Eyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey: Recent Episodes
Eyes On Success with hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey
A weekly, haf hour radio show / podcast covering a wide variety of topics of interest to the visually impaired
2631 Encore of 2132 Making Astronomy Accessible (Aug. 5, 2026)
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Astronomy is generally thought to be a very visually oriented field, but with some thought, it can be made accessible to those who are blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Noreen Grice, founder and president of You Can Do Astronomy, about how she makes astronomical concepts and features engaging for those who can’t see.
2630 Even Sighted People Are Mostly In the Dark (Jul. 29, 2026)
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Humans are blind to well over 99% of reality. Even sighted people can see only the tiny sliver of the spectrum that is called ‘visible’ and must use tools to detect the rest. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about how both blind and sighted individuals use alternative senses and technology like data sonification to navigate a massive, unseen world.
2629 From Dreams to Published Pages (Jul. 22, 2026)
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Vivid dreams can spark incredible creativity for any novelist. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Aaron Spelker, a blind author who transformed his nighttime vision into a captivating science fiction book. His journey demonstrates how assistive technology, determination, and a bit of AI can allow creators with vision loss to navigate the publishing world.
2628 Getting the Feel of the Game (Jul. 15, 2026)
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If you can’t see what is happening on the field, it is difficult to fully enjoy live sports even if it is being announced. But there might be another way. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jerred Mace, CEO and co-founder of OneCourt, about how their unique technology enables blind users to enjoy watching live sports using a tactile display.
2627 Enriching the Accessible Classroom Using 3D Printers (Jul. 8, 2026)
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Braille transcriber and para-educator Steven Bateman launched Voyagers Creations to produce affordable, tactile tools for his blind students. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with him about his custom designs, which include Perkins Brailler key extensions to make typing easier, crayon holders labeled in braille, 3D maps, and other 3D high-contrast and/or tactile models.
2626 Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins (Jul. 1, 2026)
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The Perkins Brailler is getting a digital upgrade that helps blind students transition into STEM careers and access online content. This budget-friendly tool translates mechanical typing into digital text. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Charlson and Megan Gagne about how the Braille Bloom brings paper braille into the modern digital age.
2625 A Firsthand Review of Meta Smart Glasses (Jun. 24, 2026)
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Smart eyewear offers unique benefits for accessibility. Peter details how he uses his new smart glasses to privately navigate his phone, read museum signs, capture family photos, and more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joe Borden and Becky Furuta from Avenue Vision about these assistive features and the benefits of purchasing smart glasses directly from an optician.
2624 MEMS Technology Enables a Modern 2-D Tactile Display (Jun. 17, 2026)
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Innovative MEMS technology is changing how the visually impaired can interact with digital information. Dave Schleppenbach from Tactile Engineering introduces the Cadence Tactile Tablet, a 2D refreshable display. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave about how this modular device renders Braille text, complex graphics, and even live video.
2623 Catching Sight – A Story of Dogs and Self-Acceptance (Jun. 10, 2026)
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Professional guide dog training offers a deep level of communication and personal safety. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deni Elliott about her experiences with several guide dogs and her journey toward self-acceptance. They also discuss Deni’s new book “Catching Sight” and the unique partnership that forms between a person and a working service animal.
2622 Meet Cookie – Your AI Sidekick in the Kitchen (Jun. 3, 2026)
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Voice controlled cooking can make kitchen tasks easier for everyone, especially people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Daria Marmer, developer of the Cookie Voice Recipes app, about her AI powered tool shaped by blind user feedback to improve accessibility, reduce physical screen interaction, and support hands free cooking.
2621 Touching the Digital World with Dot Pad X (May 27, 2026)
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Innovation in Braille technology is changing the landscape for tactile literacy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Williams from Dot Inc about the new Dot Pad X. This specialized display uses unique electromagnetic pins to render high-quality graphics and multiline text, offering a powerful new way for individuals to interact with digital content.
2620 Encore of 1221 Cracked Ribs and Alligator Scares in a Canoe (May 20, 2026)
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A 65-mile planned canoe outing turned into a demanding test of endurance for blind paddler Jose Tamayo. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about navigating dry riverbeds, startling alligator encounters, painful cracked ribs, and the unpredictable challenges that transformed his trip into a memorable outdoor adventure.
2619 Making Assistive Tech Affordable with Hable Products (May 13, 2026)
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Innovating for accessibility is at the heart of Hable. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Freek von Welsenis about Hable One and the simplified Hable Easy for smartphone control. They also explore the SpeechLabel system and tactile StackTiles, which provide versatile ways for blind individuals to label medications, appliances, and other items.
2618 Gliding Into the Future of Mobility (May 6, 2026)
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Glide is moving closer to becoming a new primary mobility aid for blind users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Amos Miller, founder and CEO of Glidance, about its two wheeled design, autonomous steering, extensive user testing, the upcoming pilot launch, and how added AI features may support safer and more confident independent travel in 2026.
2617 Support Service Providers for Deaf-Blind Coloradans (Apr. 29, 2026)
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Support Service Providers (SSPs) play a vital role in helping people with dual sensory loss stay informed and independent. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with SSP Vicki Scarboro about guiding techniques, tactile communication, haptics, mentoring, and Colorado’s state funded program that connects trained SSPs with deaf-blind individuals.
2616 Individualized Low Vision Care for Better Living (Apr. 22, 2026)
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Many people with vision loss are unaware that low vision specialists provide highly individualized services that differ from routine eye care. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with low vision optometrists Dr. David Simpson and Dr. Cade Oost about personalized evaluations, tailored tools, and goal based strategies that help people stay active and independent.
2615 One Step at a Time on the El Camino Trail (Apr. 15, 2026)
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Known for its centuries old pilgrimage routes and welcoming way markers, the Camino de Santiago offered both challenge and meaning for blind hiker Richard Rueda and sighted hiking partner Tom Lais. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with them about their hike, cultural encounters, safety strategies, and how teamwork and planning supported their memorable walk.
2614 Blind Professionals Turbocharge Work with AI (Apr. 8, 2026)
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AI is reshaping daily life for blind users in both professional and personal settings. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Richard Rueda and Tiffany Kim about using ChatGPT, Be My Eyes, and other tools for reading text, describing images, boosting productivity, and creating content, along with why personalized settings and verifying results matter.
2613 The Monarch Braille Display in Action (Apr. 1, 2026)
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The Monarch multi line braille and graphics display can dramatically reshape how someone approaches their daily work by making complex tasks more efficient and intuitive. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erin Sigmund, director of the Monarch RISE program at APH, and Scott Davert, a day-to-day user, about its features, the RISE program, and ongoing development.
2612 Monarch Takes Flight in Braille Innovation (Mar. 25, 2026)
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Monarch Braille brings tactile graphics and multi-line braille to students, job seekers, and professionals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erin Sigmund, director of the Monarch RISE program at APH, about the Monarch RISE and the Monarch Student Pilot programs, eligibility for receiving a free device, and how this technology supports employment and education.
2611 Managing Your E-Mail By Voice with LUMIN (Mar. 18, 2026)
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LUMIN is a voice driven AI tool created to help people who are visually impaired manage email more easily. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with visually impaired founder Sriram Ganesh about building this AI-driven technology, the importance of user feedback, privacy controls, as well as future enhancements and broader platform support.
2610 Virtual Yoga for Everybody (Mar. 11, 2026)
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Yoga can be accessible for everyone when taught with clear descriptions and flexible options. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with visually impaired yoga instructor Aly Slaughter about guiding gentle classes, adapting poses for different bodies, supporting students of all abilities, and building community through in-person or virtual sessions.
2609 The Craft of Audio Description (Mar. 4, 2026)
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Audio description brings performances to life for blind audiences by turning visuals into clear narration. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Roy Samuelson about writing and performing descriptions that match on screen action, carry the emotion of scenes, and make the experience more enjoyable. He also teaches and advises others on how to do audio description well.
2608 Essential Travel Tips for Blind Explorers (Feb. 25, 2026)
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Traveling with sight loss becomes far more manageable when you know what to expect and how to prepare. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lynn Jensen, a nurse and vision rehabilitation therapist, about practical travel skills, safety strategies, guide dog planning, and simple tools that help make every trip smoother and more enjoyable.
2607 Bridging the Missing Link in Vision Care (Feb. 18, 2026)
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Chicago Lighthouse specialists provide assistive technology and personalized guidance for people adapting to vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Andrade and patient Pat Kosmerl about tools, training, remote support, and the essential resources that many ophthalmologists never mention but that can make daily life far more manageable.
2606 From First Dance to Lifelong Partners (Feb. 11, 2026)
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How did a shared love for contra dancing lead to a marriage of over 40 years? In this personal Valentine’s Day special, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with each other about their journey as a couple. They discuss navigating corporate careers at Xerox, raising children, and adapting to Pete’s blindness through communication and mutual dedication.
2605 Gaining Skills and Confidence at Summer Camp (Feb. 4, 2026)
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Summer camps can be more than just fun for children who are blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gwen Botting, Executive Director of Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind, about the summer camp she runs for visually impaired youth. Besides being fun, the camp teaches cooking, gardening, independence and employment readiness skills
2606 From First Dance to Lifelong Partners (Feb. 11, 2026)
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How did a shared love for contra dancing lead to a marriage of over 40 years? In this personal Valentine’s Day special, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with each other about their journey as a couple. They discuss navigating corporate careers at Xerox, raising children, and adapting to Pete’s blindness through communication and mutual dedication.
2604 Exploring the Many Faces of BARD (Jan. 28, 2026)
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The National Library Service offers many ways to enjoy audio and braille content through their BARD system. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Don Olson about the various platforms available, including BARD Express and mobile apps. Learn about eligibility for these free government services and how technology is modernizing digital reading.
2603 Accessible 3D Printing for Fun and Useful Projects (Jan. 21, 2026)
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You might be surprised to learn that 3D printing is actually accessible to the blind these days. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon about her book on 3D printing for blind users. She explains how tools like OpenSCAD, makerspaces, and affordable printers enable creating tactile maps, braille covers, and practical everyday objects.
2602 Behind the Scenes with JAWS – From Inception To Next Gen (Jan. 14, 2026)
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Glen Gordon, long the key developer behind JAWS for Windows, continues his story in part two of our interview. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glen about his early work developing JAWS, major changes in screen reader technology, balancing AI with traditional methods, and his retirement plans to improve accessibility in some open-source projects.
2601 Behind the Scenes with JAWS Pioneer Glen Gordon (Jan. 7, 2026)
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Although many may not know his name, Glen Gordon was the driving force behind JAWS for Windows. In this two-part series, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glen about his journey as a blind youth, his interest in radio, and what led him to become a leader in accessibility. Glen also shares his struggles with overcoming years of tension and anxiety.
2553 Eyes On Success Celebrates 15 Years (Dec. 31, 2025)
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This year end episode features an edited version of Evan Starnes’ Blind Level Tech podcast in which he interviewed Nancy and Peter Torpey for his show. They discuss the origins of Eyes on Success, challenges in podcasting, memorable shows, rewarding connections with guests, and how the show has grown over 15 years to inspire the blind community.
2552 Radio Reading Services in the Digital Age (Dec. 24, 2025)
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Evan Starnes, a blind audio producer at Aftersight, turned a childhood fascination with sound into a career in accessible media. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Evan about his work on podcasts like Blind Level Tech, the evolution of radio reading services, and how tools like Audacity empower blind creators to produce engaging content.
2551 Crossing Swords with Blind Athletes (Dec. 17, 2025)
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Yes, it can be done! Blind fencing combines orientation and mobility skills in unique ways. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Pat Pound, a blind fencer, about techniques, equipment, and safety. Pat explains how fencing parallels using a white cane, shares training strategies, and highlights the physical and mental benefits of the sport.
2550 AI Powers Smarter and More Accurate Navigation (Dec. 10, 2025)
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Navis is a navigation app that leverages the latest AI technology to help visually impaired users travel more safely and independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Liam Geschwindt, CEO of TouchPulse, about how the app uses satellite imagery, visual positioning, and conversational guidance to complement tools like guide dogs and canes.
2549 A Recipe for Resilience (Dec. 3, 2025)
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Carina Comer turned her enjoyment of baking as a child and her passion for helping others into a thriving vegan Scandinavian-style bakery that employs and empowers disabled workers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about overcoming blindness, navigating pastry school, and building a business rooted in accessibility, resilience, and community impact.
2548 Redefining the Modern Braille Notetaker (Nov. 26, 2025)
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Blazie Technologies is reimagining classic notetakers for today’s blind users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with CEO Bryan Blazie and Marketing Director David Goldfield about the BT Speak and BT Braille devices. These Raspberry Pi powered tools blend assistive tech, modern design, and thoughtful engineering to better serve the community.
2547 Expanding Digital Access with Innosearch (Nov. 19, 2025)
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Innosearch AI is quickly expanding its suite of accessible services for blind users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with co-founder and CEO Patrick Long about new tools like voice-based shopping, travel booking, the CoBrowse AI agent, and Accessible Storefronts – all part of a fast-moving effort to make online platforms easier to use for everyone.
2546 Lenguard – The Accessible Horror-Fantasy Game for iOS (Nov. 12, 2025)
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Lenguard is an iOS horror-fantasy game that was designed to be fully accessible from the ground up on day one. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Justin Ng, co-founder of Sneaky Crab, about building Lenguard for iOS with VoiceOver-first features, story-driven gameplay, and inclusive design inspired by lessons from their prior award winning game, Timecrest.
2545 Building Community Through Fitness (Nov. 5, 2025)
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Participating in sports and exercise programs can be life-changing for people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tara Rogowski of the Northwest Association for Blind Athletes about inclusive fitness, adaptive sports, and their free virtual and in-person programs geared to the blind. They also discuss the role of community engagement.
2544 AI Training Resources for JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion (Oct. 29, 2025)
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JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion users can now benefit from AI powered tools like PictureSmart AI and FS Companion that provide image descriptions, label buttons, and help users with commands. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker from Vispero about the resources and training programs they offer for learning and using these and other tools.
2543 Transforming Accessibility Through Aira with AI (Oct. 22, 2025)
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Aira has transformed from a mostly subscription service into a resource that now offers many free services for visually impaired users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenine Stanley, Director of Customer Success at Aira about navigating public spaces and how collaborations with Google DeepMind and wearable tech promise better visual interpretation tools.
2542 Business Enterprise Competition for Blind Entrepreneurs (Oct. 15, 2025)
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Applications are now open for the 2025 Business Enterprise Competition that supports blind entrepreneurs with scholarships and cash awards. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich of The Chicago Lighthouse about the application process and eligibility requirements, Miami University of Ohio’s mentorship program for winners, and the $25,000 top prize.
2541 CoBrowse AI Agent Makes Web Interactions More Accessible (Oct. 8, 2025)
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Now AI can simplify online shopping for people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Long, co-founder of the accessible InnoSearch AI shopping service, about their new CoBrowse AI agent, which uses interactive voice-controlled commands and reasoning to make e-commerce sites and other online experiences more accessible for everyone.
2540 The Art of Audiobook Narrating (Oct. 1, 2025)
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Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with renowned audiobook narrator Scott Brick, the voice behind over 1200 audiobooks you may have enjoyed including many bestsellers. They talk about Scott’s career, the importance of voice care and hydration, his coaching of others who are new in the field, and the potential effects of AI on the industry.
2539 A Lifelong Journey with Assistive Tech as it Evolves (Sep. 24, 2025)
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How have assistive technologies evolved for blind users over the decades? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss the variety of assistive technologies Peter used over the years as his vision declined. They talk about the tools he used as a child, student, and scientist, as well as modern devices that he uses in retirement and what may be coming next.
2538 Encore of 1741 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 2 of 2) (Sep. 17, 2025)
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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.
2537 Encore of 1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2 ) (Sep. 10, 2025)
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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.
2536 Creating Tech Solutions for Social Good (Sep. 3, 2025)
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How can nonprofit tech leaders harness tech and AI to drive accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jim Fruchterman, founder of Tech Matters, about his journey from Arkenstone to Bookshare and the challenges of funding social enterprises. He shares insights on agile development, inclusive design, and why tech for good matters to the disability community.
2535 Ally Solos Smart Glasses (Aug. 27, 2025)
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Artificial Intelligence is opening new doors in accessibility. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karthik Kannan, co-founder and CTO of Envision, about the new Ally Solos smart glasses and about using QR codes to bring detailed museum descriptions to blind visitors, showing how technology can improve participation in public life for people with vision loss.
2534 From Overseas Friends to Soulmates (Aug. 20, 2025)
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How does love blossom across decades and continents? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy and Chris Jones, a blind couple who first met abroad as children, reconnected years later, had a long-distance courtship, and married after a telephone proposal. They share their journey through cross-cultural moves, parenting, and beating the odds together.
2533 Moving On and Moving In (Aug. 13, 2025)
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Moving into a new home and community can present unique challenges for blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share tips and suggestions from listeners and talk about choosing accessible communities, mapping unfamiliar spaces, the importance of planning ahead and being organized, as well as about mobility techniques to ensure safety and independence.
2532 Tactile Cubing (Aug. 6, 2025)
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How would you solve a Rubik’s Cube if you were blind? Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Paul Martz, author of the book “Solve It! The only speedsolving guide for blind cubers”. Paul, who is blind, describes how he uses textures, memory skills, and blazing speed to participate in timed challenges against blind as well as sighted participants.
2531 Touring a Music Studio Full of History and Sound (Jul. 30, 2025)
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Music technology has changed drastically over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey meet with Park Peters for a tour of his home studio. They discuss the transition from analog equipment like tape decks to powerful digital tools that are more affordable, as well as the wide array of gear that shaped his path as an audio producer.
2530 Sound Engineering By Touch and Ear (Jul. 23, 2025)
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How does a blind musician break into professional audio production? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Park Peters, a blind musician and audio engineer, about his journey from early piano lessons to mastering studio production, overcoming inaccessible equipment, and using his deep understanding of music theory to compensate for his lack of vision.
2529 Braille and Tech Work Together to Empower Blind Students (Jul. 16, 2025)
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Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jose Manolo Alvarez, a blind professor at the University of Puerto Rico who teaches future educators of the visually impaired and creates tools from hurricane trackers to games to make assistive tech more accessible and engaging for students. He also hosts a Spanish language podcast about technology for the blind.
2528 Amateur Radio Then and Now (Jul. 9, 2025)
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How does ham radio connect people worldwide? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with retired attorney and ham radio enthusiast John McCann (KW4U) about his experiences as a blind operator since the 1960’s, how modern equipment provides accessibility, and why this hobby is a fantastic way to make friends and serve as a vital emergency communication backup.
2527 Living Through Vision Lost and Vision Regained (Jul. 2, 2025)
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Becoming blind can be a difficult transition, but how does one adapt after regaining sight? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Beth Pizzarello about losing vision due to RP, adapting to blindness, and undergoing innovative surgery that restored partial sight. They discuss her book ‘Eclipsed’ and her philosophy of embracing life’s changes.
2526 Encore of 1514 Beep Baseball (Jun. 25, 2025)
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Beep Baseball is a variant of American baseball that has been adapted to be safe for its blind participants. Hosts Nancy and Pete Torpey speak with Blake Boudreaux and Stephen Guerra of the National Beep Baseball Association about how the game is played, what special equipment is used and the annual World Series of Beep Baseball.
2525 Rebuilding Life After Vision Loss (Jun. 18, 2025)
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How does a blind athlete turn adversity into opportunity? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, a Paralympic athlete and founder of AccessAbility Officer, about his journey from life-changing injury to empowering other blind individuals through employment, digital access, and inclusive athletics like beep baseball.
2524 Pathways to Employment in Digital Accessibility (Jun. 11, 2025)
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How can visually impaired individuals access meaningful careers in digital accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, CEO of AccessAbility Officer, about their training program that certifies blind professionals, providing them with real-world skills, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities in digital accessibility testing.
2523 Adapting to Combined Hearing and Vision Loss (Jun. 4, 2025)
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How can individuals with both vision and hearing loss navigate daily life? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with author Deborah Kendrick about her book “When Your Ears Can’t Help You See: Strategies for Blind and Low Vision Individuals with Hearing Loss”. She shares personal experiences with hearing aids, apps, and finding supportive audiologists.
2522 Join the Insert J Club as JAWS Turns 30 (May 28, 2025)
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The JAWS screen reader for Windows is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker about Freedom Scientific’s education initiatives, training resources, and new AI-powered FS Companion. They also introduce the new Insert J Club, a community for users to communicate and to access exclusive content and support.
2521 Advancing Treatments for Inherited Retinal Diseases (May 21, 2025)
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Research is key to fighting blinding eye diseases. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, about advancing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, funding research initiatives, and launching new mental health resources to support individuals with blindness and low vision.
2520 Accessible Devices Change Diabetes Care (May 14, 2025)
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How do visually impaired individuals manage diabetes independently? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Veronica Elsea and Patricia Maddix about accessible insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and their advocacy work for non-visual medical tools. Both women share their personal journeys navigating diabetes care as blind individuals.
2519 From Braille Music to the Big Screen (May 7, 2025)
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Rod Clemmons, who has been blind since birth, shares his journey from being a classically trained pianist to an R&B performer, producer and composer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rod about his experiences as a visually impaired musician, his passion for rhythm and blues, and his work scoring the upcoming film ‘A Jeannie for Christmas’.
2518 Lighting the Way with the See Me Cane (Apr. 30, 2025)
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Navigating in low light can be risky for blind pedestrians. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelvin Crosby about the See Me Cane, which increases visibility with built-in LED lighting. Kelvin also shares his path from vision loss to advocacy, vocational training, and launching an assistive tech program that hires blind professionals.
2517 The Able Artist Foundation (Apr. 23, 2025)
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The Able Artist Foundation supports low-income disabled musicians around the world by providing discounted music software and hardware to its members. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Stephen Letnes about what motivated him to start the organization, their company partners, and about the special programs they offer for their members.
2516 Dinner Delivered (Apr. 16, 2025)
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“Dinner Delivered” is a guide for visually impaired individuals on using grocery and meal delivery services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Loftis Nova, who co-authored the book with Chris Grabowski Nova, about navigating platforms like Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Kim shares her experiences using these services as well as practical tips for using them.
2515 The Dark Room Podcast for Movie Lovers (Apr. 9, 2025)
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Dive into the world of movies from a visually impaired perspective. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Howard and Lee Pugsley, co-hosts of The Dark Room podcast, about what motivated them to start the podcast, their experiences at movie theaters, challenges with some audio description services, and improving theater accessibility.
2514 Re-learning Life Skills After Vision loss (Apr. 2, 2025)
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What does it take to relearn life skills after vision loss? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser about his experiences with blindness training programs, transitioning from magnification to screen readers, and finding value in non-visual techniques. Erich’s journey offers insights into overcoming challenges and learning new skills.
2513 Arizona Vacation with PiccyBot and Be My Eyes (Mar. 26, 2025)
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Experience the vivid landscapes of Arizona as enhanced by detailed descriptions by AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey used various AI services like PiccyBot and Be My Eyes to describe their adventures in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, Sedona’s trails, and more. Explore how technology can enhance the visually impaired’s experience of nature.
2512 Benetech Celebrates 25 Years of Making Books Accessible for Everyone (Mar. 19, 2025)
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Benetech’s work has transformed how people with disabilities access information. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Jim Fruchterman and CEO Ayan Kishore about the evolution of Bookshare, the use of AI in accessibility, the Global Certified Accessible program, and how Benetech’s efforts have impacted digital publishing and education.
2511 Encore of 2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Mar. 12, 2025)
Show Notes
The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the field of accessibility led to him receiving this special award.
2510 Connecting Dots – A Blind Life (Mar. 5, 2025)
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Joshua Miele is a MacArthur Award-winning accessibility expert who became blind at age 4. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his new memoir “Connecting Dots – A Blind Life”, his experiences at UC Berkeley and how he came to work in accessibility, his shift from using a guide dog to a cane and how he hopes his book will reshape views on blindness.
2509 Sedona Dave and His Awarewolf Gear Cane Lab (Feb. 26, 2025)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey’s Arizona vacation took an unexpected turn when Pete’s All Terrain Hiking Cane needed repair. Fortunately, Sedona Dave, designer of the cane, lived just a few minutes from their hotel. Inviting them into his “Cane Lab”, Dave not only repaired the cane, but also described the various canes offered by Awarewolf Gear.
2508 Biped Offers Enhanced Functionality with NOA (Feb. 19, 2025)
Show Notes
The original Biped navigation device has been upgraded and renamed NOA. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mael Fabien, co-founder and CEO of Biped AI, about NOA, a wearable AI device offering obstacle detection, navigation feedback, and real-time scene descriptions. They discuss the vest’s design, how it works, and the latest upgrades.
2507 Stay Fit with Remote Fitness Coaching (Feb. 12, 2025)
Show Notes
Just because you are visually impaired doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit and healthy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Evan Schwerbrock, founder of Cane and Able Fitness and the world’s strongest blind man, about his remote training approach, the importance of small steps in fitness, and his journey from vision loss to competing in adaptive strength events.
2506 AppleVis and the Power of Community (Feb. 5, 2025)
Show Notes
AppleVis is a hub for visually impaired users of Apple products. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Nason and Scott Davert, members of the AppleVis editorial team, about the evolution of the platform, the resources available on AppleVis, the recent partnership with Be My Eyes, and the expansion to cover products outside of the Apple ecosystem.
2505 A Crash Course in Confidence (Jan. 29, 2025)
Show Notes
Want to kick start your progress to independence? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kurt Deichmann and Brian Clark of First Aid for the Blind about their innovative training program. The week-long remote sessions teach life-changing skills and provide vital tools to newly blind individuals, helping them quickly regain confidence and independence.
2504 Checkmate – Anyone Can Play Chess (Jan. 22, 2025)
Show Notes
Playing chess with vision loss? Why not! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glenn Crawford, Rita Crawford, and Marilyn Bland from the United States Blind Chess Association (USBCA). They discuss special equipment, correspondence games, and the challenges and rewards of the game. Learn about the USBCA’s resources and outreach programs.
2503 Building Skills and Breaking Stigmas (Jan. 15, 2025)
Show Notes
The Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) empowers people with disabilities through skill development, training, and career placement. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kristy Schenderlein, Director of Operations at BIT, about their innovative programs, funding model, and the critical role of assistive technology in workplace success.
2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025)
Show Notes
Eyes On Success usually focuses on products, services and daily living stories for and about people with vision loss. This week’s episode covers what it’s like for a sighted partner of a blind person. We’ve been married for 41 years and he’s been blind since long before that. Nancy continues to learn what’s special about life with Pete.
2501 Blind Not Broken – From the Other Side (Jan. 1, 2025)
Show Notes
Lucy Edwards went suddenly blind just months into her relationship with Ollie Edwards-Cave when they were both in their teens. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ollie about how he stood by her and supported her through years of struggles and depression. We also talk about Lucy’s book “Blind Not Broken” that details their experiences.
2452 AI Takes the Microphone (Dec. 25, 2024)
Show Notes
Celebrate the end of 2024 with Eyes On Success in this year-end special! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey usher in the new year with two pairs of AI-powered podcast hosts who talk about the show and its creators, then unveil a fresh website design for 2025, and finish with a special song written by Pete celebrating multi-cultural seasonal holidays.
2451 Google Leverages AI to Enhance Accessibility (Dec. 18, 2024)
Show Notes
Android is now more accessible with enhanced tools for the visually impaired, including updates to TalkBack, the Magnifier app, Lookout and Selfie Illumination. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lisie Lillianfeld and Sejal D’Souza, product managers at Google, about these features, improvements in Chrome, and other AI-driven tools that make navigating the digital world easier.
2450 Hilton and Be My Eyes Join Forces (Dec. 11, 2024)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Nicole Bergstrom, Hilton’s Sr. Director of Digital Accessibility, about Hilton’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Learn about their partnership with Be My Eyes, using Hilton staff or AI to assist visually impaired individuals and discover how Hilton is using technology to improve the guest experience for everyone.
2449 Accessible Materials for a Spiritual Life (Dec. 4, 2024)
Show Notes
Accessible religious materials enable people to fully engage with their communities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Livia Thompson from JBI and Malachy Fallon from Xavier Society for the Blind about how each organization produces materials in braille, audio, and large print to help visually impaired patrons participate in family and congregational events.
2448 Guide to iOS 18 Enhancements for Accessibility (Nov. 27, 2024)
Show Notes
Shelly Brisbin, a technology journalist and author, discusses the new revision of her book “iOS Access for All – Your comprehensive guide to accessibility for iPhone and iPad”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly about new features in iOS for blind and low vision users, including enhancements to braille keyboard, point and speak, hover typing, and Apple Intelligence.
2447 Unseen – Life as a Blind Immigrant (Nov. 20, 2024)
Show Notes
Pedro, a blind immigrant, recounts his journey toward education and a career in social work. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Pedro and Set Hernandez, director of the documentary “Unseen: Life as a Blind Immigrant,” which describes Pedro’s journey. They delve into the obstacles, anxieties, and challenges Pedro encountered along the way.
2446 Encore of 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Nov. 13, 2024)
Show Notes
Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both blind, about how their company got started and what is special about their clothing line.
2445 Shopping Made Simple with Innosearch AI (Nov. 6, 2024)
Show Notes
Discover how Innosearch AI is revolutionizing online shopping for the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Long and Bryan Vuong, co-founders of Innosearch AI, about their AI-powered platform designed to make shopping easier and more accessible with a simplified interface and the ability to ask questions of the AI.
2444 Encore of 1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Oct. 30, 2024)
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.
2443 Aira Anytime Anywhere (Oct. 23, 2024)
Show Notes
Learn how Aira is revolutionizing accessibility for the visually impaired with its blend of human interpreters and AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Everette Bacon, Chief of Blindness Initiatives, about Aira’s partnerships offering free services in many locations. Find out how Aira provides secure access to visual information anytime, anywhere.
2442 NotebookLM from Google (Oct. 16, 2024)
Show Notes
NotebookLM is a powerful AI tool being developed by Google. Working with NotebookLM, users can summarize complex information, create study guides, and generate dynamic discussions based on their own documents. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey also demonstrate how NotebookLM can be used to generate engaging audio with two interacting personalities.
2441 Finding Your Path to Financial Freedom (Oct. 9, 2024)
Show Notes
Reaching your financial goals isn’t always easy and may be even more difficult if you have a disability. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rachel Christian, the visually impaired founder of Unseen Wealth, about how she helps and coaches families with unique needs get control over their finances through personalized goal setting and education.
2440 Revolutionizing JAWS with AI (Oct. 2, 2024)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ryan Jones, Vice President of Software Product Management at Vispero, about the latest updates in the JAWS screen reader. Learn how JAWS is incorporating AI with new features like PictureSmart AI for image descriptions and the AI-powered FS Companion for help performing tasks using JAWS.
2439 From Pups to Partners – Raising Guide Dogs (Sep. 25, 2024)
Show Notes
Learn what it is like to raise a guide dog. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Lauren Grimditch, Puppy Raising Field Manager for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Jenny Truax, a dedicated volunteer. They discuss the journey of raising guide dogs, the responsibilities involved, and the rewarding experiences of volunteers who help shape these future heroes.
2438 Leashed and Left Behind – Ending Rideshare Discrimination (Sep. 18, 2024)
Show Notes
Rideshare drivers often deny service to passengers with guide dogs despite company policies and laws protecting them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Amy Salger, Alumni Engagement Manager at Guide Dogs for the Blind, and board member Melba Velez Ortiz about a survey by GDB highlighting the alarming rise in discrimination and the fight for accessible transportation.
2437 For All Your Access Technology News (Sep. 11, 2024)
Show Notes
If you’re not familiar with Top Tech Tidbits or Access Information News, you might want to learn more about these informative newsletters and websites. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Aaron Di Blasi, Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, about how they have come to be important resources for the access community.
2436 Glide to Independence (Sep. 4, 2024)
Show Notes
Glide is an innovative self-driven, AI-powered mobility device for those who are visually impaired. Using advanced sensors and real-time data, Glide navigates the user around obstacles and guides them to their destination. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Amos Miller, founder and CEO of Glidance, about the device and how it can be used.
2435 AI Video Descriptions with PiccyBot (Aug. 28, 2024)
Show Notes
There are several AI tools that vision impaired people can use for describing scenes and photos to assist in their daily lives. PiccyBot is unique, however, in that it also has the ability to describe video content. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Martijn van der Spek, developer of the app, about how it works and its many customizable features.
2434 Biking Beyond the Breaking Point (Aug. 21, 2024)
Show Notes
Hard as one might try, success in achieving one’s goal isn’t always guaranteed. When one misses the goal, however, the question is how one reacts to failure and what one learns from it. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Wilkinson about these issues as they relate to his unsuccessful attempt to complete a 3,000-mile cross country bike race.
2433 The Evolution of Benetech and Bookshare (Aug. 14, 2024)
Show Notes
Benetech has made it possible for people around the world who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled to access printed books and educational materials. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with CEO Ayan Kishore about the evolution of Benetech and Bookshare, and how they are using AI to enhance the accessibility of STEM content in their books.
2432 Strike Up Some Fun By Bowling (Aug. 7, 2024)
Show Notes
Participating in a sport can get you out meeting people, making friends, and staying healthy by being active. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert “Doc” Wright who has been a blind bowler for many years. He tells how the sport works for someone with vision loss and how you can find one of the many blind bowling leagues around the country.
2431 All Ears on Deck with Storymore Audio Dramas (Jul. 31, 2024)
Show Notes
If you like listening to audio dramas then you’ll like Storymore. If you are a visually impaired creator you might even like being a contributor to help create a radio drama with others around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with CEO Micah Thomas and SVP Tanja Milojevic about Storymore, its origins, how it works, and the content they produce.
2430 Getting the Feel of the Game (Jul. 24, 2024)
Show Notes
If you can’t see what is happening on the field, it is difficult to fully enjoy live sports even if it is being announced. But there might be another way. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jerred Mace, CEO and co-founder of OneCourt, about how their unique technology enables blind users to enjoy watching live sports using a tactile display.
2429 Your Meds Made Clear (Jul. 17, 2024)
Show Notes
Do you struggle to read prescription labels? If so, you should know that En-Vision America partners with many pharmacies to provide talking prescription labels as well as labels in braille or large print at no additional cost to you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenna Reed, marketing director at En-Vision America, about the service and how it works.
2428 A Symphony of Success (Jul. 10, 2024)
Show Notes
Julia LaGrand is a blind violinist and disability advocate who is currently studying at the New England Conservatory. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Julia about her unique approach to learning music, her experiences as a blind musician, her journey towards a successful career in musical performance, and how she uses her platform for advocacy work.
2427 Blind Not Broken – A Journey from Darkness to Determination (Jul. 3, 2024)
Show Notes
Lucy Edwards is an English influencer, disability activist, and journalist. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about her new book “Blind Not Broken” in which she shares her inspiring journey of adapting to vision loss during her teenage years, her struggles, triumphs, and how she emerged successful and content.
2426 Behind the Scenes – The Art of Audio Description (Jun. 26, 2024)
Show Notes
Dive into the world of live performance through the eyes of an audio describer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Amy Ogden, an audio describer for live theater and ballet. Amy shares insights from her training and highlights the importance of precise descriptions and supplementary background material in enhancing the live performance experience.
2425 Bringing a New Dimension to Audio Description (Jun. 19, 2024)
Show Notes
The Miners Alley Performing Arts Center offers audio described performances with a twist: a tactile tour backstage before each described show! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Executive Director Lisa DeCaro and Patron Services Manager Amy Arpan about their audio description service and get a tactile tour from Production Stage Manager Lexi Holtzer.
2424 Guiding Emily – A Story of Loss and Resilience to Rediscovery (Jun. 12, 2024)
Show Notes
The Guiding Emily series of books tells the story of how a woman who is suddenly blinded adjusts to life coping with divorce, pressures of a professional career, family relations, and more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with author Barbara Hinske about the inspiration for the series and how the first book in the series was turned into a movie.
2423 Your Reading, Your Podcast, Your Way (Jun. 5, 2024)
Show Notes
Listen Later transforms articles, websites, and written content into podcasts that you can listen to in your favorite podcast app. Simply e-mail a link or attachment and hear it read out loud in a natural voice! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Yalim Gerger to explore how Listen Later can change the way you consume information.
2422 Low Vision Connections with CCLVI (May 29, 2024)
Show Notes
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) is an affiliate program of the American Council of the Blind. Their mission is to connect low vision individuals to share information, experiences, and fun. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with members Christine Chaikin and Tom Frank about the group and the resources they offer.
2421 Behind the Screen at NV Access (May 22, 2024)
Show Notes
Development of the free and open source NVDA screen reader from NV Access began in 2006 and has served as a vital tool for blind people around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mick Curran, creator and co-developer, and Gerald Hartig, the newly announced CTO of NV Access, about how they plan to transition into the future.
2420 Helping Improve Accessibility with Fable (May 15, 2024)
Show Notes
Fable was formed to assist large enterprises in improving digital accessibility for people with various disabilities. They do this by hiring disabled community members to test and provide feedback on web sites, applications, and products. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shane Kehoe and Lynette Frison from Fable about the company and how you can join in.
2419 When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Pottery (May 8, 2024)
Show Notes
With the right attitude, life’s unexpected adversities can sometimes open up new doors and opportunities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tim Clark who suddenly lost virtually all of his sight in one eye while at work one day. During his recovery, he discovered the joy of pottery and now creates tactile works of art that can be enjoyed by all.
2418 Get Started On Starting Your Own Business (May 1, 2024)
Show Notes
The Forsythe Entrepreneurial Center at The Chicago Lighthouse provides business startup educational workshops and certification programs for vision impaired people who want to start or run their own business. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich, Vice President of Partnerships, about the Forsythe programs and how you can join.
2417 Vacation Memories with Gemini and Bing (Apr. 24, 2024)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey return home from their trip to San Diego and use AI to review photos they took while there. See how they used both Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Bing image description tools to reminisce about their visits to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, and evening walks along La Jolla beach.
2416 On Vacation with Be My Eyes (Apr. 17, 2024)
Show Notes
Come on a fun filled vacation with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they tour sites in San Diego using the Be My Eyes app as their AI tour guide. In this episode they visit the Cannibal Museum, the Museum of Us, and the model railroad museum. See how they use Be My Eyes to enhance the experience with detailed descriptions of the exhibits and answer questions.
2415 The Envision Glasses and Envision AI App (Apr. 10, 2024)
Show Notes
The Envision Glasses and app feature real-time text recognition, voice controls, and hands-free video calling for people who are blind or have low vision enabling them to access everyday visual information for themselves. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karthik Kannan, founder and CTO of Envision, about the glasses and the free to use Envision AI app.
2414 Encore of 1845 Seeing the Stars His Own Way (Apr. 3, 2024)
Show Notes
Astronomy is often thought of as based on visual observation. As it turns out most raw astronomical observations are not visible and must be transformed to be perceived by humans. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Morgan Rehnberg, a blind astronomer, about these issues in relation to those who are vision impaired and how he’s able to do his job.
2413 Music Education for the Visually Impaired (Mar. 27, 2024)
Show Notes
The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School (FMDG Music School) is committed to helping visually impaired people pursue their study of music. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dalia Sakas, Director of Music Studies at the FMDG Music School, about the instructional programs, performances, and remote learning opportunities offered by the school.
2412 RightHear Expands to More Venues (Mar. 20, 2024)
Show Notes
RightHear works with your smart phone to provide talking signage, so everyone can interpret and understand their surroundings in real time. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Idan Meir, co-founder of RightHear, about how this simple to use and easily implemented blue tooth solution works to assist visually impaired people in different venues.
2411 Encore of 1244 Hiking the Appalachian Trail Solo (Mar. 13, 2024)
Show Notes
A long hike can be much more than a walk in the woods. We’ll talk with Karl Ritter, also known as Bats, about long distance hiking including his end-to-end hike on the 2200 mile long Appalachian Trail. Karl has very little vision and did the first 500 miles alone. Learn how he used other senses and tools to compensate as well as what was in his first aid kit.
2410 The Hable One Keyboard (Mar. 6, 2024)
Show Notes
The Hable One is an external keyboard designed to make using a smartphone simpler and more convenient for those with visual impairments. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Freek van Welsenis, co-founder of Hable, about the intuitive design of this pocket-size device and how it can be used to control your smart phone and also enter Braille text.
2409 A Community of Medical Professionals (Feb. 28, 2024)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Andrea Lendaris, Bo (Kevin) Barley, and Silpa Tadavarthy about their experiences as visually impaired medical professionals and the impact that the Disability in Medical Mutual Mentorship Program (DM3P) has made in their training and careers. They discuss the community built by DM3P and the support it provides.
2408 The Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (Feb. 21, 2024)
Show Notes
The Disability in Medicine Mutual Mentorship Program (DM3P) is a grassroots organization that supports disabled healthcare professionals and trainees as they navigate the field of medicine. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with members Erin Jarrell and Suchita Rastogi about why and how the organization was formed and how its members benefit each other.
2407 Biped – The Smart Mobility Aid (Feb. 14, 2024)
Show Notes
Now the technology used in self-driving cars comes to a smart harness worn by the blind to warn of obstacles and assist navigating using a combination of GPS and audio feedback. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with co-founder and CEO Maël Fabien about the development of the Biped device, the technology behind it, and how it works.
2406 From Science to Linguistics to Both (Feb. 7, 2024)
Show Notes
Sheri Wells-Jensen wanted to be a scientist when she was young. Unfortunately, being blind as well as female she was discouraged from pursuing such a career by those around her. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sheri, now an Associate Professor of Linguistics, about her journey and how she was able to merge science into her career.
2405 Making Space Exploration Accessible (Jan. 31, 2024)
Show Notes
Sheri Wells-Jensen is a fully blind Associate Professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University who spent six days with four crew members in a hermetically sealed habitat at Biosphere 2, learning about what it would be like living on Mars or the Moon. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sheri about the experience and what was learned.
2404 Court Reporter (Jan. 24, 2024)
Show Notes
Eden Kizer is a blind court reporter. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eden about how she was drawn to the profession and what makes it a suitable profession for someone who is blind. You’ll learn about how she was trained, the technology that makes this possible, how the job is done, and why Eden finds it so rewarding.
2403 Echo Heart Rate App for iOS (Jan. 17, 2024)
Show Notes
Using Voiceover to monitor one’s heart rate while running on a noisy treadmill wearing an Apple Watch and noise cancelling AirPods is difficult. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Weiner, developer at PK Fitness, about how he added Siri commands to provide on demand speech feedback in their Echo Heart Rate app, as well as about their Fat Burn app.
2402 Meet the Host – Nancy Goodman Torpey (Jan. 10, 2024)
Show Notes
The microphone is turned around on Nancy Torpey this week when she is interviewed by Glen Gordon, Software Fellow at Freedom Scientific and host of the FSCast podcast. In this episode you’ll learn how Nancy became interested in science, how she and Peter met, her education and career as a female scientist in a male dominated profession, and more.
2401 Meet the Host – Peter Torpey (Jan. 3, 2024)
Show Notes
Late last year, Glen Gordon, Software Fellow at Freedom Scientific and host of the FSCast podcast, interviewed Peter Torpey about his life and career as a blind scientist. In these excerpts from the FSCast episode you’ll learn how Peter became interested in science, how he and Nancy met, about his work in image science at Xerox, and more.
2352 Turning the Tables on the Torpey’s (Dec. 27, 2023)
Show Notes
Capping off the 13th year of Eyes On Success, Sam Jasmine, host of the Disability and Progress podcast, interviews hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey about their show. You’ll learn how Eyes On Success got started, the mission of the show, how it evolved over the years, how guests are selected, and what the show has come to mean for the Torpey’s.
2351 Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind (Dec. 20, 2023)
Show Notes
Foresight provides accessible and affordable outdoor recreation like skiing and snowboarding for individuals with blindness or low vision, promoting fun, safety, and independence. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with board member and guide Bill Murphy, board member and participant Kevin Foster, and blind skier Claire Schultz about the program and their experiences.
2350 Uber – Making Movement Equal for All (Dec. 13, 2023)
Show Notes
Visually impaired people making use of a ride sharing service may have unique concerns such as the accessibility of the service, safety, accommodations for a guide dog, etc. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Briana Gilmore and Chris Yoon from Uber about how Uber addresses these concerns through its commitment to providing equal access to movement.
2349 Beyond Human Eyesight – AI and Visual Assistance (Dec. 6, 2023)
Show Notes
The Be My Eyes app now offers users their choice of whether to work with a sighted volunteer, an AI bot, or specific people in their own group of friends and family. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder and CEO Hans Jørgen Wiberg about the various options as well as recent privacy issues around facial description and recognition.
2348 Raising Awareness One Video at a Time (Nov. 29, 2023)
Show Notes
Lucy Edwards is a blind broadcaster, content creator, and disability activist living in the UK. One of her goals is to change how people see blindness. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lucy about what motivated her to start her social media presence, how it led to a position with the BBC, and why she says she has her dream job.
2347 iOS Access for All for iOS 17 (Nov. 22, 2023)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly Brisbin, author of “iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPhone and iPad”, about this valuable reference guide. Shelly discusses what can be found in the book and highlights features of interest including Point To Speak, customizing Voiceover voices, Personal Voice, and more.
2346 Desmos Tools for Mathematics (Nov. 15, 2023)
Show Notes
Desmos Studios offers a variety of accessible software tools for working with mathematics including scientific and graphing calculators, a matrix calculator, and a new 3-D calculator. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Accessibility Specialist Stephen Clower from Desmos about how they came to make these tools accessible and about how they work.
2345 Tutorials for Using Band-in-a-Box with JAWS (Nov. 8, 2023)
Show Notes
Band-in-a-Box is a program that can be used to create complete professional arrangements of songs in almost any style by just typing in chords. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gudrun Brunot about the tutorials she and Roy Robinson developed to help users navigate the myriad of features and enable them to effectively use the program with special JAWS scripts.
2344 Encore of 2020 Band-in-a-Box and the Updated JAWS Scripts (Nov. 1, 2023)
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.
2343 Skateboarding with a Pop, Grind, and Flip (Oct. 25, 2023)
Show Notes
Justin Bishop was fully sighted when he started skateboarding at 10 years old. Despite losing all of his useful sight in his 20’s, Justin’s dedication to skateboarding has been unwavering. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Justin about his passion for skateboarding and what accommodations he makes to enable him to excel at this active sport.
2342 Timecrest Fantasy Game for iOS (Oct. 18, 2023)
Show Notes
Jump Into the World of Fantasy with Timecrest. Get a chance to turn back time and save the world as the main character in the Timecrest fantasy game from Sneaky Crab. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Justin Ng, who co-founded Sneaky Crab with Lisa Gu, about how they made the game accessible with Voiceover and received an AppleVis Golden Apple award for Developer of the Year.
2341 Apple Accessibility – Making Tech For Everyone (Oct. 11, 2023)
Show Notes
Apple works to make their products accessible to everyone by supporting vision, hearing, speech, motor, and cognitive disabilities in all of their devices. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Hudson, an Accessibility Evangelist at Apple, about the range of accessibility features including the newly announced “Live Speech” feature and Personalized Voices.
2340 Eurofly Flight Simulator (Oct. 4, 2023)
Show Notes
Have you ever wanted to fly a plane? If so, you might want to try the Eurofly flight simulation program. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lukas Hosnedl about this fully accessible and detailed flight simulation program that enables you to fly your desired aircraft from and to any destination with detailed real time feedback and control.
2339 Accessibility of Amazon Products (Sep. 27, 2023)
Show Notes
Amazon is dedicated to making their devices and services not only user friendly but also accessible to everyone no matter what their individual challenges might be. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, director of accessibility for Amazon’s devices and services business, about how their design philosophy enhances the experience for all.
2338 The Tech Toolbox from Orbit Research (Sep. 20, 2023)
Show Notes
Orbit Research carries a wide variety of products suitable for students, professionals, and home use. These range from talking and graphics calculators to multi-line and graphical braille displays, to low vision magnifiers to braille computers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Venkatesh Chari, President and CEO of Orbit Research, about their many offerings.
2337 Joining the ACB Community (Sep. 13, 2023) Show Notes People with visual impairments may experience geographical and/or social isolation. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement for the American Council of the Blind (ACB) about the many virtual community events that they host aimed at bringing people with … Continue reading 2337 Joining the ACB Community (Sep. 13, 2023) →
2336 See the World the Way You Want with the ReBokeh App (Sep. 6, 2023)
Show Notes
Rebecca Rosenberg felt that none of the built-in accessibility features in her smart phone were designed to address her particular needs and vision disorder so she got to work. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rebecca about how she started a company that developed an iOS app that helps her and others interact with and see the “real world”.
2335 The Chatbots Are Coming (Aug. 30, 2023) Show Notes Chatbots and Large Language Models have recently become very popular and developers are experimenting with many uses for them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey demonstrate a few of the more commonly used tools to show what they are capable of and how you might be … Continue reading 2335 The Chatbots Are Coming (Aug. 30, 2023) →
2334 Going Beyond the Words in Documents and Presentations (Aug. 23, 2023) Show Notes Creating impactful documents and presentations is important for connecting with sighted individuals in all walks of life. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon about her latest books, “Designing Documents for Appearance” and “The Power of PowerPoint”, that give … Continue reading 2334 Going Beyond the Words in Documents and Presentations (Aug. 23, 2023) →
2333 The Sky Is the Limit – A Skydiving Adventure (Aug. 16, 2023) Show Notes Zach Tidwell is a blind military veteran who enjoys a variety of physical activities such as snowboarding, ski biking, mountain biking, rock-climbing, white-water kayaking, jiu-jitsu, rafting, and recently, skydiving. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Zach about skydiving without … Continue reading 2333 The Sky Is the Limit – A Skydiving Adventure (Aug. 16, 2023) →
2332 Cracking the Code of Darkness (Aug. 9, 2023) Show Notes Zach Tidwell was a marine who lost all of his sight in an instant during a period of deep depression. Despite all odds, he quickly adapted to blindness and taught himself to code. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Zach about his incredible … Continue reading 2332 Cracking the Code of Darkness (Aug. 9, 2023) →
2331 Encore of 1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Aug. 2, 2023) Show Notes They say that nothing is ever perfect. Fortunately, though, with a little extra work, most mistakes can be fixed. That even applies to the productions of Eyes On Success. Sit back and enjoy some laughs with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey … Continue reading 2331 Encore of 1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Aug. 2, 2023) →
2330 Navigating the Transition to Sight Loss (Jul. 26, 2023) Show Notes In his new book “The Country of the Blind: A Memoir At the End of Sight”, author and audio producer Andrew Leland chronicles his slow progression from sightedness to blindness due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Andrew about … Continue reading 2330 Navigating the Transition to Sight Loss (Jul. 26, 2023) →
2329 Defining Your Dream Job (Jul. 19, 2023) Show Notes Few companies were concerned with the accessibility of their products when Jyotsna Kaki was looking for a job. Undaunted, she went on to get a position at Google as an Accessibility Analyst despite the fact that that role was not yet defined. Hosts Nancy and … Continue reading 2329 Defining Your Dream Job (Jul. 19, 2023) →
2328 Accessibility of Google Android and G Suite (Jul. 12, 2023) Show Notes Google continually introduces new features in their products to make them more accessible for people with disabilities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jyotsna Kaki, a blind Accessibility Analyst at Google about a number of the latest G Suite and Android … Continue reading 2328 Accessibility of Google Android and G Suite (Jul. 12, 2023) →
2327 Preparing for Employment with Clusiv (Jul. 5, 2023) Show Notes Clusiv offers a screen-reader friendly, on-line training program aimed at providing blind clients with the skills to find meaningful employment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tamer Zaid, who recently went through the program, about how the program works, the courses he took, … Continue reading 2327 Preparing for Employment with Clusiv (Jul. 5, 2023) →
2326 The Key to Being a Piano Technician (Jun. 28, 2023) Show Notes Tuning and repairing pianos is a profession that can be enjoyable and rewarding even if one is blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dewald van Deventer, a blind piano technician living in South Africa, about his musical background and training, … Continue reading 2326 The Key to Being a Piano Technician (Jun. 28, 2023) →
2325 Innovative Impact LLC (Jun. 21, 2023) Show Notes Kirk Adams is the managing director of Innovative Impact LLC, a venture he started whose mission is to consult with companies to accelerate inclusion for people who are blind in their workforce. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kirk about his background and how he … Continue reading 2325 Innovative Impact LLC (Jun. 21, 2023) →
2324 Woodworking By Touch (Jun. 14, 2023) Show Notes Dave Carlson was introduced to woodworking as a youth, watching and helping his dad in the shop. However, it wasn’t until losing his sight to RP in his 40’s and was inspired to make a toybox for his grandson that he took on this hobby in … Continue reading 2324 Woodworking By Touch (Jun. 14, 2023) →
2323 Be My Eyes Virtual Volunteer (Jun. 7, 2023) Show Notes Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind individuals and their cameras to sighted volunteers for real-time assistance. Now the power of AI comes to the app with the addition of their “virtual volunteer” option. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder … Continue reading 2323 Be My Eyes Virtual Volunteer (Jun. 7, 2023) →
2322 Blazing the Trails with Awarewolf Gear (May 31, 2023) Show Notes Sedona Dave is blind and was tired of people not noticing him when walking around town and crashing into him. He also wanted a better and safer way of hiking the trails around him. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave about … Continue reading 2322 Blazing the Trails with Awarewolf Gear (May 31, 2023) →
2321 Awarewolf Gear All Terrain Cane (May 24, 2023)
Show Notes
The All Terrain Cane (ATC) is a sturdy folding cane designed for blind hikers. Made of lightweight titanium and having an adjustable length, the ATC is suitable for a variety of terrains. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Sedona Dave, founder of Awarewolf Gear, about how he came up with the idea, and the benefits of using it for hiking and other outdoor activities.
2320 Firefox Accessibility Enhancements (May 17, 2023)
Show Notes
Accessibility has always been an important factor in the development of the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jamie Teh, technical lead for accessibility at the Mozilla Foundation, about recent improvements to both the accessibility and responsiveness of Firefox for those using screen readers as well and how that work is done.
2319 NVDA – A Community Driven Project (May 10, 2023)
Show Notes
The NVDA screen reader was first released in 2006 and continues to be used by people around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Michael Curran about the ongoing development efforts of NVDA, including the active community involvement and feedback-driven approach that continue to shape the future of this free and open-source software.
2318 BrailleDoodle Tactile Tablet (May 3, 2023)
Show Notes
The BrailleDoodle is an inexpensive refreshable 2-sided tablet for learning Braille and creating tactile images. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with inventor Daniel Lubiner, CEO and founder of TouchPad Pro Foundation which makes the device, about the inspiration for the device, its features, and the role it can play in education and daily life.
2317 Trailblazing for Inclusivity (Apr. 26, 2023)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Daniels, who has been blind since youth, about his journey of overcoming challenges and achieving success as a computer programmer for over 35 years. Before “inclusion” was popular, Greg’s story exemplifies the power of determination, resilience, and the importance of the support of family, teachers, and employers.
2316 Musical Scores with the Accessible MuseScore 4 (Apr. 19, 2023)
Show Notes
MuseScore is a sophisticated and feature rich program for creating and listening to musical scores. The release of version 4 brings many improvements to accessibility for people using screen readers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Sabatella, an educator and one of the developers of MuseScore, about this free, open source application.
2315 The Beat Goes On – The Life of a Blind Music Producer (Apr. 12, 2023)
Show Notes
Scott Chesworth is a blind music producer who also offers mixing and mastering services for his clients. He can often be found tutoring and training others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott about his journey into music, his passion for working with others and his commitment to making music accessible for people with disabilities.
2314 Memoirs of a Guide Dog (Apr. 5, 2023)
Show Notes
Mark Carlson is familiar with blindness as it runs in his family. He has come to view his lack of sight as second nature and approaches life with a positive outlook and sense of humor. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mark about his life and the books he has written about his guide dogs as well as his other passion, military strategy.
2313 Innovations from the DAISY Consortium (Mar. 29, 2023)
Show Notes
The DAISY Consortium is an international organization that aims to improve access to information for people with print disabilities around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Kerscher and Richard Orme about their impact on e-pub standards and their latest work to reach more people in underdeveloped countries.
2312 Braille Ignition Kits from NBP (Mar. 22, 2023)
Show Notes
The National Braille Press produces a variety of braille books and manuals for all ages and interests. Now they have released a set of resource kits developed specifically for teachers of the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kesel Wilson, editorial director at the NBP, about what is in these resource kits and how they can be used effectively.
2311 Victor Reader Stream 3 (Mar. 15, 2023)
Show Notes
The popular Victor Reader Stream from Humanware has recently been updated with an improved design and new features. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mathieu Paquette, Product Manager of Victor Reader products, and Peter Tucic, Director of Strategic Partnerships, about this accessible palm-sized multimedia device and why you might enjoy using it.
2310 The Blind Kitchen (Mar. 8, 2023)
Show Notes
Debra Erickson is the executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen where adaptive tools, helpful strategies, and specialized knowledge are provided to blind and vision-impaired people who want to cook safely, confidently, and independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Debra who shares tips and tools that make working in the kitchen safer and easier.
2309 Eschenbach’s Haus Call Tele-low-vision Program (Mar. 1, 2023)
Show Notes
Although assistive devices can’t improve your vision, they can help you use the vision you do have to perform tasks more easily. Now you can work with a specialist remotely to find the device that’s right for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Gels, director of marketing for Eschenbach Optik of America about their tele-low-vision service.
2308 An Inside Look at Audio Book Narration (Feb. 22, 2023)
Show Notes
Listening to audio books has become a very popular way of reading. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hillary Huber, a voice actress who has narrated over 700 audio books for both blind and sighted listeners, about how audio books are made, the challenges faced by narrators, and what makes her job fun and rewarding. There’s more to it than you’d expect.
2307 The Path to Employment with NSITE (Feb. 15, 2023)
Show Notes
NSITE is an organization that trains, prepares, and helps blind clients obtain employment. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matthew Kehl, a blind job seeker who completed a program through NSITE and obtained a Sourcing Specialist certificate. He shares his experiences with the training and support from NSITE in helping him secure employment.
2306 Encore of 1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Feb. 8, 2023)
Show Notes
Join hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey as they explore their new home state of Colorado in celebration of their 35th anniversary. Follow them as they prepare for their journey, walk trails along raging rivers, hike along narrow ledges hanging on steep canyon walls, and more. You might even learn the true story of Mike the headless chicken!
2305 Orbis Flying Eye Hospital (Feb. 1, 2023)
Show Notes
Vision impairment affects many people around the world. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach and treat people who live in remote areas. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Maria Montero, an ophthalmologist and assistant director of clinical services of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital about how their model addresses the problem.
2304 Equipping Beep Baseball Worldwide (Jan. 25, 2023)
Show Notes
Learn how beep baseballs are made as well as about the surprising connection between beep baseball and the phone company when hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John Cruz, lead volunteer for the group that assembles beep baseball equipment, and J Kelly, chapter president of the Colorado Legacy West Pioneers. We’ll also talk about how the game is played.
2303 The View from Inside at Vispero (Jan. 18, 2023)
Show Notes
Ryan Jones has recently stepped up to take on the role of Vice President of Software Products at Vispero following the retirement of Eric Damery who held that position for many years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ryan about how his long career with Vispero has prepared him for this role and his outlook for the future of accessibility.
2302 JAWS Evolves to Meet Changing Needs (Jan. 11, 2023)
Show Notes
In this second of a two-part series, we talk about how the JAWS screen reader has had to adapt to advances in computer technology as well as to the evolving requirements of users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with long time colleagues and friends Ted Henter, Eric Damery, and Glen Gordon as they reminisce about their contributions to accessibility.
2301 Early Days of JAWS (Jan. 4, 2023)
Show Notes
In this first of a two-part series, we trace the history of the JAWS screen reader and how it has evolved to adapt to advances in technology over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ted Henter, founder of Henter Joyce, Eric Damery, retired vice president of blindness products, and Glen Gordon, lead software developer now at Freedom Scientific.
2252 Hosting and Producing Eyes On Success (Dec. 28, 2022)
Show Notes
Listeners often want to know more about the hosts and producers of Eyes On Success and how the show works. Well, this week they get to hear excerpts from an interview that Aaron Rockford, host of the Aaron’s Opinion podcast, did with Nancy and Peter Torpey. Enter “eos_show” into the search field on our web site to find more shows about us or the show.
2251 Encore of 1929 Tarot Card Reading (Dec. 21, 2022)
Show Notes
What does the future hold for Eyes On Success? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey find out when they talk with Eden Kizer, a totally blind professional tarot card reader, about the magic of tarot cards, how she became a tarot card reader, and how she turned it into a profitable business that she can do from the comfort of her own home.
2250 Flight for Sight (Dec. 14, 2022)
Show Notes
Blind people are capable of doing almost anything they want these days. But would you expect a blind person to be piloting a plane? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kaiya Armstrong, a blind college student, who learned to fly a plane and then flew herself cross country thanks to a program sponsored by the Foundation for Blind Children.
2249 Science Without Sight (Dec. 7, 2022)
Show Notes
As many of our listeners know, despite being born blind, co-host of Eyes On Success Peter Torpey enjoyed math and science as a youth and went on to obtain a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics and work as a research scientist at Xerox Corporation. This week Marie Sina of Deutsche Welle talks to Peter about his educational and work experiences in science.
2248 Hello Darkness, My Old Friend (Nov. 30, 2022) Show Notes “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend” is the story of a young man who, after losing his eyesight to disease, finds the power to break through the darkness and fulfill his vision for a life of distinguished public service. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk … Continue reading 2248 Hello Darkness, My Old Friend (Nov. 30, 2022) →
2247 Training Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrists (Nov. 23, 2022) Show Notes People with newly diagnosed vision problems may not get directed to low vision optometrists who can help them adapt to their vision changes. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Richard Jamara and Sarah Hinkley, two editors of a training guide for low vision … Continue reading 2247 Training Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrists (Nov. 23, 2022) →
2246 Over Every Hurdle (Nov. 16, 2022) Show Notes “Over Every Hurdle” is the third book in a series whose protagonist suddenly loses her sight and adapts to life as a blind person. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with best-selling author Barbara Hinske and with Julie Rock, Manager, Adult and Transition Services at Foundation … Continue reading 2246 Over Every Hurdle (Nov. 16, 2022) →
2245 Waymap Navigation System (Nov. 9, 2022) Show Notes The Waymap app was designed to assist visually impaired people navigate transportation systems in cities around the world. Requiring no signals, the app is accurate down to 1 meter both indoors and outdoors. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with CEO Tom Pey about the motivation … Continue reading 2245 Waymap Navigation System (Nov. 9, 2022) →
2244 Writing a Novel as Therapy (Nov. 2, 2022) Show Notes Some people write for fun or because it is a job. Others have a story they want to share. When Aaron Spelker suddenly lost his sight, he found writing to be both therapeutic as well as a good activity for learning important blindness skills. … Continue reading 2244 Writing a Novel as Therapy (Nov. 2, 2022) →
2243 How to Find Accessible Games (Oct. 26, 2022) Show Notes If you enjoy gaming on your iOS or other device and are also visually impaired, it is likely that you have experienced the frustration of finding a game that is accessible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Aaron Spelker, who runs the Mobile … Continue reading 2243 How to Find Accessible Games (Oct. 26, 2022) →
2242 Remote Jazz Piano Instruction (Oct. 19, 2022) Show Notes Have you always wanted to play the piano but just never got around to it or couldn’t arrange the logistics? If so, then Mark Miller, who does business as the piano web man, has the answer for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with … Continue reading Remote Jazz Piano Instruction →
2241 Getting Your Business to the Next Level (Ocr. 12, 2022) Show Notes The New Venture Competition awards winning participants cash prizes to help get their new or growing business to the next level. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with long-time organizer Colleen Wunderlich as well as with the 2021 winners of the competition, … Continue reading 2241 Getting Your Business to the Next Level (Ocr. 12, 2022) →
2240 NSITE Employment Services (Oct. 5, 2022) Show Notes NSITE provides a full range of training resources, connections with potential employers, as well as internship opportunities for people who are visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marianne Haegeli, Program Director, NSITE Learning and Leadership, about the organization and how their services might … Continue reading 2240 NSITE Employment Services (Oct. 5, 2022) →
2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022) Show Notes If you can’t see the image, you can still experience it. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Rhue II, principal informal education specialist, and Claire Blome, Principal Science Writer and author of some of the descriptions, both of the Space Telescope Science … Continue reading 2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022) →
2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022) Show Notes If you can’t see the image, you can still experience it. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Timothy Rhue II, principal informal education specialist, and Claire Blome, Principal Science Writer and author of some of the descriptions, both of the Space Telescope Science … Continue reading 2239 Images from the Webb Telescope (Sep. 28, 2022) →
2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) Show Notes Most episodes of Eyes On Success center on the experiences of a blind person, whether dealing with technology, employment, travelling or whatever. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss raising and living with a blind person from everybody else’s perspective, … Continue reading 2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) →
2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) Show Notes Most episodes of Eyes On Success center on the experiences of a blind person, whether dealing with technology, employment, travelling or whatever. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss raising and living with a blind person from everybody else’s perspective, … Continue reading 2238 Encore of 1133 Living with a Blind Person (Sep. 21, 2022) →
2237 Raising a Sighted Child (Sep. 14, 2022) Show Notes What is it like to raise a sighted child when one of the parents is blind? That is the question Ron and Denise Miller asked of hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey back in 2015. We talked with the Miller’s about our experiences raising sighted children … Continue reading 2237 Raising a sighted child (Sep. 14, 2022) →
2236 NBP Center for Braille Innovation (Sep. 7, 2022) Show Notes The National Braille Press (NBP) is well known for its mission of promoting braille literacy and producing a variety of braille books for all ages and interests. Perhaps less well known is their program to advance technologies to produce braille. Hosts Nancy and Peter … Continue reading 2236 NBP Center for Braille Innovation (Sep. 7, 2022) →
2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022) Show Notes Have you ever considered becoming a pole dancer? Surprisingly, the experience might not be what you would have expected. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lauren Back, a blind pole dancer, who has enjoyed participating in several pole dancing groups and extols the virtues … Continue reading 2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022) →
2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022) Show Notes Have you ever considered becoming a pole dancer? Surprisingly, the experience might not be what you would have expected. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lauren Back, a blind pole dancer, who has enjoyed participating in several pole dancing groups and extols the virtues … Continue reading 2235 Pole Dancing for Fitness (Aug. 31, 2022) →
2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022) Show Notes Clusiv is the world’s first e-learning platform built for and by blind people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Luke Simianer, CEO and co-founder of Clusiv, about the motivation for starting Clusiv, how it works, and how they are partnering with regional vocational services around … Continue reading 2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022) →
2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022) Show Notes Clusiv is the world’s first e-learning platform built for and by blind people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Luke Simianer, CEO and co-founder of Clusiv, about the motivation for starting Clusiv, how it works, and how they are partnering with regional vocational services around … Continue reading 2234 Clusiv e-Learning Platform (Aug. 24, 2022) →
2233 Tribute to Eric Damery (Aug. 17, 2022) Show Notes Eric Damery recently announced his retirement as VP of Software Product Management at Vispero / Freedom Scientific. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his long career in the field of assistive technology and how the marketing and distribution of products for the … Continue reading 2233 Tribute to Eric Damery (Aug. 17, 2022) →
2232 Blind Stand-Up Comedian (Aug. 10, 2022) Show Notes During the day, Todd Blenkhorn is an I.T. specialist who works at the Canadian National Institute of the Blind. After work, however, Todd performs in local comedy clubs in Toronto. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Todd about getting into comedy and how he integrates … Continue reading 2232 Blind Stand-Up Comedian (Aug. 10, 2022) →
2231 Marine Biology (Aug. 3, 2022) Show Notes Maureen Hayden is completing her PhD in marine biology. With limited vision, she uses a variety of tools to assist her when working in the field, in the lab, as well as to teach. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about how she got interested … Continue reading 2231 Marine Biology (Aug. 3, 2022) →
2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022) Show Notes Barbara Spohn-Lillo is the owner and founder of Prosthetic Illusions which develops custom prostheses for various body parts including eyes. Both she and her daughter Chelsea Lillo, with whom she works, are anaplastologists and ocularists. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as … Continue reading 2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022) →
2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022) Show Notes Barbara Spohn-Lillo is the owner and founder of Prosthetic Illusions which develops custom prostheses for various body parts including eyes. Both she and her daughter Chelsea Lillo, with whom she works, are anaplastologists and ocularists. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as … Continue reading 2230 Encore of 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Jul. 27, 2022) →
2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022) Show Notes Episode #2223 of Eyes On Success featured a variety of pet peeves of a blind person navigating in a world primarily designed for and consisting of sighted people. The show elicited lots of responses from listeners who resonated with what they heard. This week hosts … Continue reading 2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022) →
2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022) Show Notes Episode #2223 of Eyes On Success featured a variety of pet peeves of a blind person navigating in a world primarily designed for and consisting of sighted people. The show elicited lots of responses from listeners who resonated with what they heard. This week hosts … Continue reading 2229 Pet Peeves from Listeners (Jul. 20, 2022) →
2228 Graphical Braille Display and eBRF (Jul. 13, 2022) Show Notes Wouldn’t it be nice to have an affordable, 2-D, refreshable Braille display? Soon that may not be just a dream. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Stilson and William Freeman from the American Printing House about the new technology behind the combined … Continue reading 2228 Graphical Braille Display and eBRF (Jul. 13, 2022) →
2227 Using MathML with JAWS (Jul. 6, 2022) Show Notes Mathematics has been called the language of science. But how can a visually impaired person read and write complex mathematical expressions that are often written in a 2-D format? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ron Miller, Blindness Technology Products Specialist at Vispero, about … Continue reading 2227 Using MathML with JAWS (Jul. 6, 2022) →
2226 National Coding Symposium and STEM Camp (Jun. 29, 2022) Show Notes The fields of computers and STEM offer excellent career opportunities for visually impaired people. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Leanne Grillot, outreach director at the American Printing House, about some of APH’s ongoing programs to inspire interest in these fields, make … Continue reading 2226 National Coding Symposium and STEM Camp (Jun. 29, 2022) →
2225 The Candy in My Pocket (Jun. 22, 2022) Show Notes Over the years John Robert Wiltgen developed many complications from childhood diabetes including blindness, amputation of a limb, and kidney failure. Despite these setbacks, he soldiered on to become a world-renowned interior designer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John about his experiences … Continue reading 2225 The Candy in My Pocket (Jun. 22, 2022) →
2224 Offerings from Independence Science (Jun. 15, 2022) Show Notes Accessible measurement tools are essential if visually impaired students and professionals are to be full participants in STEM related activities either independently or with their sighted peers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Michael Hingson and Ashley Neybert, from Independence Science, about the tools … Continue reading 2224 Offerings from Independence Science (Jun. 15, 2022) →
2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022) Show Notes People who are blind have many ways of adapting in a world that consists of primarily sighted people. Sometimes though, being blind can be frustrating, especially when simple changes that could be made to make our lives easier are not made. This week … Continue reading 2223 Pet Peeves of a Blind Person (Jun. 8, 2022) →
2222 Voice Dream Reader for macOS (Jun. 1, 2022) Show Notes The award-winning Voice Dream Reader app is used by many Voiceover users and others around the world to read and listen to documents in many formats. Originally developed for iOS, this powerful productivity tool now comes to macOS. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk … Continue reading 2222 Voice Dream Reader for macOS (Jun. 1, 2022) →
2221 Products and Programs from National Braille Press (May 25, 2022) Show Notes No matter what your age, interests, or career, chances are that the National Braille Press offers something for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kesel Wilson, editorial director at the NBP, about books the NBP produces in braille and other … Continue reading 2221 Offerings from the National Braille Press (May 25, 2022) →
2220 Encore of 2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (May 18, 2022) 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 … Continue reading 2220 Encore of 2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (May 18, 2022) →
2219 The Hosts as Guests (May 11, 2022) Show Notes Every week Peter and Nancy Torpey interview interesting guests from around the world for their Eyes On Success weekly podcast. This week, however, the tables are turned as Sonia Usatch-Kuhn, host of the North Carolina Radio Reading Services Community Connections podcast, interviews Peter and Nancy … Continue reading 2219 The Hosts as Guests (May 11, 2022) →
2218 Conditions for the Blind in Iran (May 4, 2022) Show Notes Aliasghar Assadi is a blind teacher of blind and visually impaired students in Iran. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ali about conditions for the blind in Iran including the challenges of acquiring assistive technologies, how legal protections for the disabled are … Continue reading 2218 Conditions for the Blind in Iran (May 4, 2022) →
2217 Encore of 1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 27, 2022) 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 … Continue reading 2217 Encore of 1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 27, 2022) →
2216 An Advocate For All (Apr. 20, 2022) Show Notes As President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, Virginia Jacko is committed to ensuring that the blind and visually impaired have equitable access to education, blindness prevention programs, and vision rehabilitation training. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Virginia about her … Continue reading 2216 An Advocate For All (Apr. 20, 2022) →
2215 Managing Care for Mental Health Disorders (Apr. 13, 2022) Show Notes Finding the right therapist to help deal with a mental health issue is crucial to having a successful outcome. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert DeYoung, a practicing psychoanalyst who himself is blind, about special concerns faced by making this choice … Continue reading 2215 Managing Care for Mental Health Disorders (Apr. 13, 2022) →
2214 Bookshare Reader for Smart Speakers (Apr. 6, 2022) Show Notes Bookshare makes books available to people with reading disabilities in a number of digital formats. Now you can listen to any of the over 1,000,000 titles in their collection on your smart speaker. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hema Natarajan who heads … Continue reading 2214 Bookshare Reader for Smart Speakers (Apr. 6, 2022) →
2213 Seeing the World More Clearly (Mar. 30, 2022) Show Notes The Envision Glasses is a digital eyewear solution that helps visually impaired people read text, recognize objects, make video calls and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Envision co-founder Karthik Kannan about the glasses and how they are designed to empower … Continue reading 2213 Seeing the World More Clearly (Mar. 30, 2022) →
2212 Never Too Late To Learn (Mar. 23, 2022) Show Notes The mission of Hadley is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with vision loss to thrive – at home, at work, and in their communities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ed Haines, Chief Program Officer at Hadley, about some of … Continue reading 2212 Never Too Late To Learn (Mar. 23, 2022) →
2211 Your Personal Path to Fitness (Mar. 16, 2022) Show Notes Is your visual impairment keeping you from exercising and being as active as you would like? If so, this is the book for you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy Dixon and Bonnie O’Day about their new book, “Your Personal Path To … Continue reading 2211 Your Personal Path to Fitness (Mar. 16, 2022) →
2210 Benefits of Hiring the Blind and Visually Impaired (Mar. 9, 2022) Show Notes Welby Broaddus is an active advocate for employment of the blind and visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Welby, who is visually impaired himself, about his new book that serves as a handbook for educating business owners, executives, … Continue reading 2210 Benefits of Hiring the Blind and Visually Impaired (Mar. 9, 2022) →
2209 Succeeding Despite the Odds (Mar. 2, 2022) Show Notes How does a visually impaired person find rewarding employment? Sometimes it isn’t easy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ulysses Harmony Garcia about how she overcame obstacles as a blind individual by acquiring experience as a volunteer, participating in a job training program, working … Continue reading 2209 Succeeding Despite the Odds (Mar. 2, 2022) →
2208 Extreme Sports – Rock Climbing (Feb. 23, 2022) Show Notes John Churcher’s experience is proof that it is never too late to begin something new. Inspired by a friend later in life, he soon became an avid rock climber. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with John about what rock climbing means to him, how … Continue reading 2208 Extreme Sports – Rock Climbing (Feb. 23, 2022) →
2207 Encore of 1502 Product Development at Humanware (Feb. 16, 2022) Show Notes Bringing new products to market involves time, planning, and feedback from customers. This week, hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey talk with Dominic Labbé, Product Development Director for blindness related products at Humanware. He describes how the process works at Humanware and how … Continue reading 2207 Encore of 1502 Product Development at Humanware (Feb. 16, 2022) →
2206 Optic Low Vision Swimming Aid (Feb. 9, 2022) Show Notes Competitive blind swimmers currently rely on sighted assistants to signal them before making their turn for the next lap. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mirthe Hofstede who, for a student project, developed a system that obviates the need for an assistant while … Continue reading 2206 Optic Low Vision Swimming Aid (Feb. 9, 2022) →
2205 Taking Charge of Your Health (Feb. 2, 2022) Show Notes As a result of being born prematurely, Jeff Bishop had to deal with a number of medical issues including becoming a diabetic. Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Jeff about his journey to control his diabetes by making a series of lifestyle changes that … Continue reading 2205 Taking Charge of Your Health (Feb. 2, 2022) →
2204 Accessibility of Medical Devices (Jan. 26, 2022) Show Notes In order for people to take charge of their health and manage certain medical conditions it is often important that medical monitoring devices be accessible to those who need them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tom Tobin and Jeff Bishop, who are both … Continue reading 2204 Accessibility of Medical Devices (Jan. 26, 2022) →
2203 Inspire Low Vision Aid (Jan. 19, 2022) Show Notes Inspire is a lightweight headset that enables people with low vision to make the most use of the vision that they have. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Brian Murphey, sales manager from IrisVision, about this digital eyewear system and how it can be … Continue reading 2203 Inspire Low Vision Aid (Jan. 19, 2022) →
2202 Not Just For Fun (Jan. 12, 2022) Show Notes Camp Abilities is a week long sports camp for children with visual impairments. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lauren Lieberman, the camp’s founder and director, about the program and the benefits it provides to blind youth who otherwise might have missed out on … Continue reading 2202 Not Just For Fun (Jan. 12, 2022) →
2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Jan. 5, 2022) Show Notes The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the … Continue reading 2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Jan. 5, 2022) →
2153 Behind the Scenes at Eyes On Success (Dec. 29, 2021) Show Notes There are many steps that go into hosting and producing a successful podcast. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey walk listeners through the process that they follow in putting each episode of Eyes On Success together. From deciding on topics and … Continue reading 2153 Behind the Scenes at Eyes On Success (Dec. 29, 2021) →
2152 Apple HomeKit and the Smart Home (Dec. 22, 2021) Show Notes There are a myriad of devices based on the Apple Home Kit, but how are they used and which have the functionality you might be looking for? Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey talk with Dustin Boggus, who is visually impaired himself, about his … Continue reading 2152 Apple HomeKit and the Smart Home (Dec. 22, 2021) →
2151 The Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project (Dec. 15, 2021) Show Notes The goal of the Intracortical Visual Prosthesis (ICVP) project is to develop a device and system that will compensate for blindness by directly stimulating the visual centers within the brain. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with principal investigators Philip Troyk and Frank Lane … Continue reading 2151 The Intracortical Visual Prosthesis Project (Dec. 15, 2021) →
2150 Voxmate App (Dec. 8, 2021) Show Notes The number and complexity of gestures required to operate today’s smart phones and tablets can make operating such devices a daunting task for those who are less technically savvy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gleb Zevkov and Katja Danilova, founders and developers of the Voxmate … Continue reading 2150 Voxmate App (Dec. 8, 2021) →
2149 Encore of 1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Dec. 1, 2021) Show Notes “Dining in the dark” restaurants have opened in many countries. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Christine Malec, author and massage therapist, about the 2 years she spent as a blind waitress in a totally dark restaurant. She describes the dining … Continue reading 2149 Encore of 1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Dec. 1, 2021) →
2148 Talk Description to Me (Nov. 24, 2021) Show Notes J.J. Hunt is an audio describer and storyteller. Christine Malec is an inquisitive member of the blind and partially sighted community who’s always wondering about something. Together they host and produce the “Talk Description to Me” podcast. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with the … Continue reading 2148 Talk Description to Me (Nov. 24, 2021) →
2147 The Unexpected Path (Nov. 17, 2021) Show Notes “Guiding Emily” was written by Barbara Hinske and describes the journey of a newly blinded woman with her first guide dog. Emily’s story is continued in the newly released sequel “The Unexpected Path”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Barbara about her new book, its … Continue reading 2147 The Unexpected Path (Nov. 17, 2021) →
2146 Running with Google Project Guideline (Nov. 10, 2021) Show Notes Google’s “Project Guideline” is an early stage research project aimed at enabling those with vision loss to run independently. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bill Ma, director of IT and operations and Jessy DiNapoli, manager of admissions at Guiding Eyes for the … Continue reading 2146 Running with Google Project Guideline (Nov. 10, 2021) →
2145 Accessibility of Android Devices Past and Present (Nov. 3, 2021) Show Notes The accessibility of Android devices has continued to improve over the years and is now a viable option for those who are visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Austin Pinto, Warren Carr and Mariam Mohsen from the Blind Android … Continue reading 2145 Accessibility of Android Devices Past and Present (Nov. 3, 2021)
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2144 Accessibility Features Introduced in iOS 15 (Oct. 27, 2021) Show Notes Every year Apple releases a new and improved operating system for iOS devices. Each release also often comes with new accessibility features, and this year is no exception. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Hudson, Apple’s Accessibility Evangelist, about some of … Continue reading 2144 Accessibility Features Introduced in iOS 15 (Oct. 27, 2021) →
2143 UN Resolution Commits Countries to Eye Care (Oct. 20, 2021) Show Notes Many people around the world suffer from vision problems that are readily treatable. A new United Nations resolution aims to address this problem. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jessica Thompson, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the International Agency for … Continue reading 2143 UN Resolution Commits Countries to Eye Care (Oct. 20, 2021) →
2142 Birdability (Oct. 13, 2021) Show Notes Birdability is an organization whose mission is to make birding accessible to all. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Freya McGregor, Birdability Coordinator and Occupational Therapist, and Michael Hurben, avid birder with vision loss, about the organization and how anyone can enjoy birding and the wonderful outdoors … Continue reading 2142 Birdability (Oct. 13, 2021) →
2141 Not Just A Leap Of Faith (Oct. 6, 2021) Show Notes People who are visually impaired are no strangers to participating in sports. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine jumping over a 10 or 12 foot high bar without seeing the bar. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bradly Rainwater, … Continue reading 2141 Not Just A Leap Of Faith (Oct. 6, 2021) →
2140 Encore of 1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Sep. 29, 2021) Show Notes Meet Susan Bennett whose voice was used to create the original female English language Siri voice. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Susan about her experiences as a voice artist, actress, and musician, what it was like to create the voice … Continue reading 2140 Encore of 1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Sep. 29, 2021) →
2139 Using Reaper with OSARA (Sep. 22, 2021) Show Notes Reaper is a powerful multi-track audio production program used by many people with visual impairments. The program is made accessible using a screen reader on both PC’s and Mac’s by the open source OSARA extension for Reaper. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott … Continue reading 2139 Using Reaper with OSARA (Sep. 22, 2021) →
2138 Maxima Computer Algebra System (Sep. 15, 2021) Show Notes Maxima is a computer algebra system (CAS) that enables the user to work with complex mathematical expressions. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert Dodier, one of the developers of Maxima, about the capabilities of this free, open source program and also demonstrate how … Continue reading 2138 Maxima Computer Algebra System (Sep. 15, 2021) →
2137 Sharing Experiences with Cochlear Implants (Sep. 8, 2021) Show Notes Blind individuals rely heavily on their ability to hear in order to compensate for their lack of sight. But what happens when a blind person loses their hearing? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey join a conversation between Jim Snowbarger and Greg Green, both of … Continue reading 2137 Sharing Experiences with Cochlear Implants (Sep. 8, 2021) →
2136 Combining Computer Science with Social Sciences (Sep. 1, 2021) Show Notes Bhavya Shah grew up in India where blind students were often dissuaded from certain studies and careers and where many textbooks could not be obtained in an accessible format. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Bhavya about how he overcame these challenges … Continue reading 2136 Combining Computer Science with Social Sciences (Sep. 1, 2021) →
2135 Getting Around as an Entrepreneur (Aug. 25, 2021) Show Notes Fernando Albertorio is a blind chemist turned entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is also a co-founder of the Sunu Band, a device worn on the wrist to provide tactile navigation cues to the blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Fernando about his journey, … Continue reading 2135 Getting Around as an Entrepreneur (Aug. 25, 2021) →
2134 Navigating Indoors with the Clew App (Aug. 18, 2021) Show Notes Most navigation apps rely on GPS and work well outdoors. Unfortunately, such apps are not suitable for indoor use. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Paul Ruvolo about the Clew app he developed which overcomes this limitation by making use of Apple’s … Continue reading 2134 Navigating Indoors with the Clew App (Aug. 18, 2021)
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2133 Encore of 1844 Sounds of the Stars (Aug. 11, 2021) Show Notes Last week we talked about creating tactile representations of the universe. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Salvesen, a post-doctoral fellow at UCSB, and Matt Russo, a professor of astronomy at Seneca College about using sonification to transform … Continue reading 2133 Encore of 1844 Sounds of the Stars (Aug. 11, 2021) →
2132 Making Astronomy Accessible (Aug. 4, 2021) Show Notes Astronomy is generally thought to be a very visually oriented field, but with some thought, it can be made accessible to those who are blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Noreen Grice, founder and president of You Can Do Astronomy, about how she makes … Continue reading 2132 Making Astronomy Accessible (Aug. 4, 2021) →
2131 MuseScore Music Scoring Software (Jul. 28, 2021) Show Notes MuseScore is a program for creating and sharing musical scores. Despite being open source and free, MuseScore includes many of the features found in commercial programs. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marc Sabatella, one of the developers, about his work to make MuseScore … Continue reading 2131 MuseScore Music Scoring Software (Jul. 28, 2021) →
2130 Creating Solutions to Solve Problems (Jul. 21, 2021) Show Notes Doug Lee has been blind his entire life. In addition to writing JAWS scripts for Level Access, a firm that develops access solutions for other companies, Doug also freely shares many scripts and tools he has developed to improve access to commonly used programs. … Continue reading 2130 Creating Solutions to Solve Problems (Jul. 21, 2021) →
2129 On the Road Again After Covid (Jul. 14 2021) Show Notes Video calls with a 3 and 5 year old just don’t cut it. So hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey decided to take their first big road trip after Covid to see the grandkids in person. Hear about their journey from Colorado to Michigan … Continue reading 2129 On the Road Again After Covid (Jul. 14 2021)
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2128 Tools for Blind Scientists (Jul. 7, 2021) Show Notes The more tools one has in one’s toolbox the better one will be prepared to take on new tasks and address new problems. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mona Minkara, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University about the extensive set of tools … Continue reading 2128 Tools for Blind Scientists (Jul. 7, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2127 Missy Mouse Books (Jun. 30, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2126 Encore of 1351 Regaining Vision After Decades of Blindness (Jun. 23, 2021)
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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 … Continue reading 2125 GoodMaps Indoor Navigation Aid (Jun. 16, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2124 White Cane and Guide Dog Mobility Differences (Jun. 9, 2021)
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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 … Continue reading 2123 The Great Outdoors (Jun. 2, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2122 Life and Career of Larry Skutchan (May 26, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2121 Louie Voice Control (May 19, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2119 Accessible Cloud Technologies (May 5, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2118 From Technologist to Accessibility Evangelist (Apr. 28, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2117 Designing a Profession (Apr. 21, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2116 Super Lidar App (Apr. 14, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2115 Coping with Vision Loss (Apr. 7, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2114 Traveling Through Southern Africa (Mar. 31, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2113 Understanding Your Body (Mar. 24, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2112 Steering the Course to a Career In Science (Mar. 17, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2111 Using Tech Skills for Work and Pleasure (Mar. 10, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2110 Some Favorite Tips of the Week (Mar. 3, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2109 NaviLens School Kits (Feb. 24, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2108 NaviLens Update (Feb. 17, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2107 Holman Prize (Feb. 10, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2106 Smart Phones Get Even Smarter (Feb. 3, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2105 Eric Damery and the Changing Field of Assistive Technology (Jan. 27, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2104 Eric Damery and His Career (Jan. 20, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2103 Supersense (Jan. 13, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2102 Access Technology Reminiscences (Jan. 6, 2021) →
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 … Continue reading 2101 Inspirational Stories of the Visually Challenged (Dec. 30, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2052 From the Other Side (Dec. 23, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2051 Accessibility Improvements in iOS 14 (Dec. 16, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2050 Updated NFB-Newsline App for iOS (Dec. 9, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2049 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 2 (Dec. 2, 2020) →
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, … Continue reading 2048 Programs and Services from NFB – Part 1 (Nov. 25, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2047 Using Various Web Browsers with a Screen Reader (Nov. 18, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2046 Card Mechanic (Nov. 11, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2045 Music Lessons By Ear (Nov. 4, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2044 Advocacy from NFB (Oct. 28, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2043 Using Zoom with a Screen Reader (Oct. 21, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2042 Becoming a Chiropractor (Oct. 14, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2041 Capturing and Sharing the World (Oct. 7, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2040 Non-Visual Theater (Sep. 30, 2020) →
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, … Continue reading 2039 Acesight Electronic Eyeglasses (Sep. 23, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2038 Race and Blindness (Sep. 16, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2037 The New Mantis and More from APH (Sep. 9, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2036 Guiding Emily (Sep. 2, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2035 Digital Accessibility (Aug. 26, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2034 Positive Experiences During COVID-19 Pandemic (Aug. 19, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2033 Amazon and Accessibility for All (Aug. 12, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2032 Navigating Health Care (Aug. 5, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2031 Disability Rights and the ADA (Jul. 29, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2030 Cross Country Skiing (Jul. 22, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2029 The Blind Soprano (Jul. 15, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2028 The Case For and Against Service Animals (July 8, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2027 Why See a Low Vision Specialist (Jul. 1, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2026 A Musical Career in the Shadow of Sound (Jun. 24, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2025 Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst (Jun. 17, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2024 Encore of 1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Jun. 10, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2023 On the Move Again (Jun. 3, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2022 Offerings from Freedom Scientific (May 27, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2021 BARD Mobile Gets an Update (May 20, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2020 Band-in-a-Box 2020 and the Updated JAWS Scripts (May 13, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2019 The Sunu Band for Navigation (May 6, 2020) →
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, … Continue reading 2018 Encore of 1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Apr. 29, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2017 NCAR Tactile and Audio Tour (Apr. 22, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2016 Braille Displays – Dot Watch and Beyond (Apr. 15, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2015 Coping While Isolated (Apr. 8, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2014 A Career with Computers (Apr. 1, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2013 Narrator, Now Better Than Ever (Mar. 25, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2012 Accessible Prescription Labels and More (Mar. 18, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2011 Encore of 1744 Buying a Rental Property (Mar. 11, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2010 Android Accessibility Then and Now (Mar. 4, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2009 When a Smart Phone Is Just Not for You (Feb. 26, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2008 Updated Guide to Accessibility of iOS 13 (Feb. 19, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2007 Dealing with the Challenges of Vision Loss (Feb. 12, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2006 Astreos Stargazing App (Feb. 5, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2005 Free Music Reader App from Sao Mai (Jan. 29, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2004 Build a Better Book Program (Jan. 22, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2003 Communicating with Zoom (Jan. 15, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2002 Books with Blind Characters (Jan. 8, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 2001 A Tribute to Jim Thatcher (Jan. 1, 2020) →
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 … Continue reading 1952 Favorite Moments from Past Shows (Dec. 25, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1951 Outlook Business Solutions (Dec. 18, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1950 Jonathan Mosen Moves On (Dec. 11, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1949 Working Smarter With iOS and Your Smart Phone (Dec. 4, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1948 NEWSREEL Audio Magazine (Nov. 27, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1947 Medical Transcription (Nov. 20, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1946 Bristol Braille Multi-Line Refreshable Braille Display (Nov. 13, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1945 Life As a Blind Music Producer (Nov. 6, 2019)
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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 … Continue reading 1944 Encore of 1508 Blind Parenting of Sighted Children (Oct. 30, 2019) →
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, … Continue reading 1943 NFB-NEWSLINE Expands to Smart Home Devices (Oct. 23, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1942 Voting Rights (Oct. 16, 2019) →
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, … Continue reading 1941 HaptImage – A New Way To Explore Images (Oct. 9, 2019) →
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, … Continue reading 1940 Forage Candle – Winner of Hadley New Venture Competition (Oct. 2, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1939 Life with a Guide Dog and RP (Sep. 25, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1938 Victor Reader Trek (Sep. 18, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1937 Starting a Small Business (Sep. 11, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1936 Encore of 1426 Navigating Using Echolocation (Sep. 4, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1935 NaviLens Navigation System (Aug. 28, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1934 Accessibility at Sprint (Aug. 21, 2019) →
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 … Continue reading 1933 Adapting to Blindness as an Adult (Aug. 14, 2019)
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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 … Continue reading 1932 Freelance Journalist (Aug. 7, 2019) →
1931 Distance Running with Guide Dogs (Jul. 31, 2019) Show Notes In episode 1752 hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked with Thomas Panek, President and CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, about a program they started to train guide dogs to serve as running companions for their handlers. This week we hear about how … Continue reading 1931 Distance Running with Guide Dogs (Jul. 31, 2019) →
1930 Wild Blind Ice Hockey (Jul. 24, 2019) Show Notes Wild Blind Hockey is the companion team to the Minnesota Wild Hockey NHL team and consists of visually impaired skaters of all ages. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lonny Evans, the team’s Director of Operations, about how the team came about, modifications used … Continue reading 1930 Wild Blind Ice Hockey (Jul. 24, 2019) →
1929 Tarot Card Reading (Jul. 17, 2019) Show Notes What does the future hold for Eyes On Success? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey find out when they talk with Eden Kizer, a totally blind professional tarot card reader, about how she became a tarot card reader and turned it into a profitable business that she … Continue reading 1929 Tarot Card Reading (Jul. 17, 2019) →
1928 Voice Dream Reader App (Jul. 10, 2019) Show Notes Making mainstream apps accessible can have multiple benefits. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Winston Chen, founder and lead developer of the Voice Dream suite of apps for iOS devices including Reader, Writer, Scanner and Mail, about how he became interested in including accessibility … Continue reading 1928 Voice Dream Reader App (Jul. 10, 2019) →
1927 Dating in the Digital Age (Jul. 3, 2019) Show Notes Have you ever considered jumping into the world of online dating? If so you’ll want to read “Dating in the Digital Age” by Kim Loftis. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim about her book and discuss how the process works, what to … Continue reading 1927 Dating in the Digital Age (Jul. 3, 2019) →
1926 Blind Disability Rights Attorney (Jun. 26, 2019) Show Notes Significant progress has been made in establishing everyday rights for the disabled, yet there is still much more to do. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott LaBarre, a blind disability rights attorney, about his experiences working for the NFB, running his own private … Continue reading 1926 Blind Disability Rights Attorney (Jun. 26, 2019) →
1925 Encore of 1512 Preparing for Vision Loss (Jun. 19, 2019) Show Notes Many sighted people have a hard time imagining how they would tackle life if they couldn’t see. Losing your vision, however, doesn’t mean the end of the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about how you can prepare for eventual vision … Continue reading 1925 Encore of 1512 Preparing for Vision Loss (Jun. 19, 2019) →
1924 Format Your Word Documents with JAWS and NVDA (June 12, 2019) Show Notes The visual appearance of documents that you create can have a big impact on how they are received by others. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Kingsbury, Assistive Technology Instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, about his … Continue reading 1924 Format Your Word Documents with JAWS and NVDA (June 12, 2019) →
1923 Real-time Assistance with Aira (Jun. 5, 2019) Show Notes Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenine Stanley, Explorer Community Manager and Brand Ambassador for Aira, about how the service works, new ways to use Aira, and much more. Aira continues to expand its list of Access Locations where their highly-trained agents can provide … Continue reading 1923 Real-time Assistance with Aira (Jun. 5, 2019) →
1922 Creating and Using Shortcuts in iOS (May 29, 2019) Show Notes Using shortcuts in Apple’s iOS devices can make many tasks more efficient and simple to perform. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Anna Dresner, author of “Getting the Job Done with Shortcuts: An Introduction for Blind Users”, about her book and how … Continue reading 1922 Creating and Using Shortcuts in iOS (May 29, 2019) →
1921 W3C and Online Accessibility (May 22, 2019) Show Notes The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an international community where member organizations, a full-time staff, and the public work together to develop Web standards. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Janina Sajka, chair of the W3C’s Accessible Platform Architectures Working Group, about the … Continue reading 1921 W3C and Online Accessibility (May 22, 2019) →
1920 Stepping It Up With Windows Hotkeys (May 15, 2019) Show Notes People using screen readers rely on keyboard hotkeys in order to interact with their computers. But there is always more to learn! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dean Martineau about his new book that describes how you can use keyboard hotkeys … Continue reading 1920 Stepping It Up With Windows Hotkeys (May 15, 2019) →
1919 Preparing for Life and Work (May 8, 2019) Show Notes Derek Riemer works at Google as a software engineer. He also has contributed to the development of the free NVDA screen reader and is coordinating this year’s NVDACon conference. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Derek about his experiences growing up and being … Continue reading 1919 Preparing for Life and Work (May 8, 2019) →
1918 Google Products and Services – An Overview (May 1, 2019) Show Notes Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Eve Andersson, Director of Accessibility Engineering at Google, about the accessibility of various Google products and services and how they can be used by people who are visually impaired. Learn about the Google Accessibility support … Continue reading 1918 Google Products and Services – An Overview (May 1, 2019) →
1917 Tragedy to Triumph Racing (Apr. 24, 2019) Show Notes Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dan Parker who was fully sighted at the age of 41 when he was injured in a drag racing accident that left him totally blind. Despite his injuries Dan continues to build and race cars and motorcycles, went … Continue reading 1917 Tragedy to Triumph Racing (Apr. 24, 2019) →
1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Apr. 17, 2019) Show Notes Meet Susan Bennett whose voice was used to create the original female English language Siri voice. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Susan about her experiences as a voice artist, actress, and musician, what it was like to create the voice for Siri, how … Continue reading 1916 The Voice Behind Siri (Apr. 17, 2019) →
1915 Seeing AI App from Microsoft (Apr. 10, 2019) Show Notes Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft for iOS devices. The app can be used to scan and read text, identify colors, scan product bar codes, perform facial recognition, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Saqib Shaikh, the totally … Continue reading 1915 Seeing AI App from Microsoft (Apr. 10, 2019) →
1914 Exploring the World Together (Apr. 3, 2019) Show Notes Despite being totally blind and severely deaf without his hearing aids, Tony Giles has traveled solo for decades to over 100 countries. Sometimes he is accompanied by his girlfriend Tatiana Nisioti who is also totally blind. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tony and … Continue reading 1914 Exploring the World Together (Apr. 3, 2019) →
1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019) Show Notes Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both blind, about how … Continue reading 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Mar. 27, 2019) →
1912 Comparison of Electronic Eyewear (Mar. 20, 2019) Show Notes There are several different types of digital eyeglasses for those with little or no vision. But choosing the one that’s right for you can be a daunting process. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dorrie Rush, chief content editor of Ophthalmic Edge Patients about … Continue reading 1912 Comparison of Electronic Eyewear (Mar. 20, 2019) →
1911 Weather Gods and Accessible App Development (Mar. 13, 2019) Show Notes What does it take to develop an accessible app? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Scott Wilson-Billing, developer of the popular Weather Gods app for iOS, about how he became interested in accessibility and, with feedback from the blindness community, worked to … Continue reading 1911 Weather Gods and Accessible App Development (Mar. 13, 2019) →
1910 Learn to Code With Code Jumper (Mar. 6, 2019) Show Notes Have you ever wanted to become a computer programmer but didn’t know where to start? Well Code Jumper from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) may be just what you are looking for! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave … Continue reading 1910 Learn to Code With Code Jumper (Mar. 6, 2019) →
1909 ViewPlus Graphical Braille Embossers (Feb. 27, 2019) Show Notes John Gardner was a professor of Physics when he had an eye operation that left him totally blind. Although he continued to teach he could no longer evaluate the data from his experiments. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with John and his son Dan … Continue reading 1909 ViewPlus Graphical Braille Embossers (Feb. 27, 2019) →
1908 Encore of 1450 Blind Friendly Architecture (Feb. 20, 2019) Show Notes Chris Downey had been a practicing architect for 20 years when he suddenly lost all his vision. Undaunted, he has continued his work using his new understanding of how people with vision loss experience spaces. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him … Continue reading 1908 Encore of 1450 Blind Friendly Architecture (Feb. 20, 2019) →
1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Feb. 13, 2019) Show Notes Barbara Spohn-Lillo is the owner and founder of Prosthetic Illusions which develops custom prostheses for various body parts including eyes. Both she and her daughter Chelsea Lillo, with whom she works, are anaplastologists and ocularists. Join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they discuss how … Continue reading 1907 Prosthetic Eyes and Anaplastology (Feb. 13, 2019) →
1906 Home Delivery Shopping (Feb. 6, 2019) Show Notes Shopping from home has become more common over the past few years and can afford one with greater flexibility and independence. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ricky Enger of the Hadley Institute about some of the available shopping and delivery services and how they … Continue reading 1906 Home Delivery Shopping (Feb. 6, 2019) →
1905 When Your Career Relies On Computers (Jan. 30, 2019) Show Notes Modern access technologies make careers that rely on the use of computers particularly amenable to people with vision impairments. Still, there are challenges that one must overcome. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Florian Beijers, a blind software developer, about his training, … Continue reading 1905 When Your Career Relies On Computers (Jan. 30, 2019) →
1904 Sight Impaired Surfing Champion (Jan. 23, 2019) Show Notes Despite being totally blind, Joshua Loya engages in many extreme sports. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joshua, who is a US Sight Impaired Surfing Champion, about how he got into surfing, the mechanics of surfing as a blind individual, how he … Continue reading 1904 Sight Impaired Surfing Champion (Jan. 23, 2019) →
1903 Advances in Digital Accessibility (Jan. 16, 2019) Show Notes Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Larry Lewis about his new role as director of channel sales and strategic partnerships for the Paciello Group, after many years running Flying Blind. We talk about the importance of accessibility and learn about some of the tools … Continue reading 1903 Advances in Digital Accessibility (Jan. 16, 2019) →
1902 Lighting Up the Night (Jan. 9, 2019) Show Notes Debby Marchena is blind and uses a white cane to get around town. One evening, while crossing the street, she was struck by a car. The driver of the car had not seen the cane in the darkness. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with … Continue reading 1902 Lighting Up the Night (Jan. 9, 2019) →
1901 That All May Read (Jan. 2, 2019) Show Notes The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) provides free audio and Braille reading material to people with any reading disability. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karen Keninger, director of the NLS, about the service, who qualifies, and what exciting … Continue reading 1901 That All May Read (Jan. 2, 2019) →
1852 But Wait, There Is More (Dec. 26, 2018) Show Notes This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey bring listeners up to date on several topics that were featured in previous episodes of Eyes On Success. Hear what’s new with NASA summer internships, at Benetech, the FlickType keyboard for iOS, the braille Dot Watch, the … Continue reading 1852 But Wait, There Is More (Dec. 26, 2018) →
1851 Blindfold Games and ObjectiveEd (Dec. 19, 2018) Show Notes Blindfold Games now offers over 80 fully accessible games made to run on iOS devices for the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Marty Schultz, founder of Blindfold Games and developer of the apps, about his company as well as about his … Continue reading 1851 Blindfold Games and ObjectiveEd (Dec. 19, 2018) →
1850 Exploring the World With Aira (Dec. 12, 2018) Show Notes Aira is a service that connects a visually impaired user with a sighted professional agent who delivers visual assistance anytime and anywhere. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jonathan Mosen, Vice President, Australasia, and Explorer Communications, about some of the new options being … Continue reading 1850 Exploring the World With Aira (Dec. 12, 2018) →
1849 Blindness For Beginners (Dec. 5, 2018) Show Notes In her book “Blindness for Beginners”, Maribel Steel takes us along her journey of discovery where sight loss can become a renewed vision of the possible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her transition from early diagnosis and rejection of being labelled as … Continue reading 1849 Blindness For Beginners (Dec. 5, 2018) →
1848 Expanding Services at APH (Nov. 28, 2018) Show Notes The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) recently began managing several services that were part of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). APH is also growing their efforts in direct consumer sales. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about these changes and what’s … Continue reading 1848 Expanding Services at APH (Nov. 28, 2018) →
1847 Hamming It Up (Nov. 21, 2018) Show Notes Being a ham or amateur radio operator can be a fun hobby and a great way to connect with others around the world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mike Duke, a blind ham operator (call sign K5XU) and director of Radio Reading Service of … Continue reading 1847 Hamming It Up (Nov. 21, 2018) →
1846 Blinded Veterans Association (Nov 14, 2018) Show Notes Joe Bogart, Executive Director of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), is the first legally blind soldier to return to combat duty since the Civil War. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joe about the various services offered to veterans by the BVA as well as … Continue reading 1846 Blinded Veterans Association (Nov 14, 2018) →
1845 Seeing the Stars His Own Way (Nov. 7, 2018) Show Notes Astronomy is often thought of as based on visual observation. As it turns out most raw astronomical observations are not visible and must be transformed to be perceived by humans. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Morgan Rehnberg, a blind astronomer, about … Continue reading 1845 Seeing the Stars His Own Way (Nov. 7, 2018) →
1844 Sounds of the Stars (Oct. 31, 2018) Show Notes Last week we talked about creating tactile representations of the universe. This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Greg Salvesen, a post-doctoral fellow at UCSB, and Matt Russo, a professor of astronomy at Seneca College about using sonification to transform astronomical data into … Continue reading 1844 Sounds of the Stars (Oct. 31, 2018) →
1843 Touching the Stars (Oct. 24, 2018) Show Notes Signals captured by astronomical observatories are often outside of the range of human perception and must be transformed so that scientists can work with them. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Arcand who has created tactile representations of the universe based on data from … Continue reading 1843 Touching the Stars (Oct. 24, 2018) →
1842 Preparing for Your First Guide Dog (Oct. 17, 2018) Show Notes In past episodes of Eyes On Success we talked about how guide dogs are raised and trained to work with their owners. But how do you know if a guide dog is right for you and, if you decide that you want a … Continue reading 1842 Preparing for Your First Guide Dog (Oct. 17, 2018) →
1841 Encore of 1335 Meeting and Dating Across Borders (Oct. 10, 2018) Show Notes Victor Tsaran grew up in Ukraine and is totally blind. Karo Caran grew up in Poland and is partially sighted. Last week Nancy and Peter Torpey talked to them about their careers working on accessibility at Google. This week we’ll learn … Continue reading 1841 Encore of 1335 Meeting and Dating Across Borders (Oct. 10, 2018) →
1840 Working On Accessibility At Google (Oct. 3, 2018) Show Notes This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with a married couple, Victor Tsaran and Karo Caran, both of whom are visually impaired and both of whom work at Google in the area of accessibility. Learn what it is like to work at Google … Continue reading 1840 Working On Accessibility At Google (Oct. 3, 2018) →
1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Sep. 26, 2018) 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 … Continue reading 1839 Accessibility of US National Parks (Sep. 26, 2018) →
1838 Ironman Triathlete (Sep. 19, 2018) Show Notes Last week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talked with Michael Somsan, a military veteran who was blinded by a gunshot to the head at the age of 23. Now a successful lawyer, judge, and professor, Michael talks about his participation in ironman triathlons as well as some … Continue reading 1838 Ironman Triathlete →
1837 Path to Success for a Military Veteran (Sep. 12, 2018) Show Notes Michael Somsan was a young man in the military and in the best of shape when his life was suddenly changed. As a result of a gunshot to the head he was left blinded at the age of 23 wondering what the … Continue reading 1837 Path to Success for a Military Veteran (Sep. 12, 2018) →
1836 Experiences as Physicists (Sep. 5, 2018) Show Notes This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share a bit of their own story. They talk about their education as well as their careers as research physicists at Xerox Corporation. Learn how Peter’s vision changed over the years and what accommodations he had to make. Also … Continue reading 1836 Experiences as Physicists (Sep. 5, 2018) →
1835 Encore of 1215 Described Audio in Live Theater (Aug. 29, 2018) Show Notes If you can’t see the action on the stage, audio description fills in the gaps and helps you know what’s going on. This week hosts Nancy Goodman Torpey and Peter Torpey visit their regional theater company and talk to the people … Continue reading 1835 Encore of 1215 Described Audio in Live Theater (Aug. 29, 2018) →
1834 Audio Description for Varied Venues (Aug. 22, 2018) Show Notes Audio Description uses spoken language to convey the visual world. It can direct a visitor through a museum, orient a listener to a work of art, or allow access to the visual aspects of a performance. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rachel … Continue reading 1834 Audio Description for Varied Venues (Aug. 22, 2018) →
1833 Samplitude Music Production Software from Magix (Aug. 15, 2018) Show Notes Samplitude is a sophisticated music production program from Magix that is now accessible using JAWS with specially developed scripts. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Steve Spamer about how he and a community of blind individuals connected with Tom Wolf from the … Continue reading 1833 Samplitude Music Production Software from Magix (Aug. 15, 2018) →
1832 How Blind People Use Ride Sharing Services (Aug. 8, 2018) Show Notes For various reasons, people who are visually impaired may feel reluctant to use ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Chris Simek and Michelle Plunkett of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute about their research … Continue reading 1832 How Blind People Use Ride Sharing Services (Aug. 8, 2018) →
1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Aug. 1, 2018) Show Notes Join hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey as they explore their new home state of Colorado in celebration of their 35th anniversary. Follow them as they prepare for their journey, walk trails along raging rivers, hike along narrow ledges hanging on steep canyon walls, and … Continue reading 1831 Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows (Aug. 1, 2018) →
1830 Encore of 1718 The Helen Keller Archive (Jul. 25, 2018) Show Notes The American Foundation for the Blind just announced the launch of the Helen Keller Archive. In honor of that, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey reprise an interview with Helen Selsdon, the AFB archivist, about her work and about this rich source of … Continue reading 1830 Encore of 1718 The Helen Keller Archive (Jul. 25, 2018) →
1829 WayAround Tag-and-Scan System (Jul. 18, 2018) Show Notes WayAround is a smart phone app that provides on-demand details about everyday things. This tag-and-scan system enables the user to easily identify objects and also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Darwin Belt and … Continue reading 1829 WayAround Tag-and-Scan System (Jul. 18, 2018) →
1828 Every Day Tips and Tricks (Jul. 11, 2018) Show Notes Our listeners like our “tips and tricks” episodes so join hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey in another. Hear a variety of tips and suggestions that we’ve been collecting from using your smart home device to working with Windows and iOS more efficiently to finding … Continue reading 1828 Every Day Tips and Tricks (Jul. 11, 2018) →
1827 Working at Disney and Marriott (Jul. 4, 2018) Show Notes Blind since birth, twin brothers John and Larry Gassman became proficient with computers and now both have similar jobs that entail making sure the software used by each of their employers is accessible to other blind employees using screen readers. Join hosts Nancy and … Continue reading 1827 Working at Disney and Marriott (Jul. 4, 2018) →
1826 WeWALK Smart Cane (Jun. 27, 2018) Show Notes WeWALK transforms the white cane into an innovative smart cane for visually impaired travelers. In addition to detecting obstacles above chest level, WeWALK seamlessly integrates with smart phones and third-party apps. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey speak with Kursat Ceylan, a visually impaired social entrepreneur, about … Continue reading 1826 WeWALK Smart Cane (Jun. 27, 2018) →
1825 Enabling Disabled to do STEM Careers (Jun. 20, 2018) Show Notes There are common challenges and obstacles that people encounter whether they have a visual impairment or some other disability. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Gabriela Serrato Marks, a geology graduate student at MIT about her experiences and thoughts about receiving an … Continue reading 1825 Enabling Disabled to do STEM Careers (Jun. 20, 2018) →
1824 Your Amazing Eyes (Jun. 13, 2018) Show Notes Dan Roberts maintains the MD Support group, a resource for people with Macular Degeneration and similar retinal diseases. This week we hear a presentation Dan gave about the astounding design and abilities of our eyes. Lots of interesting and fun facts about the eyes are presented, … Continue reading 1824 Your Amazing Eyes (Jun. 13, 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 … Continue reading 1823 Color-blind Visual Effects Artist (Jun. 6, 2018) →
1822 Making Money (May 30, 2018) Show Notes The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produces U.S. currency notes. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Leonard Olijar, Director, and Lydia Washington, Lead Public Affairs Specialist about what goes into the printing process, various ways in which bills are made accessible, new ways being considered, and … Continue reading 1822 Making Money (May 30, 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 … Continue reading 1821 College Student and Paralympic Athlete (May 23, 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. … Continue reading 1820 Encore of 1725 Low Vision Optometry (May 16, 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 … Continue reading 1819 FlickType Accessible Smart Keyboard for iOS Devices (May 9, 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 … Continue reading 1818 Radio Reading Services – Behind the Scenes Tour (May 2, 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 … Continue reading 1817 Radio Reading Services – An Overview (Apr. 25, 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 … Continue reading 1816 Alpine Skiing in the PyeongChang Paralympics (Apr. 18, 2018) →
1815 Oregon Adaptive Sports (Apr. 11, 2018) Show Notes There are many opportunities for the disabled to participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities these days. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Nancy Stevens of Oregon Adaptive Sports about how the program got started and what they do. Whether you are interested … Continue reading 1815 Oregon Adaptive Sports (Apr. 11, 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 … Continue reading 1814 Apple Watch and Home Kit (Apr. 4, 2018) →
1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Mar. 28, 2018) Show Notes They say that nothing is ever perfect. Fortunately, though, with a little extra work, most mistakes can be fixed. That even applies to the productions of Eyes On Success. Sit back and enjoy some laughs with hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey as they celebrate … Continue reading 1813 Outtakes from Eyes On Success (Mar. 28, 2018) →
1812 Running with WayBand (Mar. 21, 2018) Show Notes Developing new access technologies sometimes requires intrepid individuals willing to test and work out the kinks in new systems despite occasional failures. Hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey speak with Simon Wheatcroft, a blind motivational speaker and distance runner, about his experiences testing the WayBand device by … Continue reading 1812 Running with WayBand (Mar. 21, 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 … Continue reading 1811 Experiencing Art Non-Visually (Mar. 14, 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 … Continue reading 1810 Accessible Products from Amazon (Mar. 7, 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 … Continue reading 1809 Access to Science with Grapheel (Feb. 28, 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 … Continue reading 1808 Tennis for the Visually Impaired (Feb. 21, 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 … Continue reading 1807 Mainstream Products Become Accessible (Feb. 14, 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 … Continue reading 1806 Overcoming Obstacles in STEM (Feb. 7, 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 … Continue reading 1805 Camp Abilities – Camp for Blind Youth (Jan. 31, 2018) →
1804 eSight Eyewear (Jan. 24, 2018) Show Notes Developed for people who are legally blind, the electronic glasses made by eSight can help individuals with a variety of visual impairments see better and can be used for virtually all activities of daily living. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jeff Fenton, Director of Outreach … Continue reading 1804 eSight Eyewear (Jan. 24, 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 … Continue reading 1803 Encore of 1650 Building Electronics Projects (Jan. 17, 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 … Continue reading 1802 Concepts for Accessible Living (Jan. 10, 2018) →
1801 Moving from NVDA to Mozilla (Jan. 3, 2018) Show Notes Jamie Teh was one of the co-founders and a co-developer of the free NVDA screen reader for Windows. After 10 years as a key contributor to this project, he has now accepted a position working at Mozilla. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with … Continue reading 1801 Moving from NVDA to Mozilla (Jan. 3, 2018) →
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 … Continue reading 1753 Year-End Special: How We Create Eyes On Success (Dec. 27, 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 – … Continue reading 1752 Running with a Guide Dog (Dec. 20, 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 … Continue reading 1751 Pros and Cons of Having a Guide Dog (Dec. 13, 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 … Continue reading 1750 Tour of Colorado Talking Book Library (Dec. 6, 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 … Continue reading 1749 Talking Book Library Services (Nov. 29, 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 … Continue reading 1748 Hunting With Little Or No Vision (Nov. 22, 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 … Continue reading 1747 RightHear App for Orientation in Public Venues (Nov. 15, 2017) →
1746 TravelEyes (Nov. 8, 2017) Show Notes If you are blind and like to travel, wouldn’t it be nice if you could have a sighted guide to accompany you on your adventures? TravelEyes offers just such a service by pairing blind travelers with sighted guides. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dan Raymond, communications … Continue reading 1746 TravelEyes (Nov. 8, 2017) →
1745 Be My Eyes Smart Phone App (Nov. 1, 2017) Show Notes Be My Eyes is an app that connects blind and visually impaired people with sighted helpers from around the world via a live video connection using a smart phone. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Hans Jorgen Wiberg, the founder of Be … Continue reading 1745 Be My Eyes Smart Phone App (Nov. 1, 2017) →
1744 Buying a Rental Property (Oct. 25, 2017) 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 … Continue reading 1744 Buying a Rental Property (Oct. 25, 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 … Continue reading 1743 Conditions and Technology in Kenya (Oct. 18, 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 … Continue reading 1742 Evolution of Assistive Technologies (Oct. 11, 2017) →
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 … Continue reading 1741 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 2 of 2) →
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 … Continue reading 1740 Together Again – Leaders Who Made a Difference (part 1 of 2) (Sep. 27, 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, … Continue reading 1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Sep. 20, 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 … Continue reading 1738 Accessible Trails and Blind Birding (Sep. 13, 2017) →
1737 Starting a New Podcast (Sep. 6, 2017) Show Notes When Terri and Greg Thrower decided to launch a podcast exploring the challenges of navigating the world as a blind person, they contacted EOS hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey to ask for advice. Their questions went way beyond the mechanics and into many interesting topics. … Continue reading 1737 Starting a New Podcast (Sep. 6, 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 … Continue reading 1736 Tips for Technology and Daily Living (Aug. 30, 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 … Continue reading 1735 Digitizing AFB’s Audio Files (Aug. 23, 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 … Continue reading 1734 Retinitis Pigmentosa Research (Aug. 16, 2017) →
1733 ElBraille (Aug. 9, 2017) Show Notes ElBraille is a portable mobile computer running Windows 10 together with JAWS. It also contains a docking station, integrated with Freedom Scientific’s Focus 14 Braille display. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Svetlana Vasilyeva and Adi Kushnir of the Elita Group about this device designed for blind … Continue reading 1733 ElBraille (Aug. 9, 2017) →
1732 College Bound (Aug. 2, 2017) Show Notes Getting ready for and attending college can be a daunting process, even if one is fully sighted. But what if one has a visual impairment? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ellen Trief, a Professor at Hunter College, about her book “College Bound – A Guide … Continue reading 1732 College Bound (Aug. 2, 2017) →
1731 Moving Experiences (Jul. 26, 2017) Show Notes Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey finally completed their move cross country from Rochester, New York to Golden, Colorado. They describe the experience highlighting aspects from the perspective of one who is visually impaired. Join them as they talk about selecting a house, packing and unpacking, making the … Continue reading 1731 Moving Experiences (Jul. 26, 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 … Continue reading 1730 Wounded in Action – Active in Life (Jul. 19, 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 … Continue reading 1729 Encore of 1242 Downloading and Reading Books on a Smart Phone (Jul. 12, 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 … Continue reading 1728 Encore of 1644 Currency Identification (Jul. 5, 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 … Continue reading 1727 Braille Labeling and Learning Products (Jun. 28, 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 … Continue reading 1726 Research in Low-Vision Technology (Jun. 21, 2017) →
1725 Low Vision Optometry (Jun. 14, 2017) 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 … Continue reading 1725 Low Vision Optometry (Jun. 14, 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 … Continue reading 1724 Encore of 1517 Jim Fruchterman – Social Entrepreneur (Jun. 7, 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 … Continue reading 1723 Encore of 1233 An Interview with Ted Henter (May 31, 2017) →
1722 Encore of 1225 A Talk with Deane Blazie (May 24, 2017) Show Notes In the course of his career, Deane Blazie developed and produced the Braille ‘n Speak, the Braille Lite, the Braille Blazer and other innovations in accessibility technology. Join hosts Peter and Nancy Torpey as they speak with him about those, other … Continue reading 1722 Encore of 1225 A Talk with Deane Blazie (May 24, 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 … Continue reading 1721 Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired (May 17, 2017) →
1720 NVDA Conference 2017 (May 10, 2017) Show Notes NVDA is a free screen reader for Windows. For the past several years, the annual NVDACon has provided a forum for developers, users, and others to share what’s new, suggestions for future improvements, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Derek Riemer and … Continue reading 1720 NVDA Conference 2017 (May 10, 2017) →
1719 Accessible Linux (May 3, 2017) Show Notes Linux is a free alternative operating system for your computer. However, of the many versions of Linux that exist, only Vinux and Sonar GNU have been accessible to the visually impaired out of the box. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with several contributors to these projects … Continue reading 1719 Accessible Linux (May 3, 2017) →
1718 The Helen Keller Archives (Apr. 26, 2017) Show Notes Helen Selsdon is the archivist for the American Foundation for the Blind. She joined the AFB in 2002 to organize and preserve their Helen Keller Archives. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her work and about this rich source of information on … Continue reading 1718 The Helen Keller Archives →
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, … Continue reading 1717 Encore of 1308 Progress in Speech Synthesis (Apr. 19, 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 … Continue reading 1716 When You Have a Story to Tell (Apr. 12, 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, … Continue reading 1715 Audio Book Narrator (Apr. 5, 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 … Continue reading 1714 Blind Software Engineer (Mar. 29, 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 … Continue reading 1713 Ultra Sports Challenges (Mar. 22, 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 … Continue reading 1712 Data Visualization Updates from SAS (Mar. 15, 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 … Continue reading 1711 Teaching Blind Children (Mar. 8, 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 … Continue reading 1710 Graphiti Refreshable Tactile Graphics Display (Mar. 1, 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 … Continue reading 1709 Low Vision Products from VFO (Feb. 22, 2017) →
1708 DictationBridge (Feb. 15, 2016) Show Notes Microsoft Windows now comes with built in speech recognition. Unfortunately, on its own, it is difficult to use with a screen reader. DictationBridge is a free program that solves this problem using most popular screen readers. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Lucy Greco, a member of … Continue reading 1708 DictationBridge (Feb. 15, 2016) →
1707 Acting Blind (Feb. 8, 2017) Show Notes Pursuing a career in the performing arts as a professional actor comes with a number of challenges whether one is blind or not. Even for the blind, however, these barriers are not insurmountable. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Ashiotis about his career and experiences … Continue reading 1707 Acting Blind (Feb. 8, 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 … Continue reading 1706 Theater Breaking Through Barriers (Feb. 1, 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 … Continue reading 1705 Guide to Accessibility of iOS Devices (Jan 25, 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 … Continue reading 1704 Employment Opportunities at NASA (Jan. 18, 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, … Continue reading 1703 Blind Driver Challenge (Jan. 11, 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 … Continue reading 1702 Guide Dogs – The Training (Jan. 4, 2017) →
1701 Guide Dogs – An Overview (Dec. 28, 2016) Show Notes What is involved in getting and working with a guide dog? Is a guide dog right for you? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey address these and other questions with Carolyn Giambalvo, a Consumer Services Associate at Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs, her … Continue reading 1701 Guide Dogs – An Overview (Dec. 28, 2016) →
1652 Favorite iPhone Apps (Dec. 21, 2016) Show Notes There are hundreds of accessible apps for iPhones. Many of these apps even perform similar functions. But, which apps should one choose and which might be the most useful? This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about some tips for using the iPhone with VoiceOver … Continue reading 1652 Favorite iPhone Apps (Dec. 21, 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 … Continue reading 1651 Helping Yourself While Helping Others (Dec. 14, 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 … Continue reading 1650 Building Electronics Projects (Dec. 7, 2016) →
1649 Orbit Reader 20 from APH (Nov. 30, 2016) Show Notes The Orbit Reader 20 is a refreshable Braille display with note-taking capability from the American Printing House with a price point dramatically lower than similar devices on the market today. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ken Perry, a blind engineer and project … Continue reading 1649 Orbit Reader 20 from APH →
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 … Continue reading 1648 Blind Writing Instructor and Author (Nov. 23, 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 … Continue reading 1647 Updates to Android Accessibility (Nov. 16, 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 … Continue reading 1646 Studying Law in India (Nov. 9, 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 … Continue reading 1645 PEEK – the Portable Eye Examination Kit (Nov. 2, 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 … Continue reading 1644 Currency Identification (Oct. 26, 2016) →
1643 Traveling Solo (Oct. 19, 2016) Show Notes Imagine traveling the world alone for months at a time if you were totally blind and partially deaf. This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tony Giles who has done exactly that. We’ll learn how he prepares for and manages his trips and also talk … Continue reading 1643 Traveling Solo (Oct. 19, 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 … Continue reading 1642 BrailleNote Touch Tablet (Oct. 12, 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 … Continue reading 1641 Delivering Independence with White Canes (Oct. 5, 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 … Continue reading 1640 Tips and Tricks for Your Computer or Mobile Device (Sep. 28, 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 … Continue reading 1639 Behind the Scenes at TopTechTidbits (Sep. 21, 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 … Continue reading 1638 Comcast Innovations in Accessible TV (Sep. 14, 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 … Continue reading 1637 Waitressing in the Dark (Sep. 7, 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 … Continue reading 1636 Commitment to Accessibility in Apple products (Aug. 31, 2016) →
1635 Mushroom FM Radio (Aug. 24, 2016) Show Notes Mushroom FM Radio is a globally available internet station completely run by blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Jonathan Mosen, founder, director and weekly DJ, about Mushroom FM (“the home of the fun guys”), how this streaming service got started, and how to … Continue reading 1635 Mushroom FM Radio (Aug. 24, 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 … Continue reading 1634 Microsoft Disability Answer Desk (Aug. 17, 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)
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)
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)
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.
1629 Accessibility Initiatives at IBM (Jul. 13, 2016)
Show Notes
IBM shares its accessibility expertise with the wider community in order to improve accessibility for all. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser and Drew LaHart of IBM’s accessibility team about their Quick Guide for developers, their plan for making many of their tools and resources open source, and their commitment to accessibility.
1628 Listening to and Recording Audio (Jul. 9, 2016)
Show Notes
Audio plays an important role in how visually impaired people perceive and interpret the surrounding world. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Neal Ewers, founder and head of Ravenswood Productions, about what makes a quality audio recording. Hear recommendations of tools and techniques for recording, producing, and appreciating audio material.
1627 Apple Watch for Blind Users (Jun. 29, 2016)
Show Notes
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Matthew Carello, a trainer with Fedora Outlier LLC, about the Apple Watch and how it can be used by people who are blind. We’ll learn about the basic functions of the watch, hear it in action, and see how it might become part of your daily routine. We’ll also learn about the services offered by Fedora Outlier LLC.
1626 Services from the AFB (Jun. 22, 2016)
Show Notes
The American Foundation for the Blind offers a broad range of services and resources aimed at helping people with vision loss in the areas of education, employment, daily living, and much more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with George Abbott, director of the AFB’s Press and Professional Development Department, about some of these useful programs.
1625 KNFB Reader App Update (Jun. 15, 2016)
Show Notes
The KNFB Reader app running on your smart phone can be easily used to snap pictures of printed material such as books, letters, menus, etc. and have them instantly read back to you. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joel Zimba, Reading Innovation Project Manager at the National Federation of the Blind, about the app and some of its functionality.
1624 Computer Camp for Blind Youth (Jun. 8, 2016)
Show Notes
Computers are very accessible to the visually impaired. Moreover, those with a knowledge of computers and computer programming are highly desired in today’s work force. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Cheryl Cumings and Rich Caloggero about a computer camp for blind youth they are organizing to motivate students and introduce them to these skills.
1623 Reflections on the College Experience (Jun. 1, 2016)
Show Notes
Rebecca is a visually impaired student who has shared her educational journey with our listeners in several previous episodes. She first talked with us as a junior in high school. Now hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about how she views her college experience in retrospect and considerations for attending graduate school and obtaining a PhD.
1622 Improved Accessibility of Amazon Products (May 25, 2016)
Show Notes
New features being introduced into Amazon’s Kindle readers and Fire tablets will now make these devices readily accessible to the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn, accessibility architect at Amazon, about the work that went into developing an enhanced user interface and how it has improved accessibility of these products.
1621 Evolution of Screen Readers (May 18, 2016)
Show Notes
This week, hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Peter Korn who traces the evolution of screen reader technology from the early text-based systems to today’s modern graphical interfaces. Korn, who has been a major contributor to the development of screen readers for many years, describes how a screen reader works and what challenges had to be overcome.
1620 The Vision-quest Experience (May 11, 2016)
Show Notes
Maribel Steel is an Australian writer and motivational speaker who is also blind. She designed the Vision-quest program which pairs blind and sighted people in a day of shared exploration to experience sites in their community. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about Vision-quest and her role as an international peer advisor for AFB’s VisionAware.