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.

2006 Astreos Stargazing App (Feb. 5, 2020)

Show Notes
Just because one has limited vision doesn’t mean that one can’t enjoy investigating the heavenly bodies in the universe around us. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Yuma Antoine Decaux and Jake Dean from OSeyeris about the accessible Astreos Stargazing App they are developing to open up new vistas for both amateurs and professionals.

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

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

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

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

2003 Communicating with Zoom (Jan. 15, 2020)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1951 Outlook Business Solutions (Dec. 18, 2019)

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

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

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

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

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

1948 NEWSREEL Audio Magazine (Nov. 27, 2019)

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

1947 Medical Transcription (Nov. 20, 2019)

Show Notes
Blind since birth, Kathy Melton became a medical transcriptionist over 40 years ago. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about how the tools, processes and accessibility have changed over the years and about her experiences in the field. She has since gone on to start a business training other blind people to be medical transcriptionists.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1942 Voting Rights (Oct. 16, 2019)

Show Notes
Although the availability of accessible voting methods for people with disabilities has improved over the years, there is still a long way to go. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with attorney Scott LaBarre and technical specialist Curtis Chong about their work with the National Federation for the Blind and others to improve voting access for the blind.

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

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

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

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

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

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

1938 Victor Reader Trek (Sep. 18, 2019)

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

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

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

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

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

1935 NaviLens Navigation System (Aug. 28, 2019)

Show Notes
NaviLens uses your smart phone’s camera to read preprinted tags in order to provide visually impaired individuals with information pertinent to their environment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Borja Lopetegui, a Business Developer at NaviLens, about how this innovative technology works and how you can use it free for personal use.

1934 Accessibility at Sprint (Aug. 21, 2019)

Show Notes
Sprint offers a number of special promotions and plans for the visually impaired community and is trying to make this information more widely known. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelly Egan, visually impaired Customer Relations Manager for accessibility at Sprint, about Sprint offerings and how you might take advantage of them.

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

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

1932 Freelance Journalist (Aug. 7, 2019)

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