Meet Christine Malec: Author of Newly Released Harry Potter Fan Fiction Book, Before the Tide

Christine Malec talks about her new Fan Fiction Novel, Before The Tide. This is a book Christine wrote in the universe of Harry Potter Books. Fan Fiction is just that, an author uses the universe and world created by another author and just, “Goes with it.” Christine talks about how her book Before the Tide came about and the processes that she goes through to create and develop her book. Christine has also published her own novel, Beltane...

Interviews From FCB2017: Aira, Humanware, GuidingEyes, GuideLightsAndGadgets and More!

Blind Abilities was there! (Yes, we were in attendance at FCB2017 and we have some choice audio from the Exhibit hall floor! Join our Blind Abilities special correspondent, Cheryl Spencer and Pete Lane as they provide interviews with: - Allison with Election systems & Software - Barry with GuideLights & Gadgets - Renee Byrd, with deTerra Essential Oils - John with Low Vision Aids and Magnifying America - Sam from HumanWare - Becky from Guiding...

The Read Read: Revolutionary Device for learning Braille!

Alex Tavares is a recent Masters Degree graduate from Harvard University that has developed a revolutionary tool for assisting in teaching Braille to children and newly blind braille learners. Alex talks about what is The Read Read and how his years as a teacher led him to develop this innovative device that he would like to bring to classrooms and into the hands of the braille students. Alex talks about the experience gained from a 12 week...

The Business Enterprise program: Business Ownership Opportunities and a Promising Career

The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) was established for Blind/Visually Impaired individuals to create opportunities and careers through food vending services and food and merchandise sales on Federal and state properties. The BEP program is nationwide and if you or anybody you know is interested in owning their own business, wants to work and begin a promising career, share this podcast and let them know about the Business Enterprise...

Girl Gone Blind: The Unexpected Life of Maria Johnson

Maria Johnson a.k.a. Girl Gone Blind is a mom, a blogger, radio host, fitness instructor, health and wellness advocate, podcaster, and most of all... Maria shares her experiences and assists others going through the turnstiles entering the journey of Blindness. From learning about her LHON eye condition, losing most of her usable sight, struggling with the acceptance of her vision loss and continuing her fitness instruction classes, Maria talks...

Erich Manser Goes the Distance With Aira! Erich Talks Boston marathon, Autonomous Vehicles, IBM and Adjusting to Blindness

Erich Manser is an Accessibility Researcher for IBM, an Explorer for Aira, has held the World Record for a BVI in Triathlon and has participated in the Boston Marathon 8 times to date. His latest Boston marathon was enhanced by a Visual Interpreter device from Aira. Aira is a revolutionary device that allows the user, the explorer, to connect up with an Agent who can see what the user is looking at. The Aira glasses have a camera that allows the...

3d Photo Works: Touch the Art by Design

John Olson from 3D Photo Works gives us an overview of the tactile replicas of some of the finest art in the world. 3E Photo Works goal is to provide the blind with access to art and photography at every museum, every science center and every cultural institution, first in this country and then beyond. Since the invention of Braille nearly 200 years ago, advocates have worked continuously to improve access to the printed word for the blind....

iPhone101: Setting Up Your New iPhone and Apple IOS Device

Blind Abilities presents the next installment in their series iPhone 101 with an in depth demonstration of setting up a new iPhone. Pete Lane walks us through a description of the packaging, the box and its contents, an introduction to the orientation of the phone, turning on voiceover, arranging various language and location preferences, connecting to a WiFi network and many more phases involved in turning on and setting up a new iPhone. Stay...

Aira Visual Interpreter for the Blind: the Agent Perspective, Growing and Evolving, an Inside Look

Blind Abilities presents the next installment in its series on Aira. Pete Lane continues his interview with Amy Bernal, Director of Aira Agents, and Patrick Lane, Aira Agent analyst. Hear their thoughts on Aira agent training, their views on customer service and the continuing evolution of the agent position. Aira has grown from eight contract agents at the time of the interview, to twenty-three, and they continue to hire. If you are a sighted...

Meet Peggy Chong: “The Blind History Lady”

Peggy Chong has been in many places and many states and it has been a while since she has been in Minnesota so it was nice to meet up with her and talk about her work and passions. Peggy is known as, “The Blind history Lady," as her work over the years has brought about her books and articles about people in history who were blind and nearly lost until Peggy dug up the articles and stories from relatives and schools to breathe some life into...