Speaking Out for the Blind

The Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Jessica Gercke and Steve Walker will join us. Steve will talk about his life as a blind person and former marine, and especially his new blind dog Murphy, formerly Louis.   To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: http://acbradio.org/mainstream , and choose one of the links under the headings “Listen to ACB Radio Mainstream” and “Now Playing;...

Business Wire reports a surprising study on the blind and visually impaired and their use of smart speakers. According to Strategy Analytics, the current designs of smart speakers that rely heavily on visual feedback are keeping the blind from enjoying a beneficial smart home experience. Why is this the case? Report author and UX Innovation Practice Director Lisa Cooper will join us to answer this...

Spectrum News 1 reports that the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in their College of Visual and Performing Arts are collaborating on a big art project with Industries of the Blind. The special project is helping University of North Carolina at Greensboro or UNCG Visual and Performing Arts students learn more about the blind community and their day-to-day lives. Joining us to talk about...

WISH-TV reports that rising pop star Christina Swider, aka, Xtina Louise is joining forces with Visually Impaired Preschool Services Indiana. Visually Impaired Preschool Services, or VIPS, is a nonprofit that provides vision-specific early intervention services for blind and visually impaired infants and toddlers. Christina, and VIPS Indiana’s Regional Director Meredith Howell, join us to talk abo...

The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that New York based blind dancer Krishna Washburn is the founder and instructor of Dark Room Ballet. Dark Room Ballet is an introductory dance curriculum that teaches accessible ballet lessons to the blind and visually impaired. Krishna and her student George Stern join us to talk about Dark Room Ballet.      To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,...

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine has a new President. The St. Augustine Record reports that the new President is named Tracie Casio Snow. Tracie joins us to talk about how she plans to improve the school to help its blind and visually impaired students live, learn, and grow.     To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: http://acbradio.org/mainstre...

According to Mass Transit Magazine, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority has teamed up with the Sensible Innovation and Alphapointe companies to create a wayfinding app for helping blind customers use transit more accurately and safely. Joining us to talk about the new app will be Kansas City Area Transportation Authority CEO Robbie Makinen and Alphapointe President and CEO Reinhard Mabry...

We’re going to talk with Gail Hamilton. Gail is a blind accomplished musician, author, and a nationally recognized professional speaker. Her unparalled determination, immense knowledge, and astounding experiences have inspired thousands to live lives of action, purpose, and vision. Gail joins us to talk about herself and how she inspires people to live life to the fullest. To listen to this week’s...

Visually impaired world class para athlete and Philadelphia Overbrook School for the Blind’s Director of Development & Communications Pam McGonigle will join us. Pam will talk about how she spoke out to overcome obstacles and earn these two titles. To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: http://acbradio.org/mainstream , and choose one of the links under the headings “List...

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that both the Florida-based Conklin Center for the Blind and the Center for the Visually Impaired are merging. The new place will be called the Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired. Joining to tell us more about the Conklin Davis Center will be Board of Directors Member Nancy Epps and CEO Ronee David. To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the B...

Episode Notes According to WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tyler Merren is a USA Men’s Goalball athlete. Tyler is also developing a new fitness app for the visually impaired. Tyler joins us to talk about the app, goalball, and himself. To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: http://acbradio.org/mainstream , and choose one of the links under the headings “Listen to ACB Radio M...

Episode Notes It’s time for the 2020 BADIE, or Benefits of Audio Description in Education, Contest. The contest welcomes young blind and visually impaired people to watch their favorite audio described videos or movies, write some reviews, and send them in to win big prizes. The ACB’s very own audio description project’s Joel Snyder and Susan Glass will talk about the contest. To listen to this we...

Episode Notes The blind and visually impaired can play tennis during the COVID-19 pandemic. KGNS-TV in Laredo, Texas reports that the Haynes Recreation Center is offering tennis classes for the blind and visually impaired. Tennis coach Tina Trevino, along with student Christina Sanchez, and her mom Angie will talk about how the blind and visually impaired can play tennis. To listen to this week’s...

Episode Notes OrCam Technologies says that worldwide soccer legend Lionel Messi will be the company’s new ambassador. Lionel will lead the charge to improve accessibility through OrCam’s technologies for the blind. Joining us to talk about this partnership will be Rafi Fischer, Public and Media Relations Director for OrCam Technologies, and Dr. Bryan Wolynski. Doctor Bryan Wolynski is a Doctor of...

Episode Notes CNN reports that accomplished Marimba Soloist Kyungho Jeon’s blindness made it difficult for him to play with an orchestra. So Kyungho looked to Rolf, Gehlhaar, and his son, Vahakn Matossian, the founders of the organization called Human Instruments. Kyungho, Vahakn, and Rolf teamed up to create the Haptic Baton. Kyungho and Vahakn will join us to explain the new invention and adapti...

Episode Notes We’ve invited a blind golfer to come on and explain how he plays this fun and challenging sport. Spectrum News 13 says that the blind golfer is Phil Hubbard. We’re also bringing on Phil’s wife, Patty Angel, to explain how she has supported her husband with this exciting pursuit. To listen to this week’s “Speaking Out for the Blind,” go to: http://acbradio.org/mainstream , and choose...

Episode Notes Sanford D. Greenberg- September 25th, 8PM Eastern (ACB Radio Mainstream East) and Pacific (ACB Radio Mainstream West) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/ for more details) Sandy Greenberg is not your average blind individual. Sandy is the Board of Governors’ Chairman at John Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute. He is also...

Episode Notes The organization called Leader Dogs for the Blind is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The mission of Leader Dog is to empower blind and visually impaired people with lifelong skills for independent and safe daily travel. Joining us to talk about Leader Dogs for the Blind is its Outreach Manager Leslie Hoskins.

Carroll Center for the Blind Technology Instructor David Kingsbury will talk about his new book titled: When One Web Browser Is Not Enough: A Guide For Windows Screen Reader Users. The new book is a timely resource for blind and visually impaired Windows Narrator and JAWS users who surf the Internet.

IFB Solutions has created the People First Fund to help the organization’s blind and visually impaired employees during the coronavirus pandemic. The People First Fund helps employees receive assistance, including financial help. Joining us to talk about that fund will be IFB Solutions’ Sewing Machine Operator Roderick Wilson. He is a recipient of the fund and a blind COVID-19 survivor. Also joini...

It may be hard for blind and visually impaired kids to attend summer camp during this current pandemic. But WCNC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina that says that a group called S.E.E. or SEE is teaming up with the YMCA at Lake Norman so that visually impaired children can interact with non-visually impaired kids through games, activities, and exercises. The YMCA Lake Norman Executive Director Matt F...

Fierce Healthcare says that CVS Pharmacy is rolling out a special new feature on its mobile app to help visually impaired patients with reading their prescription information. Joining us to talk about this development will be Eleanor Wong, CVS Health’s District Leader for the San Francisco, California area.

According to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, the college is taking on a research project, aiming to help blind and visually impaired people learn computer circuit design. Joining us to talk about the work will be the project Senior Researcher and Dartmouth Assistant Professor of Computer Science Xing-Dong Yang.

Worcester Magazine reports that the Coronavirus pandemic is causing some unique issues for regular listeners of Audio Journal. Audio Journal is a nonprofit organization whose mission in Central Massachusetts is to connect individuals with a visual impairment, or an inability to access print material, to their communities through broadcasting of local news, information, and entertainment. To talk a...

The Muskogee Phoenix Newspaper says that June 2nd marked the 100 th anniversary of vocational rehabilitation for the United States. The U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation program is the program that helps the blind and all people with disabilities get jobs. Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services specialists will join us to talk about the U.S. vocational rehabilitation program’s historical succ...