Blind Access Journal

In this approximately 13-minute podcast, take a short break from all the pandemic news and listen to us decorate our Christmas tree. We hope all of you are enjoying happy holidays this year! Please tell us how you and your family are handling social distancing, feeding yourselves and generally getting along, especially from a blind perspective, in the time of the Coronavirus. Please send an audio recording or a written message to darrell (at) blindaccessjournal (dot) com or tell us about it on our social media channels. Blind Access Journal, and the Hilliker family, must frequently rely on sighted assistance in order to get important, inaccessible tasks done. In most cases, we have chosen Aira as our visual interpreter. If you are ready to become an Aira Explorer, and you feel it in your heart to pass along a small gift to the journal or our family, we ask that you use our referral link. Your first month of Aira service will be free of charge, we will receive a discount on our bill and we will thank you for supporting the important work we do here at Blind Access Journal. We love hearing from our listeners! Please feel free to talk with us in the comments. What do you like? How could we make the show better? What topics would you like us to cover on future shows? If you use Twitter, let's get connected! Please follow Allison (@AlliTalk) and Darrell (@darrell). This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this approximately 48-minute podcast, Allison Hilliker tries to avail herself of Maricopa County's almost-but-not-quite-accessible Braille ballot. We would like to learn about your voting experiences this year. If you haven't done so already, it is not too late! Please do everything you can to get out to the polls and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3! If you encounter any trouble voting as a blind person on Election Day, please contact the National Federation of the Blind's hotline at 1-877-NFB-1940 ( 1-877-632-1940) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific standard time. Please check out the Federation's Voting Resources page for more information. Please tell us how you and your family are handling social distancing, feeding yourselves and generally getting along, especially from a blind perspective, in the time of the Coronavirus. Please send an audio recording or a written message to darrell (at) blindaccessjournal (dot) com or tell us about it on our social media channels. Blind Access Journal, and the Hilliker family, must frequently rely on sighted assistance in order to get important, inaccessible tasks done. In most cases, we have chosen Aira as our visual interpreter. If you are ready to become an Aira Explorer, and you feel it in your heart to pass along a small gift to the journal or our family, we ask that you use our referral link. Your first month of Aira service will be free of charge, we will receive a discount on our bill and we will thank you for supporting the important work we do here at Blind Access Journal. We love hearing from our listeners! Please feel free to talk with us in the comments. What do you like? How could we make the show better? What topics would you like us to cover on future shows? If you use Twitter, let's get connected! Please follow Allison (@AlliTalk) and Darrell (@darrell). This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this approximately 37-minute podcast, Allison and Darrell Hilliker learn all about their new iRobot Roomba E5 vacuum cleaner. We would like to learn about your cleaning experiences. Do you use a robot vacuum? What techniques or technologies do you use to keep your house clean from a blindness perspective. Please tell us how you and your family are handling social distancing, feeding yourselves and generally getting along, especially from a blind perspective, in the time of the Coronavirus. Please send an audio recording or a written message to darrell (at) blindaccessjournal (dot) com or tell us about it on our social media channels. Blind Access Journal, and the Hilliker family, must frequently rely on sighted assistance in order to get important, inaccessible tasks done. In most cases, we have chosen Aira as our visual interpreter. If you are ready to become an Aira Explorer, and you feel it in your heart to pass along a small gift to the journal or our family, we ask that you use our referral link. Your first month of Aira service will be free of charge, we will receive a discount on our bill and we will thank you for supporting the important work we do here at Blind Access Journal. We love hearing from our listeners! Please feel free to talk with us in the comments. What do you like? How could we make the show better? What topics would you like us to cover on future shows? If you use Twitter, let's get connected! Please follow Allison (@AlliTalk) and Darrell (@darrell).

In this approximately 10-minute podcast, Darrell Hilliker demonstrates the use of the Teckin SP20 WiFi Smart Plug for managing the status of lights. Download: Lighting the World with the Teckin Wifi Smart Plug We hope the ability to turn lights on and off with our voices will draw attention, and toddler hands, away from cords… Finish Reading Lighting the World with the Teckin SP20 Wifi Smart Plug

In this approximately 24-minute podcast, Allison, Allyssa, Arabella and Darrell Hilliker celebrate Easter in the time of the Coronavirus while putting together the Alex Active Monkey Kids Toddler Balance Board. Download: Finding Balance: Easter in the Time of the Coronavirus Please tell us how you and your family are handling social distancing, feeding yourselves and… Finish Reading Finding Balance: Easter in the Time of the Coronavirus

In this one-hour podcast, Darrell Hilliker unboxes and demonstrates the setup of a new Eero Whole Home WiFi system from a blind person’s perspective. Download: Eero Setup Demo Although not perfectly accessible in all respects, the Eero WiFi system represents a painless way to easily deploy wireless Internet connectivity throughout your home. If you decide… Finish Reading Connecting All the Things: Setting Up the Eero Whole Home WiFi System

In this approximately 32-minute eighth episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison, Allyssa, Arabella and Darrell Hilliker work with Aira agent Connor to construct a paper airplane. While sighted people have enjoyed the privilege of learning from YouTube videos for many years now, we blind people have been largely locked out… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Paper Airplanes

In this approximately 15-minute seventh episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allyssa and Darrell Hilliker work with Aira agent Jacob to read a print copy of The Little Red Sled. While we always prefer Braille books, some relatives give our children print books, and it is nice to be able to… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: The Little Red Sled

In this approximately 6-minute podcast, Allison and Darrell Hilliker sing their take on the twelve days of Christmas. Listen or pause: The Twelve Inaccessibilities of Christmas Download: The Twelve Inaccessibilities of Christmas The Twelve Inaccessibilities of Christmas On the first day of Christmas, the developers gave to me: a mouse click only menu tree. On… Finish Reading The Twelve Inaccessibilities of Christmas

In this approximately 14-minute sixth episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison, Darrell, Allyssa and Arabella Hilliker work with Aira agent Jordan to identify letters and numbers on baby bottle nipples to insure the correct flow level is selected. Listen or Pause: Check Out My Nipples Download: Check Out My Nipples… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Check Out My Nipples

In this approximately 35-minute fifth episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison, Darrell, Allyssa and Arabella Hilliker unbox, describe and demonstrate the basic operation of Aira’s new Horizon system. Listen or Pause: Aira Horizon Unboxing Download: Aira Horizon Unboxing We realized soon after the recording of this podcast that, since the… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Out of the Box with Horizon

In this approximately 15-minute fourth episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison, Darrell and Arabella Hilliker work with Aira agent Tai to review and label the sizes of several sets of bed sheets. Listen or Pause: Aira Bed Sheet Size Demo Download: Aira Bed Sheet Size Demo We invite you to… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Sheet Happens

In this approximately 39-minute podcast, Allison, Darrell and Arabella Hilliker explore and demonstrate some of the accessibility features of the Element ELEFW195 19″ 720p 60Hz LED HDTV. Listen or pause: Element ELEFW195 Talking TV Demo Download: Element ELEFW195 Talking TV Demo We thank Aira agent David for the descriptive labels and mapping of the accompanying… Finish Reading Power On: Exploring the Elements of a Talking TV

In this 12-minute third episode in the Aira in the Real World podcast series, Darrell Hilliker tours a potential new assisted living home for his mother with the help of an Aira agent who provides descriptions of the home’s appearance and cleanliness. Listen or Pause: Assisted Living Home Tour Download: Assisted Living Home Tour We… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Assisted Living Home Tour

In this 27-minute second episode in their Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison, Allyssa and Darrell Hilliker demonstrate working with an Aira agent to locate Allyssa’s cane and the restroom in their local public library. Listen or Pause: Finding Baby Canes and Bathrooms Download: Finding Baby Canes and Bathrooms We invite you to… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Finding Baby Canes and Bathrooms

In this approximately 17-minute first episode in their Aira in the Real World podcast series, Allison and Darrell Hilliker share a recording of the fetal anatomy ultrasound of their upcoming baby with the help of description from an Aira agent. Listen or Pause: Ultrasound Description Demo Download: Ultrasound Description Demo We invite you to listen… Finish Reading Aira in the Real World: Describing a Fetal Anatomy Ultrasound

In this approximately 45-minute podcast, Allison, Allyssa and Darrell Hilliker talk with Dr. Denise Robinson all about her company, TechVision and her thoughts about the education of blind children and adults. Listen or Pause: Denise Robinson Download: Denise Robinson TechVision Low-cost technology lessons for blind children and adults from a certified teacher of the visually… Finish Reading Never Say “No”: Expand Your TechVision with Dr. Denise Robinson

In this approximately 50-minute informal podcast, Allison, Allyssa and Darrell Hilliker talk with Aira CEO Suman Kanuganti at the 2017 National Federation of the Blind Convention about this promising, new disruptive service that aims to give blind people “instant access to information” through the use of augmented reality and wearable technology. Listen or Pause: Suman… Finish Reading Exploring the World with Aira: A Candid Discussion with Suman Kanuganti

In this approximately 10-minute podcast, Darrell Hilliker demonstrates high-frequency (HF) amateur radio operation and thanks Gary (AC7R) and his crew for the chance to spend some time on the air during Field Day weekend. Listen or Pause: Field Day Download: Field Day We love hearing from our listeners! Please feel free to talk with us… Finish Reading Amateur Radio Field Day 2017

This approximately one-hour podcast is an audio recording of a real-world demonstration for following a systematic plan that explores, evaluates and tests iOS apps for accessibility with Apple’s built-in VoiceOver screen reader for blind and low-vision users. The August 3, 2016 webinar was presented by Darrell Hilliker and hosted by the Arizona Technology Access Program.… Finish Reading Teaching and Testing iOS App VoiceOver Accessibility Webinar

In this approximately one hour and 49 minute podcast, Allison, Darrell and baby daughter Allyssa go on an adventure through their photo library, experiencing fun and frustration with accessible and inaccessible iOS apps. Listen or Pause: Picture Imperfect Download: Picture Imperfect We found Moments by Facebook completely inaccessible with VoiceOver. Please submit feedback to Facebook’s… Finish Reading Picture Imperfect: Our Family Explores Photo Management on iOS