Speaking Out for the Blind

According to the Optical Delusion Podcast, Thea Loekeboe is a visually impaired competitive swimmer. Thea is from Norway. She came to America to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. And Thea is participating in para swimming with the University’s Adaptive Athletics Program. She joins us to talk about her swimming pursuits and educational goals.  Ways to Connect to Speaking Out for the Bli...

KGUN-TV recently reported on Chirs Desborough’s accomplishments as a blind person. Chris has retinitis pigmentosa. And Chris is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff for Paul Cunningham. Paul is the Council Member for Ward Two in Tucson, Arizona. Chris will talk about his blindness and work as Deputy Chief.  More info related to this week’s show:  KGUN-TV story on Chris-  https://www.kgun9.com/news/...

Golf Magazine is talking about Tyler Cashman. He is an aspiring visually impaired golfer from New Jersey. Tyler is here to talk about golf and how his relatives inspired him to play the sport. More info related to this week’s show:  Golf Magazine article on Tyler Cashman-  https://golf.com/news/blind-golfer-competing-at-u-s-adaptive/?srsltid=AfmBOopQljG9UpNpd2NUMm0xOpp79MuXF7sTWVdIze0yclvFtZMmP_89...

Retinal Implant - August 21st, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days  The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a Stanford University scientist and ophthalmologist has invented a prosthetic retinal implant. The implant is the first to improve vision in older adults with a common form of blindness. The implant’s inventor is Dr. Daniel Palanker. And Dr. Palanker will jo...

The Austin FC, or Football Club Soccer Team, Soccer Assist, 4ATX Foundation, and PSCI have teamed up with the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They’re building the first blind soccer pitch in Texas. To talk about the new pitch is Soccer Assist Founder Dr. Aaron Rochlen and 4ATX Foundation Executive Director Kaitlin Mauro.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https:/...

KOLD-TV reports that a new school for the blind is coming to downtown Tucson, Arizona. It is called the Tucson School for the Blind. Here to talk about the school are Araceli (Nani) Peach, her father Derrall, and School Director Kate Scally.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  KOLD-TV story on Tucson School for the Blind:  https://www.kold.com/2026/06/06/new-school-visually-impaire...

CBS Minnesota reports that Twin Cities Blind Sailing is making sailing dreams come true for the blind and visually impaired living in the Minneapolis area. Twin Cities Blind Sailing founder Katy Boyd is here to talk about her sailing pursuit.  More info related to this week’s show:  Twin Cities Blind Sailing-  https://twincitiesblindsailing.org Ways to Connect to Speaking Out for the Blind  Amazon...

We’re talking with one outstanding blind woman. She’s worn multiple hats and achieved a lot. She is a teacher, writer, athlete, motivational speaker, and recipient of the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award. And Kathy is here to talk about her great life.  More info related to this week’s show:  Kathy Nimmer’s website-  https://kathynimmer.com Ways to Connect to Speaking Out for the Blind ...

Waymo is bringing their self-driving cars to Washington, DC. The National Council on Independent Living is celebrating the important moment. The organization says that it’s a significant opportunity in advancing accessible transportation for all people with disabilities. The Council’s Executive Director, Theo Braddy, is here to explain how Waymo will help the blind and visually impaired travel aro...

We’re welcoming Dan Kysor back to the program. You may remember when I interviewed Dan on a previous episode back in the early 2010’s. Dan’s here to talk about a brand-new book he just wrote and published. The book covers the diverse landscape of accessible fitness and leisure for the blind and visually impaired.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.we...

The Same-Day Paratransit Innovation Act, or H.R. 8128, was just introduced in the House of Representatives. The Act plans to remove the rule of scheduling paratransit rides more than twenty-four hours in advance. Scheduling rides twenty-four hours in advance makes it difficult to take care of last-minute needs. The last-minute needs might include work meetings and unexpected doctor visits. H.R. 81...

More video games are being released with audio description. How does audio description help blind players win the games and reach all their levels? Aaron Spelker, the Cahir of ACB’s Audio Description Project Gaming Committee, joins us to answer this question. For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-informa...

KOB-TV in Albuquerque is reporting that the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is getting $6 million for upgrades. The upgrades will enhance accessibility for wheelchair-bound kids. Here to talk about the upgrades is Pual Kilman. Mr. Kilman is the New Mexico School for the Blind’s Early Childhood Program Principal.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://spea...

The American Council of the Blind is launching STEP. STEP stands for Strengthen Teens, Elevate Potential. Strengthen Teens, Elevate Potential is a new youth program launching at ACB’s 2026 Convention. STEP is for blind and visually impaired high school students and their families to explore independence, identity, advocacy, and life beyond high school. We welcome back ACB’s very own Cindy Holis to...

The American Council of the Blind’s 2026 Leadership Conference is coming. It’s the smaller convention leading up to ACB’s bigger convention in St. Louis, Missouri this July. Here to talk about the leadership conference is ACB President Deb Cook Lewis.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-information-ep...

Popular Mechanics says that mammals may not have ocular regeneration superpowers. But a new study shows that nature might have a couple of tricks up its sleeve. Joining me to talk about the recent study on restoring vision in humans is Athanasios (Thanasis) Alexandris. Thanasis is the study’s lead author and works for Johns Hopkins University.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  ht...

CBS Texas reports that Chris Jones is a blind man who loves to barbecue. He loves barbecuing so much that he opened his own barbecue restaurant in Duncanville, Texas. Chris is here to talk about his restaurant and how he grills the best smoked meats. For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-information-epis...

The Modesto Bee reports that Visually Impaired Persons Support, or VIPS, provides independent living skills services. The services are for blind and visually impaired Stansilaus and Tuolumne County, California residents. Here to talk about VIPS are Executive Director Isaiah Siordia, and clients Patrick Spangler, Zowie Mason, and Nevaeh Ross Burton.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to...

CBS San Francisco reports that Asanda Pavlacka is a blind multi-sport athlete. Asanda has competed in gymnastics, swimming, running, and martial arts. And she’s competed in blind cricket. Asanda made it to the USA team to represent America. And she recently participated in the first World Cup Cricket in India. Asanda joins us to talk about that exciting experience.  For more info related to this w...

ACB Next Generation is an American Council of the Blind special interest affiliate. This affiliate is targeted towards ACB members under forty. Some of ACB Nextgen’s members are young parents and professionals and college graduates. Joining us to talk about ACB Next Generation is its President Kristen Kelling.  For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebl...

University of Utah’s Amanda Cornelius joins us. Amanda is the University Eye Center’s Social Worker. Amanda’s going to talk about the proper etiquette for meetings between sighted and visually impaired people.                                                                                                                                                                                               ...

WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Alabama reports that the U.S. Space and Rocket Center just held its Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students. The acronym for the camp is SCIVIS. SCIVIS coordinators worked with staff in modifying Aviation Challenge and Space Camp simulators and activities to accommodate various blind and visually impaired students. Here to talk about the recent Space Camp, along...

According to Robotics and Automation News, a team at Georgia Tech is developing a robotic guide dog. Joining us to talk about the robotic guide dog will be Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing Professor Bruce Walker and Assistant Professor Sehoon Ha.    For more info related to this week’s show, go to:  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-infor...

WABC-TV in New York is reporting on a new tooth-in-eye surgery. This surgery removes the patient’s tooth, putting a plastic lens into the tooth, and stitching the entire thing into the patient’s eye socket. The tooth-in-eye surgery is an unusual procedure done for patients with severe corneal blindness. Joining us to talk about the surgery will be ophthalmologist Dr. Greg Moloney and his patient B...

ACB Lions -   August 29th, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to  https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/  for more details)   The American Council of Blind Lions give potential Lions Club members across the U.S. the chance to share experiences and ideas. The potential members also learn how to be more active in their local Lions Clubs. Debbie Deatherage, A...