Blind Abilities

Latest Episodes:

iPhone101: Emergency SOS by Satellite has been Activated! The iPhone 14 Lineup can conduct a Demo of the Emergency SOS by Satellite Feature and here is a demo! Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Apple just released the Emergency SOS by Satellite feature for all the iPhone 14 series owners. In the settings, one can go to Emergency SOS and at the bottom of the screen is a "Try Demo" button. In this iPhone101 demo, Jeff Thompson dives in and goes off the grid to give you an overview of this incredible feature. It is important that one considers setting up their Medical I.D. in the Health App and allows their Medical I.D. to be shared even while on the Lock Screen mode. Jeff covers all of this and more from within the Emergency SOS set of features.

You can find all the iPhone101 and QuickBytes on the web and be sure to subscribe to Blind Abilities wherever you listen to podcasts!

Hope you enjoy!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Job Insights: Your Social Media Presence - Making Your Social Media Presence Work for You When Applying for Jobs and Seeking the Career You Want! Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Job Insights Serina Gilbert, Sarlie Drakos, Dacia Vanalstine and Jeff Thompson talk about your presence on Social Media platforms and how your profile, your presence can influence job recruiters, potential employers, and decision makers during the job interview process. How to clean up your past and build a purposeful and positive presence on social media that may help you land that job you are seeking.

Resources

What is LinkedIn?

the Job Insights team shares their knowledge and experience to help you succeed and prepare for the job interview and help you set a pathway to the career you want.

Be sure to contact your Vocational Rehabilitation Services in your state and see what they can do for you.

Sarlie Drakos is a Disability Employment Coach and you can reach her at SarlieDrakos.com and inquire how she can help you land that dream job.

Be sure to check out all of our Job Insights episodes and give us a call at 612-367-6093, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call at 612-367-6093.

Thanks for listening!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

College101: SSB is hosting a College 101 webinar for prospective blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind college students - November 28th at 6 PM CST. Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Blind Abilities welcomes Shane DeSantis, Transition Coordinator at State Services for the Blind of Minnesota, to the studio to talk about an upcoming College 101 webinar.

Are you interested in attending college to gain education and

training needed to meet your employment goals? Do you have questions about what the transition to college will look like and what skills are needed to be successful in higher academics?

What: SSB is hosting a College 101 webinar for prospective blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind college students to learn from current college students the skills needed for success in higher education. Please join us for the conversation and feel free to ask questions you might have about college.

Who: This is open for any prospective college student in high school or recently graduated from high school. A small group of current college students will serve as panelists to discuss their experiences at college and answer questions.

When: Monday, November 28th from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Where: Zoom! Please click here to register.

If you have any questions, please contact Shane DeSantis at shane.desantis@state.mn.us or 651-358-5205.

Full Transcript

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Wellness Wednesday: A Question from a Listener - What Do You Do if You're In Public, School or the Workplace and There is an Active Shooter in the Vicinity? Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

In this seventh episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, address a listener's question about what one can do as a blind or visually impaired person if they should find themself in an active shooter situation. Beth and Robin share their agency training experience, thoughts and ideas

Full Transcript

Be sure to check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes and share with friends and family.

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!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Tech Abilities - Education and Learning, Twitter Accessibility Team is Laid Off, Traveling Blind, BARD Update, and Resources for Learning and Knowledge with Blindness in Mind Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

A Big salute to the entire Accessibility Experience Team formally at Twitter.

As part of the takeover at Twitter and all the layoffs, the entire Accessibility Experience Team at Twitter has been laid off. Accessibility Experience Team Manager, Gerard Koen, released a twitter thread acknowledging the members of the Accessibility Experience Team, the work they did and is looking forward to working on accessibility for future companies. We play a voice over rendition of his Twitter thread posted the other day.

In this episode of Tech Abilities the team, and no, Serina has not been laid off, comes together in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about resources for general knowledge and learning on an everyday basis along with the latest news and tech tidbits from a Blindness perspective.

Here are the topics and some links from the show:

Wow, Twitter, Hmm.
Learning - Where do we get our knowledge?

Resources

Letters, News and Tech Tidbits

Letter from Doc - Where do you park your cane?
Traveling tips.
iOS 16.1 - How has the update gone for you?
Bard gets a great update with searching now on the app!
Amazon Music - Free, sort of and up to Amazon Music Unlimited for $8.99
Ads, Ads, Ads... from Apple TV to all the socials, game changer?

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Meet Matt Carson - Musician, Singer/Songwriter and Producer Who Happens to be a TBVI (Teacher of the blind and Visually Impaired) Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Jeff and Pete welcome mat Carson into the Blind Abilities studio today. Matt is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, a musician, a singer songwriter who is proud to write and perform sad songs that fit neatly into the country music genre. Matt has written, performed, recorded and produced dozens of songs, most of which he produced himself in his home studio. Matt released his first full length album in 2019 entitled no regrets, on which he played all of the instruments with the exception of drums And pedal steel guitar. Matt has also been totally blind since birth. He shares all of these topics, with Jeff and Pete and as usual, they introduce quite a few excerpts of his music, not only from his no regrets album, but from his current project, a three song EP on which he welcomes Michael Cleveland, Bluegrass fiddler extraordinaire, whom Jeff and Pete introduced on Blind Abilities a couple of months ago. Sit back and enjoy this fascinating interview with their multi-talented guest, Matt Carson., A fascinating conversationalist a Teacher for the Visually Impaired, And an accomplished singer, songwriter and all around entertaining country artist.

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Wellness Wednesday: What Bullying may look like in the Workplace with Beth Gustin and Robin Ennis Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

In this sixth episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, LPC and Robin Ennis, LCSW, CPC, continue the conversation on Bullying and move it to the workplace. How it may look and what you can do to help your situation or another's situation if need be.

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!

Episode Web Site

Tech Abilities: Through the Lens of Experience We Share Our Views on Apple Products, Upcoming Apple Services, White Cane Safety Day and Awareness to the People, Plus, Tech Tidbits and News from a Blindness Perspective. Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Serina, Callie, Seyoon and Jeff chill out in the Blind Abilities Studio to bring you the Tech Abilities Show. From Avatars getting legs, Apple's new Savings plan, Air Tag battery replacement, new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max for Seyoon and jeff, to Air Friers being Accessible, new Apple TVs, iPads new and the massive iPad Pro with the M2 chip. Wow factor gets tested. But, is this too much iPad?

With White Cane Safety Day in the Books we talk about the importance that bringing awareness to the general public has today and a big step for Audio Description on the 20,000 Hertz podcast.

This is a healthy and longest Tech Abilities episode and it is just perfect for the times. We enjoyed the conversation and we hope you find something that helps you along your own journey.

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

Job Insights: Job Interview Follow-Up and Disclosing a Disability - If, Why, When and How Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of Job Insights Sarlie Drakos, Dacia Vanalstine and Jeff Thompson talk about following-up after a job interview and dive into the "white elephant" in the room, If, When, why and how to, if one decides to, disclose a disability during the job interview process.

the Job Insights team shares their knowledge and experience to help you succeed and prepare for the job interview.

Be sure to contact your Vocational Rehabilitation Services in your state and see what they can do for you.

Sarlie Drakos is a Disability Employment Coach and you can reach her at SarlieDrakos.com and inquire how she can help you land that dream job.

Thanks for listening!

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093

The Accessible Air Frier: Cosori Pro II - Second Generation Smart Device Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Whether you are on your own, off-campus living or just wanting access to an Air Frier, this 5.8 Quart basket Air Frier from Cosori is accessible through a free app as well as through the Amazon and Google smart devices. With just a little set up with the VeSync App, and the VeSync skill for your preferred smart device, the rest is all at your command. Set your time and Temp and you be cooking. Just like that! No buttons to label, mark or worry about. You can even receive a text message when the Cosori Pro II Air Frier is done cooking.

Full Transcript

Here are some links for the Cosori Pro II experience:

Cosori Pro II on Amazon

VeSync App on the App Store or on Google Play.

Download the VeSync skill from within your smart devices app.

Episode Web Site

we would love to hear from you!

Send us an email at info@BlindAbilities.com or give us a call and leave us some feedback at 612-367-6093