Speaking Out for the Blind

We’re going to be talking with Dolly Lewis (Tess), Agam Darshi (Sunny), and Executive Producers Nikolijne and Karen Troubetzkov about the new CTV Canada and CW US TV series  Sight Unseen . They’ll tell us how visually diverse homicide detective Tess Avery and her sighted guide Sunny solve some rather unresolved cases.    For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheb...

The San Francisco Chronicle and KRON-TV report that advocates for California’s blind voters want help from federal courts. The advocates are suing California’s Secretary of State. The suit comes after the State’s rules give no other choice to blind and visually impaired individuals, but to give their ballots to other people in order to vote by mail. The two major Plaintiffs are the California Coun...

The American Council of the Blind has a new Executive Director. ACB’s new Executive Director is Scott Thornhill. Scott took office on March 18th. The ACB Board voted Scott in to lead the over sixty-year-old organization. Scott joins us to talk about his experience and plans for leading ACB.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://www.acb.org/acb-names-scott-thornhill-new-execu...

Miami’s Community News reports that a benefit concert is coming up. The show is hosted by American Heritage Schools and the Lighthouse of Broward in Florida. The event is called Heroes. Heroes is a benefit auction and concert for the blind and visually impaired. Heroes will be featuring singer Mitch Franco. Mitch, along with American Heritage Schools CEO Dr. Douglas Laurie, and Lighthouse of Browa...

The Orientation Center for the Blind is located in Albany, California. OCB is operated by the California Department of Rehabilitation. The Center assists the State’s blind job seekers with acquiring some important skills. The skills help the students adjust to vision loss and receive the tools for getting their dream jobs. California Department of Rehabilitation’s Specialized Services Director Sue...

We’re going to Monterey, California. It’s just over an hour away from San Jose. It’s home to beautiful beaches, a large aquarium, and one of Forrest Gump’s favorite seafood restaurants. And there’s a special place in nearby Pacific Grove. The Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County. BVIC’s Executive Director Steven Macias joins us to explain how the center provides services for Mon...

Mychamplainvalley.com reports that over fifty million people will be seeing this April’s solar eclipse. That includes the blind and visually impaired community. Harvard’s Center for Astrophysics Astronomer Allyson Bieryla has figured out one way to help the blind see and experience the wonder of the solar eclipse. That’s by turning light into sound. Allyson’s here to talk about how the innovative...

Adam Morse is a blind film director. Deseret News says that Adam just recently directed the Google Javier In Frame ad for this year’s Super Bowl. Adam joins us to talk about the commercial and his path to filmmaking.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-information-episode-338-blind-film-director-adam-...

The Herald News reports that John Oliviera didn’t let being visually impaired keep him from fulfilling his American Dream and living independently. Now John’s helping others do the same. He has a new role as the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind’s appointed Commissioner. John’s here to tell us all about his accomplishments and how he is speaking out.   For more info related to this week’s sho...

ACB Media’s very own American Council of the Blind’s 2024 Leadership Conference is just around the corner. Think of it as the mini convention leading up to ACB’s big conference and convention in Jacksonville, Florida this summer. Here to talk about the leadership conference is one of my all-time favorite guests: ACB President Deb Cook Lewis.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: http...

Blind Tennis -_ _February 9th, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/ for more details)   We’ve covered many adaptive sports for the blind and visually impaired on this show. They’ve ranged from golf to soccer. But what about tennis? Ah yes! Today’s topic is all about blind and low-vision tennis. ABC News Australia rep...

Out-Of-Sight (updated) -_ _January 19th, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/ for more details)   You may remember a previous episode where I covered Out-Of-Sight. Out-Of-Sight is a non-profit audio chat, learning, and gaming website made up of mainly blind and visually impaired members. Each week, the website provid...

Democracy Live is a leader in technology that allows blind and visually impaired voters to access and cast secure remote ballots during elections. Joining us to learn how this amazing technology works and how you might use it to vote for your favorite presidential candidates this year is Bryan Finney. Bryan is Democracy Live’s Founder and President.      For more info related to this week’s show,...

Do you want to diet and exercise more naturally and have fun doing it? Do you want a diet and exercise program that’s more accessible for the blind? Couch to Active gives you that dream program. Couch to Active’s CEO and Senior Trainer Lyn Lindbergh is here to tell us more.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/...

The Des Moines Register says that the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired students took part in the State’s first Abacus Bee. An abacus is a special counting tool containing wires and rods and movable beads for solving equations. Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Math Consultant Sara Larkin joins us to talk about the Abacus Bee.     For more in...

The BBC reports that a visually impaired University student from Guernsey, English Crown has been working with an archaeology team to excavate an 8th Century Monastery. The student was part of the University of Reading Archaeology Team digging up the Anglo-Saxon site in Cookham, Berkshire, England. That student’s name is Jonathan Charmley. Jonathan joins us to talk about these special digs.   For...

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Information Sciences Professor JooYoung Seo is creating a data visualization tool. The tool will help make visual representations of statistical data accessible to blind and visually impaired students and researchers. Professor Seo joins us to talk all about the data visualization tool.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: https://speakingoutf...

WUNC Radio reports that a new special trail has opened in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The trail will give the blind the chance to independently exercise. Here to talk about the new trail is Vision Resource Center Executive Director Terri Thomas.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-information-episod...

According to Dakota News Now, Jack Freeburg was a typical twelve-year-old. Jack played golf, baseball, basketball, and football, and helped on his family farm just outside of Vermillion, South Dakota. The boy’s life changed when the grease board became blurry while in his sixth-grade classroom. Jack’s journey of vision loss and triumphs began. He’s here to talk about that journey.   For more info...

WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan reports that the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons recently held a multi-day weather camp for visually impaired teens. The camp helped the teens prepare for whatever weather comes their way and learn about meteorology career opportunities. Here to talk about the camp are Bureau of Services for Blind Persons Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Rehabilitat...

Colorado Public Radio in Centennial, Colorado reports that blind people have been business professionals, politicians, community activists, and artisans throughout the State’s history. But all of their stories have gone untold. Historian Peggy Chong wants to tell those stories. Peggy is known as the “Blind History Lady” for her research on the personalities of the visually impaired communities of...

Cronkite News says that the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, in partnership with the nonprofit health organization called Terros, is opening a new health center. The health center, soon to be located in North Central Phoenix, Arizona, will give the blind and visually impaired access to primary care, mental health treatment, and substance-abuse care. Joining us to talk about the...

Prom for blind teens -_ _July 28th, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/ for more details)   Suncoast News reports that thirty-three blind and visually impaired teens attended a special prom just for them last May at the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind in New Port Richey, Florida. To talk more about th...

KLKN-TV reports that the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired operates a special school. The special Lincoln, Nebraska school teaches the blind how to do what they love to do. Joining us to talk about the school are travel instructor Jeff Altman and Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Executive Director Carlos Servan.     For more info related to this week’s...

According to the Edmond Life & Leisure Newspaper, Oklahoma resident Hannah Dangle was recognized as the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Blind and Visually Impaired client of the year. So how did Hannah Dangle earn this big award? Hannah, her mom Lisa Smith, Commission for Rehabilitation Services Member Theresa Flannery, and Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Communi...