Blind Abilities Podcast

In this 17th  episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take us into the Relationship Rifts, the Red Flags, Safe Places and using the "I" statement. Beth and Robin respond to feedback about Integrity and being loss with no support.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com             Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS             Www.transitioningthroughchange.com   You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for Listening!

Away from the bustling crowds of the exhibit hall at the 2023 NFB Convention, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant met with Klaus-Peter Hars, Founder and CEO of Inventivio. Inventivio’s newest products is the Tactonom Reader, a new device designed to help blind and visually impaired people have greater access to tactile graphics. Klaus demonstrates this incredible device in action by showing how accurate the camera and tactile technology is when studying tactile maps, floor plans of buildings, large open spaces such as Churches, mathematical concepts, etc. Klaus even demonstrates Tactonom’s capability for seamless descriptions of 3D printed models. Read More

From the 2023 NFB Convention Floor, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant talked with Orbit Research CEO Venkatesh Chari and Adi Kushner, CEO of AccessMind. Venkatesh first gives listeners an overview of the products Orbit research has produced in the past such as the Orbit Reader 20 and 40 cell braille displays, talking graphing calculators, iBill Currency Reader, Orbit Writer, etc. While this interview mainly focuses on the two new products from Orbit Research, you can check out the full list of product offerings on their Website   The first new product from Orbit Research scheduled to be released this year is called Orbit Speak. From the Orbit Research website: “The Orbit Speak is equipped with features of a modern braille notetaker with a braille keyboard and synthesized speech output in a compact, pocket-sized device.” To learn more and pre-order your Orbit Speak today, visit its Product Page   The second product discussed is the latest offering from Orbit Research in conjunction with AccessMind,

From the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant spoke with Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation at American Printing House for the Blind (APH). Greg first takes listeners through the new Monarch Tactile Display. This braille display is a partnership between APH, Humanware, and the NFB. Greg also gives an overview of APH’s other offerings such as the Mantis and Chameleon braille displays, and the low-vision magnification devices such as the Juno and Jupiter  as well as the Matt Connect Android Tablet.   Additionally, Greg discusses the recently released Code Jumper, and Road to Code a set of tools designed to help blind people learn how to code. Greg closes the interview by talking about his personal journey through blindness and technology and how his experience is an asset to his current work at APH.   Read More

During the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant sat down with Alex Wesley, Founder and CEO of Arovia. Alex chats with Simon about his new product, called Splay, a portable projection solution.   From the Arovia Website: “Introducing Splay: The Ultimate 2-in-1 Display and Ultra-Short-Throw Pico Projector. Transform your entertainment experience with Splay, a groundbreaking 2-in-1 display and ultra-short-throw pico projector that seamlessly expands and folds away in just seconds. This cutting-edge device is perfect for movies, gaming, presentations, and more, offering unparalleled versatility and performance. The current cost is $849.00”   While Splay is not designed for the visually impaired user, it works great for those who have low vision and need a portable magnification solution. Alex gives listeners a detailed overview of how Splay works, as well as the pre-order process. He tells his incredible journey of how he came to start Arovia, and his hopes for the fu

While attending the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant met with Ed Rogers, Managing Director at Bristol Braille Technologies. Simon also talked with Steph Sargent, a contractor with Bristol Braille and a Director at Vision Through Sound. Hailing from the UK, Bristol Braille is a company that supports blind people in their assistive technology needs. Ed gives listeners an overview of Bristol Braille’s leading product, the Canute 360 Multi-line braille display. Read More  

Carrie Morales is a YouTube Creative with video content covering all things accessible tech, iPhones, androids, book readers and nearly everything else out there. You will also find topics covering living with blindness and the accessibility field as well. Carrie joins Jeff in the Blind Abilities Studio to cover topics on how and why Carrie started her YouTube Channel, "Carri On Accessibility". Listen in as Carrie gives advice on learning accessible tools and Braille and how accessibility testing is doing to help the community. You can subscribe to the Carrie On Accessibility' YouTube Channel and follow Carrie on all of her socials at Carrie On Accessibility and @CarrieOnA11Y on Twitter. You can also check out the C&C Insights Podcasts on blind Abilities. Thanks for listening! Contact: You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email and give us a call at 612-367-6093, we would love to hear from you! Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Go

In this fifteenth  episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take us into the topic of Vulnerability and how trust plays an important role in one's ability to open up and work on becoming stronger.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com             Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS             Www.transitioningthroughchange.com   You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks for Listening!  

In this fourteenth  episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take us into the topic of accountability, accountability partners and going with your gut feelings.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com             Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS             Www.transitioningthroughchange.com   You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!   Thanks for Listening!  

Gloria Blanco, Steve Alfred, and  Kyle Tyson join Scott Eggen in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about their perspective of the Business Enterprise Program. Being fairly new owner-operators, we thought it would be interesting to hear their perspectives compared to those perspectives from our past guest on the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America podcast. Join the crew in this informational episode and find out more about the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America on the web at Randolph-Sheppard.org. thanks for Listening!

Carrie, from the YouTube Channel, "Carrie On Accessibility" and Cindy from the YouTube Channel, "Seeing Blind" are back in the studio for their 2nd podcast episode, ""C and C Insights". In this episode, they dive into Accessibility Testing, providing user experience feedback to companies and being compensated for their skillset, knowledge and time. Cindy and Carrie dig in deeper and exposing how disclosing the accessibility skillsets as a positive rather than hiding them away. Companies are looking for unique skillsets and what better accessibility tester for the Blind and Visually Impaired than someone who deals with accessibility every day.   Be sure to check out their YouTube Channels and all their social presence below:   ·      Carrie On Accessibility on YouTube ·      Find all Carrie's Socials  at  Carrie On Accessibility on the web ·      Seeing Blind on YouTube ·      Follow Cindy on all her Socials   Thanks for Listening!

In this 13th  episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, explore journaling, writing, and affirmations to help one stay mentally strong. Some of the Apps mentioned in this episode are Day One Journal, finch and the upcoming Mood Tracking feature in the Health App being released in Apple's iOS 17 this fall.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com             Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS             Www.transitioningthroughchange.com   You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!   Thanks for Listening!

Carrie, from the YouTube Channel, "Carrie On Accessibility" and Cindy from the YouTube Channel, "Seeing Blind" come together for their first podcast, ""C&C Insights". In this episode, they talk about advocacy from a large scale down to their own neighborhood, and how every little bit helps the community. Talk about what they do on their YouTube Channels, "Carrie On Accessibility" and "Seeing Blind", in which they lead into Accessibility Testing which is a passion for both of them.   Be sure to check out their YouTube Channels and all their social presence below:   ·      Carrie On Accessibility on YouTube ·      Find all Carrie's Socials  at  Carrie On Accessibility on the web ·      Seeing Blind on YouTube ·      Follow Cindy on all her Socials Thanks for Listening!

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Christine Malec, known for her segment on the Kelly and Company show on AMI Audio called Curious Minds. Christine enlightens us about the upcoming 3rd annual Luminato Festival in Toronto, Canada.   Christine shares with us an overview of the audio described festival. She explains how the festival explores the languages of puppeteers and dancers, which can sometimes be challenging to comprehend. Through audio description and sounds, Christine reveals how a deeper understanding of these art forms can be achieved. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing how emotions are expressed through body language. While Christine admits her initial struggles with these languages, she highlights that her experiences and understanding of the arts have made her optimistic. To delve deeper into these topics, Christine hosts the Dance and Puppeteer podcasts, which are available for you to listen to using the links provided below.   Christine delves into the Luminato Festival's theme of sto

Welcome to another captivating episode of Tech Abilities on the Blind Abilities podcast, where we not only delve into the world of AI and technology but also celebrate personal milestones. Join us in congratulating co-host Seyoon Choi on his graduation as we journey through the tech universe. We're discussing exciting AI developments, unveiling new cognitive accessibility features from Apple, and addressing the shifting landscape with Windows. In this episode, we tackle your tech queries, share our insights on the latest gadgets, and bring you updates from the entertainment world with the upcoming Showtime and Paramount+ merger. By demand, Jeff gives us a demo of Text detection. Don't miss this chance to join our celebration and stay informed and empowered with the latest in tech.   Here are some links for the topics in the show:   ·      Career Resources for the blind and Visually disabled Facebook group ·      heading level 1 Wendy's will start using an AI chatbot to take drive-through orders ·      C

In a captivating episode of the Blind Abilities podcast, Cindy Schaffner, the visionary behind the YouTube channel "Seeing Blind," shared her transformative journey with low vision. Motivated by her personal experiences, Cindy embarked on creating her YouTube channel with the goal of inspiring others and shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of living with visual impairment. Through her platform, she aims to foster representation, participation, and community within the blind and low vision world. Cindy's own passions, including music, accessibility testing and knitting, , serve as testaments to her unwavering determination to pursue fulfillment despite her blindness. As a devoted mother raising two young children, she confronts unique challenges head-on, utilizing resilience and creative problem-solving to overcome them. Cindy's love for learning and sharing life hacks and accessibility tips enables her to empower others with low vision, helping them lead independent lives. For those recently diagnos

The Mission at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. is  to empower people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities, by creating. diverse, sustainable, and meaningful employment opportunities. Katy Todd is the Community Engagement Manager and gives us an overview of the programs and opportunities at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Here are the topics we cover:   ·      History ·      Our lines of business ·      How we make jobs accessible ·      Current and future job opportunities ·      Programs ·      Services ·      Accessible technology webinars ·      Launching a career development program ·      DeafBlind program   For more information, check outhe The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. on the web. Keep up to date with all the educational and informational videos on The Lighthouse for the blind, Inc. YouTube Channel, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lighthouse.Inc/ On Twitter @Lighthouse_Inc   Thanks for listening!

Bari Azman and Diane Ducharme return to the Blind Abilities Studio with braking news and updates to the BlindShell Classic 2 Accessible Cell Phone. With the new brand under the BlindShellUSA umbrella, the BlindShell Mobile is now open for everyone. This Affordable Connectivity Program is available and at www.BlindShellUSA.com/free you can find out if you qualify and begin tearing up those wireless bills today! Bari and Diane go over all the details and you can find out more about the blindShell Classic 2 accessible phone and the blindShell Affordable Connectivity program on the web at https://blindshellusa.com Thanks for listening!   Contact: You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email and give us a call at 612-367-6093, we would love to hear from you! Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Google Play Store. Give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093 we would love to hear from you! Check out the Blind Abilities Community on

In this  episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, check up on their resolutions from the New Year and talk about where you can look for professional help and things to consider about choosing a therapist.   Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.   Show Hosts:             Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com             Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS             Www.transitioningthroughchange.com   You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!   Contact: You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email and give us a call at 612-367-6093, we would love to hear from you! Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Google Play Store. Give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093 we would love to hear from you! Check out the Blind Abilities Community on Facebook, the Blind Abilities Page,