Blind Abilities Podcast

Blind Abilities Teen correspondent Simon Bonenfant sat down with Comcast Vice President of Accessibility at the Comcast Accessibility Lab. Tom walks us through his path to his present position at Comcast and shares with us the tools he utilizes every day and shares some good tips and advice we all can use on our own journeys. Check out our next podcast where Tom and Simon demonstrate some of the latest features added to the Xfinity X! Box and remote control. The Voice Guidance accessible commands and menus along with the ability to access HBO, Netflix and YouTube all with voice commands and button navigation if you so desire. Here is how you can contact Comcast Xfinity: Comcast Accessibility Line 1-855-270-0379 Between 8 AM and Midnight 7 days a week. Email at Accessibility@Comcast.com And check out the Comcast Accessibility page on the web.

School is back in session and Yahya Abdikadir, a transition age student from Minnesota, took time out from his busy schedule to sit down with Jeff Thompson and talk about his choices and experience preparing for his studies and planning his career. Yahya attended the Summer Transition Program (STP) where he learned about Soft Skills and met other Blind and Visually Impaired students from around the state. Yahya was hired by a local middle school to work on accessibility and found out about the job opportunity from State Services for the Blind. From his Teacher for the BVI and his working with SSB, Yahya is prepared and ready to take on the University of Minnesota with an interest in programing and computer science. Yahya also volunteers for Apple, Microsoft and Google as an Accessibility Specialist focusing on software accessibility with the beta programs. A Beta is a pre-release of applications for testing purposes and Beta testers give the developers feedback prior to the big release. Yahya also plays Blind

Serina, Brian and Jeff with some cameos from Marlon, went into the studio for far too long and it begs me to question if it is the pain or the joy of podcasting that drives them to do what they do. Brian even upped his game with a new microphone. And stay tuned for a headset burning later this fall. Serina pitches her view of a Dominos Pizza in the Supreme style in court. Brian slightly, just slightly, sweetens up his view of the world and actually is now purchasing old movies with audio description legally! An Orcam overview with Monty from Orcam. A look at the Apple Card sign up process and when you do get the card in the mail. Do not toss the card packaging that contains your card. It is needed to activate your new Apple Card. Why are people upset about Aira giving everybody 5 minutes free? How do you slice up the Dominos debate with accessibility? Have you ever thought about losing your Air Pods? Some actually dream about it! Apple TV is coming and it’s nearly $10 a month. Hmm. Do you have a mid-2015 MacB

Mental Vision Games is proud to announce the release of the new Immersive Action 3D Audio game, Circus Masters Revenge available in the App Store for iOS. Joe and Jesse Anderson joined Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities studio to talk game development, creation and working with the industry to bring more awareness to accessibility in the gaming realm. Joe wrote and created along with his Mental Vision team a 3D audio game which involves the right and left audio in relation to your environment physically and within the game. Turn your device or swivel in your chair and the scene in the game changes it’s focus as well! Chase the Circus freaks and move up a stage and into the next chapter of this well written and acted game that unravels right before your ears. Jesse Anderson from Illegally Sighted worked with Mental Vision Games by testing and advising as Jesse has done for years on his Illegally Sighted YouTube Channel. Listen in as Jesse talks about his advocacy for access in the gaming world. You can downl

The news that shot around the world, Aira has gone free, yes, free. Ryan Bishop from Aira joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities studio to talk about this ground-breaking news that shocked the Blind Community. This Free service is available where Aira provides full service, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States. When the news went out, and you can read the post below, people were flooding social media with shares and likes about how anyone can become an Aira Explorer by downloading the Aira app from the App Store or Google Play Store and be talking with a trained Aira Agent in minutes. Aira is a fast growing company that provides a service to the Blind and Visually Impaired community through trained agents by connecting through a video feed and assisting the “Explorer” by providing information being requested or describing the video feed coming from the camera on the phone or through the Horizon smart glasses. You can take advantage of the Aira Free plan today and see how Aira ca

Blind Abilities Teen Correspondent John Dowling sat down with Lydia Washington of the United States Bureau of Engraving to talk about accessibility, apps and how to apply for the Free iBill Reader. The iBill stand-alone currency reader identifies U.S. currency by inserting the bill into a slot and depressing a button. The iBill then gives you audio feedback on the amount of the bill. The iBill is battery operated. You can download the applicationand receive your iBill Currency Reader just by filling out the application. We follow up the interview with a brief demo of the EyeNote and IDEAl Currancy Identifier apps. The EyeNoteApp for iOS is Free from the App Store as well as the Android version, IDEAL U.S. Currancy Identifier, app from the Google Play Store.  ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State

As Back to School once again comes around we have to consider being prepared technology-wise and make sure our Toolbox is well stocked and Vispero has the tools built for success. Vispero is the parent company of Freedom Scientific, Optelec and Enhanced Vision. Jeff Bazer from Vispero joined Simon Bonenfant in Las Vegas to talk about all the solutions and opportunities Vispero brands have to offer. You can find out more about all the products and services from Vispero on the web at www.Vispero.com. You can also call Vispero direct at 1-800-444-4443. ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State Services in your State you can go to www.AFB.org and search the directory for your agency. Contact: Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send u

Able Artist Foundation is launching a new grant program  for musicians with disabilities. AAF also provides huge discounts on tools and programs used throughout the Music Industry. While the Grant Program is local, the discount program has gone Global and more and more people are joining Able Artist Foundation and gaining access to tools for success.  Stephen Letnes, Founder and Executive Director of AAF, returns to the Blind Abilities Studios to promote the New AAF Grant Program and talk about his own successes in the music and film industry. Working on projects that are being recognized by the Academy Awards and having “one of his latest documentary project, Beneath the Ink, being nominated for an Emmy Award this year. Exciting times and Stephen is having a great year and has some great advice that transfers into any bodies goals, ambitions and quests. Join Stephen and Jeff and learn about the Able Artist Foundation and how you or someone you know can get great discounts on professional musician tools and i

Karthik from Envision joins Jeff in the Blind Abilities Studio to tell us all about the huge Summer Sale on the subscriptions to the EnvisionAI app available in the App Store and the Google Play Store. 50 percent off the monthly subscription and give me a drum roll please, 75 percent off the Life Time subscription. This Summer Sale from Envision will only be available through August so act fast as opportunity knocks but once, right?  Karthik talks about how the EnvisionAI app can read print and hand writing seamlessly without having to switch modes. Just start reading and the app does the work for you. Bring on the post cards, right? With all the latest updates and the work behind the scenes to make the EnvisionAI work better than ever, Jeff asks the big question, “Karthik, where do you see EnvisionAI in the future?” Karthik says, “Smart Glasses.” Yes, is nice to hear that Envision is looking into leaner forms of algorithms to consolidate and enhance the functionality of the device in such a small form factor

Blind Abilities offers another episode in our iPhone 101 series, covering the much-requested process of selecting, copying, cutting, deleting and pasting text on your i-Device. Pete walks us through not only the multi-step process of using your iOS Rotor for such actions, but also reviews the streamlined process for using the 3-finger Quadruple-tap to capture the last spoken phrase by Voiceover. Learn how to use the Rotor for each individual step of the process, and when to use a work-around to cover an apparent bug in the Text Selection Rotor. Also, see when using the streamlined 3-finger Quad gesture will allow for a quick grab of text to the Clipboard for easy copying into a Note, an email or a text message, or pasting it into a search field in Safari or other ready destination.     Sit back and enjoy this short demonstration of a process which we can use regularly, but which can sometimes be elusive in grasping exactly how it works! ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you w

Serina Gilbert and Jeff Thompson once again join forces in the Blind Abilities Studio to bring you the latest Job Insights podcast, Working From Home. By popular demand our followers and members of the Career Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired Facebook Group have been asking about working from home and the resources available in the job market. Serina and Jeff give an overview of the environment of working from home and what expectations one may find when considering working from home. Serina gives us some resources that will assist one looking for employment and looking for flexible job opportunities. Flex Jobsis a resource that one can subscribe to and search for jobs that are flexible in hours and offer remote working opportunities. Glass Dooris a resource for job seekers to find more information about a job and an inside look at the working environment of the company itself.  Join Serina and Jeff in this comprehensive look at working from home. If you have ideas and thoughts that you want to sh

Mona Minkara’s Planes, Trains and Canes is a winning entry to the 2019 Homan Prize  sponsored by the San Fransisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Mona joins Jeff in the Blind Abilities studio and talks about her upcoming documentary and the adventures she will be embarking upon. Mona  shares her most recent travels that she has been doing since finishing her post-doctorate at the University of Minnesota. Mona has just  started her new position as Professor of Biology Engineering at North Eastern University in Boston  Listen to Mona’s plans and enthusiasm as she maps out her Planes, Trains and Canes documentary. Hear her passion as she talks about her adventures. This is a documentary that was in the works as Mona has always loved to video journal her travels and now she will be able to bring us all along for the ride whether it’s on a plane, a train or her navigating by cane. Check out Mona’s Planes, Trains and Canes Facebook Page. Here is a short bio on Dr. Mona Minkara: Mona Minkara double

En-Vision America’s David Raistrick joins Jeff Thompson to talk about what’s new at En-Vision America. David goes over the latest updates and news from En-Vision America and gives us a demonstration of Script Talk in action. David announces the Script Talk iPhone app is now out of Beta and ready to use! Be sure to check out En-Vision America on the web www.EnVisionAmerica.com Contact Info: David Raistrick Vice President/CTO En-Vision America 825 4th Street W, Palmetto FL 34221 http://www.envisionamerica.com Direct: 941-702-6607 ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State Services in your State you can go to www.AFB.org and search the directory for your agency. Contact: Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Fr

Blind Abilities Teen correspondent, Simon Bonenfant, was in the Exhibit Hall in Las Vegas attending the NFB Convention when he caught up with Tamra representing the National Library Service. Tamra fills us in on all the services NLS provides and who can apply for the free service of accessible books in Braille and Audio formats. Join Tamra and Simon in this brief introduction to the BARD service from NLS. BARD stands for Braille and Audio Books Download. You can find out more about BARD and NLS on the web. ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State Services in your State you can go to www.AFB.org and search the directory for your agency. Contact: Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App 

Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility at Amazon’s Lab 126, Gives Us a Demo on the Alexa equipped Microwave Oven. Peter also goes over the brand new Echo Show 5 which comes with a 5 inch diaganol screen and Voice View built screen reading capabilities as well as Alexa all in one. Full Transcript Below Peter gives us an overview of the Amazon Fire TV Addition Toshiba Smart TV’s now available in 20 different models starting at 24 inches with a HD Screen for $150 and up to a 55 inch, 4K Ultra HD Screen and Dolby for only $450. Yes, the Toshiba comes with Amazon Fire TV technology, Voice View and Magnification Built-In to the Amazon Fire TV Addition TV right out of the box. Peter also goes over the Fire Tablets and the Braille support features as well as the newest feature called Hands Free Alexa.  Join Peter Korn and Simon Bonenfant as they make some popcorn using Alexa commands and talk Amazon devices. You can find out more about all the Amazon devices on the web at www.Amazon.com ***** Contact Your State Servic

That Blind Tech Show is out of the studio and washing their hands of this episode. Yes, actually we should have worn gloves while recording this one! Serina returns once again and Brian and Jeff flipped an accessible coin to see which one had to sit next to Serina. Let’s just say, Brian virtually loss. Amazon Prime, NFB2019 overviewed, Microsoft, American Printing House, Google, Aira and Two Blind Brothers make the scene and much much more as we dabbly doop a dooble along trying to make out which way we are headed. Well, the kids make sure we are off to a good start and the even encourage Brian to raise the bar.  WayAround, Microsoft To Do App and the Bose Frames get a good solid and Marlon stops in at the studio late one night and splashes his audio onto the canvas as well. A Huge shout out goes out to T and B for there cameo appearances and letting us know that kids can play in more than just reindeer games, they can have a voice and we will make sure they are heard.  So kick back and check out this serious

Blind Abilities presents another epic podcast featuring an in depth interview with an amazing guest. Johnny Hiland is a highly successful and well-respected musician, a fantastic country guitarist who is widely recognized as one of the fastest “chicken pickers” in the world. But his musical expertise is not limited to the country arena. No, Johnny has mastered rock, blues, swing, medal and almost any other genre into which he chooses to go, whether in the studio with the likes of Hargus (Pig) Robbins, or Phil Keaggy, or on stage with Sammy Hagar, the 392nd Army Rock Band on July 4th, or with his childhood hero, Ricky Skaggs. Johnny is also an active teacher, giving guitar lessons live or on line, and as an expert “gear head,” sharing his uncanny knowledge of guitars and related gear with listeners.   As expected, Jeff and Pete delve as much into Johnny's childhood, education and his feelings about his blindness as the “fun stuff” relating to his music. Listen as Johnny opens doors to issues and thoughts whic

Aira was the Elite Sponsor at the 2019 NFB Convention held in Las Vegas and they sure know how to put on a party. While talking with Aira’s Michael Hingson, we learn about the Aira Access points and the growing number of businesses and colleges coming onboard with providing Free Aira Access to the users of the Free Aira App. Just download the Aira App on iOS or on the Google Play Store and you are ready to begin exploring. Jeff Thompson takes us to the Aira Party, to the Breakout session, talks to the autonomous Car representative about Lift and Las Vegas’s fleet of autonomous Cars available for rideshare. We here from the new CEO of Aira, Mike Randall.   ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361. To find your State Services in your State you can go to www.AFB.org and search the directory for your agency. Contact: Thank

While at the NFB2019 Convention Jeff Thompson met up with RTB Safe Traffic Director of Sales, Olivia Harden. Interested in the sounds stemming from the RTB Safe Traffic booth, Jeff inquired about the Audio Pedestrian Signal device and Olivia filled his cup to the brim with some great information. Full Transcript Below She is very passionate about her work and the products RTB Safe Traffic are creating and has taken the message across the States to all the Department of Transportation personnel to educate them on the practicalities of installing and needs for audio pedestrian signals. Not just to push her line of product, but to bring awareness and value to the decision making by people who make the decisions for safe traffic crossings. You can find out more about RTB Safe Traffic on the web at www.RTBSafeTraffic.com. And be sure to voice your concerns and needs in your city, your county, about having RTB Safe Traffic educating your department of transportation. ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside

Gill Beeri from Orcam tells us about the latest updates to the Orcam MyEye 2. Gives us a great overview of the features and uses. Announces breaking news about the partnership with NFB and ACB and how NFB and ACB members can get a 10 percent discount on the Orcam MyEye 2. Full Transcript Below Orcam was a huge sponsor at the NFB convention in Las Vegas and we want to thank them for supporting not only the convention, we want to thank them for their innovative solutions and hard work at bringing the Blind Community a tool that empowers us and enhances our independence. Thanks Orcam. You can find out more about Orcam on the web at www.Orcam.com/en And WorldWide at www.Orcam.com. Stay up to date with all the breaking news on the Orcam Facebook Page. Follow Orcam on Twitter @Orcam   ***** Contact Your State Services If you reside in Minnesota, and you would like to know more about Transition Services from State Services contact Transition Coordinator Sheila Koenig by email or contact her via phone at 651-539-2361