{"id":9214,"date":"2025-10-29T08:56:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T13:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9214"},"modified":"2025-10-29T08:56:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T13:56:37","slug":"the-blind-drive-from-federal-cuts-to-new-tech-apple-aira-and-the-shifting-road-ahead-for-the-blind-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9214","title":{"rendered":"The Blind Drive: \u201cFrom Federal Cuts to New Tech: Apple, Aira, and the Shifting Road Ahead for the Blind Drive\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_8438\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9214-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Podcast Summary:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Blind Drive puts you in the passenger seat with Jeff Thompson and Tim Schwartz as they run down what\u2019s shaping life for blind and low vision people right now. From federal cuts hitting the Rehabilitation Services Administration to new pressure in Iowa over blind Iowans\u2019 right to keep their shades on (or off), the landscape is shifting fast. We dig into accessibility on the ground \u2014 including Target\u2019s move on self-checkout \u2014 and in your hand, with India distributing smart glasses and Apple cracking the door wider for third-party accessible tech. We talk White Cane Day, not as a hashtag moment but as safety, identity, and independence. And yes, AI is everywhere\u2026 but when you really need answers, is a human solution like Aira still the gold standard? Buckle up and call in with your thoughts at 612-367-6093.&nbsp;We would love to hear from you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Useful Links<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acb.org\/lay-offs-department-education\">ACB on RSA Layoffs<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.iowapublicradio.org\/state-government-news\/2025-09-17\/blind-iowans-protest-state-training-program\">Iowa Public Radio: Blind Iowans Protest Training Changes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/money\/15257493\/target-accessible-self-checkout-low-vision-blind-nationwide\">Target\u2019s Accessible Self-Checkout Rollout<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/varanasi\/ai-glasses-distributed-to-visually-impaired-students\/articleshow\/124168463.cms\">AI Glasses for Students \u2013 Times of India<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/apple-introduces-new-accessibility-features-including-braille-note-taker-2025-05-13\">Apple\u2019s Latest Accessibility Features<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_8440\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9214-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/blindabilities\/BlindDrive5.mp3 Podcast Summary: The Blind Drive puts you in the passenger seat with Jeff Thompson and Tim Schwartz as they run down what\u2019s shaping life for blind and low vision people right now. From federal cuts hitting the Rehabilitation Services Administration to new pressure in Iowa over blind Iowans\u2019 right to keep their shades on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[467,555],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","category-the-blind-drive"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2oC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3683,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3683","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":0},"title":"A Conversation with Aira CEO Suman Kanuganti:  Good Things Are On The Horizon","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"June 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A Conversation with Aira CEO Suman Kanuganti: Good Things Are On The Horizon \u00a0 Suman Kanuganti, CEO of the Aira Tech Corporation, joins Pete Lane and Jeff Thompson in the Blind Abilities Studios to talk about what new is happening at Aira, the programs, projects and where Aira is headed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Aira Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Aira Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=485"},"img":{"alt_text":"Aira Logo: a lower case letter a in a light blue sphere with aira","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/aira_logo.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2778,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=2778","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":1},"title":"Aira Presents: A Conversation with Tiffany Manosh &#8211; Travel, Tech, Disney and  College","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"August 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Blind Abilities offers another in their Aira presentation series from the National Federation of the Blind 2017 national convention in Orlando, Florida. Join Pete Lane and Jeff Thompson as they interview Tiffany Manosh who shares her passions: her passion for technology, for travel and her passion for Aira, the visual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Aira Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Aira Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=485"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4269,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4269","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":2},"title":"That Blind Tech Show: What Tech is Living on a Prayer? Mac SmackDown with PC\u2019s, Aira Boxing, Narrator Climbing the Ranks, Microsoft the New Apple? And Who\u2019s Singing Apple Music Now?","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"December 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: Ed and Brian are back together and Jeff just keeps hanging out counting the days. That\u2019s days until New years 2019! The boys hit the studio hard with nothing but true stories and nothing but the facts. Ed and Jeff keep Brian in-line somewhat and maybe Brian is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=467"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/That-Blind-Tech-Show-Mic-2.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8464,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8464","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":3},"title":"Aira Unveils Meta Ray-Ban Integration, Walmart Partnership, and More","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Jenine Stanley, Director of Customer Success and Engagement at Aira, joins Jeff Thompson on Blind Abilities to share exciting updates. Aira can now be used with Meta Ray-Ban glasses, available in public beta for all users. This innovation expands Aira\u2019s accessible technology offerings, along with other developments like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6461,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6461","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":4},"title":"Tech Abilities: The Show Must Go On, Headset Mania, Activity Goals on the Apple Watch and Everything You Wanted to Know About Aira but Were Afraid to Ask! Welcome Jenine Stanley","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Show Summary: Serina, Angie and Jeff were joined by Jesse Anderson to host this episode of Tech Abilities. Jesse is an Assistive Technology Specialist and will be coming on to Tech Abilities more and more in the near future. Jesse is also the creator of the\u00a0Legally Sighted YouTube Channel\u00a0were he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tech Abilities&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tech Abilities","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=524"},"img":{"alt_text":"The TechAbilities Logo-Dark Sunglasses with TA and BA bold letters in each lens.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7461,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=7461","url_meta":{"origin":9214,"position":5},"title":"\ufffcTech Abilities: To Delve or Not to Delve, Aira Announces Lots, Apple Fever, Mobility and Guide Dogs, Text Selection,, 3 Finger Quadruple Tap. and the Rotor Organization Demo!","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"July 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Serina, Callie and jeff dig into some news and tech tidbits that have been getting a lot of attention. Callie delves into the Guide Dog dream and is mobility going to be the ice breaker? How about Blind Pride, hmmm, to each at their own time probably, We\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tech Abilities&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tech Abilities","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=524"},"img":{"alt_text":"The TechAbilities Logo-Dark Sunglasses with TA and BA bold letters in each lens.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/TechAbilitiesLogo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9214"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9216,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9214\/revisions\/9216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}