Category Archives: EyesOnSuccess_podcast

all Eyes On Success podcasts

2215 Managing Care for Mental Health Disorders (Apr. 13, 2022)


2215 Managing Care for Mental Health Disorders (Apr. 13, 2022)


Show Notes

Finding the right therapist to help deal with a mental health issue is crucial to having a successful outcome. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert DeYoung, a practicing psychoanalyst who himself is blind, about special concerns faced by making this choice when one is blind and how blindness may affect the interaction between patient and therapist.

2214 Bookshare Reader for Smart Speakers (Apr. 6, 2022)


2214 Bookshare Reader for Smart Speakers (Apr. 6, 2022)


Show Notes

Bookshare makes books available to people with reading disabilities in a number of digital formats. Now you can listen to any of the over 1,000,000 titles in their collection on your smart speaker. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hema Natarajan who heads Bookshare’s product and reading projects about new initiatives at Bookshare.

2213 Seeing the World More Clearly (Mar. 30, 2022)


2213 Seeing the World More Clearly (Mar. 30, 2022)


Show Notes

The Envision Glasses is a digital eyewear solution that helps visually impaired people read text, recognize objects, make video calls and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Envision co-founder Karthik Kannan about the glasses and how they are designed to empower low vision people to be more independent and help with everyday tasks.

2211 Your Personal Path to Fitness (Mar. 16, 2022)


2211 Your Personal Path to Fitness (Mar. 16, 2022)


Show Notes

Is your visual impairment keeping you from exercising and being as active as you would like? If so, this is the book for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon and Bonnie O’Day about their new book, “Your Personal Path To Fitness”, and some of the fitness opportunities that are available to people who are blind or low vision.

2210 Benefits of Hiring the Blind and Visually Impaired (Mar. 9, 2022)


2210 Benefits of Hiring the Blind and Visually Impaired (Mar. 9, 2022)


Show Notes

Welby Broaddus is an active advocate for employment of the blind and visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Welby, who is visually impaired himself, about his new book that serves as a handbook for educating business owners, executives, and HR professionals on the benefits of hiring individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

2208 Extreme Sports – Rock Climbing (Feb. 23, 2022)


2208 Extreme Sports – Rock Climbing (Feb. 23, 2022)


Show Notes

John Churcher’s experience is proof that it is never too late to begin something new. Inspired by a friend later in life, he soon became an avid rock climber. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with John about what rock climbing means to him, how he does it as a blind person, and about some of his adventures including scaling the Eiger, a several day endeavor.

2207 Encore of 1502 Product Development at Humanware (Feb. 16, 2022)


2207 Encore of 1502 Product Development at Humanware (Feb. 16, 2022)


Show Notes

Bringing new products to market involves time, planning, and feedback from customers. This week, hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey talk with Dominic Labbé, Product Development Director for blindness related products at Humanware. He describes how the process works at Humanware and how products such as the Victor Reader are shepherded from concept to the marketplace.

2205 Taking Charge of Your Health (Feb. 2, 2022)


2205 Taking Charge of Your Health (Feb. 2, 2022)


Show Notes

As a result of being born prematurely, Jeff Bishop had to deal with a number of medical issues including becoming a diabetic. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff about his journey to control his diabetes by making a series of lifestyle changes that included sticking to a healthy diet, regular exercise, and developing the drive to succeed.

2204 Accessibility of Medical Devices (Jan. 26, 2022)


2204 Accessibility of Medical Devices (Jan. 26, 2022)


Show Notes

In order for people to take charge of their health and manage certain medical conditions it is often important that medical monitoring devices be accessible to those who need them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tom Tobin and Jeff Bishop, who are both blind, about the importance of having accessible devices and where we stand today.

2153 Behind the Scenes at Eyes On Success (Dec. 29, 2021)


2153 Behind the Scenes at Eyes On Success (Dec. 29, 2021)


Show Notes

There are many steps that go into hosting and producing a successful podcast. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey walk listeners through the process that they follow in putting each episode of Eyes On Success together. From deciding on topics and people to interview through the distribution of episodes to listeners around the world, you’ll hear it all.

2152 Apple HomeKit and the Smart Home (Dec. 22, 2021)


2152 Apple HomeKit and the Smart Home (Dec. 22, 2021)


Show Notes

There are a myriad of devices based on the Apple Home Kit, but how are they used and which have the functionality you might be looking for? Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey talk with Dustin Boggus, who is visually impaired himself, about his “MyHomeKitHome” videos, blog, and website that aim to show users what can be expected from such devices and how they work.

2151 The Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project (Dec. 15, 2021)


2151 The Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project (Dec. 15, 2021)


Show Notes

The goal of the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP) project is to develop a device and system that will compensate for blindness by directly stimulating the visual centers within the brain. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with principal investigators Philip Troyk and Frank Lane about how the system works and their search for research volunteers.

2149 Encore of 1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Dec. 1, 2021)


2149 Encore of 1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Dec. 1, 2021)


Show Notes

“Dining in the dark” restaurants have opened in many countries. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Christine Malec, author and massage therapist, about the 2 years she spent as a blind waitress in a totally dark restaurant. She describes the dining and serving experience when the tables are turned and what she learned both about herself and about her customers.

2148 Talk Description to Me (Nov. 24, 2021)


2148 Talk Description to Me (Nov. 24, 2021)


Show Notes

J.J. Hunt is an audio describer and storyteller. Christine Malec is an inquisitive member of the blind and partially sighted community who’s always wondering about something. Together they host and produce the “Talk Description to Me” podcast. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with the pair about this innovative podcast geared to the visually impaired.

2146 Running with Google Project Guideline (Nov. 10, 2021)


2146 Running with Google Project Guideline (Nov. 10, 2021)


Show Notes

Google’s “Project Guideline” is an early stage research project aimed at enabling those with vision loss to run independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bill Ma, director of IT and operations and Jessy DiNapoli, manager of admissions at Guiding Eyes for the Blind about how their blind CEO, Thomas Panek, has used the app to run on his own.

2145 Accessibility of Android Devices Past and Present (Nov. 3, 2021)


2145 Accessibility of Android Devices Past and Present (Nov. 3, 2021)


Show Notes

The accessibility of Android devices has continued to improve over the years and is now a viable option for those who are visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Austin Pinto, Warren Carr and Mariam Mohsen from the Blind Android Users team about how Android has evolved over time as well as about recently introduced accessibility features.

2144 Accessibility Features Introduced in iOS 15 (Oct. 27, 2021)


2144 Accessibility Features Introduced in iOS 15 (Oct. 27, 2021)


Show Notes

Every year Apple releases a new and improved operating system for iOS devices. Each release also often comes with new accessibility features, and this year is no exception. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Hudson, Apple’s Accessibility Evangelist, about some of the new features that are expected to benefit visually impaired users in iOS 15.

2143 UN Resolution Commits Countries to Eye Care (Oct. 20, 2021)


2143 UN Resolution Commits Countries to Eye Care (Oct. 20, 2021)


Show Notes

Many people around the world suffer from vision problems that are readily treatable. A new United Nations resolution aims to address this problem. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jessica Thompson, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) about the resolution and what it hopes to accomplish.

2140 Encore of 1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Sep. 29, 2021)


2140 Encore of 1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Sep. 29, 2021)


Show Notes

Meet Susan Bennett whose voice was used to create the original female English language Siri voice. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Susan about her experiences as a voice artist, actress, and musician, what it was like to create the voice for Siri, how she found out that she was the voice behind Siri, and how it changed her career.

2139 Using Reaper with OSARA (Sep. 22, 2021)


2139 Using Reaper with OSARA (Sep. 22, 2021)


Show Notes

Reaper is a powerful multi-track audio production program used by many people with visual impairments. The program is made accessible using a screen reader on both PC’s and Mac’s by the open source OSARA extension for Reaper. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott Chesworth who manages the Reaper forums and Jamie Teh, the author of OSARA.

2138 Maxima Computer Algebra System (Sep. 15, 2021)


2138 Maxima Computer Algebra System (Sep. 15, 2021)


Show Notes

Maxima is a computer algebra system (CAS) that enables the user to work with complex mathematical expressions. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert Dodier, one of the developers of Maxima, about the capabilities of this free, open source program and also demonstrate how it can be used with a screen reader by those who are blind.

2137 Sharing Experiences with Cochlear Implants (Sep. 8, 2021)


2137 Sharing Experiences with Cochlear Implants (Sep. 8, 2021)


Show Notes

Blind individuals rely heavily on their ability to hear in order to compensate for their lack of sight. But what happens when a blind person loses their hearing? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey join a conversation between Jim Snowbarger and Greg Green, both of whom are blind and both of whom have cochlear implants, about their experiences with the implants.

2136 Combining Computer Science with Social Sciences (Sep. 1, 2021)


2136 Combining Computer Science with Social Sciences (Sep. 1, 2021)


Show Notes

Bhavya Shah grew up in India where blind students were often dissuaded from certain studies and careers and where many textbooks could not be obtained in an accessible format. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bhavya about how he overcame these challenges and now combines his skills in computer science with his interest in social science to contribute to research projects.

2135 Getting Around as an Entrepreneur (Aug. 25, 2021)


2135 Getting Around as an Entrepreneur (Aug. 25, 2021)


Show Notes

Fernando Albertorio is a blind chemist turned entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is also a co-founder of the Sunu Band, a device worn on the wrist to provide tactile navigation cues to the blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Fernando about his journey, philosophy, and how his drive and motivation have opened up opportunities for him.

2134 Navigating Indoors with the Clew App (Aug. 18, 2021)


2134 Navigating Indoors with the Clew App (Aug. 18, 2021)


Show Notes

Most navigation apps rely on GPS and work well outdoors. Unfortunately, such apps are not suitable for indoor use. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Paul Ruvolo about the Clew app he developed which overcomes this limitation by making use of Apple’s AR Kit and the phone’s camera in order to guide users from point to point indoors.

2133 Encore of 1844 Sounds of the Stars (Aug. 11, 2021)


2133 Encore of 1844 Sounds of the Stars (Aug. 11, 2021)


Show Notes

Last week we talked about creating tactile representations of the universe. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Salvesen, a post-doctoral fellow at UCSB, and Matt Russo, a professor of astronomy at Seneca College about using sonification to transform astronomical data into audio for use by both sighted and vision impaired people.

2130 Creating Solutions to Solve Problems (Jul. 21, 2021)


2130 Creating Solutions to Solve Problems (Jul. 21, 2021)


Show Notes

Doug Lee has been blind his entire life. In addition to writing JAWS scripts for Level Access, a firm that develops access solutions for other companies, Doug also freely shares many scripts and tools he has developed to improve access to commonly used programs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Doug about his life and the tools he shares.

2126 Encore of 1351 Regaining Vision After Decades of Blindness (Jun. 23, 2021)


2126 Encore of 1351 Regaining Vision After Decades of Blindness (Jun. 23, 2021)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Mike May, the subject of “Crashing Through”, a bestselling book about his experiences regaining partial vision through a stem cell transfer and corneal transplant. Having lost his vision initially at age 3, his visual cortex was only partially developed. He had to learn some things he never knew and how to use what new vision he got.

2124 White Cane and Guide Dog Mobility Differences (Jun. 9, 2021)


2124 White Cane and Guide Dog Mobility Differences (Jun. 9, 2021)


Show Notes

Is a guide dog for you or would you prefer to navigate using a white cane? What are the trade-offs? If I decide to get a dog, what is the process? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jake Koch, Community Outreach Specialist at Guide Dogs for the Blind about the answers to these questions and the services offered by Guide Dogs for the Blind.

2122 Life and Career of Larry Skutchan (May 26, 2021)


2122 Life and Career of Larry Skutchan (May 26, 2021)


Show Notes

Larry Skutchan has been a key contributor and driver behind many of the access technologies that are familiar names to us these days. This includes the Studio Recorder audio editing program, the Bookport Reader, the Mantis braille display, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Larry about his life and career now that he is newly retired.

2119 Accessible Cloud Technologies (May 5, 2021)


2119 Accessible Cloud Technologies (May 5, 2021)


Show Notes

Pneuma Solutions offers a suite of accessible cloud services geared to the needs of the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with co-founders Mike Calvo (CEO) and Matt Campbell (CTO) about Sero as well as how Scribe for Meetings and Scribe for Education transform documents to make them accessible in a variety of formats for web events and personal use.

2118 From Technologist to Accessibility Evangelist (Apr. 28, 2021)


2118 From Technologist to Accessibility Evangelist (Apr. 28, 2021)


Show Notes

Dean Hudson’s vision began deteriorating as a child but he never let that stop him. Developing an interest in computers as a youth, Dean went on to have a long and rewarding career in technology. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean, who is now Apple’s Accessibility Evangelist, about his journey and positive outlook on life.

2114 Traveling Through Southern Africa (Mar. 31, 2021)


2114 Traveling Through Southern Africa (Mar. 31, 2021)


Show Notes

Tony Giles, also known as “Tony The Traveller”, joins host Nancy and Peter Torpey once again to talk about his latest book entitled “Seeing a Slice of Southern Africa My Way”. Tony’s stories as a solo traveler who is totally blind and partially deaf are filled with fun and adventure, including white water rafting, bungee jumping and sky diving.

2112 Steering the Course to a Career In Science (Mar. 17, 2021)


2112 Steering the Course to a Career In Science (Mar. 17, 2021)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey first interviewed Rebecca Alford in 2011 when she was in high school. Despite being visually impaired she went on to win the Intel Science competition and we’ve been following her progress ever since. Now with a Ph.D. in chemical and biomechanical engineering, having started her first job, she shares her experiences with us.

2111 Using Tech Skills for Work and Pleasure (Mar. 10, 2021)


2111 Using Tech Skills for Work and Pleasure (Mar. 10, 2021)


Show Notes

In a previous episode, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked with Pranav Lal about the vOICe system that he has been using that enables the blind to “see” the environment around them by using sound. This week they talk with him about his career as a cybersecurity consultant and how he continues to make use of the vOICe system in daily life.

2110 Some Favorite Tips of the Week (Mar. 3, 2020)


2110 Some Favorite Tips of the Week (Mar. 3, 2020)


Show Notes

Every episode of Eyes On Success starts with a “Tip of the Week”. These tips offer suggestions from people we interview about anything from the benefits of participating in sports to the importance of learning blindness skills. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share some of their favorite tips from the past 10 years with our listeners.

2109 NaviLens School Kits (Feb. 24, 2021)


2109 NaviLens School Kits (Feb. 24, 2021)


Show Notes

Tim Fahlberg is a math and computer science teacher at the Wisconsin School for The Blind. Inspired by a previous episode of Eyes On Success about the NaviLens system for creating accessible signage, Tim gathered some students to expand on the idea. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with them about the NaviLens School Kit they produced and how it is used.

2105 Eric Damery and the Changing Field of Assistive Technology (Jan. 27, 2021)


2105 Eric Damery and the Changing Field of Assistive Technology (Jan. 27, 2021)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue their conversation from last week with Eric Damery, VP of Software Product Management at Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company. This week they discuss how the marketing and distribution of assistive technologies for people with vision loss have evolved over his long career in the field.

2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (Jan. 6, 2021)


2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (Jan. 6, 2021)


Show Notes

David Bradburn, Vice-President Global Sales at Humanware, has been involved in the access technology field for over 35 years. A lot has changed over that time. Listen in on a conversation between David as a salesman and host Peter Torpey as a user as they reminisce about the evolution of access technology equipment since the early days.

2101 Inspirational Stories of the Visually Challenged (Dec. 30, 2020)


2101 Inspirational Stories of the Visually Challenged (Dec. 30, 2020)


Show Notes

In her recent book, “Inspirational Stories of the Visually Challenged Plus Resources”, Margaret Barnhart tells the stories of a number of visually impaired people she has known over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Margaret about what inspired her to write the book, some of the people depicted in the book, and their journey with vision loss.

2051 Accessibility Improvements in iOS 14 (Dec. 16, 2020)


2051 Accessibility Improvements in iOS 14 (Dec. 16, 2020)


Show Notes

In iOS 14 Apple made use of the machine learning capabilities built into their devices in order to include new features that are particularly useful to people who are visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin about some of these new features that are described in her new book about iOS 14 and accessibility.

2050 Updated NFB-Newsline App for iOS (Dec. 9, 2020)


2050 Updated NFB-Newsline App for iOS (Dec. 9, 2020)


Show Notes

NFB-Newsline is a service that offers free access to numerous magazines, national and local newspapers, and much more for people who are reading impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology Programs at the National Federation of the Blind, about the major update this service recently received for iOS devices.

2049 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 2 (Dec. 2, 2020)


2049 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 2 (Dec. 2, 2020)


Show Notes

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers many services and resources for people of all ages whose lives are affected by vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue their conversation with Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives for the NFB, about their programs aimed at helping those with vision loss, especially adults.

2048 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 1 (Nov. 25, 2020)


2048 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 1 (Nov. 25, 2020)


Show Notes

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) offers many services and resources for people of all ages whose lives are affected by vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anil Lewis, Executive Director of Blindness Initiatives for the NFB, about their programs and how they aim to help those with vision loss, especially youth.

2047 Using Various Web Browsers with a Screen Reader (Nov. 18, 2020)


2047 Using Various Web Browsers with a Screen Reader (Nov. 18, 2020)


Show Notes

Sometimes one web browser just isn’t enough. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Kingsbury from the Carroll Center for the Blind about his new book that describes why this is true and why you might find need for more than one browser. He talks about the book and how the various web browsers can be used with popular screen readers.

2043 Using Zoom with a Screen Reader (Oct. 21, 2020)


2043 Using Zoom with a Screen Reader (Oct. 21, 2020)


Show Notes

Zoom is a popular video conferencing service that enables people to work from home, connect with friends and family, attend performances, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Heather Thomas about her new book, “Getting Started With Zoom Meetings: A Guide for JAWS, NVDA, and iPhone Voiceover Users”, that describes how Zoom can be used with a screen reader.

2042 Becoming a Chiropractor (Oct. 14, 2020)


2042 Becoming a Chiropractor (Oct. 14, 2020)


Show Notes

After losing her vision in her mid-20’s, Jackie Ouellet was forced to reassess her life and dreams. Shortly after going through a blindness rehabilitation program she had a plan. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jackie about how she coped with her vision loss, found a blind chiropractor as a mentor, and went on to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.

2041 Capturing and Sharing the World (Oct. 7, 2020)


2041 Capturing and Sharing the World (Oct. 7, 2020)


Show Notes

Judy Dixon has written a number of books about fun and useful apps for iOS devices and how they can be used with VoiceOver. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy about her most recent book “Capturing and Sharing the World: Taking Photos and Videos with an iPhone” that describes how you can take photos and videos even if you don’t have any vision.

2040 Non-Visual Theater (Sep. 30, 2020)


2040 Non-Visual Theater (Sep. 30, 2020)


Show Notes

Mack Gordon, artistic producer of Theatre in the Dark, describes how the group has turned lemons into lemonade despite being unable to hold public performances due to the pandemic. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mack about their upcoming live virtual audio-only presentation of “War of the Worlds” and how you can join in this evening of creative theater.

2039 Acesight Electronic Eyeglasses (Sep. 23, 2020)


2039 Acesight Electronic Eyeglasses (Sep. 23, 2020)


Show Notes

Digital eyewear devices offer vision impaired users the ability to customize their viewing experience in order to optimize what they see based on their own special needs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Bradburn, President of Zoomax USA, about the Acesight family of products, how they work, and which device might be right for you.

2038 Race and Blindness (Sep. 16, 2020)


2038 Race and Blindness (Sep. 16, 2020)


Show Notes

Anil Lewis is the executive director of blindness initiatives for the National Federation of the Blind. He says that “Being Black Helped Me Be Blind and Being Blind Helped Me Understand that #BlackLivesMatter.” Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anil about his experiences as a blind person of color and how those experiences affected his life and ambitions.

2037 The New Mantis and More from APH (Sep. 9, 2020)


2037 The New Mantis and More from APH (Sep. 9, 2020)


Show Notes

The Mantis Q40 is a refreshable 40-cell braille display that distinguishes itself from similar devices with its built in QWERTY keyboard. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Larry Skutchan from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) about the device and how the APH and Humanware partnered to develop it. We also discuss other products from the APH.

2034 Positive Experiences During COVID-19 Pandemic (Aug. 19, 2020)


2034 Positive Experiences During COVID-19 Pandemic (Aug. 19, 2020)


Show Notes

The COVID-19 pandemic and stay at home orders have turned life upside down for many people. For some, this has been a time of anxiety, frustration, and even depression. On the other hand, there have also been some positive outcomes experienced by people during this unusual period. This week we highlight some positive experiences shared by our listeners.

2033 Amazon and Accessibility for All (Aug. 12, 2020)


2033 Amazon and Accessibility for All (Aug. 12, 2020)


Show Notes

Amazon makes a vast array of products from smart speakers to microwave ovens that incorporate universal design concepts that enable their devices to be useable by and accessible to everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, director of accessibility at Amazon Lab 126, about a number of these products and what makes them special.

2032 Navigating Health Care (Aug. 5, 2020)


2032 Navigating Health Care (Aug. 5, 2020)


Show Notes

Navigating the ins and outs of the health care system can be a confusing and daunting task even if one is sighted. But what if you’re not? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deborah Kendrick about her book “Navigating Health Care: When All They Can See is That You Can’t” which offers useful suggestions and strategies when you might most need them.

2031 Disability Rights and the ADA (Jul. 29, 2020)


2031 Disability Rights and the ADA (Jul. 29, 2020)


Show Notes

The Americans with Disabilities Act was a pivotal point in codifying the rights which all disabled people are afforded in the U.S. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tim Elder, a blind disability rights attorney, about the long journey in recognizing the rights of the disabled, developing the current law, and why the journey is not yet done.

2028 The Case For and Against Service Animals (July 8, 2020)


2028 The Case For and Against Service Animals (July 8, 2020)


Show Notes

There was a time that a “service animal” was a trained and certified guide dog for the blind. Now it seems that service animals are everywhere and the rules of acceptance have become considerably relaxed. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deni Elliott, a blind professor of Media Ethics, about what has changed, the implications, and what we can do about it.

2027 Why See a Low Vision Specialist (Jul. 1, 2020)


2027 Why See a Low Vision Specialist (Jul. 1, 2020)


Show Notes

Ophthalmologists are trained to treat medical conditions associated with the eye and should be consulted if you are experiencing vision loss. But what about getting around in daily life? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Neelam Patel, a low vision specialist, about the array of services and resources available of which you might not have been told.

2026 A Musical Career in the Shadow of Sound (Jun. 24, 2020)


2026 A Musical Career in the Shadow of Sound (Jun. 24, 2020)


Show Notes

Joey Stuckey is an award-winning blind guitarist, songwriter, singer, composer, producer, radio and television personality, music columnist, educator and sound engineer. He is also the official music ambassador for his home town of Macon, Georgia. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joey about his life journey and keys to his success.

2025 Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst (Jun. 17, 2020)


2025 Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst (Jun. 17, 2020)


Show Notes

Despite being totally blind since childhood, Robert De Young acquired the training to become a practicing clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert about what those positions entail and the services he provides to his clients. They also talk with him about how he works with clients despite being blind.

2024 Encore of 1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Jun. 10, 2020)


2024 Encore of 1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Jun. 10, 2020)


Show Notes

Many visually impaired people have experienced the frustrations of operating cable TV or searching for a movie. If you’re a Comcast customer, however, your problems are solved! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tom Wlodkowski, Vice President of Accessibility at Comcast, about their solutions that provide the blind with almost complete access to all functions.

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.