Below is the show summary as well as links to the show notes and audio
JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion users can now benefit from AI powered tools like PictureSmart AI and FS Companion that provide image descriptions, label buttons, and help users with commands. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker from Vispero about the resources and training programs they offer for learning and using these and other tools.
Aira has transformed from a mostly subscription service into a resource that now offers many free services for visually impaired users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jenine Stanley, Director of Customer Success at Aira about navigating public spaces and how collaborations with Google DeepMind and wearable tech promise better visual interpretation tools.
Applications are now open for the 2025 Business Enterprise Competition that supports blind entrepreneurs with scholarships and cash awards. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Colleen Wunderlich of The Chicago Lighthouse about the application process and eligibility requirements, Miami University of Ohio’s mentorship program for winners, and the $25,000 top prize.
Now AI can simplify online shopping for people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Long, co-founder of the accessible InnoSearch AI shopping service, about their new CoBrowse AI agent, which uses interactive voice-controlled commands and reasoning to make e-commerce sites and other online experiences more accessible for everyone.
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with renowned audiobook narrator Scott Brick, the voice behind over 1200 audiobooks you may have enjoyed including many bestsellers. They talk about Scott’s career, the importance of voice care and hydration, his coaching of others who are new in the field, and the potential effects of AI on the industry.
How have assistive technologies evolved for blind users over the decades? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey discuss the variety of assistive technologies Peter used over the years as his vision declined. They talk about the tools he used as a child, student, and scientist, as well as modern devices that he uses in retirement and what may be coming next.
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey continue the conversation with three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn about their visions for the future in this informative round table discussion.
This week hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey bring together three leaders in the field of assistive technology: Deane Blazie, Jim Fruchterman, and Ted Henter. They made pioneering contributions to the development of refreshable Braille displays, OCR, and screen readers, respectively. Learn what each of them is up to today in this informative round table discussion.
How can nonprofit tech leaders harness tech and AI to drive accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jim Fruchterman, founder of Tech Matters, about his journey from Arkenstone to Bookshare and the challenges of funding social enterprises. He shares insights on agile development, inclusive design, and why tech for good matters to the disability community.
Artificial Intelligence is opening new doors in accessibility. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Karthik Kannan, co-founder and CTO of Envision, about the new Ally Solos smart glasses and about using QR codes to bring detailed museum descriptions to blind visitors, showing how technology can improve participation in public life for people with vision loss.
How does love blossom across decades and continents? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Judy and Chris Jones, a blind couple who first met abroad as children, reconnected years later, had a long-distance courtship, and married after a telephone proposal. They share their journey through cross-cultural moves, parenting, and beating the odds together.
Moving into a new home and community can present unique challenges for blind individuals. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey share tips and suggestions from listeners and talk about choosing accessible communities, mapping unfamiliar spaces, the importance of planning ahead and being organized, as well as about mobility techniques to ensure safety and independence.
How would you solve a Rubik’s Cube if you were blind? Hosts Nancy and Peter talk with Paul Martz, author of the book “Solve It! The only speedsolving guide for blind cubers”. Paul, who is blind, describes how he uses textures, memory skills, and blazing speed to participate in timed challenges against blind as well as sighted participants.
Music technology has changed drastically over the years. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey meet with Park Peters for a tour of his home studio. They discuss the transition from analog equipment like tape decks to powerful digital tools that are more affordable, as well as the wide array of gear that shaped his path as an audio producer.
How does a blind musician break into professional audio production? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Park Peters, a blind musician and audio engineer, about his journey from early piano lessons to mastering studio production, overcoming inaccessible equipment, and using his deep understanding of music theory to compensate for his lack of vision.
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jose Manolo Alvarez, a blind professor at the University of Puerto Rico who teaches future educators of the visually impaired and creates tools from hurricane trackers to games to make assistive tech more accessible and engaging for students. He also hosts a Spanish language podcast about technology for the blind.
How does ham radio connect people worldwide? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with retired attorney and ham radio enthusiast John McCann (KW4U) about his experiences as a blind operator since the 1960’s, how modern equipment provides accessibility, and why this hobby is a fantastic way to make friends and serve as a vital emergency communication backup.
Becoming blind can be a difficult transition, but how does one adapt after regaining sight? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Beth Pizzarello about losing vision due to RP, adapting to blindness, and undergoing innovative surgery that restored partial sight. They discuss her book 'Eclipsed' and her philosophy of embracing life's changes.
Beep Baseball is a variant of American baseball that has been adapted to be safe for its blind participants. Hosts Nancy and Pete Torpey speak with Blake Boudreaux and Stephen Guerra of the National Beep Baseball Association about how the game is played, what special equipment is used and the annual World Series of Beep Baseball.
How does a blind athlete turn adversity into opportunity? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, a Paralympic athlete and founder of AccessAbility Officer, about his journey from life-changing injury to empowering other blind individuals through employment, digital access, and inclusive athletics like beep baseball.
How can visually impaired individuals access meaningful careers in digital accessibility? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Tanner Gers, CEO of AccessAbility Officer, about their training program that certifies blind professionals, providing them with real-world skills, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities in digital accessibility testing.
How can individuals with both vision and hearing loss navigate daily life? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with author Deborah Kendrick about her book "When Your Ears Can't Help You See: Strategies for Blind and Low Vision Individuals with Hearing Loss". She shares personal experiences with hearing aids, apps, and finding supportive audiologists.
The JAWS screen reader for Windows is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Elizabeth Whitaker about Freedom Scientific’s education initiatives, training resources, and new AI-powered FS Companion. They also introduce the new Insert J Club, a community for users to communicate and to access exclusive content and support.
Research is key to fighting blinding eye diseases. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, about advancing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, funding research initiatives, and launching new mental health resources to support individuals with blindness and low vision.
How do visually impaired individuals manage diabetes independently? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Veronica Elsea and Patricia Maddix about accessible insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and their advocacy work for non-visual medical tools. Both women share their personal journeys navigating diabetes care as blind individuals.
Rod Clemmons, who has been blind since birth, shares his journey from being a classically trained pianist to an R&B performer, producer and composer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rod about his experiences as a visually impaired musician, his passion for rhythm and blues, and his work scoring the upcoming film 'A Jeannie for Christmas'.
Navigating in low light can be risky for blind pedestrians. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelvin Crosby about the See Me Cane, which increases visibility with built-in LED lighting. Kelvin also shares his path from vision loss to advocacy, vocational training, and launching an assistive tech program that hires blind professionals.
The Able Artist Foundation supports low-income disabled musicians around the world by providing discounted music software and hardware to its members. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Stephen Letnes about what motivated him to start the organization, their company partners, and about the special programs they offer for their members.
“Dinner Delivered" is a guide for visually impaired individuals on using grocery and meal delivery services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Loftis Nova, who co-authored the book with Chris Grabowski Nova, about navigating platforms like Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Kim shares her experiences using these services as well as practical tips for using them.
Dive into the world of movies from a visually impaired perspective. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Howard and Lee Pugsley, co-hosts of The Dark Room podcast, about what motivated them to start the podcast, their experiences at movie theaters, challenges with some audio description services, and improving theater accessibility.
What does it take to relearn life skills after vision loss? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser about his experiences with blindness training programs, transitioning from magnification to screen readers, and finding value in non-visual techniques. Erich’s journey offers insights into overcoming challenges and learning new skills.
Experience the vivid landscapes of Arizona as enhanced by detailed descriptions by AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey used various AI services like PiccyBot and Be My Eyes to describe their adventures in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, Sedona's trails, and more. Explore how technology can enhance the visually impaired's experience of nature.
Benetech’s work has transformed how people with disabilities access information. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Jim Fruchterman and CEO Ayan Kishore about the evolution of Bookshare, the use of AI in accessibility, the Global Certified Accessible program, and how Benetech’s efforts have impacted digital publishing and education.
The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the field of accessibility led to him receiving this special award.
Joshua Miele is a MacArthur Award-winning accessibility expert who became blind at age 4. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his new memoir “Connecting Dots - A Blind Life”, his experiences at UC Berkeley and how he came to work in accessibility, his shift from using a guide dog to a cane and how he hopes his book will reshape views on blindness.
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey's Arizona vacation took an unexpected turn when Pete's All Terrain Hiking Cane needed repair. Fortunately, Sedona Dave, designer of the cane, lived just a few minutes from their hotel. Inviting them into his “Cane Lab”, Dave not only repaired the cane, but also described the various canes offered by Awarewolf Gear.
The original Biped navigation device has been upgraded and renamed NOA. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mael Fabien, co-founder and CEO of Biped AI, about NOA, a wearable AI device offering obstacle detection, navigation feedback, and real-time scene descriptions. They discuss the vest’s design, how it works, and the latest upgrades.
Just because you are visually impaired doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit and healthy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Evan Schwerbrock, founder of Cane and Able Fitness and the world’s strongest blind man, about his remote training approach, the importance of small steps in fitness, and his journey from vision loss to competing in adaptive strength events.
AppleVis is a hub for visually impaired users of Apple products. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Nason and Scott Davert, members of the AppleVis editorial team, about the evolution of the platform, the resources available on AppleVis, the recent partnership with Be My Eyes, and the expansion to cover products outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Want to kick start your progress to independence? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kurt Deichmann and Brian Clark of First Aid for the Blind about their innovative training program. The week-long remote sessions teach life-changing skills and provide vital tools to newly blind individuals, helping them quickly regain confidence and independence.
Playing chess with vision loss? Why not! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glenn Crawford, Rita Crawford, and Marilyn Bland from the United States Blind Chess Association (USBCA). They discuss special equipment, correspondence games, and the challenges and rewards of the game. Learn about the USBCA's resources and outreach programs.
The Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) empowers people with disabilities through skill development, training, and career placement. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kristy Schenderlein, Director of Operations at BIT, about their innovative programs, funding model, and the critical role of assistive technology in workplace success.
Eyes On Success usually focuses on products, services and daily living stories for and about people with vision loss. This week’s episode covers what it’s like for a sighted partner of a blind person. We’ve been married for 41 years and he’s been blind since long before that. Nancy continues to learn what’s special about life with Pete.
Lucy Edwards went suddenly blind just months into her relationship with Ollie Edwards-Cave when they were both in their teens. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ollie about how he stood by her and supported her through years of struggles and depression. We also talk about Lucy’s book “Blind Not Broken” that details their experiences.
Celebrate the end of 2024 with Eyes On Success in this year-end special! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey usher in the new year with two pairs of AI-powered podcast hosts who talk about the show and its creators, then unveil a fresh website design for 2025, and finish with a special song written by Pete celebrating multi-cultural seasonal holidays.
Despite being totally blind since childhood, Robert De Young acquired the training to become a practicing clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Robert about what those positions entail and the services he provides to his clients. They also talk with him about how he works with clients despite being blind.