Blind Abilities

In Episode 43 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, explore a listener's suggestion on the theme of independence. As they delve into the topic, the concept of interdependence naturally emerges. Through personal stories and professional insights, Beth and Robin reflect on the balance between self-reliance and interconnectedness, offering a thoughtful examination...

Woodworking for the Blind has been sharing tips and tricks and mostly "How to Do's " with a blindness perspective for quite some time, and on this months WW4B Chat, WW4B presents Wes from the YouTube channel " Woodworking with Wes ". Wes may not be Blind or Low Vision, however, his YouTube channel works through projects and the description is easy to follow. That is why we want to share this great...

Full Transcript In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson speaks with Brady and Nick from the Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey Team. Brady, a player entering his fourth year, shares his journey into blind hockey, starting from his love of regular hockey and joining the Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey team in 2021. He explains how the sport is adapted for visually impaired players, with a steel puck...

Full Transcript   Jennifer Martinez-Badillo shares her journey of securing a position at College Possible through AmeriCorps, where she helps high school students with their college application process. As a visually impaired advocate, she discusses the accommodations she received and the support from State Services for the Blind. Jennifer reflects on her future goals, considering both counseling...

In this episode of Blind Abilities, Kevin Chao discusses the Vista Center Ignite Accessibility Entrepreneur Pitch Competition , an exclusive event showcasing groundbreaking accessible technologies. Entrepreneurs presented innovations such as   Get Lotus , a ring-operated switch control system,   Lighthouse Tech , an  obstacle-detecting smart glasses,   Oorion is an object, text detection app.   Ot...

In Episode 42 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take a look at being overwhelmed. What it is, what might cause it, and some coping strategies on how to deal with it. And like they always mention, how to be more in tuned with yourself.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com...

Since 1999, Hymns Inc. has been providing high-quality products and services to the blind and visually impaired community around the globe. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 National Federation of the Blind National Convention, as he speaks with Antonio and Earl about the rebranding to Selvas BLV and all that they've been working on.   With a new name comes new...

In Episode 41 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, share their personal experiences with sleep and the routines they've developed to improve their rest. They open up about the challenges they've faced in finding the right balance for a good night's sleep and discuss the various approaches they've tried. This episode offers a candid look at the journey toward b...

Often times, blind and visually impaired users need to perform many functions to access printed text. The PROCER 3 aims to simplify these activities by offering one device that can do many functions. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 NFB National Convention, as he chats with Mariano Lescano, C.T.O, as well as Manuel Diaz Ferreio, CEO at PROCER Technologies .   U...

For much of the world's population, many technological devices are out of reach due to factors such as cost and electricity constraints. Solar Grove Solutions seeks to close this technology gap so that everyone has access to the content that matters most to them. The Vine C product line offers a durable, portable, solar powered solution for storing audio books as well as many other file formats in...

In the age of digital technology, companies are increasingly turning to self-service touch screen kiosks. Partnering with screen reading manufacturers such as TPGI and the Jaws screen reader, Storm Interfaces designs tactile keypads that are accessible for everyone. Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 NFB National Convention in Orlando Florida, as he speaks with N...

In this episode of Blind Abilities, high school student Connor Kunze discusses the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, which allows students to earn college credits while still in high school. Connor shares his experiences with accommodations, the transition from high school to college, and the challenges of balancing responsibilities. He emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, s...

  State Services for the Blind and the Lighthouse Center for Vital Living collaborated with Wilderness Inquiry to offer a unique camping and canoeing experience for Pre-ETS students at Interstate State Park, Minnesota. This initiative aimed to empower blind and low-vision youth by enhancing their independence, self-advocacy, and teamwork skills. Participants engaged in a range of outdoor activitie...

In Episode 40 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, are joined by Blind Abilities own Jeff Thompson to talk about a subject that came up pre-show. Anxiety and Ageing. How it looks and how we feel about it. Everyone has a timeline and society seems to have expectations, so how do we handle change, when time is the ticking factor.   Check out all the Wellness Wed...

In Episode 39 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take on the challenges that one may feel with all the political happenings during this election year. How we balance trying to be informed without overloading and possible stressful interactions with friends and family.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on t...

Joining Jeff in the Blind Abilities Studio is Aly Slaughter. Aly is a legally blind yoga teacher who believes that yoga is for all people of all abilities and in all bodies. Aly offers accessible practices by using detailed verbal descriptions and suggesting various options, encouraging you to listen to and trust yourself and explore what works best for YOU! Aly has found that both sighted and bli...

In this episode of Blind Abilities, hosts Pete Lane and Jeff Thompson are joined by Sedona Dave and Bari Azman from AWarewolfGear to introduce the latest innovation in cane design, the Urban Xplorer Cane. They delve into the features and benefits of this new product, designed for enhanced urban navigation and all-terrain versatility. The conversation also touches on the predecessor, the All Terrai...

Full Transcript In this episode, Peer Ambassadors, Amy and Maddy, introduce themselves and share their personal journeys, detailing how they became connected with State Services for the Blind (SSB). They discuss the support and guidance they received from SSB counselors, including the benefits of having counselors attend IEP meetings. The episode explores various programs and activities offered by...

Join Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant, live from the 2024 NFB National Convention in Orlando Florida, as he chats with Jeff Bazer, Regional Director of Sales at Vispero, about their current product offerings, as well as many exciting AI enhancements to the Jaws screen reader.   One of the most notable updates in Jaws 2024 is a new set of features complementing the Picture Smart functio...

In Episode 38 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, dive into the concept of "normal." They explore questions such as: What does "normal" mean? Who defines it, and for whose benefit? Isn't it our differences that make us unique? Join Beth and Robin as they critically examine the idea of normalcy and celebrate the diversity that sets us apart.   Check out all th...

In this focus on student Internships, State Services for the Blind's Transition Work Opportunities Navigator, Randi Lasher, gives us an overview of student internships and how SSB works with the students to assist them in achieving their career goals. Listen in as Joshua, Qi, Jackson, and Josh share their experiences of gaining and internship, describing what they do and give some good advice for...

In Episode 37 of Wellness Wednesday, join hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, as they delve into the essential steps for finding a good therapist. Discover what to look for in a therapist's style, how to navigate insurance versus private pay options, and most importantly, how to recognize when therapy might be the right choice for you. Whether you're considering therapy for the fir...

Full Transcript   The Students of  the Summer Transition Program (STP), toured State Services for the Blind (SSB), which provides resources and training in independent living skills, job readiness, orientation & mobility, and college preparation for blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind students. During this tour, students engage in activities like job shadowing, mock interviews, employment rea...

In the futuristic world of digital landscapes and interstellar travel, Paul Martz stands as a beacon of innovation and creativity. An award-winning blind science fiction author, technology blogger for Applevis , and former punk rock drummer, Paul thrives on embracing challenges and pushing boundaries. Despite his visual impairment, Paul has ventured into the uncharted territories of  becoming an e...

In episode 36 of Wellness Wednesday, hosts Beth Gustin, LPC, and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, delve into the dynamics of arguments and effective communication during conflicts. They share insights on recognizing the signs that indicate it's time to step back from a heated discussion. Join Beth and Robin as they offer practical advice on how to avoid unproductive battles of words and maintain healthier...