Speaking Out for the Blind

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...

KGO-TV in San Francisco, California reported on John Helzer. John was diagnosed with Diabetic Retinopathy in 2018. Having the disease didn’t stop John from adapting to his vision loss and returning to work. John will join us to talk about how he did just that.                                                                                                                                            ...

FOX 16 Little Rock reports that Artificial Intelligence is becoming more popular on social media, in schools, and in the workplace. Ai is also helping blind and visually impaired adults. Joining us to talk about how Ai is doing just that are World Services for the Blind President and CEO Eric Yarberry, Accessibility Instructor Josh Upshaw, and Assisted Technology Instructor Sean Scheeler.    For m...

Mrs. Karen Heeson is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired at the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Janesville, Wisconsin. But what does a Teacher of the Visually Impaired do? Mrs. Heeson joins us to answer that question.   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-368-t...

FOX 23 reports that the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services is starting a new program for helping visually impaired clients find jobs. Joining us to talk about the program will be the Department’s Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Division Program Manager Cheryl Snow.   For more info related to this week’s show, go to: https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episo...

Sierra Services for the Blind is a special blind services agency in Nevada City, California. The organization offers services to the blind and visually impaired living in the Foothill communities of Nevada and Placer Counties. What makes Sierra Services unique is that it’s the only nationwide blindness agency serving a rural community exclusively. Joining us to talk about Sierra Services for the B...

Gold Nanoparticles -_ _May 23rd, 8PM Eastern (ACB Media 1) and repeats throughout the next seven days (go to https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/ for more details)   Providence, Rhode Island’s Brown University just completed a study on how some nanoparticles and a device might help restore the vision of retinal patients. Joining us to talk about the study’s promise will be Dr. Jiarui Nie. Dr...