2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Jan. 5, 2022)

Show Notes
The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the field of accessibility led to him receiving this special award.

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)

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)

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.

2150 Voxmate App (Dec. 8, 2021)

Show Notes
The number and complexity of gestures required to operate today’s smart phones and tablets can make operating such devices a daunting task for those who are less technically savvy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gleb Zevkov and Katja Danilova, founders and developers of the Voxmate app for Android that offers an innovative solution to using these devices.

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)

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.

2147 The Unexpected Path (Nov. 17, 2021)

Show Notes
“Guiding Emily” was written by Barbara Hinske and describes the journey of a newly blinded woman with her first guide dog. Emily’s story is continued in the newly released sequel “The Unexpected Path”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Barbara about her new book, its inspiration, and what she learned when researching and writing both books.

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)

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)

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)

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.

2142 Birdability (Oct. 13, 2021)

Show Notes
Birdability is an organization whose mission is to make birding accessible to all. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Freya McGregor, Birdability Coordinator and Occupational Therapist, and Michael Hurben, avid birder with vision loss, about the organization and how anyone can enjoy birding and the wonderful outdoors even if they can’t leave their own home!

2141 Not Just A Leap Of Faith (Oct. 6, 2021)

Show Notes
People who are visually impaired are no strangers to participating in sports. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine jumping over a 10 or 12 foot high bar without seeing the bar. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bradly Rainwater, a competitive blind pole vaulter, and his coach and grandfather Brad Rainwater about how it can be done.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

2132 Making Astronomy Accessible (Aug. 4, 2021)

Show Notes
Astronomy is generally thought to be a very visually oriented field, but with some thought, it can be made accessible to those who are blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Noreen Grice, founder and president of You Can Do Astronomy, about how she makes astronomical concepts and features engaging for those who can’t see.

2131 MuseScore Music Scoring Software (Jul. 28, 2021)

Show Notes
MuseScore is a program for creating and sharing musical scores. Despite being open source and free, MuseScore includes many of the features found in commercial programs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Sabatella, one of the developers, about his work to make MuseScore accessible with a variety of screen readers.

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.

2129 On the Road Again After Covid (Jul. 14 2021)

Show Notes
Video calls with a 3 and 5 year old just don’t cut it. So hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey decided to take their first big road trip after Covid to see the grandkids in person. Hear about their journey from Colorado to Michigan through the cornfields of Nebraska and Iowa, some of the unusual sights they saw along the way, and more.

2128 Tools for Blind Scientists (Jul. 7, 2021)

Show Notes
The more tools one has in one’s toolbox the better one will be prepared to take on new tasks and address new problems. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mona Minkara, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University about the extensive set of tools she has collected and used over the years to compensate for her blindness.

2127 Missy Mouse Books (Jun. 30, 2021)

Show Notes
How can a parent describe blindness to children who might not have experienced it? What makes some people different and how might they deal with those differences? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lois Strachan, author of the “Missy Mouse” series featuring a young blind protagonist aimed at helping children understand blindness.

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.

2125 GoodMaps Indoor Navigation Aid (Jun. 16, 2021)

Show Notes
GPS technologies and apps are a great asset in helping the blind navigate and become more mobile. Unfortunately, GPS is only effective in navigating outdoors. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mike May about the new GoodMaps app and how it has overcome technical challenges faced by other approaches to indoor navigation in the past.

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.

2123 The Great Outdoors (Jun. 2, 2021)

Show Notes
Lawrence Gunther is host of the podcast “Outdoors with Lawrence Gunther”. The podcast is a mix of interesting facts about our environment and outdoor activities and includes interviews with blind people who enjoy the outdoors. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lawrence, who is blind himself, about the podcast as well as about his own adventures in nature.

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.

2121 Louie Voice Control (May 19, 2021)

Show Notes
Imagine being able to fully control popular smartphone apps and functionality with just voice commands! That is what the Louie Voice Control system enables. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Pramit Bhargava whose own vision loss inspired the concept and led to its development. Hear the system in action and how it can be used to perform everyday tasks.

2120 APH ConnectCenter (May 12, 2021)

Show Notes
The American Printing House (APH) ConnectCenter manages resources aimed at helping people of all ages and includes VisionAware, FamilyConnect, CareerConnect, ConnectCalendar, and an Information and Referral Line. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with director Olaya Landa-Vialard and digital content specialist Kathryn Botsford about these services.

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)

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.

2117 Designing a Profession (Apr. 21, 2021)

Show Notes
“Who Wants to Hire a Blind Interior Designer?” was the subject of an introductory email we received from John Robert Wiltgen’s publicist. So we decided to find out! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John about his very successful career, how he worked around his impaired vision, and about some of the other challenges he had to overcome.

2116 Super Lidar App (Apr. 14, 2021)

Show Notes
Developers are beginning to make use of LiDAR technology in some smart phones to assist those with impaired vision. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shane Lowe from Supersense about their new Super Lidar app and how it makes use of LiDAR to analyze the distance and warn about obstacles that might pose a danger to blind and low vision users.

2115 Coping with Vision Loss (Apr. 7, 2021)

Show Notes
Paul Wallis is a low vision optometrist whose treatment relies on dealing with the psychological adjustment to vision loss before engaging patients in the use of adaptive aids. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about types of vision loss, his methods, as well as about his book “Macular Degeneration: A guide to help someone you love”.

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.

2113 Understanding Your Body (Mar. 24, 2021)

Show Notes
Krishna Washburn is a professional ballet dancer and instructor who runs Dark Room Ballet. She believes that visually impaired people could benefit from having a better understanding of how their bodies and body parts work. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her instructional methods as well as how her on-line classes work.

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)

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)

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)

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.

2108 NaviLens Update (Feb. 17, 2021)

Show Notes
NaviLens uses an app on your smart phone to find and identify customized signs and tags from as far away as 60 feet. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Javier Pita, founder and CEO of NaviLens, about how the system is being used in transportation and other venues to provide location, direction, and other dynamic data to the visually impaired.

2107 Holman Prize (Feb. 10, 2021)

Show Notes
The Holman Prize was designed to support the growth of adventurous spirits, entrepreneurship and leadership within the blind community. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Caitlin O’Malior, a communications associate at San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired that sponsors the prize, about this unique award and how it works.

2106 Smart Phones Get Even Smarter (Feb. 3, 2021)

Show Notes
Today’s Apple devices make use of advanced AI technologies to provide new features that can be particularly useful to people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Apple’s Accessibility Evangelist Dean Hudson about some of these new and innovative features, how they work, and how you might benefit from using them.

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.

2104 Eric Damery and His Career (Jan. 20, 2021)

Show Notes
Eric Damery has had a long career in the field of assistive technology and is currently VP of Software Product Management at Freedom Scientific, a Vispero company. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eric about how he got started in the field and how he worked to bring these technologies to people with vision loss around the world.

2103 Supersense (Jan. 13, 2021)

Show Notes
Making use of advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, Supersense is a powerful and versatile scanning app that can be used to explore your environment, find specific objects, scan text, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shane Lowe of the Supersense team about the capabilities of this app and what makes it unique.

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)

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.

2052 From the Other Side (Dec. 23, 2020)

Show Notes
Usually it is hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey who are asking the questions of people they interview. Now the tables have been turned. This week we have excerpts from an episode of Tek Talk in which Larry Gassman interviewed Nancy and Peter about Eyes On Success. Hear how the show got started, how it is put together, some highlights, and much more.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

2046 Card Mechanic (Nov. 11, 2020)

Show Notes
Close-up Magician of the Year Award winner, Richard Turner can do things with a deck of cards that you would think are impossible even if you could see them. Well, he can’t see them either. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Richard about how, despite his lack of vision, he works the cards and amazes audiences with his skills as a professional card mechanic.

2045 Music Lessons By Ear (Nov. 4, 2020)

Show Notes
Have you ever wanted to play a musical instrument but never got around to it? No matter how well you see it can be done. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bill Brown, founder of Music for the Blind, about the wide range of audio courses he offers for many instruments based on playing by ear. Lessons are available either to download or on CD.

2044 Advocacy from NFB (Oct. 28, 2020)

Show Notes
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has long played a leading role in advocating for the rights of people with visual impairments in the areas of education, employment and civil rights. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John Paré, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy at the NFB about some of this work and its impact on people who are blind.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

2036 Guiding Emily (Sep. 2, 2020)

Show Notes
Barbara Hinske is a best-selling author whose tour of the Foundation for Blind Children inspired her latest novel, “Guiding Emily”, about a woman who suddenly goes blind and learns to adapt. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Barbara about the book, the extensive research she did for the book, and her plans for developing the concept into a series.

2035 Digital Accessibility (Aug. 26, 2020)

Show Notes
Lucy Greco is the Web Accessibility Evangelist for the University of California at Berkeley. As a blind technologist, she understands how peoples’ lives are impacted by resources that have not been made accessible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about the current state of accessibility and the outlook for the future.

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)

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)

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)

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.

2030 Cross Country Skiing (Jul. 22, 2020)

Show Notes
Participating in sports can not only help to keep you healthy but can also be a rewarding social activity. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tim McCorcle, president of the Ski For Light organization, about programs run by the organization in which blind skiers can partner with sighted guides to enjoy the outdoors and make new friends.

2029 The Blind Soprano (Jul. 15, 2020)

Show Notes
Cristina Jones is a dramatic coloratura soprano who refers to herself as The Blind Soprano. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cristina about how she became interested in music as a youth, how she dealt with losing her eyesight as she got older, and challenges she has had to overcome as a professional opera singer both on stage and off.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.

2023 On the Move Again (Jun. 3, 2020)

Show Notes
In a prior episode, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked about their long distance move from Rochester, New York to Golden, Colorado. Well they are on the move again! In this episode they talk about their recent move to another part of Golden, a few miles from the old house. Hear what was different about this move and how it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

2021 BARD Mobile Gets an Update (May 20, 2020)

Show Notes
The BARD Mobile app from the National Library Service (NLS) has recently had a major update. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon of the NLS about some of the exciting new features you will find in the new app including the ability to find books by the same author, in the same series or genre, and subscribe to new releases.

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)

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)

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.

2017 NCAR Tactile and Audio Tour (Apr. 22, 2020)

Show Notes
NCAR, or the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is a worldwide resource focused on earth system sciences. They have worked hard to make their public displays very accessible. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they take a tour of a number of interactive exhibits with Becca Hatheway, manager of teaching and learning at the center.

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.

2015 Coping While Isolated (Apr. 8, 2020)

Show Notes
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us all to dramatically change our daily routines and develop new strategies for navigating through this difficult time. In this special episode hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss tools and resources you might find useful in work, chores, play, and socializing with friends and family while practicing social distancing.

2014 A Career with Computers (Apr. 1, 2020)

Show Notes
Jeff Bishop is a program manager on Microsoft’s accessibility team. Despite being blind from birth, he was an active and adventurous youth, learned programming on a Commodore Computer, and has had a fun and rewarding professional career. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff about his experiences and what he considers to be some of his keys to success.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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.