1716 When You Have a Story to Tell (Apr. 12, 2017)

Show Notes
Even as a child, Jo Elizabeth Pinto enjoyed writing. Now, what started as a few chapters in high school, has grown into her debut novel, “The Bright Side of Darkness.” Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about the experiences that led her to write this book about a brave young blind girl and her unlikely friend, and also about getting it published.

1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 5, 2017)

Show Notes
You’ve probably heard her voice on a Talking Book from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Martha Harmon Pardee has narrated over 3,000 books for the NLS. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about the process of recording audio books, notable moments in her career, and what else she does as a professional voice artist.

1714 Blind Software Engineer (Mar. 29, 2017)

Show Notes
Computers are very accessible to the visually impaired these days. There are also many attractive employment opportunities for those with computer-related skills, particularly if they know how to program. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tom Shults, a blind engineer, about his career and how he uses these skills in developing new hardware devices.

1713 Ultra Sports Challenges (Mar. 22, 2017)

Show Notes
Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, has released a new book called “No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his adventures and about “No Barriers”, an organization he co-founded whose mission is to help people with challenges face barriers head on.

1712 Data Visualization Updates from SAS (Mar. 15, 2017)

Show Notes
The SAS Graphics Accelerator makes graphical data accessible to the visually impaired by dynamically producing alternative presentations in the form of verbal description, sonification, and tabular data. Ed Summers, a blind engineer and head of the accessibility team at SAS, demos the tools and discusses their use with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey.

1711 Teaching Blind Children (Mar. 8, 2017)

Show Notes
Carol Puchalski has worked for over 30 years as a developmental psychology consultant at the Anchor Center for Blind Children in Colorado. She recently returned from a trip to Uganda where she volunteered to assist a school for the blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Carol about her experiences helping blind children both in the U.S. and abroad.

1710 Graphiti Refreshable Tactile Graphics Display (Mar. 1, 2017)

Show Notes
Graphiti is a dynamic multi-level tactile touch display designed to give the blind access to graphical and pictorial information at an affordable price. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Venkatesh Chari, President and CTO at Orbit Research, and Ken Perry, project manager at APH, about this revolutionary, page-size display and how it can be used.

1709 Low Vision Products from VFO (Feb. 22, 2017)

Show Notes
A wide variety of low vision aids are available to assist people with limited vision. They range in size, magnification capability, and function. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ivar Illing, Vice President of Product Management at VFO / Optelec, about the various products offered by VFO and how to select the one that’s right for you.

1708 DictationBridge (Feb. 15, 2016)

Show Notes
Microsoft Windows now comes with built in speech recognition. Unfortunately, on its own, it is difficult to use with a screen reader. DictationBridge is a free program that solves this problem using most popular screen readers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Lucy Greco, a member of the team that created the technology, about how it works.

1707 Acting Blind (Feb. 8, 2017)

Show Notes
Pursuing a career in the performing arts as a professional actor comes with a number of challenges whether one is blind or not. Even for the blind, however, these barriers are not insurmountable. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Ashiotis about his career and experiences as a blind actor and how he manages to live his dream.

1706 Theater Breaking Through Barriers (Feb. 1, 2017)

Show Notes
Theater Breaking Through Barriers is an Off-Broadway theater and one of several professional theaters in the country dedicated to advancing actors and writers with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Nicholas Viselli, artistic director of TBTB, about their work.

1705 Guide to Accessibility of iOS Devices (Jan 25, 2017)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin, author of the book “iOS Access for All: The Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch”. The book is an excellent reference guide to accessibility features in iOS devices and also gives step by step instructions for using these features with many popular apps.

1704 Employment Opportunities at NASA (Jan. 18, 2017)

Show Notes
The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration is a leader in technology and dedicated to disability hiring and inclusion. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kenneth Silberman and Dr. Evelina Felicite-Mauric from the education department of NASA about internships, fellowships and other employment opportunities for students and professionals.

1703 Blind Driver Challenge (Jan. 11, 2017)

Show Notes
Attitudes about what the blind can and cannot do have been challenged by the work of the National Federation of the Blind’s Jernigan Institute and their efforts to create a car that the blind can drive independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mark Riccobono, President of the NFB, about this project and what it is like to drive a car without seeing.

1702 Guide Dogs – The Training (Jan. 4, 2017)

Show Notes
Did you ever wonder what is involved in training a guide dog or what the experience is like for the recipient of a dog? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey walk through the process when they talk with Maria Nuzzi, a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs and Andrew Rubenstein, director of Marketing for the Foundation.

1701 Guide Dogs – An Overview (Dec. 28, 2016)

Show Notes
What is involved in getting and working with a guide dog? Is a guide dog right for you? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey address these and other questions with Carolyn Giambalvo, a Consumer Services Associate at Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs, her guide dog Alice, and Andrew Rubenstein, the Director of Marketing.

1652 Favorite iPhone Apps (Dec. 21, 2016)

Show Notes
There are hundreds of accessible apps for iPhones. Many of these apps even perform similar functions. But, which apps should one choose and which might be the most useful? This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about some tips for using the iPhone with VoiceOver as well as some of Pete’s favorite apps and the ones he uses most often.

1651 Helping Yourself While Helping Others (Dec. 14, 2016)

Show Notes
Joining a low vision support group can be beneficial for sharing thoughts and ideas about living with low vision and meeting new friends. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jim Fleming of Visionaries, a small support group in upstate New York, and Alice Crespo of Helping Hands for the Disabled, a large support group in New York City, about what they do.

1650 Building Electronics Projects (Dec. 7, 2016)

Show Notes
Though Ken Perry and Josh Miehle are both blind, their lack of vision doesn’t prevent them from designing and building their own electronic hardware. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with them about the Blind Arduino Project as well as other tools that enable blind people of all ages to participate in the vibrant global culture of hardware prototyping.

1649 Orbit Reader 20 from APH (Nov. 30, 2016)

Show Notes
The Orbit Reader 20 is a refreshable Braille display with note-taking capability from the American Printing House with a price point dramatically lower than similar devices on the market today. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ken Perry, a blind engineer and project lead, about the device, its functions, and how they achieved this low-cost design.

1648 Blind Writing Instructor and Author (Nov. 23, 2016)

Show Notes
Emily K. Michael is a blind poet, musician, and writing instructor. Her work has appeared in many publications and focuses on creative non-fiction topics such as disability, music, education, and ecology. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her work and how she has overcome challenges in employment, getting published, and working in the classroom.

1647 Updates to Android Accessibility (Nov. 16, 2016)

Show Notes
Android smart phones have become more accessible to the visually impaired. But are they as accessible as an iPhone? Is it time to reconsider? We address these questions when hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Ana Garza, also known as Access Ana, author of a new book called “Getting Started With Android” about using Android devices with TalkBack.

1646 Studying Law in India (Nov. 9, 2016)

Show Notes
Blind since birth, Rahul Bajaj is a law student who grew up in a rural village of India. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about some of the cultural and technical barriers faced by the blind in India. The skills and approach he developed to overcome these challenges offer an important message for others in determining their own paths to success.

1645 PEEK – the Portable Eye Examination Kit (Nov. 2, 2016)

Show Notes
PEEK, a Portable Eye Examination Kit, converts a standard smart phone into both an ophthalmoscope for examining the inside of the human eye and a visual acuity tester. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with founder and director Dr. Andrew Bastawrous and lead software developer Richard Evans about how the PEEK system works and is being deployed.

1644 Currency Identification (Oct. 26, 2016)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Leonard Olijar, director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing about current features to make US currency easier for visually impaired people to identify it, as well as their plans to make it easier still. We’ll also discuss their smart phone app and free hardware device that can identify US currency for you.

1643 Traveling Solo (Oct. 19, 2016)

Show Notes
Imagine traveling the world alone for months at a time if you were totally blind and partially deaf. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tony Giles who has done exactly that. We’ll learn how he prepares for and manages his trips and also talk to him about some of the adventures recounted in his new book, “Seeing the Americas My Way”.

1642 BrailleNote Touch Tablet (Oct. 12, 2016)

Show Notes
The BrailleNote Touch combines an Android-based tablet with a Braille display and detachable Braille keyboard to form a powerful note taker. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Greg Stilson, Blindness Products Manager from HumanWare about this new device and how it has been enhanced with the KeySoft experience. We’ll also hear a demo of the device in action.

1641 Delivering Independence with White Canes (Oct. 5, 2016)

Show Notes
A simple white cane can be a remarkable gift in some parts of the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Beverly Crook about her travels around the world delivering canes to blind people in underserved rural areas, often giving them their first taste of independence. Learn about how the Global Cane Outreach program has grown and some of its successes.

1640 Tips and Tricks for Your Computer or Mobile Device (Sep. 28, 2016)

Show Notes
The “Technical Tips and Tricks” show which aired earlier this year received a lot of positive feedback. So, back by popular demand is another episode dedicated to a variety of tips aimed at making it easier to interact with your smart phone and mobile device. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey demo creative ways of interacting with SIRI, controlling Pandora, and more.

1639 Behind the Scenes at TopTechTidbits (Sep. 21, 2016)

Show Notes
Keep up with the latest in technology and other items of interest to the blind and visually impaired by subscribing to “TopTechTidbits”, a free weekly e-mail newsletter. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Dean Martineau, originator and editor of this reliable and helpful resource, about its history and what goes into creating it each week.

1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Sep. 14, 2016)

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.

1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Sep. 7, 2016)

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.

1636 Commitment to Accessibility in Apple products (Aug. 31, 2016)

Show Notes
Apple has been a leader in accessibility with all of its products. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey take a look inside Apple and talk with Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Manager for Global Accessibility Policy, about Apple’s commitment to accessibility and about a number of new and exciting features coming soon that are geared to the visually impaired.

1635 Mushroom FM Radio (Aug. 24, 2016)

Show Notes
Mushroom FM Radio is a globally available internet station completely run by blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Jonathan Mosen, founder, director and weekly DJ, about Mushroom FM (“the home of the fun guys”), how this streaming service got started, and how to listen anywhere any time. Also learn how you too can participate.

1634 Microsoft Disability Answer Desk (Aug. 17, 2016)

Show Notes
Microsoft offers a special service by which disabled individuals can obtain free personalized technical help with Microsoft products. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Neil Barnett, leader of the Disability Answer Desk, about that program and other resources and services they offer to the visually impaired using screen readers or other adaptive technologies.

1633 Learning to be an Entrepreneur (Aug. 10, 2016)

Show Notes
There is more to know about running or starting your own business than at first may be apparent. There may also be pitfalls of which you are not aware. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich, Director, Hadley Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship about Hadley’s training resources geared to help you become a successful entrepreneur.

1632 Employment Considerations for the Blind (Aug. 3, 2016)

Show Notes
Interested in a job? Then read Bonnie Mosen’s new book, “It’s Off To Work We Go – Tools and Techniques for the Successful Job Hunt”, a guidebook for blind and visually impaired job seekers and job holders. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bonnie about many aspects of the employment process with a focus on what is special for blind individuals.

1631 Project BLAID Navigation Device (Jul. 27, 2016)

Show Notes
Toyota’s mission is to provide people with mobility solutions that are not limited to cars and trucks. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Doug Moore, the head developer on the BLAID project within Toyota’s Partner Robot group, about a device under development that uses computer vision to help the visually impaired navigate large indoor spaces.

1630 Cardiologist Turned Into Low Vision Specialist (Jul. 20, 2016)

Show Notes
Dr. Joe Fontenot was a practicing cardiologist when his vision began to fail. Now he is the Medical Director of Community Services for Vision Rehabilitation in Mobile, Alabama which he founded. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his remarkable journey and how he not only overcame personal challenges but also went on to help many others.

1629 Accessibility Initiatives at IBM (Jul. 13, 2016)

Show Notes
IBM shares its accessibility expertise with the wider community in order to improve accessibility for all. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser and Drew LaHart of IBM’s accessibility team about their Quick Guide for developers, their plan for making many of their tools and resources open source, and their commitment to accessibility.

1628 Listening to and Recording Audio (Jul. 9, 2016)

Show Notes
Audio plays an important role in how visually impaired people perceive and interpret the surrounding world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Neal Ewers, founder and head of Ravenswood Productions, about what makes a quality audio recording. Hear recommendations of tools and techniques for recording, producing, and appreciating audio material.

1627 Apple Watch for Blind Users (Jun. 29, 2016)

Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matthew Carello, a trainer with Fedora Outlier LLC, about the Apple Watch and how it can be used by people who are blind. We’ll learn about the basic functions of the watch, hear it in action, and see how it might become part of your daily routine. We’ll also learn about the services offered by Fedora Outlier LLC.

1626 Services from the AFB (Jun. 22, 2016)

Show Notes
The American Foundation for the Blind offers a broad range of services and resources aimed at helping people with vision loss in the areas of education, employment, daily living, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Abbott, director of the AFB’s Press and Professional Development Department, about some of these useful programs.

1625 KNFB Reader App Update (Jun. 15, 2016)

Show Notes
The KNFB Reader app running on your smart phone can be easily used to snap pictures of printed material such as books, letters, menus, etc. and have them instantly read back to you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joel Zimba, Reading Innovation Project Manager at the National Federation of the Blind, about the app and some of its functionality.

1624 Computer Camp for Blind Youth (Jun. 8, 2016)

Show Notes
Computers are very accessible to the visually impaired. Moreover, those with a knowledge of computers and computer programming are highly desired in today’s work force. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cheryl Cumings and Rich Caloggero about a computer camp for blind youth they are organizing to motivate students and introduce them to these skills.

1623 Reflections on the College Experience (Jun. 1, 2016)

Show Notes
Rebecca is a visually impaired student who has shared her educational journey with our listeners in several previous episodes. She first talked with us as a junior in high school. Now hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about how she views her college experience in retrospect and considerations for attending graduate school and obtaining a PhD.

1622 Improved Accessibility of Amazon Products (May 25, 2016)

Show Notes
New features being introduced into Amazon’s Kindle readers and Fire tablets will now make these devices readily accessible to the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, accessibility architect at Amazon, about the work that went into developing an enhanced user interface and how it has improved accessibility of these products.

1621 Evolution of Screen Readers (May 18, 2016)

Show Notes
This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn who traces the evolution of screen reader technology from the early text-based systems to today’s modern graphical interfaces. Korn, who has been a major contributor to the development of screen readers for many years, describes how a screen reader works and what challenges had to be overcome.

1620 The Vision-quest Experience (May 11, 2016)

Show Notes
Maribel Steel is an Australian writer and motivational speaker who is also blind. She designed the Vision-quest program which pairs blind and sighted people in a day of shared exploration to experience sites in their community. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about Vision-quest and her role as an international peer advisor for AFB’s VisionAware.

1619 AudioScreen for NVDA (May 4, 2016)

Show Notes
The AudioScreen add-on for NVDA is based on concepts from the vOICe technology discussed in last week’s show. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mick Curran, co-lead developer of the NVDA screen reader, about how this add-on that he developed can be used to help the blind “see” maps, colors, and more. Mick also demos AudioScreen in action.

1618 the vOICe – Seeing With Sound (Apr. 27, 2016)

Show Notes
The vOICe technology is a general approach for “seeing with sound”. It uses visual input from a web cam or PC display that is converted to audio output. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Pranav Lal about the technology and how it can be used to visualize data and provide the blind with a representation of the world around them.

1617 Blind Marathoner and Celebrity Guide (Apr. 20, 2016)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Erich Manser, a blind accessibility engineer at IBM, and Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” about their experiences running the Boston Marathon together. They talk about how they got together, the special trust required to run as partners, and what happens when things don’t go quite as planned.

1616 Tandem Bicycle Racing (Apr. 13, 2016)

Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matt King about the thrill and excitement of competitive racing on a tandem bicycle. Matt set a world speed record, participated in three Paralympics, and underwent an intense training regimen. He describes these experiences and what it feels like to be going over 45 MPH around turns banked at more than 45 degrees!

1615 Accessibility of Facebook Products (Apr. 6, 2016)

Show Notes
Do you struggle using Facebook with a screen reader? Matt King, a member of the Accessibility Engineering Team at Facebook, describes many tips and hotkeys for using Facebook more efficiently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey also talk with him about an exciting new feature launching this week to help make photos more accessible to people with vision loss.

1614 Research on Sonification (Mar. 30, 2016)

Show Notes
Sonification can be used to provide auditory feedback to help the visually impaired explore data, meters, diagrams and more. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tony Stockman, Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary College of the University of London and President of the International Community for Auditory Display about his research in sonification techniques.

1612 Blind Active Duty Police Officer – part 1 (Mar. 16, 2016)

Show Notes
Marlon Parieaho was working as a policeman when he lost his vision. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about how he successfully navigated the transition, learned to accommodate to his new situation, and how it impacted his relationship with his colleagues. Next week we’ll hear his thoughts about blindness and what being blind means to him.

1611 Cataract Surgery in Developing Countries (Mar. 9, 2016)

Show Notes
Untreated cataracts are by far the leading cause of blindness throughout the world. Yet this is a treatable condition. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jacob Mohan Thazhathu, President and CEO of Help Me See, about how this problem can be solved with a low-cost and high-quality solution aimed at restoring sight to millions of people.

1610 NFB-Newsline Mobile App for iOS Devices (Mar. 2, 2016)

Have ready access to local and national newspapers, magazines, weather alerts, retail ads, TV listings and more with the NFB-Newsline Mobile app. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott White, director of sponsored technology programs for the National Federation of the Blind, about what is new in this recently updated app and how it can be used.

1609 Services for Preparing Your Taxes (Feb. 24, 2016)

Show Notes
Did you know that there are organizations that will help you prepare your tax return at no cost and that the IRS has accessible forms and publications if you want to prepare your own return? This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Darryl Eaton of the IRS about these and other services that can assist the visually impaired, and demonstrate the IRS2Go app.

1608 The Blind Cook (Feb. 17, 2016)

Show Notes
Christine Ha, who calls herself “The Blind Cook”, developed her cooking skills after her vision failed. She is a winner of MasterChef, author of a NY Times bestselling cookbook and host of 4-Senses on AMI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with her about cooking blind and her pointers for success and safety for blind home cooks.

1607 Matching Blind Runners and Sighted Guides (Feb. 10, 2016)

Show Notes
If you enjoy running outdoors but your vision loss makes it unsafe to do so alone, now there’s an easy way you can find somebody to guide you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Kyle Robidoux from United In Stride which maintains an on-line database of blind or visually impaired runners and volunteer sighted guides all over North America.

1606 Audio Exercise Programs (Feb. 3, 2016)

Show Notes
Keeping fit is important for both mental and physical health. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mel Scott and Lisa Salinger from BlindAlive about their audio exercise programs geared specifically to those who are visually impaired. With described exercise programs ranging from beginner to advance, BlindAlive offers something for everyone.

1605 Technical Tips and Tricks (Jan. 27, 2016)

Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share some helpful hints they use to perform common tasks. You’ll hear some surprising things SIRI can do. You’ll also learn how to more easily control the playback of audio on YouTube with some handy keyboard shortcuts, automatically download audio from YouTube for later playback, how to make on-line shopping easier and more!

1604 Research about the Blind Shopping Experience (Jan. 20, 2016)

Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Alex Cohen, a graduate student in the Business school at Drexel University, who is studying how people with various disabilities interact with the on-line marketplace. He’s hoping to convince vendors that it is to their and their customers’ advantage to have their sites easier to use for everybody.

1603 Blindfold Games (Jan. 13, 2016)

Show Notes
You can play a wide variety of games on your iOS device including popular board games, card games, logic games and physical games like skeeball, bowling or air hockey. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with the developer, Marty Schultz, about the games and why they are so popular with members of the blind community. Also hear a demo of “Blind Bowling”!

1602 Rendering Art with 3D Printers (Jan. 6, 2016)

Show Notes
If you can’t see great paintings, now there’s a new way you can experience them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Marc Dillon who runs the Unseen Art project. By converting 2-D artworks into 3-dimensional renditions including textures to represent shading and other features these works are made accessible to the blind.

1601 F123’s Impact on Accessibility (Dec. 30, 2015)

Show Notes
After experiencing the impact of access technology on his own ability to succeed, Fernando Botelho has developed free tools to improve accessibility to web sites for all. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey speak with him about his experiences growing up in South America, traveling the world, and the F123 project he founded to improve access to information around the world.

1552 5-Year Anniversary Show (Dec. 23, 2015)

Show Notes
Nancy and Peter Torpey celebrate 5 years of hosting and producing Eyes On Success! Hear clips from a recent interview that John Shea from the Talking Information Center did with them about the show. Also learn about the various resources on the web site and the many ways you can connect with Eyes On Success. Thanks from us to all of our listeners!

1551 Careers in STEM (Dec. 16, 2015)

Show Notes
Bonnielin Swenor is an Assistant Professor in the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She talks with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey about how her limited vision has affected her career path. She also talks about her research into how the visually impaired prepare for and engage in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professions.

1550 Dot Braille SmartWatch (Dec. 9, 2015)

Show Notes
At times it would be convenient for blind people to be able to interact with their smart phones silently, without disturbing others with speech feedback. The Braille display on the new Dot watch now makes that possible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eric Kim, founder and CEO of Dot, about what makes this watch special and how it works.

1549 The New Unified English Braille (Dec. 2, 2015)

Show Notes
Readers of Braille have probably heard of the new UEB or Unified English Braille code by now. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jennifer Dunnam, Chairperson of the Braille Authority of North America, about what prompted these changes to the Braille code, what changes we are likely to see, and what this means for everyday readers of Braille.

1548 Accessible Comic Books (Nov. 25, 2015)

Show Notes
If you thought comic books were only for sighted people, think again! This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Guy Hasson about the on-line comic book store for the blind that he started called “Comics Empower”. Learn how you can enjoy a variety of comic books in audio format including “Aurora”, a sci-fi adventure series with a blind super hero.

1547 Creating a Web Site (Nov. 18, 2015)

Show Notes
Many listeners have expressed interest in learning how to create their own web site, but don’t know where to start. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Mobeen Iqbal about how to do this and which tools are most accessible with a screen reader, covering everything from finding a web hosting service to creating the actual content.

1546 Doing Photography with Limited Vision (Nov. 11, 2015)

Show Notes
Tammy Ruggles is a photographer who got started in the art after her vision had diminished significantly. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with her about how the advent of digital photography has eliminated the need to work in a dark room and also made it possible to edit the photos, even with low vision. Learn how she successfully puts these tools together.

1545 Transitioning to Blindness (Nov. 4, 2015)

Show Notes
Losing one’s vision as an adult can be difficult. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Susan Krieger about her experiences as she transitioned from the sighted world to using a cane and guide dog. Hear about 3 books she has written in which she documents her journey through a series of entertaining and insightful essays.

1544 BlindSquare Navigation App (Oct. 28, 2015)

Show Notes
Many GPS apps are available for mobile devices. BlindSquare is unique in that it has additional utilities that are specifically tailored to the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ilkka Pirttimaa, the developer of BlindSquare, and Rob Nevin, the North American distributor, about what makes this app special and how it integrates with other GPS apps.

1543 Distance Learning at The Hadley School (Oct. 21, 2015)

Show Notes
Just because the Hadley School is located near Chicago, doesn’t mean you have to be there to take advantage of their many and varied educational programs. In fact, they are all available as distance learning. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Doug Anzlovar about the school and its programs for people with low vision.

1542 Making Data Visualizations Accessible (Oct. 14, 2015)

Show Notes
SAS develops tools for analyzing and visualizing big data. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ed Summers, head of the accessibility team at SAS, about how these tools are made accessible. Ed, who is blind himself, also describes methods the visually impaired can use to interact with various types of analytical data and some of SAS’ educational initiatives.

1541 Living and Working Abroad (Oct. 7, 2015)

Show Notes
Elizabeth Schuster Sammons has lived in 6 different countries, either working or studying in each, including a 2 year stint as one of the first blind Peace Corps volunteers. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey speak with her about her experiences and her advice for other visually impaired people interested in living abroad.

1540 Today’s e-Pub and Accessible Books – Part 2 (Sep. 30, 2015)

Show Notes

Last week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked with George Kerscher about the first e-books and how standards initially developed for the print disabled were adopted into mainstream publishing. This week we continue that conversation and hear why having uniform standards led to concerns about copyright and distribution and how people worked to resolve these issues.

1539 George Kerscher and the Development of e-Books – Part 1 (Sep. 23, 2015)

Show Notes
George Kerscher created the first accessible digital books and went on to develop standards that are now the foundation of electronic publishing. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about how these standards were assimilated into mainstream publishing. Next week we’ll hear about some of the quandaries that arose as a result.

1538 NFB Performing Arts Division (Sep. 16, 2015)

Show Notes
The Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind offers many resources and opportunities for people interested in music, dance, and other aspects of performing. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jordy Stringer and Julie McGinnity about how members can connect and share experiences to improve skills, find employment, or just have fun!

1537 3-D Printer Project at Benetech (Sep. 9 2015)

Show Notes
3-D printers are capable of making tactile representations of figures, diagrams and other pictorials that occur in textbooks and other educational materials. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Anh Bui and Lisa Wadors Verne of Benetech about their work to develop the infrastructure to support the use of this technology and how it might work in practice.

1536 Stem Cell Therapy for Retinal Disease (Sep. 2 2015)

Show Notes
Pam Retzloff was legally blind since birth due to a congenital retinal disease. Starting in her 20’s her vision progressively worsened until she was left with a tiny dim visual field. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Pam about a stem cell treatment she had in late 2014 including what the process and recovery have been like and how her vision is evolving.

1534 Ski For Light (Aug. 19, 2015)

Show Notes
Cross country skiing is a fun and active sport that will keep you in shape, and can also be a great way of connecting with other people. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott McCall, President of Ski for Light, about tips and tricks used to make skiing a safe and accessible sport for the blind. Learn how you can join in!

1533 Technology for Low Vision (Aug. 12, 2015)

Show Notes
Depending upon your level of vision loss, there are many types of hardware and software that will enable you to access print, whether on paper or on a screen. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Jenn Mohr, regional sales representative for upstate NY for C-Tech, which distributes many adaptive items. Learn about the options available to people with low vision.

1532 Opportunities for Blind Pharmacists (Aug. 5, 2015)

Show Notes
Arnold Tucker was a pharmacist in a retail pharmacy when his vision began to fade. Despite using various adaptive aids, it became progressively more difficult to perform his job. After obtaining additional training, he found new doors open in his field. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with him about his journey and opportunities for blind pharmacists.

1531 Learning Ally (Jul. 29, 2015)

Show Notes
Many blind students and professionals rely on textbooks and other specialized material recorded by Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic – RFB&D). Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kristen Witucki, community coordinator for students who are visually impaired, about Learning Ally, what services and resources they offer, and whom they serve.

1530 Accessible Games for iOS Devices (Jul. 22, 2015)

Show Notes
No matter what type of games you enjoy playing, you’ll probably find it in the book “Anyone Can Play! Accessible Games for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon, the book’s editor and co-author, about accessible app versions of word games, board and card games, role playing and adventure games, and much more.

1529 Accessible On-Line Games (Jul. 15, 2015)

Show Notes
A number of on-line board games and card games are hosted by RS Games. They are all accessible using a screen reader and can be enjoyable as well as being a great way to connect with friends or meet new ones. Host Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Michael Forzano, a founder and developer of RS Games about how it works and how you can participate.

1528 Sailing Expeditions for the Blind (Jul. 8, 2015)

Show Notes
Imago Maris Foundation hosts sailing expeditions each year, with half the participants being visually impaired and the other half sighted. Each participant does everything from working the ropes to kitchen duty. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Julia Krawczuk, a volunteer with Imago Maris and Robert Zarzecki, a blind sailor. Both participated in a 2014 voyage.

1527 HIMS Blaze Multi-Players (Jul. 1, 2015)

Show Notes
The Blaze ET and EZ Multi-Player devices can play audio and text books in many formats, and also be used to directly download books over WiFi, subscribe to and listen to podcasts, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Wilkinson, HIMS’ business development manager, about these features as well as the OCR capability using an internal camera.

1526 Becoming and Being a Blind Judge (Jun. 24, 2015)

Show Notes
Last week Michigan State Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, blind since birth, talked about employment issues faced by the visually impaired. This week, hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey talk with him about the academic and professional path that led him to his position, including some of the challenges he’s faced and accommodations he’s made to be successful.

1525 Employment Issues for the Visually Impaired (Jun. 17, 2015)

Show Notes
Blind since birth, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein is passionate about improving employment for the visually impaired. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about challenges faced by blind individuals seeking employment and some new initiatives to employ the blind. Next week he will talk more about his own personal experiences.

1523 Composing and Performing Music (Jun. 3, 2015)

Show Notes
Rachel Flowers is a talented young blind musician. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey speak with her and her mother, Jeanie Flowers, about how Rachel learned to play the myriad of instruments she’s mastered including participating in a marching band. Rachel also talks about how she currently performs, composes, arranges, and shares music with others.

1522 CakeTalking, TypeAbility and Academy of Music for the Blind (May 27, 2015)

Show Notes
This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Pinto, a musician and music educator who founded and runs the Academy of Music for the Blind. He also developed the TypeAbility program to teach blind youth how to type and navigate a computer and the CakeTalking scripts to enable access to Sonar, a sophisticated audio production program.

1521 Blind Golfing (May 20, 2015)

Show Notes
Hitting a small ball into a slightly larger cup that is hundreds of yards away might seem like an unlikely activity for a blind person. With minor modifications to the rules it becomes an enjoyable sport for many people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey will talk with Ty Thompson, avid blind golfer and past board member of the US Blind Golf Association.

1520 Creating Accessible Graphs and Charts (May 13, 2015)

Show Notes
Richard Ladner is a professor of computer science whose research is directed at enhancing the accessibility of documents and web sites. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his work to make textbook graphics accessible to the blind. The project is aimed at automating the creation of tactile graphics with the embedded text converted to Braille or speech.

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1519 Informal Advocacy (May 6, 2015)

Show Notes
If you have special needs, sometimes you need to request adaptations. For years, Kelly Pierce has engaged in informal advocacy resulting in improved accessibility. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with him about his varied experiences with the Chicago transit system, movie theaters, voting system, ATM’s, etc., usually without engaging legal support.