Blind Inspirationcast Inspirations

Colleen ventures into the Guitar Dungeon of Assistive Technology Banter, or the AT Banter podcast of Rob Mineault, Ryan Fleury, and Steve Barclay. Their goal is to provide a balanced and entertaining look at AssistiveTechnology, Accessibility and its importance in people’s lives.  These fine gentlemen contacted Colleen to discuss her visual impairment, social perspective, and […]

In this podcast, Colleen speaks of her journey at The Seeing Eye where she obtained her very first guide dog, Joplin. She had the honor of meeting Cheryl Green, and advocate in the disability community. In addition to this podcast please go and listen to the story of an honest love between a blind woman […]

Hi, listeners!  As usual, thank you for your patience and interest. Colleen is enjoying making videos with new Seeing Eye Dog Joplin so much she has decided to continue them on a regular basis! Podcasts will return periodically so keep an eye. Email us with any suggestions for podcast topics. If you enjoy Colleen though, check out […]

Colleen is getting a guide dog! She is sharing this experience on a video blog instead of her podcast. Check out her first 3 vlogs on YouTube here. Subscribe to her channel and select the bell icon to be notified when she adds a new video. She will be continuing her podcast after this adventure, […]

Colleen was contacted by Defacto Sound, which is a Sound Studio in MD, USA.  Proprietor Dallas interviews her regarding her life in the visual world, and her thoughts on Audio Description.  This is a fascinating look into the world of a sighted sound engineer talking to a blind sound-lover. Our goal is to further the […]

It’s finally here!  Voting 2016…how was it for you?  Colleen describes her accessible voting experience (or lack thereof).  She also announces her upcoming collaboration with Comics Empower! Survey for Blind Voter Feedback Listen to Colleen’s past podcasts about voting in 2014 and about voting in 2012. Email: blindinspirationcast@gmail.com Or tweet us @inspirationcast Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe […]

In this episode Colleen talks about the importance of advocacy in the visually impaired community.  Especially going over her own experience obtaining an Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) in her hometown.  Safety and independence are so important to the blind community, and travel is a huge part of that.  Let’s cross some streets! APS Technical Specifications […]

Colleen is back with several updates about her life, some advice about turning on the accessibility settings on a smart phone, and a peek into the app TapTapSee. TapTapSee is a camera app for the blind and vision impaired that allows you to take a photo of anything and have it described for you in […]

In this episode Colleen talks about her experience giving a museum tour to a deaf blind gentleman.  He can’t see or hear, and she can’t see or sign…what happened?  Tune in to find out this insightful story. Happy Birthday to Helen Keller, too.   Have you interacted with a deaf blind person?  As someone who […]

Colleen returns after her big move with a big topic. Inspired by a podcast from How Stuff Works, Colleen discusses the concept of desexualizing people with disabilities. She goes into the history of disability rights in the US, social psychology, and gives her perspective on why a lot of the world doesn’t accept individuals with […]

Colleen and Alyssa do an audio description movie review of Mad Max Fury Road!  Note that this film is rated R for violence and explosions, but it ends up being a great example of how to view a film that is almost all AD and very little dialogue.  In need of some heavy metal, car […]

Colleen returns from establishing her new joint venture, Audio Description Training Retreats, to discuss Marvel Movie-verse accessibility with Alyssa and Cheryl! Hear how video description has entered the Marvel world from Iron Man 1 to Deadpool . What is your experience with audio description in mainstream Hollywood films? Have a good or bad example of description? […]

So you’ve heard Colleen talk about 20 Awesome Things about being Visually Impaired. Now it’s time to hear some reasons why it might not be so awesome.  Hear about the actual woes of the visually impaired, presented with plenty of humor of course. Colleen references the Vending Machine Episode as well.   Have your own? Email: blindinspirationcast@gmail.com […]

How does a blind person order at a restaurant? Colleen recently talked with Sophie Trist, who took on the task of brailing many menus for restaurants in her home town. Find out what prompted her interest and what her experience was like. Download the Transcript for Episode 34   Have you used or ever been […]

Apologies for the mistakenly re-released previous episode. This is a completely new podcast episode. Colleen discusses the art of Audio Description and the service it provides for the blind and vision impaired. She touches on where it comes from, how to get it, and her own experiences using the service. Also, she announces a new […]

By listener request, Colleen speaks about The Hadley School for the Blind and her experience learning Braille through their free courses. She also touches on what this special code is and how one would read it. Tune in to hear the basics, benefits, and bumps! Reference Links: The Hadley School for the Blind Braille Translator […]

Colleen gives her take on how people with visual impairments and color blindness perceive and relate to colors as the sighted world knows them. She’s not a scientist or a doctor, but Colleen touches on the uniqueness of every person’s eyes, society’s naming of colors, and why it is worth it to describe color to […]

This episode follows Colleen’s series in Alternative Treatments for Depression regarding physical and mental illnesses. No matter who you are, if you are interested in meditation and mindful practices to de-stress your everyday life, listen in! People haven’t been doing this for thousands of years for no reason…what’s the secret here? Listen to Part 1 and Part 2. […]

In this podcast Cheryl joins Colleen to discuss a recently coined phrase “inspiration porn.” Not bashing anyone who posts pictures of inspiring people who struggle with challenges, but questioning the real motives. The concept that people with disabilities are required to inspire those who don’t have any. That meme that brightens your day because you realize you don’t […]

In this fun-filled American jaunt, Colleen discusses the process of how visually impaired and blind people vote at the polls. Her own experience provides criticism, cynicism, and civicism! Learn how you can help the visually impaired vote confidentially and successfully! Referenced Links: American Federation for the Blind – Voting Machines Colleen’s last podcast on voting […]

Crack the code of how to eat your way out of the darkness! Colleen follows her Episode 26 – Alternative Treatments for Depression Part 1: Let’s Get Physical with Supplementary and Dietary things you can do to combat the disability of mental illness. Her research can simplify some of the things you hear about what to […]

Colleen is back to inspire!  This is the follow up podcast to Episode 24 – Depression, Speak out.  In this podcast Colleen touches on physical methods of combating depression and other disabilities.  This is the first in a series that will be posted on ideas and alternative treatments for depression.  Let us know what you think, […]

In this podcast Colleen recites a portion of an Alan Watts’ lecture on the concept of life as a dream, a piece that has inspired her to see the world differently. She hopes it will help you think about things in a different way as well. Let Colleen know your thoughts about doing podcasts in […]

In this talk, Colleen divulges her knowledge and personal experience with depression. Not only associated with losing one’s eyesight, depression affects a large amount of the population. Do you think you understand exactly what depression is? Please listen in and discover some resources about depression and illnesses that perhaps you never even considered. Write in: […]

Legally blind hostess Colleen gives a stand-up rendition of her personal top twenty reasons why the visually impaired community is secretly awesome.  Have you ever walked by a blind person and thought, “I could never live….how do they exist?”  It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.  Laugh along with us and comment! Did Colleen miss […]

Cheryl and Colleen round out their October trip and discuss their specific experiences in venues around London and Wales. It was a wonderful whirlwind trip based in the Cambridge area, and is a must listen if you are going abroad to any sites discussed! Check out Part I and Part II, Tell us about the most accessible and inaccessible […]

Cheryl and Colleen come back to their UK adventures from UK Travel Part 1 to reveal more about traveling in the United Kingdom specifically, including some money-saving tips. Transportation, taxes, and accessibility are all discussed. And…drumroll…there is a PART 3! Check it out soon, we’ve split things up for easy listening. Tune in for more […]

Being visually impaired in a new place can be difficult, but it can be done. USA residents Colleen and Cheryl recently returned from a trip to the United Kingdom! They share some of their experiences with travel, both good and bad, and provide tips and tricks for people researching their next adventure (sighted or not). […]

How do people who can’t see a computer screen navigate a website? Colleen and her website designer, Cheryl, talk about basics of web design and programming for visually impaired users. Understand more about how blind people might experience the internet and learn how easy it can be to make your site accessible to more people. […]

Inclusion in the Arts recently created an Achievement in Diversity Award, which they presented to actor James Earl Jones in July 2013. Colleen explains the non-profit organization and gives her thoughts on the award and the actor. Do you have any thoughts on Inclusion in the Arts? Who should get this award next year? Fun with […]

Colleen is back, this time speaking about accessibility in computer programming!  For all those who design, use, or create programs and websites this podcast will give you some fun insight into what blind and visually impaired people do with their settings and screen readers to try and navigate your materials.  Colleen addresses some helpful hints […]

In this follow up to her White Cane Podcast, Colleen addresses more techniques and resources for traveling independently with a visual impairment.  Answering some great feedback, she also shares some personal views and tips on the importance of gaining independent living skills.  Keep the comments and questions coming this way! blindinspirationcast@gmail.com Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe […]

Colleen shares some global statistics and definitions surrounding visual impairments today, bringing light to some of the international efforts to prevent and care for the visually impaired, and striving to inspire people to open their minds and hearts to all. World Health Organization Please feel free to request future topics, ask questions, or add comments: […]

This podcast reveals some of the mysteries and misconceptions about The Long White Canes used by the blind and visually impaired. Colleen goes into the basics of why canes are used, how to get them, how to train with them, and what to do once you have one. For sighted listeners, this is a fun […]

Election Day 2012! In this podcast Colleen discusses her experience with the polls and elections as a visually impaired voter.  Colleen explains some of her research on the different ways one can be accommadated during the voting process, and tells her voting story!  Best wishes for the American people in this important time. Did you […]

Happy Halloween, everyone, and we hope you had a wonderful Disability Awareness Month.  Remember to continue disability awareness all year long. Colleen reflects on her recent speaking engagement at Cox Communications for a Diversity Council event. She had a great time at the event, and in this episode she relays some of the information she […]

Turner Classic Movies’ The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film is running each Tuesday evening in October.  Of particular interest to Colleen is the 1942 film Eyes in the Night, which follows a blind detective in his thwarting of a group of murderers and thieves. Colleen and Cheryl discuss the film and its portrayal […]

Welcome back from a hiatus! Colleen has been performing in The Producers recently, and brings that experience to this podcast episode. She talks about how she has learned to perform with her visual impairment, the importance of asking for help, and what other actors can do that might help a cast member with a visual […]

After a brief hiatus due to life, Blind Inspirationcast is back! In this episode Colleen Connor is joined by 2 friends, Kelly Verdon and Cheryl Cordingley, to discuss a “Ted Talk” they watched on visual hallucinations.  The lecture is given by Oliver Sacks.  They delve into some of the science behind these hallucination, called Charles […]

Turner Classic Movies, a television channel that focuses on classic films, has partnered with Inclusion in the Arts this October to bring you The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film. This program will showcase films up through the 1980’s that deal with disabilities of all sorts, including blindness, deafness, intellectual disabilities, psychological disabilities, […]

SCIENCE JAWN!  In this episode Colleen relays her experience with this article about sight restoration for the blind and vision impaired.  The article is from e! Science News, and discusses a recent study published by Stanford University, where scientists have developed an infrared and photovoltaic system to restore stimulation to damaged retinas. Have you read […]

Colleen found the following article this article discussing the famed actress Dame Judi Dench. She discusses the article and Dench’s interview about her recent diagnosis with a visual impairment known as macular degeneration.  Colleen talks about the success one can still have as a blind or legally blind performer, and how it is important to focus […]

In this episode Colleen talks about her specific visual impairment, Cone-Rod Dystrophy, how it classifies her as ‘Legally Blind,’ and how she has learned to work with it in her life. It focuses mainly on CRD but touches on symptoms and the visual perceptions of many people who are visually impaired. The article Colleen talks […]

The Long Game The Doctor, Rose, and Adam go to the year 200,000, where Adam gets brain surgery from corrupt reporters being controlled by a really big alien. In this episode Colleen and Cheryl fail to hide their dislike/hatred of Adam. Colleen rants about the use of flashlights and celebrates the fact that the characters […]

Aliens of London, World War III In the first two-parter of the season, Colleen and Cheryl discuss Rose’s trip back to her mother’s house accidentally a year after she had left. They talk about the new information about the Doctor, aliens taking over the government, other aliens crashing into earth, and the implausible survival of […]

The Doctor and Rose meet Charles Dickens in 1869 Cardiff, Wales and discover some ghost-aliens inhabiting corpses. Colleen freaks out about the time period, and Cheryl tries to explain what the aliens look like. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe with RSS and others Comment below or share your thoughts at blindinspirationcast@gmail.com

In this second episode of theDoctor Who feature, Colleen and Cheryl discuss episode 2, The End of the World. They spoil the whole episode. Seriously, if you want to watch the episode, they suggest you do that before listening to the podcast. They reveal more of their nerd selves, discussing spaceships, aliens, sun filters, and […]

In this episode Colleen discusses the challenges posed to visually impaired and blind users of social media networks and interactive websites. As a young adult, many of her friends communicate using social networking sites that are primarily visual, and even after using the “Help” settings Colleen still finds challenges in trying to view certain programs. […]

The first podcast about Doctor Who! Colleen is joined by her friend, Cheryl, to review the first episode of the BBC’s revamp of Doctor Who beginning in 2005. Colleen is watching this series for the first time, while Cheryl has watched the series before. This will be a regular feature on Blind Inspirationcast; they will […]

In this first episode, Colleen discusses changing visual and audio settings on your computer to suit you! It’s based on Windows as an operating system, and walks through some of the accessibility options you have for optimizing your screen to help you view your computer better. Because she still has some eyesight, Colleen is able […]

Colleen introduces herself and this, her first podcast ever. Colleen will talk about living with a visual impairment/legal blindness and how she finds inspiration. She will discuss everything from technology to society to TV/film to her acting and writing career. This podcast will focus on providing knowledge, skills, and inspiration to anyone who is listening.