tell you that's who they are. If you are able to visually confirm the driver by their picture or the make and model of their car, it is always a good habit to get into. We can never stress strongly enough how important it is to let others know where you are or where you are going. If you do get into a vehicle and feel unsafe, you can always share your ride through the ride share app or via text message by sending your location. Never feel ashamed to make up an excuse to get the driver to drop you off in a public place if you feel that you need to get out of the car. This may also be a good time to use some of those safety apps discussed in our second show, "calling for Help" and in Meaghan's review.
Providing Feedback
We want to hear from you, so please send an email to [email protected]. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter. . Soon, you will also be able to find us on the web, for resources and other safety related topics.
57 min