Podcasts about Braille

La acción de leer se puede hacer de muchas maneras, no solo con la vista. Ahora, según la definición actual de la Real Academia de la Lengua Española, leer es solo “pasar la vista por lo escrito o impreso comprendiendo la significación de los caracteres empleados”. Una joven ciega gallega, lectora de braille, se consideró excluida de esta definición y pidió un cambio. Con la ayuda de la ONCE, el nuevo diccionario admitirá que leer con los dedos, también es leer. De hecho, así quedará la nueva definición, mucho más inclusiva para el término leer: “Interpretar, utilizando para ello la vista, el tacto u otros medios, los signos empleados en un texto escrito”.Escuchar audio

Three buses passed Santiago “Santi” Velasquez because he could not see when to hail them. Instead of accepting that public transport was not designed for him, the blind electrical engineer decided to build a better system.In this episode of ListenABLE, Dylan Alcott and Angus O'Loughlin sit down with Santi to discuss the experience that inspired Halo, an accessibility-first public transport app that alerts drivers when a passenger needs assistance, where they are boarding and where they need to get off.Santi explains how he became one of the relatively few blind electrical engineers in the world, why his parents taught him that “the only thing you cannot do is see”, and how he learned advanced mathematics, coding and engineering through Braille, audio technology and problem-solving.The conversation also explores the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence for people with disability. Santi argues that AI can be incredibly useful, but only when people with lived experience are included in the data, design and decision-making process.From accessible public transport and guide dog discrimination to Braille literacy, rideshare accountability and the danger of treating people with disability as charity cases, this is a powerful conversation about independence, expectations and designing a world that works better for everyone.As Santi says:“We're not just charity cases. We have to have high expectations of ourselves because otherwise, who else is going to have them?”In this episode00:00 “I'll be damned if I'm going to be a second-class citizen”01:00 Welcome to ListenABLE02:05 Meet Santiago “Santi” Velasquez03:24 Growing up blind in Colombia06:14 Becoming a blind electrical engineer09:12 Learning mathematics, coding and engineering through Braille10:28 The tactile display that lets people feel a screen15:22 Is artificial intelligence actually accessible?20:58 Why blind children still need to learn Braille24:07 High expectations instead of charity25:58 The three buses that inspired Halo28:44 Why disability-led inventions benefit everyone30:20 How passengers with disability become invisible to transport systems31:55 Santi's global ambition for Halo34:39 How the Halo public transport app works36:25 Who should pay for accessible transport technology?38:14 Creating accountability across transport and rideshare services42:36 Why sharing lived experience matters44:04 The Bowl of Uncomfortable46:10 What people need to know about guide dogs48:07 Santi's final messageLearn more about Santi and HailoRequest Hailo in your city:Download and use Halo if you are travelling on participating services in Victoria.Follow the ListenABLE hostsDylan Alcott:https://www.instagram.com/dylanalcott/Angus O'Loughlin:https://www.instagram.com/angus_oloughlin/ListenABLE:https://www.instagram.com/listenable_podcast/ProductionListenABLE is recorded and produced in partnership with SESSION in PROGRESS, Melbourne's video podcast studio and production team.SESSION in PROGRESS:https://sessioninprogress.com.au/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/session.in.progress/Subscribe to ListenABLE for honest, funny and educational conversations about disability, accessibility and the experiences that connect us.#Disability #Accessibility #PublicTransport

JUL. 16, 2026You're called to do "good works"."Being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Col 1:10 NKJVMany people know how Helen Keller overcame the difficult physical challenge of being left without hearing, speech, and sight after contracting fever as a baby and how she eventually learned to communicate by learning Braille. Her life inspired millions of people. One of her ardent admirers was author Mark Twain. She was invited to visit every president at the White House from her childhood on. What many people don't know, however, is how hard Helen worked as an adult. After graduating with honors from Radcliffe College, she worked to help others until her death at the age of eighty-eight.She authored numerous articles. She gave lectures for the American Foundation for the Blind and raised millions of dollars for them.On her eightieth birthday, she was given the Helen Keller International Award for those who give outstanding help to the blind. In the Bible, Paul prayed for the Colossian Christians: "That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him" (Col 1:10 NKJV). And he gave them two ways in which they could do this: "Being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (NKJV). Faith and works; spirituality and service; ministering to the Lord and meeting the needs of others. That's how Helen Keller lived. You say, "But my goal is to please the Lord rather than people." Here's how you do that: "With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Eph 6:7 NKJV). Hymn writer Charles Meigs wrote: "Others, Lord, yes others, let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee."You're called to do "good works" Help me to live for others.Share This DevotionalSend us Fan MailSupport the showChanging Lives | Building Strong Family | Impacting Our Community For Jesus Christ!

Discover the Sensaball Cane Tip, a multidirectional tip from Australia that's transforming mobility for blind cane users. Learn how it improves safety, glides over tricky surfaces, and why early testers call it a game changer. This episode of Double Tap features Peter and Brent, the team behind the Sensaball cane tip. They share the story of its invention, born from the frustration of cane tips catching on uneven pavement and causing painful jabs. Unlike traditional tips, Sensaball rotates freely in all directions, offering smooth, constant contact and enhanced feedback from surfaces like stairs, gravel, grass, and even sand or snow. The conversation also explores the challenges of Braille literacy, including cost, education, and societal attitudes. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece debate the decline of Braille usage, the impact of technology like AI coding assistants, and the importance of honest discussions about accessibility tools. Listener feedback adds depth—raising concerns about banter, Braille's future, and the realities of parent and teacher engagement. Relevant Links Sensaball Cane Tip: https://Sensaball.com.au ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Blind Abilities team reunites for a wide-ranging conversation about how hobbies, learning, technology, and relationships shape daily life. Jeff, Pete, Christina, and returning guest Callie share how Braille practice, woodworking, gardening, music, audiobooks, book clubs, podcasting, and learning new technology keep their minds active and create purpose. The group compares favorite reading sources, immersive audiobooks, classic books, and the occasional danger of missing an exit while listening to a great story. They also debate smart homes versus reliable buttons, knobs, keys, and appliances that have survived longer than some friendships. Food enters the discussion through air-fryer grilled cheese, pesto, egg muffins, oatmeal, and other hunger-inducing ideas. The conversation becomes more reflective as Callie asks whether travel can still feel meaningful after vision loss. The team discusses grief, adaptation, tactile experiences, audio description, tour guides, friendship, and finding new forms of joy without pretending the loss is not real today. Links of interests:   seedlings Braille Books for Children  Bricks for the Blind ACB Groups   thanks for listening!

In Touch discusses braille's future and how it adapts alongside today's variety assistive technologies that can aid with reading, writing and consuming information. We are helped by young braillists from St Vincent's School in Liverpool and three seasoned braille users, Jackie Brown, Ian Macrae and Dave Williams.Presenter & Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: Helen Surtees Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch" and the Radio 4 logo (the word ‘radio' in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside of a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one is a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.

SEP presume 22 millones de becas y apoyo a 73 mil escuelasAlertan por seguridad del auto eléctrico OliniaGrupo excomulgado desafía al Vaticano y apela la sanciónMás información en nuestro Podcast#grc

Catch up on two weeks of missed tech news from NFB 2026 in Austin, including major updates in AI accessibility, screen readers, and Braille technology. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece break down the latest innovations, from JAWS Agentic AI to Be My Eyes for Mac and the upcoming Optima note taker. After a short hiatus, Steven and Shaun return to cover all the highlights from the National Federation of the Blind 2026 convention. The episode dives into the evolution of AI in accessibility, including Vispero's JAWS AI Agent capable of performing multi-step tasks, Be My Eyes' new Mac desktop app, and agentic calls that can take action on your computer. The hosts also explore new Braille technology—Humanware's BrailleNote Evolve, APH's Monarch, and Orbits' Optima—while discussing market trends, user expectations, and the challenges of accessibility in mainstream AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT. A lively conversation follows on the ethical debates around AI, the future of USB-C power delivery, and the practical frustrations of daily accessible tech. Relevant Links Be My Eyes: https://www.bemyeyes.com Vispero JAWS: https://www.freedomscientific.com NFB 2026: https://nfb.org Orbit Research: https://www.orbitresearch.com APH Monarch: https://www.aph.org/product/monarch ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Three dummies try to understand what it's like to be blind and read braille. Pepper can't fathom how it's possible to read with your fingers. We speak to somebody with some blind credibility.

The ‘Sight Village Central' exhibition returned to Birmingham this week. Our ‘Tech Talk' team were on hand to find out about some of the latest assistive technology on offer. Callum Stoneman caught up with the Team at Bristol Braille Technology. 

La directora de arte y diseñadora Laura Quiñonero ha alcanzado uno de los mayores hitos de la comunicación audiovisual española al recibir el galardón Young Talent y un Laus de Plata en los prestigiosos premios ADG Laus 2026. Su proyecto consiste en una innovadora investigación que busca trasladar la expresividad de las familias tipográficas al sistema braille, permitiendo que las personas con discapacidad visual perciban sensaciones a través de la variación en la forma del punto. Esta propuesta, que ha sido testeada con éxito junto a la asociación ACIC de Cataluña, permite que los usuarios identifiquen matices de diseño como la elegancia o la modernidad mediante el tacto, rompiendo así la barrera que tradicionalmente limitaba la comunicación emocional y artística para este colectivo.

Episode 193 Little Town on the Prairie ch. 19 "Whirl of Gaiety" Join us this week as we discuss Commentators on the Acts, to be on one's mettle, "Rock Me to Sleep, Mother," "The Good Old Way," a New England Supper, graham bread, 50 cents in today's money, $5 to Mary, Braille writing, German silver, "Stories of the Moorland," and wax works. 

20260702 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted July 2, 2026, on ACB Media 5 Christy Crespin presented her thoughts on "The challenges I encounter as a visually impaired clinical social worker and how I find braille handy". Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

ACB Braille Forum Volume LXV • July-August 2026 • No. 1 This issue features a lot of articles about the convention in St. Louis. Do you want to learn more about advocacy? Check out Grace Hart's article, "Advocacy at Convention." And don't forget to sign up for Advocacy Boot Camp. Janet Dickelman's article, "Last-Minute Convention Information," points out the change in providers of wheelchairs and scooters; elaborates on how to get assistance at the airport; the importance of wearing your convention badge; plus important tour information, including where the tour buses will pick up and drop off; registration details; and how to join the convention from home. Deborah Armstrong compiled a number of useful travel tips from members and staffers who have been to many conventions. If this is your first time, or first time in a while, be sure to read "Travel Tips from ACB Leaders." Amanda Selm introduces this year's scholarship winners in "The Future Is Bright: Meet the 2026 ACB Scholarship Winners." This issue's Affiliate News includes national convention information from the following affiliates: AABT, AAAVIA, ACB Lions, BITS, BRL, FIA, and GDUI. It also includes information about the joint Indiana-Ohio convention, which will take place in October. Ardis Bazyn shares the information gleaned from a membership committee meeting that focused on how to keep members engaged and completing the tasks that need to be done between meetings. And yes, "Here and There" is included. There's an article for everyone in this issue, just waiting for you to discover. Enjoy! To download a text, Word, or BRF file of the July-August Braille Forum, go to https://www.acb.org/acb-braille-forum-2026-issues and choose July-August 2026 Braille Forum. Find out more at https://acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum.pinecast.co

2626 Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins (Jul. 1, 2026) Show Notes Transcript The Perkins Brailler is getting a digital upgrade that helps blind students transition into STEM careers and access online content. This budget-friendly tool translates mechanical typing into digital text. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Charlson and Megan Gagne … Continue reading 2626 Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins (Jul. 1, 2026) →

Kurze Braille-Beschriftungen fehlen oft dort, wo sie gebraucht werden: Auf Lebensmitteln, temporären Hinweisschildern oder am Hotelzimmer. Wer Braille nicht beherrscht, steht vor einem Problem. Dot Inc. aus Südkorea, bekannt durch Produkte wie die Dotwatch-Uhr und das Dotpad-Grafikdisplay, zeigt auf der SightCity 2026 einen neuen Ansatz: den Nemonic Dot, einen kompakten Braille-Etikettendrucker. Das Gerät lässt sich per App steuern. Text wird gesprochen oder getippt, der Drucker prägt ihn auf ein Klebeband. Braillekenntnisse sind dafür nicht erforderlich. Besonders interessant ist die geplante Schnittstelle zu bestehenden Softwaresystemen. In Apotheken oder Hotels könnte der Nemonic Dot direkt an vorhandene Software angebunden werden und automatisch Braille-Beschriftungen erzeugen. Im Gespräch ist Dave Williams, der aus England stammt und der Braillists Foundation vorsteht. Seine Stimme dürfte manchem Hörer internationaler Podcasts bekannt sein.

In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson welcomes Sarina Boley, a Vocational Rehabilitation Technician at State Services for the Blind, to share her journey into the world of Vocational Rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). Sarina explains how VR Technicians support counselors behind the scenes while helping students prepare for employment, college, and independent adulthood. She reflects on her immersive Adjustment to Blindness Training, discovering a new appreciation for Braille, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, and the many services available to blind and low vision Minnesotans. Sarina also discusses her educational path, her goal of becoming a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and the value of learning while working directly with students. Whether you're a student exploring future careers, a teacher of the blind, or a rehabilitation professional, this conversation offers an inspiring look at the people, training, and dedication that help open doors to independence, employment, and lifelong success.   Full Transcript Links of interests: The Spectacle Newsletter Youth Services at SSB To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at shane.desantis@state.mn.us or call Shane at 651-385-5205.   Thanks for listening!

In this episode of Blind Techie Geek Speaks, host Kathleen Masciana, an online philosophy graduate student at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, explores the Digital Opt-Out movement and LAUSD's strict new screen time policies through the lens of disability access. Kathleen examines how technology bans impact students with disabilities who rely on assistive devices like Braille computers and phones as essential learning tools. She discusses her accommodations, including using a Braille computer to write papers and read textbooks. She uses a phone to access the learning management system and submit assignments. She also uses an analog recording device with no internet to read assignments aloud and submit audio-based work in place of visual materials. Kathleen also tackles the philosophical question of whether knowledge exists beyond definitions and tautologies. This is an audio-only episode. Listen to hear how these accommodations enable access to education and why the conversation about technology in schools must include disability perspectives. To learn more about the trend and the policy, read the articles here. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/parents-opt-kids-school-laptops-ask-pen-paper-rcna257158 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-06-23/lausd-strict-school-screen-time-limits

Unbox and set up the new Google Home Smart Speaker with Scott Rutkowski, explore its accessibility features, and hear Kristi Ardell's inspiring mission to bring white canes and Braille tools to blind children in Eswatini, Africa. In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece welcome listener Scott Rutkowski from Australia as he performs a full unboxing and first-time setup of the brand-new Google Home Smart Speaker powered by Gemini AI. Scott walks through the packaging, physical design, and accessibility setup process, including the challenges of scanning QR codes and enabling voice features. He also tests out Google Home Premium, Gemini's conversational mode, and shares tips for blind users on controlling audio and touch gestures. Later, Kristi Ardell joins the conversation to discuss her upcoming journey to Eswatini to support St. Joseph's School for the Blind. She shares her inspiring goal to donate white canes, Braille slates, and a refurbished Perkins Brailler to children who currently rely on tree branches and broken pipes as canes. Kristi also reveals details of her inclusive African safari adventure with Seeable Holidays and how the blind travel experience connects communities worldwide. Support Christy's mission to deliver white canes and Braille tools to children in Eswatini by contacting her at: going2eswatini@gmail.com. ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20260625 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted June 25, 2026, on ACB Media 5 Rick and Carol brought some new games of words and provided braille fun. Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

Discover how blind tech enthusiasts are harnessing AI tools, accessible apps, and community-built projects to take control of their digital lives. From AI songwriting to coding accessible software, this episode of Double Tap is packed with tools, tips, and inspiration. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece dive into a lively conversation about the exciting world of accessible tech powered by AI. Steven unboxes a surprise goodie bag from Perkins, including the Perkins Bloom for smart Braille support. The duo explore how AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT are revolutionising accessibility — from creating apps in bed to managing previously inaccessible systems. They highlight community-driven projects like Quill (a powerful accessible text editor) and Clipman (a Windows clipboard manager). Plus, they share early impressions of QuickMail, an accessible email client, and the new book No Site Required by Tony Gebhard — a must-read for anyone wanting to navigate AI tools and websites with a screen reader. Guest contributor Robin Christopherson even joins to demo his zombie-inspired audio game Dead Zone and praise Clipman. Relevant Links No Sight Required: https://nosightrequired.com Quill by Jeff Bishop: https://quillforall.org Clipman by Andre Louis: https://github.com/OnjLouis/Clipman/tree/main Dead Zone by Robin Christopherson: https://robin1844.github.io/dead-zone ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2026 Summer Appetizer Auction Day One Sponsored by Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS) Opens Thursday, July 9 at 12:00 noon ET Closes Friday, July 10 at 12:00 noon ET Opening Bids Included Appetizer Auction Rules and Information: Contact Leslie Spoone at 407 929-9837 or 407 227-4489 or email lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com with your bid. Please provide your name, phone number, email, item number and bid amount. Bids must be in $5.00 increments. • Leslie will send out Appetizer Auction information communicating the high bid on each item at 5:00pm ET, 8:00pm ET and 9:00am ET each day. After the close of each mini auction, an email will be sent announcing who has won each item. Billing for both the appetizer and Convention auction will take place starting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, for all the winning purchases. Billing for auction items will be paused during the convention and resume on August 5, 2026. The auction items need to be paid for by August 14, 2026. ACB Auction Disclaimer The American Council of the Blind conducts fundraising auctions to provide financial support for our programs and services. We thank those individuals, organizations, and businesses who donate items for our auctions. We make every effort to ship purchased items in a timely manner. However, due to various circumstances beyond our control, it may not be possible for items to be shipped or to arrive by a specific date. To participate as a bidder, we ask that you be courteous to one another, to those who are conducting the auction and to those who will be contacting the winning bidders to arrange for payment. It is expected that any winning bidder will, after being contacted by anyone connected to the auction, provide proper billing information prior to the auction item being sent to them. If we are unable to collect the bid amount, we reserve the right to repurpose the item for the benefit of ACB. Any individual who does not comply with these rules will be prohibited from continuing to bid in this auction and may be prohibited from participating in any future auction. Day One 300 Victor Reader Stream 3 Donated by HumanWare Opening Bid $350 Enjoy having this handheld pocket-sized digital media audio player to harness the power of wireless content access that features a fully tactile interface. The Victor Reader Stream 3 is a handheld digital audio player to enjoy your media content, and this assistive device lets you listen to books, newspapers, web radio, music, podcasts, and other online resources. This is simple to use for anyone who is blind or living with a visual impairment, the Stream talking book player packs all your media into place and gives 15 hours of battery life, leaving more time to enjoy media content. 301 Movie Extravaganza Package Donated by ACB Associate Director of Development Jo Lynn Bailey-Page Opening Bid $30 Enjoy using this $50 Regal Cinemas gift card to watch the latest audio-described movies with some friends or family. Plus, that's not all, enjoy some goodies to go along with your movie! 302 Upcycled Ladybug Purse Donated by Keri Bishop of Tucson, AZ Opening Bid $30 This one-of-a-kind handbag transforms a pair of burgundy jeans into a stylish and functional accessory which is crafted with creativity and purpose. The upper portion of the jeans has been thoughtfully repurposed, preserving the original pockets that are perfect for convenient, built-in storage. A cheerful yellow accent fabric, adorned with playful ladybugs and delicate flowers, adds a bright pop of personality. The same fabric lines the interior, creating a cohesive and charming design inside and out. The adjustable strap is cut from the denim legs and allows for versatile wear. You can comfortably wear it over the shoulder or as a crossbody for hands-free ease. It has snap closures at the top to keep your belongings secure while maintaining easy access. This upcycled purse is a celebration of sustainability, craftsmanship, and whimsical style. perfect for anyone who loves unique, eco-friendly fashion and is practical and eye-catching. 303 Pampered Chef Stainless Steel Toaster Donated by Christina Brino Opening Bid $25 Our 4-slice stainless steel toaster is built for busy days, with extra-long, extra-wide slots that welcome everything from artisanal loaves to bagels, English muffins to Texas toast. Seven browning settings put you in control, so every slice comes out just the way you like it. Our bonus warming rack keeps buns and rolls perfectly toasty, cafe-style, without over-browning. Four smart functions put you in control: Bagel, Defrost, Reheat, and Cancel. Whether your bread is fresh, frozen, or already toasted, it comes out just right. Defrost takes bread and waffles from frosty to golden in one step while Reheat warms cooled toast without extra browning. This toaster has built-in cord storage that keeps counters tidy and a removable crumb tray allows for easy cleanup, and a high-lift lever ensures safe, easy removal making this toaster ready for weekday breakfasts, weekend brunches, and busy dinnertimes. 304 Two Dozen Dreamy Chocolate Chip Cookies Donated by Jack Pinnock, Owner Dreamie Cookies Opening Bid $40 These cookies were a huge hit in the ACB Holiday Auction. Enjoy the individually wrapped yummy chocolate chip cookies with your favorite beverage. Wow, they will melt in your mouth. You can share them with friends or just keep them for yourself! 305 Silver and Red Garnet Necklace and Earring Set Donated by Claudia Aff Opening Bid $25 You will look stunning in this beautiful 30-inch necklace of acrylic garnet red and filigree silver beads with matching hoop earrings. This will dress up any outfit! 306 Handmade Lap Blanket Donated by Nancy Mareno Opening Bid $25 Enjoy snuggling up with this beautiful handmade lap blanket which measures 33 inches by 29 inches. This blanket has 3 shades of pink with interspersed white. A great blanket for those cold nights! 307 Echo Spot Donated by Leslie Spoone Opening Bid $30 Enjoy this Echo Spot with a sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound. This spot will be great for you to wake up, wind down and so much more. You can personalize your display with your favorite clock face and fun colors. Just ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Ease into the day and set up an Alexa routine that gently wakes you with music and gradual light. You can also glance at the time, check reminders, or ask Alexa for weather updates. 308 $50 Amazon Gift Card Donated by Friends in Art Opening Bid $30 It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 309 Cook with Confidence Using Cookie Voice Recipes Donated by Daria Axelrod Marmer Opening Bid $25 Designed specifically for blind and low vision cooks, Cookie Voice Recipes is a fully accessible, voice-controlled cooking app that provides hands-free, step-by-step recipe guidance. Ask questions while you cook, set timers, get ingredient substitutions, and even import your own recipes. This package includes a one-year Premium Subscription, providing unlimited access to voice-guided cooking, AI cooking assistance, and recipe importing features. Must be redeemed by December 2, 2026. 310 Handmade Framed Decoupage Canvasses of Colorful Collages Donated by ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Claire Stanley Opening Bid $25 This piece of art measures 12 by 16 inches. It is framed in a light blue picture frame. The decoupage style of art includes various sizes of ovals layered on top of each other in various tones of blue, yellow, and green. The piece is covered with a final layer of gloss. What a great conversational piece! 311 ModusTech 500GB Portable Donated by The Literacy Project Pat Tussing Director Opening Bid $25 The ModusTech external hard drive delivers lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps with USB 3.0 technology. You can easily back up your files, transfer data, and store important documents. It's compatible with USB 2.0 and perfect for large files like HD movies, games, videos, and it has an ultra-Fast USB 3.0 Connectivity for Effortless Data Transfers. 312 $50 Darden Gift Card Donated by Cathy Spoone Opening Bid $30 Enjoy this gift card with someone special or just splurge on yourself and don't forget those scrumptious breadsticks! 313 Monet Jewelry Turtle Two Piece Jewelry Set Donated by Melissa Dubose Opening Bid $30 The two-piece jewelry set adds a playful yet polished touch to your accessories collection. This coordinated set includes a 17-inch rope chain necklace with a 2-inch extender and matching stud earrings, designed with glass accents for subtle shine. A lobster clasp closure ensures secure wear, while post-back earrings provide a comfortable fit. It's a great gift option for special occasions or everyday styling. 314 Logitech Wired Headset, Stereo Headphones with Noise-Cancelling Microphone Donated by Dan Spoone Opening Bid $25 These stereo headphones are black and have a noise-cancelling microphone, USB connection and In Line Controls. The PC headphones with plush, padded headband and ear cups provide optimum comfort. A rotating microphone minimizes background noise to provide noise-cancelling qualities resulting in clearer calls. 315 Tantalizing Homemade Candy Donated by Patty Slaby Opening Bid $40 This scrumptious homemade candy will make your get together with friends even sweeter! You can select one type of homemade candy or three different kinds. You will receive 60 pieces of candy in total from a selection of: peanut butter balls, chocolate covered potato chips, rum balls, dipped pretzels, bugles dipped in chocolate and many, many others. Patty will contact you for your selections and shipping will be determined by the weather. 316 Mary Kay Satin Hands Set Donated by Nancy Folsom Opening Bid $30 This 3-step process will leave your hands and feet feeling soft, smooth, and luxurious! The Satin Hands set softens, exfoliates, and moisturizes each time you use it. This set is great for guys and gals to help keep your hands healthy! You will love how great your hands feel! You can use it on your feet as well. 317 Fiery Dragon Print Black T shirt Donated by Blind Girl Designs Tricia Waechter Opening Bid $30 The red tactile print features the fierce head of a dragon in profile. Its jaws are open wide, exposing sharp, curved teeth as a stream of flames which pour outward. The fire is drawn with sweeping lines that curl and twist, giving a sense of movement and heat. The dragon's eye is narrow and intense, outlined with a strong stroke that adds a menacing expression. The dragon has a large horn on its snout and additionally, horns arc backward from its skull, and a row of large, jagged spines traces down the back of its neck. This t-shirt is 100% cotton, but do not size up because there is very little shrinkage when washed. Please wash inside out in cold wash and hang to dry or tumble for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out. These t-shirts come in sizes youth small through large, adult small through five XL, tall large through three XL. All sizes are unisex. The winner gets to pick their size! Enjoy your Blind Girl Designs! 318 Hand Carved Wooden Figurines Donated by DeAnna Quiet Water Noriega Opening Bid $25 Enjoy having these hand carved wooden figurines which include: a Buddha from Indonesia, a lion, a warthog, and a lioness all from Kenya. The giraffe is a soapstone also from Kenya. Wow, these will make a great conversational piece for your mantel! 319 Friday Morning Quotations Braille Book Donated by Dorlyn Catron Opening Bid $30 You will love reading the volume two Friday Morning Quotations Braille Book compiled by kay Wilson and published by The National Braille Press. Plus, enjoy a $50 Amazon card to splurge on yourself while you are reading and relaxing! 320 Chocolate Chip Bread Donated by Becky Hawkins Opening Bid $40 Indulge in this mouthwatering homemade chocolate chip bread. The bread is decadent and will melt in your mouth! What a fantastic treat to share with friends or family! 321 COSORI Air Fryer Pro Smart Donated by Carl Richardson Opening Bid $50 Enjoy this 5.8-quart air fryer which can roast and bake. The fryer has a 3-way control and a 12-in-1 customizable function. The basket is detachable, and it works with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can get online recipes. This would make a fantastic gift for the chef in your household! 322 $50 Gift Card to Walmart Donated by Arkansas Quazar Chapter Opening Bid $30 Enjoy this opportunity to fill your basket with treats for your family and friends. This $50 gift card could provide a chance for a special gift for yourself! 323 Black and Silver necklace Donated by Koni Sims, ACB Board Director Opening Bid $25 You will look stunning in 16-inch necklace featuring faux onyx and crystal beads. It has a 3-inch extender. Plus, enjoy the earrings which are 2 inches long. What a special gift to give to someone special! 324 Daniel Terrico Carved Puzzle Box Donated by Connie Jacomini Opening Bid $25 The Daniel Terrico puzzle box sports a hand carved shark motif on top. It is perfect for trinkets. There are instructions for use of this puzzle box enclosed. What a fantastic gift for your favorite fisherman! 325 Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies Donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Opening Bid $40 Enjoy two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, hot chocolate, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. 326 Handcrafted Crocheted Bunny Donated by Keri Bishop of Tucson AZ Opening Bid $25 Enjoy this whimsical handcrafted crocheted bunny in a blue dress which is delightfully soft and lovingly handmade. This charming, crocheted bunny is a timeless keepsake and is perfect for all ages and is carefully crafted in a creamy ivory yarn. This sweet bunny features long floppy ears, gentle blue eyes and a soft pink nose that give it an irresistibly tender expression. The bunny is dressed in a beautifully textured, sky-blue crocheted dress with ruffled sleeves and a full, flowing skirt and this bunny exudes simple elegance. A delicate satin ribbon at the waist adds a graceful finishing touch, making it as lovely for display as it is for cuddling. Whether gifted to a child, displayed in a nursery, or cherished as a collectible, this one-of-a-kind bunny brings warmth, comfort, and handcrafted artistry. 327 Bangle Bracelets and Six Pairs Post Earrings Donated by Judy Okraski Opening Bid $25 You will look stunning with these multi metal bangle bracelets which are perfect to match any outfit. Plus, six sets of post earrings. All the earrings are colorful with single smooth surface colors that include: 2 Coral, 2 blue, green, and light pink. A fantastic gift for yourself or for someone special! 328 $50 Gift Card to the Blind Kitchen Donated by Debra Erickson, Executive Chef and Founder of The Blind Kitchen Opening Bid $30 Welcome to The Blind Kitchen where adaptive tools, helpful strategies, and specialized knowledge are provided to blind and vision-impaired people who want to cook safely, confidently, and independently. Debra Erickson is the Executive Chef and Founder of The Blind Kitchen where she will help you enjoy splurging on either yourself or someone special with this gift card and a 30-minute consult with Debra! 329 Three Handmade Hot Pads, Protein Fudge Recipe and Amazon Gift Card Donated by Tonya Drew of Essentially Braille Opening Bid $30 Enjoy the three brown cotton magic square potholders which come in large, medium, and small. As a special treat, enjoy making a delicious protein fudge recipe for yourself or friends and family. The recipe is written in Braille on Perma Braille cards to fit in your recipe box. Also, dine or shop with a $50 Amazon gift card. 330 $100 See's Candy E Gift Card Donated by Brad and Kathy Snyder Opening Bid $60 Enjoy splurging either on yourself or friends or family with this $100 E card for See's Candy. The brand is known for its premium chocolates, truffles, brittles, and other candies. They are very yummy! 331 ACB Students Common Ground Sweatshirt Donated by Blind Girl Designs Tricia Waechter Opening Bid $30 This print features a bold, symbolic Tree of Life design in a cool teal-green tactile ink. At the heart of the artwork is a circular Celtic-style tree with flowing, interwoven branches and roots that mirror one another. The canopy forms an elegant, rounded crown, while the roots weave into intricate knot- work, visually reinforcing the message of connection and shared foundation. Arched above the tree are the words: “COMMON GROUND,” And below that is printed “common ground” in grade 1 tactile braille. Curved below the roots are the words: “DIFFERENT ROOTS” And just above these words is “different roots “in grade one tactile braille. Surrounding the circular tree design is a subtle square frame made of different style of white canes, positioned along the top, bottom, and sides. The canes form a balanced border, reinforcing themes of accessibility and inclusion. On the back, printed horizontally in the same teal ink, is the phrase “Growing towards a bright future” in a fun cursive font with grade one tactile Braille underneath it. The overall design communicates unity, diversity, inclusion, and shared humanity. Different roots, but common ground presented in a clean, high-contrast layout that stands out beautifully against the rich colored background. This cozy heavyweight crewneck sweatshirt has banded sleeves and bottom. It is made from cotton poly and will not shrink. It should be washed inside out to protect the ink and make sure it's inside out before you feel free to put it in a hot tumble dryer in order to make it nice and fluffy! These sweatshirts come in unisex sizing, youth, small through large, adult small through 5-XL, tall large through 3-XL. The winner can pick their own size! Enjoy your Blind Girl Designs! 332 Necklace and Bracelet Jewelry Set Donated by Charlotte Lang Opening Bid $25 This dainty set is classic and sparkly in black and white. Most of the set is made up of 4-millimeter faceted black spinel beads. In the center of the necklace and bracelet is a 10 millimeter round white pearl. The necklace is 18 inches long and the bracelet is 7-1/2 inches long. Both have 2-inch adjuster chains and close with lobster claw clasps. 333 Waterford Crystal Marcella Vase Donated by Connie Jacomini Opening Bid $25 The Waterford Crystal Marcella Vase is a 6-inch, high-quality, clear lead crystal vase known for its elegant design, often featuring intricate fan and wedge cuts. Typically produced in the 2010s, this hand-cut footed vase is celebrated for its clarity, weight, and ability to catch light. 334 Singing Lesson Donated by Carole Brewer Opening Bid $25 You will enjoy spending one hour on ZOOM with singer and recording artist, Carole Brewer. Learn some of Carole's many concert-tested recipes for better breathing, tone quality, and confidence building. You will receive a free copy of Carole's voice manual titled 'Cookin' Up a Song ' and explore the possibility of taking your singing up to the next level. All great singing starts here, and you can contact Carole to set up a lesson time at info@carolebrewer.com. 335 Homemade Caramel Brownies Donated by Judy Okraski Opening Bid $40 These scrumptious homemade caramel brownies come in an 8 by 11-inch pan. Pair with your favorite beverage and enjoy this delicious treat with your friends. 336 Set of Six Handknitted Dishcloths Made with love and donated by Rhonda Lang from Milwaukee, Wisconsin Opening Bid $30 Enjoy this set of six handknitted dishcloths in a variety of colors. They will bring craftsmanship and resilience to your kitchen. The dishcloths are meticulously crafted for durability and designed to manage daily cleaning tasks with ease and elegance. 337 $50 Ruth's Cris Gift Card Donated by The Literacy Project Pat Tussing Director Opening Bid $30 Enjoy splurging at convention with this Ruth's Cris gift card. You will love dining at this restaurant which offers a New Orleans-inspired menu, including seafood and signature sides and USDA Prime steaks in a sophisticated, romantic, and welcoming atmosphere. 338 Pink Macrame Apple Watch Band Donated by Keri Bishop of Tucson, AZ Opening Bid $25 This handcrafted macramé watch band is a vibrant, eye-catching accessory designed to fit Apple Watch models ranging from 38 mm through 42 mm. Made from durable 2 mm satin cord in a bright bubblegum pink, the band has a smooth, lustrous finish that adds a playful yet polished touch to any look. The design is accented with elegant ceramic beads, each hand-painted with delicate pink floral details on a clean white background. These beads provide a soft contrast to the bold pink cord, creating a charming and balanced aesthetic that highlights the handcrafted artistry of the piece. The functionality is built into the design with a fully adjustable button-and-loop closure, similar to a toggle clasp. The button side features two main cords that pass through and loop back, allowing the band to be easily lengthened or shortened. This adjustable construction ensures a comfortable, secure fit for a variety of wrist sizes while maintaining a neat and streamlined appearance and they are both stylish and practical. This macramé watch band offers a unique way to personalize your Apple Watch with a handmade accessory that combines durability, adjustability, and a cheerful pop of color. 339 Light Green Glass Bead Necklace and Earrings Donated by Claudia Aff Opening Bid $25 You will look stunning in this beautiful light green glass bead 10-1/2 inch necklace with 6 darker ceramic flower beads at the bottom. Also, matching flower bead hook earrings that measure 2 inches. What a perfect complement to that summer outfit! 340 Key West Goodies Donated by Dan Spoone Opening Bid $40 Enjoy two dozen yummy macadamia nut and chocolate chip cookies. You can either share them with a friend or just have all of them for yourself! 341 Vera Bradley Backpack Donated by Cecily Laney Nipper ACB Board Director Opening Bid $30 Want to go out in style? This slightly used Vera Bradley backpack is for you. Perfect for work or school, this 18-inch backpack with two side pockets for water or soda and two zipper pockets will comfortably hold a 16.5-inch laptop in its built-in laptop sleeve. The black background of the print sets off the vibrant pink, teal, and lime green floral print. 342 $50 Starbucks Gift Card Donated by Merrilee Hill-Kennedy Opening Bid $30 Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. It's even better with some friends or family members over some laughs! As an extra bonus, Starbucks has goodies to eat. Bid so you can enjoy all the delicious choices from a great coffee establishment. 343 Computers for the Blind Laptop Donated by Computers for the Blind Opening Bid $60 Computers for the Blind (CFTB) is dedicated to bridging the digital divide for the community of the Blind and Visually Impaired. We do this by providing affordable, accessible refurbished computers and training. The winner will receive our standard laptop which is a $250 value. The laptop includes Windows 11, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM. To qualify for Software and Warranty, registration is required. A certificate will be included with the laptop which contains details about how to register. The winner must register within 30 days of receiving their computer. The certificate indicates the expiration date and redemption code for registration. You will receive 1-Year free license of JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion, JAWS training and 1-Year Warranty. Contact us at service@computersfortheblind.org 344 3D “we hold these truths to be self-evident” Royal Blue T-shirt Donated by Blind Girl Designs Tricia Waechter Opening Bid $30 This classic Americana white puff ink tactile print combines bold 18th century typography with raised tactile braille. This is a very similar font that was used in the typed version of the Declaration of Independence. A circle of 13 large five-pointed stars frames the entire design, creating the look of an early American flag which was inspired by the spirit of 1776 and, of course, the 13 original colonies. At the top left and right corners of the print, the years “1776” and “2026” mark the 250-year anniversary of the United States. Beneath each year is a line of raised braille dots, adding a tactile reading element that complements the18th century fonts. Centered in the middle of the print, the famous and powerful phrase from the Declaration of Independence is stacked in dramatic vintage-style lettering “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.” Each section of text is paired with tactile braille underneath, allowing the message to be experienced both visually and through touch. The combination of distressed colonial inspired lettering and raised puff ink creates a striking and authentic dimensional effect. Below the main statement is a horizontal divider with a centered star, followed by the words: “UNITED STATES Of AMERICA.” Again, accompanied by tactile braille beneath the 18th century authentic wording the entire print is designed in clean white puff ink for a bold raised texture that stands out. The tactile surface gives the artwork depth, accessibility, and a handcrafted feel while maintaining a strong patriotic presentation. This T-shirt is 100% cotton, but do not size up because there is very little shrinkage when washed. You should wash inside out in cold wash and hang it to dry or tumble for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out. These t-shirts come in sizes youth small through large, adult small through five XL, tall large through three XL. All sizes are unisex and the winner gets to pick their own size. Enjoy celebrating our 250th anniversary with your Blind Girl Designs!!!! 345 Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies Donated by Brian Charlson Opening Bid $40 Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. You can choose one dozen from either classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, or peanut butter. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 346 $25 Panera Gift Card and $25 Dunkin Doughnuts Gift Card Donated by Diane Scalzi and Leslie Spoone Opening Bid $30 Enjoy or share delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods with a $25 gift card from Panera Bread. Also included is a $25 Dunkin Doughnuts gift card to enjoy with friends or family. Cards are available as electronic or physical, your choice. 347 Embroidered Apron Donated by Terry Keyson of Braille Wear Opening Bid $25 Protect your clothing while you cook by wearing this lovely knee-length maroon apron with two front pockets. It has customized embroidery that is both visual and tactile. The embroidered wording on the front of the apron in print and braille is “Serving Up 20 Years “. Wow, celebrate the auction turning 20 years with this apron and your chef will look fantastic! 348 $75 Amazon E Gift Card Donated by Blue Grass Council of the Blind Opening Bid $40 Seventy-five dollars, ready to send by email or text, It's yours in the end. A click and a smile, a gift in a flash for someone you love or your own little splash. From BCB's heart to the auction fun, Bid with cheer and may you be the one. 349 Three hours of one-on-one personal happiness coaching along with Handwritten Booklets Donated by Darian Slayton Fleming of Embrace Happiness Opening Bid $25 The booklets are entitled: My AI: Affirmations and Intentions (this booklet has 31 suggested affirmations and 31 suggested intentions. Each section is followed by instructions about how to write your own affirmations and intentions and blank pages on which you can write your own affirmations and intentions. Also, My AI: Affirming and Intentional Self Care. This booklet describes the Happy for No Reason approach to designing your own happiness and practical exercises that will help you embody happiness through intentional self-care. You can enjoy these booklets in braille, large print, or standard print. Enjoy having this time with Darian Slayton Fleming who is a Certified Happiness Trainer and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Darian will show you how to embrace happiness in these sessions. 350 Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes Donated by Dan Spoone Opening Bid $40 Enjoy this 24-piece box of chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes. These are packed in our Ohio State Themed Buckeye box. What a yummy treat to either share with some friends or just keep them for yourself! Find out more at https://acb-convention.pinecast.co

In this engaging episode of Double Tap Weekend, Shaun Preece highlights Chris Cook's podcast At Your Fingertips, diving into the evolving world of Braille technology, starting with TalkBack 17 and its upcoming integration with Samsung devices, including enhanced support for USB and HID Braille displays. Chris then explores a range of portable Braille displays under 20 cells, comparing features like storage, connectivity, battery life, and usability. Highlights include an in-depth look at the Humanware Brailliant BI 20X, APH Chameleon, Focus 14 Blue, Orbit Reader 20 Plus, and Help Tech Actolino, with insights from Scott Davert's “Keeping It Portable in 2026” series. Each device's strengths, quirks, and compatibility tips are shared to help you make an informed choice. To close, Chris spotlights the Sensational Blackboard, a low-tech, highly creative tool that allows anyone to create tactile line drawings with a simple ballpoint pen—bringing art, maps, and signatures to life for blind and visually impaired users. Relevant Links At Your FingerTips Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-your-fingertips-braille-then-and-now/id1841245814 Keeping it Portable in 2026 article 1 by Scott Davert :https://www.helenkeller.org/keeping-it-portable-in-2026/ Keeping it Portable in 2026 Part 2 by Scott Davert :https://www.helenkeller.org/keeping-it-portable-in-2026-part-2/ Sensational Blackboard:https://sensationalbooks.com/products.html ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20260618 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted June 18, 2026, on ACB Media 5 A polestar for the month of June shared his/her experience with learning and using braille. Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

20260617 Read, Listen, and Learn with Bookshare (Part 1) Originally Broadcasted June 17, 2026, on ACB Media 5 Bookshare is the world's largest accessible eBook library, with over 1.4 million titles available in audio, large text, Braille, and more. Whether you're reading for fun, school, or work, every book is customizable to fit the way you read best. Participants joined us for part one of this series to learn how to get started with Bookshare, explore the free Reader app, and find out about an exclusive offer for ACB members. Sponsored by: Bookshare

From Nairobi's Zero Project Tech Forum: Steven Scott and Shaun Preece meet innovators using AI robots to teach deaf students STEM, digital avatars to interpret sign language at scale, and 3D printing to put custom prosthetics within reach across Africa. Day two of Double Tap's coverage from the Zero Project Tech Forum in Nairobi centres on communication and care. Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with three innovators whose work shares a common thread: using off-the-shelf technology and African-built data sets to solve problems that mainstream assistive tech has repeatedly overlooked. Maxwell Kamau, Partnerships Lead at ZeroBionic, introduces a Kenyan startup building AI-powered humanoid robots as learning aids for blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing students. Their first product is a 3D-printed prosthetic arm, made from recycled plastic, that translates documents and video into sign language, trained on African sign language data sets that automatically adapt to the student's country. Their second product is a Braille-tagged STEM robotics kit designed for blind learners. Every component, from motors to microcontrollers, carries a Braille label so students can identify and assemble the parts by touch. The kit supports coding by voice, sign language, text, or drag-and-drop, and is aimed at learners from age five upwards. ZeroBionic is now presenting its new Braille education hardware, and is seeking manufacturing and distribution partners to reach schools that cannot afford commercial robotics kits. Winnie Ongiri, Operations Manager at Signvrse, explains how her Nairobi-based company has built an AI-powered digital sign language interpreter that converts speech and text into signing via lifelike customisable avatars. Rather than a standalone app, Signvrse is designed as an API, a foundational accessibility layer that other platforms can plug into. Currently operating at a two to three second response time, the team is working toward 500 milliseconds for genuinely real-time interpretation. Motion capture data is collected directly from deaf community members, and quality assurance is built around ongoing community involvement at every stage. Winnie addresses the displacement question directly: the technology is designed for places human interpreters cannot reach, such as websites and online video, rather than to replace them. Dr Nick Were, co-founder of Prothea in Kenya, describes how his company is using iPhone LiDAR scanning, proprietary 3D modelling software, and desktop 3D printing to produce custom-fitted prosthetic sockets in under 24 hours. Traditional methods take a week or more, and public facilities can take a month. The sub-millimetre accuracy of the digital workflow produces a more comfortable fit than a plaster cast, and the hub-and-spoke model means prosthetists can travel to remote patients with just an iPhone, send the scan file back to base, and have a printed socket shipped out. Prothea has served more than 700 patients and holds close to 600 scan files that could be used to train AI modelling, a partnership the team is actively seeking. Prothea operates as an implementing partner of Ugani Prosthetics, whose workflow and software were developed through university research in Belgium and are now being deployed across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. The episode closes with news that the Zero Project Tech Forum will continue to Mumbai in September, Tokyo on October 9th, Singapore in November, and Santiago de Chile also in November. Relevant Links
Zero Project: https://www.zeroproject.org
ZeroBionic: https://zerobionicafrica.com
Signvrse: https://signvrse.com
Prothea / Ugani Prosthetics: https://ugani.org/en/ ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the AppleVis Extra podcast, Dave Nason is joined by Thomas Domville and Tyler Stephen for an in-depth discussion of Apple's WWDC 2026 keynote. The team examines Apple's new presentation format, the company's focus on refinement, trust and safety, and artificial intelligence, and what these changes mean for blind and low-vision users.The conversation begins with overall impressions of the keynote, which the hosts describe as a departure from previous WWDC events. Rather than organizing announcements by operating system, Apple focused on three major themes: refinement, trust and safety, and AI. The hosts discuss why this approach reflects Apple's increasing platform convergence and why this year's event felt more like a “Snow Leopard” release focused on improvements and stability rather than a long list of new features.A significant portion of the discussion centers on Apple's expanded family safety and parental control features. The hosts explore improvements to Screen Time, website access controls, contact approval requests, and age-verification technologies. They also discuss how Apple's new Declarative Age Range API could potentially reduce accessibility barriers while helping companies comply with growing age-restriction requirements worldwide.The podcast then shifts to Apple Intelligence and the newly announced Siri AI experience. Thomas, Tyler, and Dave discuss Apple's renewed effort to deliver the AI-powered Siri capabilities first previewed several years ago. Topics include contextual awareness, world knowledge, app actions, improved dictation, more expressive voices, and Apple's continued rollout strategy. The hosts also discuss concerns about device compatibility, regional availability, and the growing fragmentation between supported and unsupported devices.A major accessibility highlight is Apple Intelligence image description. The hosts explain how blind users can now quickly describe images anywhere in the operating system without relying on third-party services such as Be My AI or PiccyBot. They discuss the new image description rotor actions, follow-up questioning, screen-level descriptions through the Dynamic Island, and the potential future benefits of AI-powered contextual understanding for unlabeled interface elements.Other Apple Intelligence features covered include Visual Intelligence, AI-powered web monitoring, custom Safari extension generation, natural language Shortcut creation, password management automation, and AI-assisted productivity improvements.The discussion also covers operating system compatibility changes across Apple's platforms. The hosts review iOS 27 device support, the end of Intel Mac support in macOS 27 Golden Gate, Rosetta's remaining lifespan, Apple Silicon requirements, and changes to Apple Watch compatibility.Additional accessibility-related improvements discussed include pronunciation dictionary import and export, enhanced VoiceOver verbosity controls, Braille Screen Input improvements, predictive text support for Braille users, and settings related to VoiceOver cursor visibility during screen recordings.The team also reviews Apple's claims regarding system performance improvements, including faster app launches, improved AirDrop transfers, better networking transitions, Spotlight indexing enhancements, CPU scheduling improvements, and the overall goal of making Apple devices feel more responsive…

On this episode of Hanselminutes, Scott talks with Ed Rogers of Bristol Braille Technology about the Canute project and the long road toward affordable multiline Braille. Most refreshable Braille displays show a single line at a time; Canute changes the experience by giving readers nine lines and 360 cells of spatial context. Ed shares how multiline Braille opens up new possibilities for reading, coding, math, music, diagrams, education, and independence and why Braille remains a vital technology for literacy, employment, and full participation in the digital world. https://bristolbraille.org

Discover the world of affordable multi-line Braille displays with Ed Rogers of Bristol Braille Technology. Learn how the Canute Scientific and Canute 360 are transforming Braille literacy, education, and STEM access for blind users. Expanded Summary Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with Ed Rogers, founder and managing director of Bristol Braille Technology, a UK-based social enterprise creating innovative multi-line Braille devices. Ed shares the journey from the original Canute 360, dubbed the “Kindle for Braille readers,” to the Canute Console and the new Canute Scientific, a fully customisable STEM workstation for blind students and professionals. The conversation dives into the challenges of Braille accessibility, the importance of affordable assistive technology, and how multi-line Braille can transform both work and learning. Ed also discusses the company's commitment to open-source, repairable hardware, and the broader implications for Braille literacy, employment, and self-sufficiency. Relevant Links Bristol Braille Technology: https://www.bristolbraille.org The Braillists Foundation: https://www.braillists.org ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20260611 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted June 11, 2026, on ACB Media 5 Our guest speaker, Divya Bijur, a licensed physical therapist, spoke about "challenges I encounter as a visually impaired physical therapist". Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

Oaks & Jabs back in action Radiomaxxing (you'll have to listen to the episode to get it). Jam packed show with a bit of a surprise even. Hope you enjoy. Peace & God Bless. Playlist: ALL WAYS by MC Imprint ft. tore xo Lokd In 2.0 Stedfastt ft. Stephen the Levite, Manchild, Russ Shanks & DJ Onenine Quiet On The Set by Braille & YP aka Young Paul Peace Automatic by TruWerdz UP by Derek Minor New Scene by Trutha & creed caldwell Barsmaxxing by Sintax The Terrific & Sir Chamberlain Cross Before The Crown by Si Knightly Father by Paradox & DJ Sean P ft. Liz Vice Refuse 2.0 by m1L, MotionPlus & Kaboose ft. Alyssa Jane Concrete Chronicles by Nikkuubeats kinda unintentionally ft. Oaks & Jabs Accept Joy by DJ Sean P Boptimus Prime by Tae Lamar AIN'T OVER YET by MC Imprint Stages by Kaboose ft. MonLee Mane Vote on the playlist at www.definitionradio.com/show/1003 Leave your requests/shout-outs on our socials www.facebook.com/DefinitionRadio www.instagram.com/DefinitionHH www.twitter.com/DefinitionHH www.krosswerdz.com

Samantha Karell, who leads Digital Accessibility Services at Allyant, discusses helping organizations build sustainable accessibility programs through audits, VPATs, consulting, and strategic guidance. She traces her path from student services into the University of Washington's Disability Resources Office, where working with accommodations, Braille materials, and digital access sparked her passion for accessibility. Samantha also shares her optimism about AI, explaining how it can improve internal operations, scale expertise across teams, and deliver faster, more meaningful guidance to customers without replacing human judgment.

With ophthalmology being the busiest NHS outpatient specialty, with around 9.7 million appointments in England in 2024, the Royal College of Ophthalmology's new president, Mohamed Elalfy undoubtedly has a busy three years in the role ahead. Mohamed speaks with In Touch about his plans for the College and about issues of concern to eye health and care patients, including the issue of long waiting times for appointments and potential new treatments for eye diseases.Caroline Mackenzie contacted In Touch with concerns over whether or not her young grandson should learn braille. She has been wondering whether or not it will be worth his time, given how quickly assistive technology is evolving. Does braille have a future in the face of evolving technologies? To share your thoughts on this, please email intouch@bbc.co.uk or leave a voice message on 0161 836 1338.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: Helen Surtees Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image, wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three individual white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlaying the image are the words "In Touch"; and the Radio 4 logo (the word Radio in a bold white font, with the number 4 inside a white circle). The background is a bright mid-blue with two rectangles angled diagonally to the right. Both are behind Peter, one of a darker blue and the other is a lighter blue.

20260604 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted June 4, 2026, on ACB Media 5 On Thursday, our guest speaker, Divya Bijur, spoke on ""The challenges I face as a blind physiotherapist and how I find braille handy. Divya is a licensed physiotherapist and runs two clinics of her own in addition to doing multiple other activities. The topic is so unique! Do not miss! " Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

Ada & Zangemann - Ein Märchen über Software, Skateboards und Himbeereis.Wie erklärst du Kindern, warum Softwarefreiheit wichtig ist, ohne in einen Vortrag über Lizenzen, Monopole oder Big Tech abzurutschen? Genau aus dieser Frage ist Ada und Zangemann entstanden. Ein Kinderbuch, das auf den ersten Blick wie eine schöne Geschichte über Tüfteln, Skateboards und Himbeereis wirkt, auf den zweiten Blick aber Themen wie Open Source, digitale Selbstbestimmung, Tech-Bildung und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung verhandelt.In dieser Episode sprechen wir mit Matthias Kirschner, Präsident der Free Software Foundation Europe und Autor von Ada und Zangemann. Wir tauchen tief in die Entstehungsgeschichte des Buches ein, sprechen über die Rolle von Creative Commons und Open Educational Resources, über die technische Übersetzungspipeline mit Git und Weblate, über Community-Beiträge aus der Open-Source-Welt und darüber, wie aus einem Kinderbuch ein Film, Braille-Versionen, Lesungen, Schulprojekte und internationale Bildungsinitiativen wurden. Außerdem geht es um Feedback von Kindern, kritische Reaktionen, Diversität in Illustrationen und die Frage, wie wir junge Menschen für Technik, Programmieren und freies Wissen begeistern können.Wenn du dich für Open Source, Tech Community, Softwarefreiheit, digitale Bildung, Networking in der Community und den Impact von Technologie auf Gesellschaft und Kultur interessierst, ist diese Folge Pflichtprogramm. Und ja, danach hast du ziemlich sicher Lust auf Eis und vielleicht auch darauf, selbst mal ein Buch vorzulesen.Unsere aktuellen Werbepartner findest du auf https://engineeringkiosk.dev/partnersDas schnelle Feedback zur Episode:

Are you ready to take a ride in what is being called a "living room on wheels"? Waymo is expanding its autonomous taxi fleet with the Ojai, a larger vehicle packed with accessibility features like embedded Braille, screen readers, and low-step entry. We break down the new sixth-generation driver tech—integrating laser guidance and radar—designed to tackle extreme weather like snow, which aims to address recent flooding issues seen with their sedans in Atlanta. Plus, find out when you can hail an Ojai in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jay Dhaliwal, founder of Super Patch, joins Mind Pump to break down one of the most unconventional technologies in health and wellness — haptic patches that alleviate pain, improve sleep, boost athletic performance, and more with zero compounds or drugs.  Sal opens up about being deeply skeptical until reviewing the peer-reviewed studies, and the guys walk Jay through the entire origin story — from a passion project to help his mother with MS, to 17 years of research, $40 million of his own money, and 16 published peer-reviewed studies.  They cover the neuroscience of how skin receptors communicate with the brain, what the studies actually show (50% pain reduction, 85% sleep improvement, 5–8% athletic performance gains in D1 athletes), and why half the teams in the NFL are already using the product. Super Patch — https://mindpump.superpatch.com $30 off — no code needed, discount automatically applied at checkout (price drops from $99 to $69) SPONSORS Seed Daily Synbiotic — https://seed.com/mindpump Code: 25MINDPUMP — 25% off first month MAPS 15 BOGO — https://maps15bogo.com Buy 1 get 1 FREE — limited time (all 7 MAPS 15 programs same price) LINKS Mind Pump Store: https://mindpumpstore.com Maps Fitness Products: https://mapsfitnessproducts.com Instagram: @mindpumpmedia 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - What is Super Patch? Sal's skepticism and what changed his mind 5:13 - How this compares to when red light therapy first came on the scene 8:02 - Jay's origin story — his mother's MS and 17 years of research 13:16 - The Loretta Z database — quarter million EEGs and the search for normative neural networks 20:10 - The first breakthrough — identifying the vestibular response network in 2014 24:47 - First proof: comparing his mother's EEG against the normative database 27:43 - From brainwaves to skin receptors — how Braille unlocked the next phase 30:08 - The 2010 discovery of piezo two ion channels and skin sensation science 34:07 - The first product — socks that improved balance and gait by 31% 36:59 - Brain mapping 35 people with the world's leading EEG expert — the impossible result 39:07 - How the pattern in the patch is designed — 1200 iterations of micro tooling 43:52 - 2017 Japan study — skin sensation is permanently imprinted on the sensory cortex 45:46 - From socks to patches — how pain and sleep networks were identified 49:01 - The first clinical study — 50% reduction in perceived pain, 70% reduction in interference scores 53:02 - Sleep study results — 85% of subjects went from bad sleep to good or great sleep 56:51 - Pain relief comparable to 400mg Advil — without the drug 58:38 - Stress patch — 33% reduction in perceived stress, 24% improvement in mental health factors 1:01:35 - D1 athlete study — 5–8% improvement in lower extremity power at University of Arizona 1:03:55 - Half the NFL is already using Super Patch 1:04:17 - Stacking patches — which combinations work best for athletes 1:05:30 - Neuroplasticity — why your baseline gets higher over time with consistent use 1:07:52 - Full product lineup — pain, sleep, stress, focus, libido, immune, Zen flow state & more 1:11:28 - Appetite suppression pilot — 20% improvement in resting metabolic rate 1:13:32 - 5000 MDs in America now recommending Super Patch  

NLS Summer Reading Program: Unearth A Story: https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading/  Kansas Instructional Resource Center: https://ksdetasn.org/kirc/kansas-instructional-resource-center Instagram: @kssbpodcast

20260528 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted May 28, 2026, on ACB Media 5 This week, there was some fun braille activity under title "Braille fun". Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

2621 Touching the Digital World with Dot Pad X (May 27, 2026) Show Notes Transcript Innovation in Braille technology is changing the landscape for tactile literacy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Williams from Dot Inc about the new Dot Pad X. This specialized display uses unique electromagnetic pins to render high-quality graphics … Continue reading 2621 Touching the Digital World with Dot Pad X (May 27, 2026) →

Brent's been hacking smart speakers, Wes has a surprise, and Chris gives up on OpenClaw.Sponsored By:Jupiter Party Annual Membership: Put your support on automatic with our annual plan, and get one month of membership for free!Managed Nebula: Meet Managed Nebula from Defined Networking. A decentralized VPN built on the open-source Nebula platform that we love.Support LINUX UnpluggedLinks:ConnecTen Internet — Get $35 off your order total with Jupiter35

20260521 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted May 21, 2026, on ACB Media 5 This month's polestar, Rita Garcia, shared her experience with learning and using braille. Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

Explore the biggest announcements from Microsoft Ability Summit and Google I/O 2026, including breakthroughs in accessibility, AI-powered video editing, and Google's new intelligent audio glasses. Discover how screen readers like Narrator are evolving and how AI agents are reshaping the way blind and low-vision users interact with technology. The discussion covers: Microsoft's focus on Narrator improvements, including Braille support and enhanced voices. Team Gleason's partnership with Microsoft to create custom voices for people with ALS and similar conditions. GitHub CoPilot's role in accessible video editing, enabling blind users to create professional content with AI assistance. Broader reflections on the evolution of accessible screen readers and the importance of uniformity in UI behaviours. The conversation then shifts to Google I/O 2026: Launch of Google and Samsung's intelligent audio glasses with turn-by-turn navigation, voice interaction, and Gemini AI integration. Gemini 3.5 Flash and Gemini Omni models, including multimodal AI with video generation and live editing capabilities. Gemini Spark, Google's persistent AI agent for email, calendar, and task automation. Universal Shopping Cart and proactive AI agents that monitor, purchase, and track items on your behalf. The hosts discuss how these innovations could transform accessibility, daily productivity, and creative opportunities for blind and low-vision users. ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailMost people say they support accessibility, but very few can explain what it actually means or why it keeps breaking down in real life. We're joined by Daniel Hodges, a nonprofit leader and advocate with a law degree who was born blind, to get specific about where the barriers really come from and what “equity” looks like when you strip out bias and bad design.We talk about Daniel's childhood in rural America, where the focus stayed on future cures and risky procedures instead of practical skills like Braille, a white cane, and assistive technology. That led to a powerful reframing: disability is not automatically the problem. Daniel breaks down how much of the hardship people associate with blindness is truly intrinsic, and how much comes from societal barriers like inaccessible materials, missing accommodations, stigma, and the constant pressure to prove competence.From there, we dig into what actually works. Daniel shares how small, honest conversations about disability etiquette and tools can transform community connection, and he introduces the Pieces of Me Foundation mission: education, innovative professional training, and resource connections that help dismantle misconceptions. He also explains the Access Opportunity Tour, a practical Zoom-based way for leaders to get real-time guidance on making their workplace, church, nonprofit, or website more accessible. Along the way, Daniel tells a gripping story about blind parenting, facing CPS scrutiny, and supporting a child through eye cancer treatment, plus the everyday tools he relies on, including iOS VoiceOver and mindset practices grounded in grace.If you care about disability inclusion, universal design, and accessibility that's more than a checkbox, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone building community spaces, and leave a review with one accessibility change you want to see next.Support the showSJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LISTWEBSITES- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.comYOUTUBE- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielouFACEBOOK- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShowINSTAGRAM- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/TIKTOK- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllcLINKEDIN- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/PODCAST PLATFORMS- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291CONTACT EMAIL- sjchildsllc@gmail.com

Discover the new Victor Reader Stratus 2 from HumanWare, a modernised, at‑home audiobook player built for blind and low‑vision users. Learn how it differs from the classic Stratus, why it's ideal for home listening, and how AI personalisation with Lady A+ is changing smart speakers for accessible tech enthusiasts. In this episode of Double Tap, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece explore accessible technology for blind users. They kick off with lively banter about AI, browsers, and the nostalgia of classic software like Notepad, then dive into audience feedback on coding with AI for tasks like Braille transcription. David Ward joins to demonstrate Lady A+ personality modes—Brief, Sweet, and Chill—showcasing how Alexa can now infuse charm and personality into responses while enhancing accessibility with voice‑only interaction. Later, Matthew Paquette from HumanWare introduces the Victor Reader Stratus 2, a next‑generation DAISY audiobook player designed for home listening. The Stratus 2 drops the CD drive for online library access, adds USB‑C, Bluetooth, and support for cartridges, while maintaining excellent speaker quality for users with hearing loss or those seeking a simple, robust reading device. Relevant Links HumanWare Victor Reader Stratus 2: https://www.humanware.com ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

20260514 I Love Braille Originally Broadcasted May 14, 2026, on ACB Media 5 On the second Thursday of this month, under title "I have a question", participants asked and answered braille-related questions. Sponsored by: East Bay Center for the Blind Contact the Facilitator Access Archives of the Call Join the Mailing List

Welcome back to Episode 344 of the Vision Cast! JC kicks things off on this Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with the crew's signature "Doodles!"energy. Though we have a slightly smaller panel tonight, the episode is packed with major tech updates, heartfelt moments, and a massive trip down memory lane!The show opens on a somber note as we send our deepest condolences and virtual hugs to Nora, who shares the heartbreaking news of her father's recent passing. She will be stepping away from the show next week to attend the funeral and be with her family. The team also takes a moment to send thoughts and prayers to Nina and her family following the loss of her precious grandma. Stacy shares her upcoming travel plans, noting she's heading down to Baytown, Texas, and JC makes sure to remind her to check out the legendary Buc-ee's while she's on the road! Donald brings the heat with an exciting progress report on the AI Radio Network and Super Hit Mix Radio. He's been working hard on expanding the smooth jazz selection, though he shares a hilarious struggle with a glitchy Suno modal button on his computer that forced him to buy his credits through the mobile app. The biggest news? Donald used ChatGPT to code an impressive offline player! He plans to sell this system to businesses for $497, allowing them to play AI-generated smooth jazz locally via SD card or flash drive, pre-loaded with up to 500 songs per channel. JC gives a rundown of his week, sharing that his mom is recovering well from a cold after attending a wonderful retreat. He's looking forward to visiting the Washingtonville church campus this weekend and is beyond excited for his upcoming trip to Puerto Rico from July 15th to the 22nd. He promises to record and bring back the beautiful sounds of the native Coquí tree frogs! Also, a massive congratulations goes out to Rachel on the birth of baby Maximo! In tech news, the wait is finally over: Backpack Studio 3.0 is officially live! JC has been testing the beta and breaks down the new AI-generation features for creating custom jingles and sound effects. The pro features are available via an in-app purchase of $11/month or $99/year. JC also touches on the upcoming iOS 26.5 and macOS 26.5 updates, noting that Apple is rolling out RCS encryption for messages.Preston makes a fashionably late grand entrance and shares a fun story about his mom's boyfriend treating him to an A&W root beer and some ramen after escorting him to the bank to pay his rent. The highlight of the evening is a massive, laugh-filled tech nostalgia segment. The crew reminisces about the classic 1-800-555-TELL voice-activated system and the tactile struggles of using a slate and stylus to write braille backward before the days of the Braille 'n Speak. They also dig up memories of the iconic "Steve's Talking Clock"software, laughing about its massive zip file and its distinct chime. The nostalgia trip even crosses into television as they recall the character David Renaldi from the soap opera "One Life to Live," who had ALS and utilized an early computerized synthetic voice to communicate.The episode wraps up with a reminder to check your emails and tune in next week for the highly anticipated Spring VC Talent Show, which promises to be an incredible event. "Doodles!"

Discover the new Perkins Braille Bloom, an innovative add-on that transforms the classic Perkins Brailler into a Bluetooth and USB Braille keyboard, compatible with computers, tablets, and smartphones. Learn how it supports real-time translation, enhances Braille learning, and connects decades-old devices to the digital world. In this episode, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece explore the release of NVDA 2026.1 and its important compatibility changes, including the end of 32-bit and Windows 8.1 support. They discuss the practical impact for users, add-on compatibility, and why holding off on immediate updates can save frustration. The conversation then dives into the Perkins Braille Bloom, an innovative device that clips onto the classic Brailler. Meghan Gagne and Kim Charleston from Perkins share how Bloom converts a mechanical Brailler into a smart, connected tool, allowing real-time translation into digital text for teachers, parents, and learners. They highlight its benefits for classroom use, home learning, and extending Braille literacy worldwide—even in areas with limited access to Braille paper. Listeners also hear about protecting themselves from unofficial software like the fake Notepad++ for Mac, plus tips on managing add-ons and keeping older systems functional. Relevant Links Perkins Braille Bloom: https://www.perkins.org/bloom ----Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedinSubscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheartAbout Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited."Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On The Road to MacStock, Chris Cooke returns as a speaker  to discuss her upcoming presentation on inspiring others to read and how accessibility, reading technologies, and inclusive design all matter. Drawing from her experience teaching adults with vision loss, she explains how Apple's accessibility features, Braille support, audiobooks, OCR, and customizable interfaces help people with visual, auditory, and learning challenges. Show Notes: Chapters: 0:03 Introduction to the Road to MacStock 1:22 Chris Cook returns to MacStock 2:26 Chris Cook's background and mission 3:47 Inspired to Read presentation overview 5:39 Accessibility tools for reading challenges 7:24 Audiobooks and auditory processing issues 9:32 How accessibility innovations benefit everyone 10:49 Accessibility features in Apple operating systems 12:38 Apple's consistency and accessibility leadership 15:14 Running Apple public betas with accessibility needs 17:34 MacStock discount code and event details 19:34 Closing thoughts and farewell Links: Macstock Conference.com Save $50 with the Chris' discount code: ccooke or Save $50 with Chuck's discount code: macvoices Guests: Chris Cooke is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist for the Oregon Commission for the Blind. An avid tech enthusiast, Chris teaches assistive technology to adult learners who are blind or visually impaired. Showing them how to make the most of their smart phones and Mac computers is a joy. When not teaching, Chris enjoys podcasting, cooking and spending time with her two cats. Her podcasts include Unmute Presents and At Your Fingertips. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web:      http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

On The Road to MacStock, Chris Cooke returns as a speaker  to discuss her upcoming presentation on inspiring others to read and how accessibility, reading technologies, and inclusive design all matter. Drawing from her experience teaching adults with vision loss, she explains how Apple's accessibility features, Braille support, audiobooks, OCR, and customizable interfaces help people with visual, auditory, and learning challenges. Show Notes: Chapters: 0:03 Introduction to the Road to MacStock 1:22 Chris Cook returns to MacStock 2:26 Chris Cook's background and mission 3:47 Inspired to Read presentation overview 5:39 Accessibility tools for reading challenges 7:24 Audiobooks and auditory processing issues 9:32 How accessibility innovations benefit everyone 10:49 Accessibility features in Apple operating systems 12:38 Apple's consistency and accessibility leadership 15:14 Running Apple public betas with accessibility needs 17:34 MacStock discount code and event details 19:34 Closing thoughts and farewell Links: Macstock Conference.com Save $50 with the Chris' discount code: ccooke or Save $50 with Chuck's discount code: macvoices Guests: Chris Cooke is a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist for the Oregon Commission for the Blind. An avid tech enthusiast, Chris teaches assistive technology to adult learners who are blind or visually impaired. Showing them how to make the most of their smart phones and Mac computers is a joy. When not teaching, Chris enjoys podcasting, cooking and spending time with her two cats. Her podcasts include Unmute Presents and At Your Fingertips. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss