What’s the Big Idea, Dr. Cal? A Conversation with Dr. Calvin Roberts, President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild

Full Transcript Show Summary: Our guest on this episode of the Blind Abilities podcast is Dr. Calvin W. Roberts, MD, President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss. Dr. Roberts  has a unique blend of academic, clinical, business and hands-on product development experience. He is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and...

Telling Stories Visually: Meet Legally Blind Filmmaker and YouTube Creator Juan Alcazar

Full Transcript Show Summary: Juan Alcazar is a Film Maker and YouTube Creator and you can find his work on YouTube at JC5Productions. Juan joined Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about his journey with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and his passion for making films and videos. Storytelling is something Juan took to at a young age and he continues his passion as he embraces his sight loss and the...

Rebranding Your Services to Fit the Changing Times: Meet Apple Certified Coach Donna Jodhan

Show Summary: Today’s guest on Blind Abilities is Donna Jodhan. Donna is a multi-talented individual, an author, entrepreneur and an advocate for the  blind and visually impaired. Now Donna is  rebranding herself as a sight loss coach, aiming at helping people who are experiencing sight loss to “...become more comfortable in their new type of world…”, to become independent and fully functional.    Adding to her long...

Braille Doodle: Creating touchable drawings. and the Perfect Solution for Teaching and Learning Braille While Remote Learning

Full Transcript Show Summary: BlindAbilities presents the team from touch pad pro assistive technology,  who is in the process of developing three new and totally innovative products for the blind and visually impaired. Jeff Thompson chats with Kristin Smedley, Chief Communications Officer, Brian Edwards, chief  operating Officer, and founder and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Lubiner With long term plans to develop the highly...

Strap – Change the way you explore the world! A New Device Being Developed by Strap Technologies, and Claiming Strap Could Possibly Replace the White Cane.

Show Summary:  Roel and Ben Eynon from Strap Technologies sat down with Simon in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about a device that could possibly replace the white cane. This is a huge claim being that for nearly 100 years the cane has remained for the most part, the same low tech device used for navigation by the Blind and Visually Impaired. Diego and Ben talk about how they came about working together for this initiative and what...

Sing for Serenity Choir is an International On-Line Choir for the Blind. Come Listen and Join Us virtually!

Full Transcript Show Summary: In the era of Covid-19 we have seen a sharp rise in the production of virtual music, ranging from individual performers, to bands, to choral groups.  Prior to the pandemic, however, this form of music was not only unusual, but rare. Our guests today on blind abilities represent one of those rare music groups that originated before the Corona virus  burst onto the world scene. the Serenity Virtual choir is...

Meet 14 Year Old Ryan Lukowicz – – Future Meteorologist and Creator of the Behind the Weather Forecast Podcast

Full Transcript Show Summary: Jeff’s guest today is Ryan Lukowicz. Ryan has a fascinating interest in a unique topic: Meteorology. as a matter of fact, he has studied Meteorology for over four years now and has developed an expertise in the topic  that is respected across the industry.  so, you may ask: where did he attend college? how did he attain such an advanced knowledge of this subject that is rooted in  complex math...

Build Confidence, Explore Career Possibilities, and Expand Horizons of Opportunity – Meet Pre-Employment Transition Services Counselor Travis Mashuga

Full Transcript Show Summary: Travis Mashuga is a Pre-Employment Transition Services Counselor at State Services for the Blind (SSB) in Minnesota. Travis switched gears in college and decided to work in the Rehabilitation field and is now part of the Transition team at SSB. Travis explains what Transition Services offers and tells us how to get connected with the Transition Services. Whether you are a transition age student or a parent of a...

Assistive Technology Specialist Jesse Anderson and State Services for the Blind Go Virtual in Providing Transition Services to Students

Full Transcript Show Summary: Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB) like every other state rehab agency, is certainly not exempt from the impact of COVID-19. Like much of the Nation’s  business and governmental sector, the staff began working from home back in mid-March. Jesse Anderson, Assistive Technology Specialist, Joins Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about how his department has adjusted to the...

See3D: 3D Printing for the Blind and Visually Impaired. An Insightful Perception Through Touch. Let’s Get Involved!

Full Transcript Show Summary: Are you familiar with 3D printing: how it works, what tools and materials are used to create  3D models, and what is done with them when they are completed?  If not, or if you just want to learn a bit more about the subject and how it might affect you directly as a blind person, then sit right down and listen. We have the answers to all of those questions. We will also fill you in on how 3D models might...