All posts by ptorpey

1823 Color-blind Visual Effects Artist (Jun. 6, 2018)


1823 Color-blind Visual Effects Artist (Jun. 6, 2018)


Show Notes

Color-blindness affects about 1 in 12 men but only 1 in 250 women. For most people this isn’t a problem. But what if your profession requires a good color sense? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Toby Derrig, a color-blind visual effects artist, about how he compensates for this deficiency in his daily life and to perform his job.

1821 College Student and Paralympic Athlete (May 23, 2018)


1821 College Student and Paralympic Athlete (May 23, 2018)


Show Notes

We talked previously with Staci Mannella about competitive skiing and what it was like to participate in the Paralympics in both Sochi and PyeongChang. Now hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Staci about what it takes to succeed as a visually impaired college student while travelling the world to compete in alpine skiing and how she juggled the two.

1820 Encore of 1725 Low Vision Optometry (May 16, 2018)


1820 Encore of 1725 Low Vision Optometry (May 16, 2018)


Show Notes

There is no question that people with vision problems should be seen by an ophthalmologist to evaluate their condition. Low vision specialists, on the other hand, aim to provide solutions to help in daily living. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dr. George Kornfeld, a low vision optometrist, about aids and services that you might find beneficial.

1819 FlickType Accessible Smart Keyboard for iOS Devices (May 9, 2018)


1819 FlickType Accessible Smart Keyboard for iOS Devices (May 9, 2018)


Show Notes

FlickType is a smart keyboard designed especially for blind users of iOS devices. No need to tap the exact location of keys. Fast and accurate, just sit back and enjoy typing and hear the results. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ashley and Kosta Eleftheriou about how the keyboard works and why it is so efficient to use, even if you can’t see.

1818 Radio Reading Services – Behind the Scenes Tour (May 2, 2018)


1818 Radio Reading Services – Behind the Scenes Tour (May 2, 2018)


Show Notes

Yes, you can now use the Google Assistant or Alexa to listen to the streams from many radio reading services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey take a tour of the Audio Information Network of Colorado and see how some of these new distribution methods work, meet some of the staff, and learn what it takes to make these services available to the print impaired.

1817 Radio Reading Services – An Overview (Apr. 25, 2018)


1817 Radio Reading Services – An Overview (Apr. 25, 2018)


Show Notes

Advances in technology and distribution methods have dramatically impacted how traditional radio reading services deliver content to people who are print impaired and what content is available. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Dawson, Executive Director of the Audio Information Network of Colorado, about what services are available.

1816 Alpine Skiing in the PyeongChang Paralympics (Apr. 18, 2018)


1816 Alpine Skiing in the PyeongChang Paralympics (Apr. 18, 2018)


Show Notes

When you strive to be the best in the world it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Staci Mannella who recently competed in four Alpine Skiing events at the PyeongChang Paralympic Games. Staci talks about how she compensates for her visual limitations, prepared for the competition, and experienced the event.

1814 Apple Watch and Home Kit (Apr. 4, 2018)


1814 Apple Watch and Home Kit (Apr. 4, 2018)


Show Notes

Many people wonder whether or not they should purchase an Apple Watch and how useful they might find it. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Hall, one of the editors for AppleVis, about his experience with the Apple Watch and how he has taken control of his house using Apple’s Home Kit. Also learn why you might want to join the AppleVis community.

1811 Experiencing Art Non-Visually (Mar. 14, 2018)


1811 Experiencing Art Non-Visually (Mar. 14, 2018)


Show Notes

There are many ways to experience art. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with tactile artist Ann Cunningham about her work and how it can be enjoyed even with your eyes closed. They also talk with Erin Cousins and Danielle Schulz of the Denver Art Museum about programs at the museum that provide a customized experience for people with differing needs.

1810 Accessible Products from Amazon (Mar. 7, 2018)


1810 Accessible Products from Amazon (Mar. 7, 2018)


Show Notes

Amazon has been pursuing a long-range plan to incorporate improved accessibility into all of their products with features like VoiceView, Braille support, and speech recognition. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility at Amazon, about the accessibility of Amazon’s devices and on-line content for the vision impaired.

1809 Access to Science with Grapheel (Feb. 28, 2018)


1809 Access to Science with Grapheel (Feb. 28, 2018)


Show Notes

As a blind science student, Daniel Hajas was having difficulty working with graphical data, figures, and charts found in scientific literature. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about the Grapheel initiative which he started whose aim is to bring easy access of visual STEM data to blind and visually impaired students by using “expert” volunteers.

1808 Tennis for the Visually Impaired (Feb. 21, 2018)


1808 Tennis for the Visually Impaired (Feb. 21, 2018)


Show Notes

Tennis anyone? Having limited vision is no longer an excuse for not getting out on the court and enjoying this sport with others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Brooke Severance who runs a program through Court 16 which teaches people with visual impairments to play tennis with some minor modifications to the rules and equipment.

1807 Mainstream Products Become Accessible (Feb. 14, 2018)


1807 Mainstream Products Become Accessible (Feb. 14, 2018)


Show Notes

No, they’re not crazy. Attendees at the world’s largest consumer technology convention (CES) this year were talking to appliances and vehicles. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser, who helped represent IBM’s “Accessible Olli” exhibit, about his experiences at CES and how mainstream commercial products are becoming ever more accessible.

1806 Overcoming Obstacles in STEM (Feb. 7, 2018)


1806 Overcoming Obstacles in STEM (Feb. 7, 2018)


Show Notes

Despite having to overcome many challenges as well as negative stereotypes about the blind, Ken Silberman persisted to become both an engineer and patent attorney. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ken, who now works in the education department of NASA, about his journey as well as opportunities for the disabled to work as an intern at NASA.

1805 Camp Abilities – Camp for Blind Youth (Jan. 31, 2018)


1805 Camp Abilities – Camp for Blind Youth (Jan. 31, 2018)


Show Notes

Now in its 23rd year, Camp Abilities has spread to locations not only throughout the U.S. but also around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder and director, Lauren Lieberman, about the benefits of this week long, sports oriented camp for visually impaired youth and how it can be a life changing experience for those who attend.

1803 Encore of 1650 Building Electronics Projects (Jan. 17, 2018)


1803 Encore of 1650 Building Electronics Projects (Jan. 17, 2018)


Show Notes

Though Ken Perry and Josh Miele 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.

1802 Concepts for Accessible Living (Jan. 10, 2018)


1802 Concepts for Accessible Living (Jan. 10, 2018)


Show Notes

Josh Miele is a blind scientist at Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute. He and his team create and test new ideas aimed at improving how visually impaired people perform the daily tasks of life. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh about his research and some of the concepts he has worked on including tactile maps, touch pens and YouDescribe.

1753 Year-End Special: How We Create Eyes On Success (Dec. 27, 2017)


1753 Year-End Special: How We Create Eyes On Success (Dec. 27, 2017)


Show Notes

Several listeners have asked about how we create the show. This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey explain how we do everything from selecting topics and guests to recording and editing to posting the podcasts and maintaining our web presence including the tools and techniques we use at each step.

1752 Running with a Guide Dog (Dec. 20, 2017)


1752 Running with a Guide Dog (Dec. 20, 2017)


Show Notes

Guide dogs are trained to help the blind navigate throughout the day in many different environments. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Thomas Panek, president of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, about a new skill for which his organization is training dogs – running with their blind owners. We’ll hear how this is done and how it is working out for Thomas.

1751 Pros and Cons of Having a Guide Dog (Dec. 13, 2017)


1751 Pros and Cons of Having a Guide Dog (Dec. 13, 2017)


Show Notes

Although guide dogs can provide blind individuals with a greater sense of independence, they may not be for everyone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Thomas Panek, president of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, about how his organization trains guide dogs and matches them with owners. They also talk about the pros and cons of having a guide dog.

1750 Tour of Colorado Talking Book Library (Dec. 6, 2017)


1750 Tour of Colorado Talking Book Library (Dec. 6, 2017)


Show Notes

The National Library Service (NLS) distributes free audio and Braille reading material to U.S. citizens with print disabilities through a network of regional libraries. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey and Debbi MacLeod, Director of the Colorado Talking Book Library, to learn how they record and distribute books and other materials.

1749 Talking Book Library Services (Nov. 29, 2017)


1749 Talking Book Library Services (Nov. 29, 2017)


Show Notes

The National Library Service (NLS) distributes free audio and Braille reading material to U.S. citizens with print disabilities through a network of regional libraries. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Debbi MacLeod, Director of the Colorado Talking Book Library, about the day-to-day operation of the library and the services that are available.

1748 Hunting With Little Or No Vision (Nov. 22, 2017)


1748 Hunting With Little Or No Vision (Nov. 22, 2017)


Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dirk Price, an avid hunter who has continued to hunt even after his vision failed, and John Brod, president of the Physically Challenged Bowhunters of America, a nationwide non-profit which provides hunting opportunities for men, women and youth with all kinds of physical challenges in almost every state.

1747 RightHear App for Orientation in Public Venues (Nov. 15, 2017)


1747 RightHear App for Orientation in Public Venues (Nov. 15, 2017)


Show Notes

New technologies and smart devices are making it ever easier for blind individuals to easily navigate and know what is around them in public venues. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Idan Meir, one of the founders of RightHear, about how this new company is partnering with commercial venues to make them more accessible to people who are blind.

1743 Conditions and Technology in Kenya (Oct. 18, 2017)


1743 Conditions and Technology in Kenya (Oct. 18, 2017)


Show Notes

The services and resources that are available to the blind vary greatly around the world from country to country. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Paul Mugambi, a trainer and advocate for people with vision loss, who grew up in Kenya and is now living in Australia. Learn about how different conditions are in these two countries.

1742 Evolution of Assistive Technologies (Oct. 11, 2017)


1742 Evolution of Assistive Technologies (Oct. 11, 2017)


Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey take a historical walk down memory lane and talk about the evolution of assistive technologies for the visually impaired. In particular, they’ll discuss some of the aids and technologies that Peter used as a young boy, as a student, and as a research scientist and what accommodations he made as his vision declined.

1741 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 2 of 2)


1741 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 2 of 2) (Oct. 4, 2017)


Show Notes

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue the conversation with three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn about their visions for the future in this informative round table discussion.

1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2) (Sep. 27, 2017)


1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2) (Sep. 27, 2017)


Show Notes

This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey bring together three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn what each of them is up to today in this informative round table discussion.

1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Sep. 20, 2017)


1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Sep. 20, 2017)


Show Notes

Aira is a service developed to give the blind instant access to information using a smart phone, a video camera, and a remote sighted agent. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser, a blind distance runner and triathlete, and Jess Jakeway, a sighted distance runner who served as Erich’s remote guide using Aira at the 2017 Boston Marathon.

1738 Accessible Trails and Blind Birding (Sep. 13, 2017)


1738 Accessible Trails and Blind Birding (Sep. 13, 2017)


Show Notes

Many outdoor trails have been made so that they can now be enjoyed by people of varying abilities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jerry Berrier, a blind nature enthusiast, and Lucy Gertz of the Mass Audubon Society about what constitutes an accessible trail, how they are developed, and how they can be enjoyed by the blind.

1736 Tips for Technology and Daily Living (Aug. 30, 2017)


1736 Tips for Technology and Daily Living (Aug. 30, 2017)


Show Notes

Back by popular demand, this episode is another in the series of useful tips and tricks that you might or might not have known about. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share ideas and demos from listeners (as well as from themselves) on topics from using smart phones and computers to dealing with everyday life. There’s sure to be a gem in here for everyone.

1735 Digitizing AFB’s Audio Files (Aug. 23, 2017)


1735 Digitizing AFB’s Audio Files (Aug. 23, 2017)


Show Notes

Jane Kronheim and Roger Cicchese are audio engineers who specialize in restoring old audio recordings. Recently, they digitized recordings of Helen Keller for the archives of the American Foundation for the Blind. Listen to this and other recordings as hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with them about their work and share some fun stories.

1734 Retinitis Pigmentosa Research (Aug. 16, 2017)


1734 Retinitis Pigmentosa Research (Aug. 16, 2017)


Show Notes

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina—which is the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Hosts Nancy and Peter torpey talk with Ruanne Vent-Schmidt, a graduate student with RP whose research is focused on understanding the condition and developing treatments.

1730 Wounded in Action – Active in Life (Jul. 19, 2017)


1730 Wounded in Action – Active in Life (Jul. 19, 2017)


Show Notes

As a U.S. Army infantryman in World War II, Don Wedewer lost his vision and both legs at the age of 19. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Don’s son, Harry, about how his father overcame institutional and social barriers and went on to have a family and rewarding career in which he worked to improve the lives of other people with vision loss.

1729 Encore of 1242 Downloading and Reading Books on a Smart Phone (Jul. 12, 2017)


1729 Encore of 1242 Downloading and Reading Books on a Smart Phone (Jul. 12, 2017)


Show Notes

As smart phones become more powerful and numerous, people have developed great apps for them. This week hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey will discuss and demonstrate how you can directly download books onto a smart phone and read them with it. Apps include Read2Go from Bookshare, Overdrive from public libraries, and an app from Learning Ally.

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1728 Encore of 1644 Currency Identification (Jul. 5, 2017)


1728 Encore of 1644 Currency Identification (Jul. 5, 2017)


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.

1727 Braille Labeling and Learning Products (Jun. 28, 2017)


1727 Braille Labeling and Learning Products (Jun. 28, 2017)


Show Notes

“Wouldn’t it be great if?” was the question that sparked a father to develop a novel way for his autistic son to communicate with others. Eventually LoganTech was formed and went on to develop assistive devices for the blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glen Dobbs, founder of LoganTech, about his journey and products he developed.

1726 Research in Low-Vision Technology (Jun. 21, 2017)


1726 Research in Low-Vision Technology (Jun. 21, 2017)


Show Notes

Advances in computer technologies have opened up opportunities for assisting the visually impaired in new and innovative ways. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shiri Azenkot, Assistant Professor at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute at Cornell Tech, about some of her current projects and research in accessibility and human computer interactions.

1724 Encore of 1517 Jim Fruchterman – Social Entrepreneur (Jun. 7, 2017)


1724 Encore of 1517 Jim Fruchterman – Social Entrepreneur (Jun. 7, 2017)


Show Notes

Jim Fruchterman is the founder and CEO of Benetech, which operates Bookshare, an accessible online library of e-books in audio, Braille, large font and other formats for people with print disabilities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about how he became interested in OCR, the founding of Arkenstone, and the inspiration behind Bookshare.

1723 Encore of 1233 An Interview with Ted Henter (May 31, 2017)


1723 Encore of 1233 An Interview with Ted Henter (May 31, 2017)


Show Notes

If you use the JAWS screen reader, chances are you’ve heard of Ted Henter who founded Henter-Joyce and later sold the company to Freedom Scientific. This week, Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ted about his contributions to assistive technologies and other projects. If you think you know where the “Joyce” came from in Henter-Joyce, be prepared for a surprise!

1721 Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired (May 17, 2017)


1721 Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired (May 17, 2017)


Show Notes

The Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired, or CAVI, is a technology school for the blind and visually impaired that offers remote classes covering many topics from music production to computer systems administration. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Brian Shaw, one of CAVI’s teachers, about their programs and how they work.

1717 Encore of 1308 Progress in Speech Synthesis (Apr. 19, 2017)


1717 Encore of 1308 Progress in Speech Synthesis (Apr. 19, 2017)


Show Notes

Much adaptive technology relies on speech synthesis, which has evolved from humble beginnings to nearly human sounding speech. Hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey talk with Andrew Breen, director of innovation for text to speech at Nuance Communications, about the history, current technology and future goals of speech synthesis.

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


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.

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


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.

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


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)


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.

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


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.

1642 BrailleNote Touch Tablet (Oct. 12, 2016)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.

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


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)


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)


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)


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)


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.