Blind Abilities

Latest Episodes:

Orbit Into the Future of Tech with Orbit Speak and Optima! A Discussion with Venkatesh Chari and Adi Kushner about new products from Orbit Research and AccessMind Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

From the 2023 NFB Convention Floor, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant talked with Orbit Research CEO Venkatesh Chari and Adi Kushner, CEO of AccessMind. Venkatesh first gives listeners an overview of the products Orbit research has produced in the past such as the Orbit Reader 20 and 40 cell braille displays, talking graphing calculators, iBill Currency Reader, Orbit Writer, etc. While this interview mainly focuses on the two new products from Orbit Research, you can check out the full list of product offerings on their Website

The first new product from Orbit Research scheduled to be released this year is called Orbit Speak. From the Orbit Research website: "The Orbit Speak is equipped with features of a modern braille notetaker with a braille keyboard and synthesized speech output in a compact, pocket-sized device." To learn more and pre-order your Orbit Speak today, visit its Product Page

The second product discussed is the latest offering from Orbit Research in conjunction with AccessMind, called the Optima. This all-in-one braille laptop offers a 40-cell braille display with a qwerty keyboard, and the power of the fully featured Windows 11. In addition to learning more about this revolutionary product, Adi gives listeners an overview of his inspiration for the product, and how his own experience led him to partner with Orbit Research for its development.

Orbit Research will begin to ship pre-orders in the first quarter of 2024. For more details, visit the Optima's Webpage

Meet the Monarch! Bringing Braille and Tactile Graphics Under Your Fingertips. A chat with Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation at APH Jul 29, 2023

Show notes

From the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant spoke with Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation at American Printing House for the Blind (APH). Greg first takes listeners through the new Monarch Tactile Display. This braille display is a partnership between APH, Humanware, and the NFB.

Greg also gives an overview of APH's other offerings such as the Mantis and Chameleon braille displays, and the low-vision magnification devices such as the Juno and Jupiter as well as the Matt Connect Android Tablet.

Additionally, Greg discusses the recently released Code Jumper, and Road to Code a set of tools designed to help blind people learn how to code. Greg closes the interview by talking about his personal journey through blindness and technology and how his experience is an asset to his current work at APH.

Display Your Content in Style with Splay! Meet Alex Wesley, Founder and CEO of Arovia Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

During the 2023 NFB Convention in Houston Texas, Blind Abilities podcast host Simon Bonenfant sat down with Alex Wesley, Founder and CEO of Arovia. Alex chats with Simon about his new product, called Splay, a portable projection solution.

From the Arovia Website: "Introducing Splay: The Ultimate 2-in-1 Display and Ultra-Short-Throw Pico Projector. Transform your entertainment experience with Splay, a groundbreaking 2-in-1 display and ultra-short-throw pico projector that seamlessly expands and folds away in just seconds. This cutting-edge device is perfect for movies, gaming, presentations, and more, offering unparalleled versatility and performance. The current cost is $849.00"

While Splay is not designed for the visually impaired user, it works great for those who have low vision and need a portable magnification solution. Alex gives listeners a detailed overview of how Splay works, as well as the pre-order process. He tells his incredible journey of how he came to start Arovia, and his hopes for the future of the company.

Touch the Whole Picture: Nine Lines of Braille at Your Fingertips with the Canute 360 and Canute Console - Meet Ed Rodgers, Managing Director at Bristol Braille Technologies and Steph Sargent, Director at Vision Through Sound Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

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

Carrie On accessibility: Meet YouTube Creative Carrie Morales Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Carrie Morales is a YouTube Creative with video content covering all things accessible tech, iPhones, androids, book readers and nearly everything else out there. You will also find topics covering living with blindness and the accessibility field as well.

Carrie joins Jeff in the Blind Abilities Studio to cover topics on how and why Carrie started her YouTube Channel, "Carri On Accessibility". Listen in as Carrie gives advice on learning accessible tools and Braille and how accessibility testing is doing to help the community.

You can subscribe to the Carrie On Accessibility' YouTube Channel and follow Carrie on all of her socials at Carrie On Accessibility and @CarrieOnA11Y on Twitter.

You can also check out the C&C Insights Podcasts on blind Abilities.

Thanks for listening!

Contact:

You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email and give us a call at 612-367-6093, we would love to hear from you! Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Storeand Google Play Store.

Give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093 we would love to hear from you!

Check out the Blind Abilities Community on Facebook, the Blind Abilities Page, and the Career Resources for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Wellness Wednesday: vulnerability - Trusting Yourself First and Opening Up and Jul 12, 2023

Show notes

In this fifteenth episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take us into the topic of Vulnerability and how trust plays an important role in one's ability to open up and work on becoming stronger.

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for Listening!

Wellness Wednesday: Accountability - Helping You Grow and trusting your gut feelings with Beth Gustin and Robin Ennis Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

In this fourteenth episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, take us into the topic of accountability, accountability partners and going with your gut feelings.

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for Listening!

Three Fairly New Operator Perspectives of the Business enterprise Program with Scott Eggen, President of Randolph Sheppard Venders of America Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Gloria Blanco, Steve Alfred, and Kyle Tyson join Scott Eggen in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about their perspective of the Business Enterprise Program. Being fairly new owner-operators, we thought it would be interesting to hear their perspectives compared to those perspectives from our past guest on the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America podcast.

Join the crew in this informational episode and find out more about the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America on the web at Randolph-Sheppard.org.

thanks for Listening!

C & C Insights: How Accessibility Testing and User Experience Feedback is Shining a New Light on Our Abilities - with CarrieOnAccessibility and SeeingBlind Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

Carrie, from the YouTube Channel, "Carrie On Accessibility" and Cindy from the YouTube Channel, "Seeing Blind" are back in the studio for their 2nd podcast episode, ""C and C Insights".

In this episode, they dive into Accessibility Testing, providing user experience feedback to companies and being compensated for their skillset, knowledge and time. Cindy and Carrie dig in deeper and exposing how disclosing the accessibility skillsets as a positive rather than hiding them away. Companies are looking for unique skillsets and what better accessibility tester for the Blind and Visually Impaired than someone who deals with accessibility every day.

Be sure to check out their YouTube Channels and all their social presence below:

· Carrie On Accessibility on YouTube

· Find all Carrie's Socials at Carrie On Accessibility on the web

· Seeing Blind on YouTube

· Follow Cindy on all her Socials

Thanks for Listening!

Wellness Wednesday: There Just Might be an App for That! How Mood Tracking and Journaling can Help You Stay Mentally Strong Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

In this 13th episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, explore journaling, writing, and affirmations to help one stay mentally strong. Some of the Apps mentioned in this episode are Day One Journal, finch and the upcoming Mood Tracking feature in the Health App being released in Apple's iOS 17 this fall.

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093 or by email. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for Listening!