All posts by ptorpey

2022 Offerings from Freedom Scientific (May 27, 2020)


2022 Offerings from Freedom Scientific (May 27, 2020)


Show Notes

Eric Damery is VP of Software Product Management of Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company, a worldwide leader in providing assistive technology for visually impaired people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eric about the company, features of JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion, and special offerings for students as well as during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020 Band-in-a-Box 2020 and the Updated JAWS Scripts (May 13, 2020)


2020 Band-in-a-Box 2020 and the Updated JAWS Scripts (May 13, 2020)


Show Notes

Band-in-a-Box from PG Music continues to evolve and introduce new features that are appealing to both professional and amateur musicians alike. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tobin Frank, chief development officer at PG Music, about the program and how the scripts Peter developed make this program accessible with the JAWS screen reader.

2019 The Sunu Band for Navigation (May 6, 2020)


2019 The Sunu Band for Navigation (May 6, 2020)


Show Notes

Even if one is proficient at using a white cane for navigation there are still some obstacles that will go undetected by even the most experienced traveler. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Diego Mendoza, Business Development director at Sunu Inc., about how the Sunu Band, worn around one’s wrist, can provide tactile feedback to help avoid such obstacles.

2018 Encore of 1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Apr. 29, 2020)


2018 Encore of 1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Apr. 29, 2020)


Show Notes

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has over 400 sites that are visited by over 300 million people each year. They strive to make these sites as accessible as possible for everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ray Bloomer, Accessibility Specialist for Accessibility Support Programs, about the NPS and how their sites can be enjoyed by all.

2016 Braille Displays – Dot Watch and Beyond (Apr. 15, 2020)


2016 Braille Displays – Dot Watch and Beyond (Apr. 15, 2020)


Show Notes

Dot Incorp has developed an innovative braille technology for refreshable braille displays that is less costly and bulky than traditional refreshable braille designs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ah-rum Choi, director of Social Impact at Dot Incorp, about their new braille Dot Watch, and what we might expect from this technology in the future.

2013 Narrator, Now Better Than Ever (Mar. 25, 2020)


2013 Narrator, Now Better Than Ever (Mar. 25, 2020)


Show Notes

Over the past few years, Microsoft has added a number of major enhancements to the Narrator screen reader that is built into Windows. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff Bishop, a program manager in the accessibility team at Microsoft, about some of Narrator’s new features, and why, if you haven’t used Narrator in a while, it might be worth a second look.

2012 Accessible Prescription Labels and More (Mar. 18, 2020)


2012 Accessible Prescription Labels and More (Mar. 18, 2020)


Show Notes

En-Vision America provides labeling solutions for the visually impaired including voice-enabled products like i.d. mate, the talking bar code reader, and ScriptAbility, which includes Braille, large print and talking prescription labels. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with representative Jenna Reed about these products and how you might find them useful.

2011 Encore of 1744 Buying a Rental Property (Mar. 11, 2020)


2011 Encore of 1744 Buying a Rental Property (Mar. 11, 2020)


Show Notes

Have you ever wanted to purchase a house either to live in or as an investment? Are you thinking that as a blind person that might be a questionable thing to do? Well think again! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ana Garza, who has been blind since childhood, about her experiences buying a rental property and how she is making it work for her.

2010 Android Accessibility Then and Now (Mar. 4, 2020)


2010 Android Accessibility Then and Now (Mar. 4, 2020)


Show Notes

A lot has changed over the years in the Android world, especially in terms of accessibility features that are available for the visually impaired and how well these features perform. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey once again talk with Ana Garza who gives us an update on the accessibility of Android devices and why you might consider using them.

2009 When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You (Feb. 26, 2020)


2009 When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You (Feb. 26, 2020)


Show Notes

Although many people really enjoy having the power and flexibility of a smart phone right in their pockets, smart phones aren’t for everyone. Sometimes a simple phone with buttons and without all the frills will do the trick. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Jones about what options are available if a smart phone isn’t for you.

2008 Updated Guide to Accessibility of iOS 13 (Feb. 19, 2020)


2008 Updated Guide to Accessibility of iOS 13 (Feb. 19, 2020)


Show Notes

Every new release of iOS for Apple devices brings a host of new features and functionality, but trying to learn what is new can be quite daunting. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin about the updated version of her easy to follow reference book “iOS Access for All” that details what you need to know to work effectively with iOS devices.

2007 Dealing with the Challenges of Vision Loss (Feb. 12, 2020)


2007 Dealing with the Challenges of Vision Loss (Feb. 12, 2020)


Show Notes

Hannah Fairbairn’s book “When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery” is based on her experience as an instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind as well as her own personal journey with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about the book and some of the guidance it offers for those new to vision loss.

2005 Free Music Reader App from Sao Mai (Jan. 29, 2020)


2005 Free Music Reader App from Sao Mai (Jan. 29, 2020)


Show Notes

The SM Music Reader is a free Android app that enables the visually impaired to access music scores imported onto their devices. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dang Hoai Phuc, executive director of the Sao Mai Center for the Blind in Vietnam, about the app and how it can be used to read and listen to complex musical scores.

2004 Build a Better Book Program (Jan. 22, 2020)


2004 Build a Better Book Program (Jan. 22, 2020)


Show Notes

The Build a Better Book project works with school and library Makerspaces to engage youth in the design and fabrication of inclusive media, including picture books, games and graphics. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jesse Swift, a STEM teacher at Golden High School, and his students about the project and how it worked at their school.

2003 Communicating with Zoom (Jan. 15, 2020)


2003 Communicating with Zoom (Jan. 15, 2020)


Show Notes

Zoom is a powerful communications tool that has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years. The software can be run from desktop or mobile devices for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Carter Jenkins, a Customer Success Manager at Zoom, about the accessibility of Zoom and some of its features.

2002 Books with Blind Characters (Jan. 8, 2020)


2002 Books with Blind Characters (Jan. 8, 2020)


Show Notes

Blind since birth, Phyllis Campbell is a prize-winning author who started writing as a young child. Over the years she has written a number of books including both fiction and non-fiction as well as many magazine articles. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Phyllis about her writings and how she portrays blind characters in some of her books.

2001 A Tribute to Jim Thatcher (Jan. 1, 2020)


2001 A Tribute to Jim Thatcher (Jan. 1, 2020)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey honor the life and work of Jim Thatcher who passed away last month by reprising episode 1420 in which we interviewed Jim about his pioneering work in the development of the first screen readers and years later of the first standards for web accessibility. Thanks to Jim for his continued contributions to the field of accessibility.

1952 Favorite Moments from Past Shows (Dec. 25, 2019)


1952 Favorite Moments from Past Shows (Dec. 25, 2019)


Show Notes

With this episode, Nancy and Peter Torpey complete their ninth year of hosting and producing Eyes On Success. Join them as they revisit clips from their first episode as well as interviews with blind people who practice martial arts, drive race cars, have run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, been attacked by pirates, gotten a hole in one playing golf, and more!

1951 Outlook Business Solutions (Dec. 18, 2019)


1951 Outlook Business Solutions (Dec. 18, 2019)


Show Notes

The unemployment rate for the visually impaired continues to be very high. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rachel Carver from Outlook Business Solutions about a new approach being developed to address this problem. The program matches visually impaired consultants with specific skills to companies seeking these skills for their projects.

1950 Jonathan Mosen Moves On (Dec. 11, 2019)


1950 Jonathan Mosen Moves On (Dec. 11, 2019)


Show Notes

Jonathan Mosen is well known for his many contributions to the blindness community. A strong advocate for disability rights, he has also played major roles at ACB Radio, Humanware, Freedom Scientific, and Aira. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jonathan about his journey as well as about his new role as CEO of Workbridge which connects the disabled with employers.

1949 Working Smarter With iOS and Your Smart Phone (Dec. 4, 2019)


1949 Working Smarter With iOS and Your Smart Phone (Dec. 4, 2019)


Show Notes

Have you ever dropped a tiny screw in the grass and tried to find it? In her latest book “31 Cool Things You Can Do With Your iPhone”, Judy Dixon explains how your iPhone can help. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy about this book and others she has written about using an iPhone with little or no vision, including one on getting sighted assistance.

1948 NEWSREEL Audio Magazine (Nov. 27, 2019)


1948 NEWSREEL Audio Magazine (Nov. 27, 2019)


Show Notes

NEWSREEL is a monthly audio magazine offering three hours of helpful information and inspiration in the voices of its members. Topics include technology, travel tips, books, recipes, personal experiences, sports and more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with NEWSREEL’s editor, Irwin Hott, about the magazine for and by the blind and its history.

1946 Bristol Braille Multi-Line Refreshable Braille Display (Nov. 13, 2019)


1946 Bristol Braille Multi-Line Refreshable Braille Display (Nov. 13, 2019)


Show Notes

Bristol Braille is now shipping the Canute 360, a refreshable multi-line braille display with 360 characters. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ed Rogers, founder and managing director of Bristol Braille, about how the device works and how the designers managed to make the Canute 360 at a price that makes it a viable option for braille users.

1945 Life As a Blind Music Producer (Nov. 6, 2019)


1945 Life As a Blind Music Producer (Nov. 6, 2019)


Show Notes

Ross McGregor is a blind music producer who has produced over 300 albums during his career. He was recently presented the Australian “Hands of Fame” award for his lifetime achievements. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ross about what a music producer does and how the technologies and methods for music production have changed over the years.

1944 Encore of 1508 Blind Parenting of Sighted Children (Oct. 30, 2019)


1944 Encore of 1508 Blind Parenting of Sighted Children (Oct. 30, 2019)


Show Notes

First time parents have many questions. But what if one of the parents is blind? That is the case with Ron and Denise Miller who are raising 2 year old Russell. They talk with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey who raised two sighted children with one parent being blind. They discuss a variety of topics including feeding, playing, reading, and driving.

1943 NFB-NEWSLINE Expands to Smart Home Devices (Oct. 23, 2019)


1943 NFB-NEWSLINE Expands to Smart Home Devices (Oct. 23, 2019)


Show Notes

NFB-NEWSLINE is a free service from the National Federation of the Blind that gives subscribers access to hundreds of national and local magazines and newspapers through a variety of delivery options. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott White, director of NFB-NEWSLINE, about how this service can now also be accessed using your smart home device.

1941 HaptImage – A New Way To Explore Images (Oct. 9, 2019)


1941 HaptImage – A New Way To Explore Images (Oct. 9, 2019)


Show Notes

HaptImage is a system that provides blind individuals with multi-sensory feedback so that they can explore images in real time. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with co-founders Shruthi Suresh and Ting Zhang, both graduate students in engineering at Purdue University, about this novel technology, the motivation behind it, and how it works.

1940 Forage Candle – Winner of Hadley New Venture Competition (Oct. 2, 2019)


1940 Forage Candle – Winner of Hadley New Venture Competition (Oct. 2, 2019)


Show Notes

The Hadley New Venture competition is a forum for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their business plans and compete for cash prizes to help jump start promising ventures. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich, who runs the program, along with last year’s winner, Lisa Smith, about the program and how it impacted Lisa’s company Forage Candle.

1939 Life with a Guide Dog and RP (Sep. 25, 2019)


1939 Life with a Guide Dog and RP (Sep. 25, 2019)


Show Notes

Katie McCoy is the Associate Director of Philanthropy at Southeastern Guide Dogs and a guide dog user herself. Learn about how getting a guide dog has changed her life. She’s also written a book about her journey with RP called “Retinitis Pigmentosa 101: How to Understand, Accept, and Live Your Best Life with Retinitis Pigmentosa”.

1938 Victor Reader Trek (Sep. 18, 2019)


1938 Victor Reader Trek (Sep. 18, 2019)


Show Notes

The Victor Reader products from Humanware are digital reading devices for print impaired individuals that come in handheld as well as desktop models. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with product manager Robert Panetta about the differences between the various models with a focus on what is special about Humanware’s most advanced model, the Victor Reader Trek.

1937 Starting a Small Business (Sep. 11, 2019)


1937 Starting a Small Business (Sep. 11, 2019)


Show Notes

Patty Fletcher operates Tell It to The World Marketing, a company that assists in outreach efforts for others. Edward Cohen’s company, EZ2See Products, makes and sells calendars for people with low vision. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patty and Edward, both of whom are blind, about how they work together and Patty’s role in growing Edward’s business.

1936 Encore of 1426 Navigating Using Echolocation (Sep. 4, 2019)


1936 Encore of 1426 Navigating Using Echolocation (Sep. 4, 2019)


Show Notes

If you can’t see with your eyes, you need other ways of recognizing your environment in order to maneuver through it. Like bats, humans can also use echolocation. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey speak with Daniel Kish and J Steele-Louchart of World Access for the Blind about “Flash Sonar”, an echolocation technique they developed and teach worldwide.

1933 Adapting to Blindness as an Adult (Aug. 14, 2019)


1933 Adapting to Blindness as an Adult (Aug. 14, 2019)


Show Notes

Kelly Egan was in her 40’s when she started losing her vision. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelly about how she adapted to her situation by attending a vocational rehabilitation program to acquire blindness life skills and went on to become a Customer Relations Manager at Sprint advocating for and providing programs and promotions for the disabled.

1932 Freelance Journalist (Aug. 7, 2019)


1932 Freelance Journalist (Aug. 7, 2019)


Show Notes

Jason Strother is a visually impaired freelance journalist. After reporting from South Korea for many years, his interests have recently turned to stories about how the disabled are impacted by climate change. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about accommodations he has made in his career as well as an incident in which his vision could have cost him his life.

1931 Distance Running with Guide Dogs (Jul. 31, 2019)


1931 Distance Running with Guide Dogs (Jul. 31, 2019)


Show Notes

In episode 1752 hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked with Thomas Panek, President and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, about a program they started to train guide dogs to serve as running companions for their handlers. This week we hear about how the program has evolved and Thomas’ experience running the New York City half marathon guided only by guide dogs.

1930 Wild Blind Ice Hockey (Jul. 24, 2019)


1930 Wild Blind Ice Hockey (Jul. 24, 2019)


Show Notes

Wild Blind Hockey is the companion team to the Minnesota Wild Hockey NHL team and consists of visually impaired skaters of all ages. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lonny Evans, the team’s Director of Operations, about how the team came about, modifications used to make it possible to play with limited or no vision, and what it means to the players.

1927 Dating in the Digital Age (Jul. 3, 2019)


1927 Dating in the Digital Age (Jul. 3, 2019)


Show Notes

Have you ever considered jumping into the world of online dating? If so you’ll want to read “Dating in the Digital Age” by Kim Loftis. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim about her book and discuss how the process works, what to expect, and some special considerations for blind individuals. She also talks about some of her own experiences.

1926 Blind Disability Rights Attorney (Jun. 26, 2019)


1926 Blind Disability Rights Attorney (Jun. 26, 2019)


Show Notes

Significant progress has been made in establishing everyday rights for the disabled, yet there is still much more to do. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott LaBarre, a blind disability rights attorney, about his experiences working for the NFB, running his own private law practice, and helping to negotiate the Marrakesh Treaty.

1925 Encore of 1512 Preparing for Vision Loss (Jun. 19, 2019)


1925 Encore of 1512 Preparing for Vision Loss (Jun. 19, 2019)


Show Notes

Many sighted people have a hard time imagining how they would tackle life if they couldn’t see. Losing your vision, however, doesn’t mean the end of the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about how you can prepare for eventual vision loss by preparing your home, using adaptive aids, becoming aware of your other senses, accessible technology and more.

1924 Format Your Word Documents with JAWS and NVDA (June 12, 2019)


1924 Format Your Word Documents with JAWS and NVDA (June 12, 2019)


Show Notes

The visual appearance of documents that you create can have a big impact on how they are received by others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Kingsbury, Assistive Technology Instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, about his new book that describes how Word can be used with a screen reader to format documents most effectively.

1923 Real-time Assistance with Aira (Jun. 5, 2019)


1923 Real-time Assistance with Aira (Jun. 5, 2019)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenine Stanley, Explorer Community Manager and Brand Ambassador for Aira, about how the service works, new ways to use Aira, and much more. Aira continues to expand its list of Access Locations where their highly-trained agents can provide free assistance to people with vision loss through the use of their smart phones.

1922 Creating and Using Shortcuts in iOS (May 29, 2019)


1922 Creating and Using Shortcuts in iOS (May 29, 2019)


Show Notes

Using shortcuts in Apple’s iOS devices can make many tasks more efficient and simple to perform. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anna Dresner, author of “Getting the Job Done with Shortcuts: An Introduction for Blind Users”, about her book and how you can create and use your own custom shortcuts to easily perform routine tasks.

1921 W3C and Online Accessibility (May 22, 2019)


1921 W3C and Online Accessibility (May 22, 2019)


Show Notes

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community where member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Janina Sajka, chair of the W3C’s Accessible Platform Architectures Working Group, about the W3C, its mission, and its work on accessibility.

1920 Stepping It Up With Windows Hotkeys (May 15, 2019)


1920 Stepping It Up With Windows Hotkeys (May 15, 2019)


Show Notes

People using screen readers rely on keyboard hotkeys in order to interact with their computers. But there is always more to learn! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Martineau about his new book that describes how you can use keyboard hotkeys in Windows more effectively, customize your work flow, and take these shortcuts to the next level.

1919 Preparing for Life and Work (May 8, 2019)


1919 Preparing for Life and Work (May 8, 2019)


Show Notes

Derek Riemer works at Google as a software engineer. He also has contributed to the development of the free NVDA screen reader and is coordinating this year’s NVDACon conference. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Derek about his experiences growing up and being educated as a blind youth as well as the hurdles he had to overcome in school, work and play.

1918 Google Products and Services – An Overview (May 1, 2019)


1918 Google Products and Services – An Overview (May 1, 2019)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eve Andersson, Director of Accessibility Engineering at Google, about the accessibility of various Google products and services and how they can be used by people who are visually impaired. Learn about the Google Accessibility support team, the new Lookout app, as well as what is new with Google Docs, Android, and more.

1917 Tragedy to Triumph Racing (Apr. 24, 2019)


1917 Tragedy to Triumph Racing (Apr. 24, 2019)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dan Parker who was fully sighted at the age of 41 when he was injured in a drag racing accident that left him totally blind. Despite his injuries Dan continues to build and race cars and motorcycles, went on to participate in acoustic target shooting, and also teaches machine shop to sighted high school students.

1915 Seeing AI App from Microsoft (Apr. 10, 2019)


1915 Seeing AI App from Microsoft (Apr. 10, 2019)


Show Notes

Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft for iOS devices. The app can be used to scan and read text, identify colors, scan product bar codes, perform facial recognition, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Saqib Shaikh, the totally blind initiator of and lead developer of the app, about how the app came to be and what makes it special.

1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019)


1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019)


Show Notes

Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both blind, about how their company got started and what is special about their clothing line.

1912 Comparison of Electronic Eyewear (Mar. 20, 2019)


1912 Comparison of Electronic Eyewear (Mar. 20, 2019)


Show Notes

There are several different types of digital eyeglasses for those with little or no vision. But choosing the one that’s right for you can be a daunting process. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dorrie Rush, chief content editor of Ophthalmic Edge Patients about the various options and features of several models to help you make the right decision.

1911 Weather Gods and Accessible App Development (Mar. 13, 2019)


1911 Weather Gods and Accessible App Development (Mar. 13, 2019)


Show Notes

What does it take to develop an accessible app? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott Wilson-Billing, developer of the popular Weather Gods app for iOS, about how he became interested in accessibility and, with feedback from the blindness community, worked to make the very graphical Weather Gods app accessible for those using VoiceOver.

1910 Learn to Code With Code Jumper (Mar. 6, 2019)


1910 Learn to Code With Code Jumper (Mar. 6, 2019)


Show Notes

Have you ever wanted to become a computer programmer but didn’t know where to start? Well Code Jumper from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) may be just what you are looking for! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Wilkinson, director of sales and customer service at the APH, about Code Jumper and how you can learn from it.

1909 ViewPlus Graphical Braille Embossers (Feb. 27, 2019)


1909 ViewPlus Graphical Braille Embossers (Feb. 27, 2019)


Show Notes

John Gardner was a professor of Physics when he had an eye operation that left him totally blind. Although he continued to teach he could no longer evaluate the data from his experiments. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John and his son Dan about how this experience led to the development of the ViewPlus graphical braille embossers.

1908 Encore of 1450 Blind Friendly Architecture (Feb. 20, 2019)


1908 Encore of 1450 Blind Friendly Architecture (Feb. 20, 2019)


Show Notes

Chris Downey had been a practicing architect for 20 years when he suddenly lost all his vision. Undaunted, he has continued his work using his new understanding of how people with vision loss experience spaces. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about what is important in designing blind friendly buildings and how he does his work.

1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Feb. 13, 2019)


1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Feb. 13, 2019)


Show Notes

Barbara Spohn-Lillo is the owner and founder of Prosthetic Illusions which develops custom prostheses for various body parts including eyes. Both she and her daughter Chelsea Lillo, with whom she works, are anaplastologists and ocularists. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they discuss how these prostheses are made and cared for.

1905 When Your Career Relies On Computers (Jan. 30, 2019)


1905 When Your Career Relies On Computers (Jan. 30, 2019)


Show Notes

Modern access technologies make careers that rely on the use of computers particularly amenable to people with vision impairments. Still, there are challenges that one must overcome. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Florian Beijers, a blind software developer, about his training, his work, and how he dealt with various challenges as they arose.

1904 Sight Impaired Surfing Champion (Jan. 23, 2019)


1904 Sight Impaired Surfing Champion (Jan. 23, 2019)


Show Notes

Despite being totally blind, Joshua Loya engages in many extreme sports. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joshua, who is a US Sight Impaired Surfing Champion, about how he got into surfing, the mechanics of surfing as a blind individual, how he works with his sighted coach, and his passion for succeeding in such sports.

E

1903 Advances in Digital Accessibility (Jan. 16, 2019)


1903 Advances in Digital Accessibility (Jan. 16, 2019)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Larry Lewis about his new role as director of channel sales and strategic partnerships for the Paciello Group, after many years running Flying Blind. We talk about the importance of accessibility and learn about some of the tools and resources available from the Paciello Group to assist with creating accessible designs.

1851 Blindfold Games and ObjectiveEd (Dec. 19, 2018)


1851 Blindfold Games and ObjectiveEd (Dec. 19, 2018)


Show Notes

Blindfold Games now offers over 80 fully accessible games made to run on iOS devices for the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marty Schultz, founder of Blindfold Games and developer of the apps, about his company as well as about his new project, ObjectiveEd, aimed at making learning more fun for students through high school.

1850 Exploring the World With Aira (Dec. 12, 2018)


1850 Exploring the World With Aira (Dec. 12, 2018)


Show Notes

Aira is a service that connects a visually impaired user with a sighted professional agent who delivers visual assistance anytime and anywhere. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jonathan Mosen, Vice President, Australasia, and Explorer Communications, about some of the new options being offered, and their expanding availability into public venues.

1849 Blindness For Beginners (Dec. 5, 2018)


1849 Blindness For Beginners (Dec. 5, 2018)


Show Notes

In her book “Blindness for Beginners”, Maribel Steel takes us along her journey of discovery where sight loss can become a renewed vision of the possible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her transition from early diagnosis and rejection of being labelled as “disabled” to her eventual acceptance of and success at making changes in her life.

1848 Expanding Services at APH (Nov. 28, 2018)


1848 Expanding Services at APH (Nov. 28, 2018)


Show Notes

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) recently began managing several services that were part of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). APH is also growing their efforts in direct consumer sales. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about these changes and what’s new at APH with Dave Wilkinson, Director of Sales and Customer Service.

1845 Seeing the Stars His Own Way (Nov. 7, 2018)


1845 Seeing the Stars His Own Way (Nov. 7, 2018)


Show Notes

Astronomy is often thought of as based on visual observation. As it turns out most raw astronomical observations are not visible and must be transformed to be perceived by humans. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Morgan Rehnberg, a blind astronomer, about these issues in relation to those who are vision impaired and how he’s able to do his job.

1842 Preparing for Your First Guide Dog (Oct. 17, 2018)


1842 Preparing for Your First Guide Dog (Oct. 17, 2018)


Show Notes

In past episodes of Eyes On Success we talked about how guide dogs are raised and trained to work with their owners. But how do you know if a guide dog is right for you and, if you decide that you want a guide dog, how do you prepare? This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Gillard of Guide Dogs for the Blind who addresses these questions.

1841 Encore of 1335 Meeting and Dating Across Borders (Oct. 10, 2018)


1841 Encore of 1335 Meeting and Dating Across Borders (Oct. 10, 2018)


Show Notes

Victor Tsaran grew up in Ukraine and is totally blind. Karo Caran grew up in Poland and is partially sighted. Last week Nancy and Peter Torpey talked to them about their careers working on accessibility at Google. This week we’ll learn how they met in the U.S., became married, and managed to make a life together despite geographical obstacles.

1840 Working On Accessibility At Google (Oct. 3, 2018)


1840 Working On Accessibility At Google (Oct. 3, 2018)


Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with a married couple, Victor Tsaran and Karo Caran, both of whom are visually impaired and both of whom work at Google in the area of accessibility. Learn what it is like to work at Google and how Google integrates accessibility into the design of their wide range of products and applications.

1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Sep. 26, 2018)


1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Sep. 26, 2018)


Show Notes

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has over 400 sites that are visited by over 300 million people each year. They strive to make these sites as accessible as possible for everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ray Bloomer, Accessibility Specialist for Accessibility Support Programs, about the NPS and how their sites can be enjoyed by all.

1837 Path to Success for a Military Veteran (Sep. 12, 2018)


1837 Path to Success for a Military Veteran (Sep. 12, 2018)


Show Notes

Michael Somsan was a young man in the military and in the best of shape when his life was suddenly changed. As a result of a gunshot to the head he was left blinded at the age of 23 wondering what the rest of his life would bring. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk to him about how he worked through many challenges to become a lawyer, judge, and professor.

1836 Experiences as Physicists (Sep. 5, 2018)


1836 Experiences as Physicists (Sep. 5, 2018)


Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share a bit of their own story. They talk about their education as well as their careers as research physicists at Xerox Corporation. Learn how Peter’s vision changed over the years and what accommodations he had to make. Also learn how Nancy dealt with similar issues in her career in a predominantly male environment.

1835 Encore of 1215 Described Audio in Live Theater (Aug. 29, 2018)


1835 Encore of 1215 Described Audio in Live Theater (Aug. 29, 2018)


Show Notes

If you can’t see the action on the stage, audio description fills in the gaps and helps you know what’s going on. This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey visit their regional theater company and talk to the people who make it happen. Learn what’s involved in creating an audio described performance and experience one with them.

1834 Audio Description for Varied Venues (Aug. 22, 2018)


1834 Audio Description for Varied Venues (Aug. 22, 2018)


Show Notes

Audio Description uses spoken language to convey the visual world. It can direct a visitor through a museum, orient a listener to a work of art, or allow access to the visual aspects of a performance. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rachel Melton of MindsEye Radio about the ins and outs of audio description and what makes good description.

1833 Samplitude Music Production Software from Magix (Aug. 15, 2018)


1833 Samplitude Music Production Software from Magix (Aug. 15, 2018)


Show Notes

Samplitude is a sophisticated music production program from Magix that is now accessible using JAWS with specially developed scripts. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Steve Spamer about how he and a community of blind individuals connected with Tom Wolf from the Magix development team and worked together to make this possible.

1832 How Blind People Use Ride Sharing Services (Aug. 8, 2018)


1832 How Blind People Use Ride Sharing Services (Aug. 8, 2018)


Show Notes

For various reasons, people who are visually impaired may feel reluctant to use ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Chris Simek and Michelle Plunkett of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute about their research into ride sharing services for the visually impaired and how the experience can be improved.

1830 Encore of 1718 The Helen Keller Archive (Jul. 25, 2018)


1830 Encore of 1718 The Helen Keller Archive (Jul. 25, 2018)


Show Notes

The American Foundation for the Blind just announced the launch of the Helen Keller Archive. In honor of that, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey reprise an interview with Helen Selsdon, the AFB archivist, about her work and about this rich source of information on the history of visual impairment, women’s history, literary history, and American culture.

1829 WayAround Tag-and-Scan System (Jul. 18, 2018)


1829 WayAround Tag-and-Scan System (Jul. 18, 2018)


Show Notes

WayAround is a smart phone app that provides on-demand details about everyday things. This tag-and-scan system enables the user to easily identify objects and also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Darwin Belt and Jessica Hipp about the WayAround system and how it works.

1828 Every Day Tips and Tricks (Jul. 11, 2018)


1828 Every Day Tips and Tricks (Jul. 11, 2018)


Show Notes

Our listeners like our “tips and tricks” episodes so join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey in another. Hear a variety of tips and suggestions that we’ve been collecting from using your smart home device to working with Windows and iOS more efficiently to finding interesting reading material and more. You’ll be sure to find something that’s right for you!

1827 Working at Disney and Marriott (Jul. 4, 2018)


1827 Working at Disney and Marriott (Jul. 4, 2018)


Show Notes

Blind since birth, twin brothers John and Larry Gassman became proficient with computers and now both have similar jobs that entail making sure the software used by each of their employers is accessible to other blind employees using screen readers. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they talk with the Gassman brothers about their work and other experiences.