The most comprehensive resource for Assistive Technology, success Stories, College and Career Pathways and all with a Blindness Perspective.
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Blind Abilities Team Podcasts
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is a state agency that empowers people with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Join Kim Jump as she interviews unique individuals who discovered OOD Works! Have a disability? Want to work? www.OODWorks.com.
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College 101: Student-Powered Advice to Help You Thrive in College
1:14:53
1:14:53
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Thinking about college but not sure what it's really like as a blind or low vision student? In this College 101 conversation, transition coordinator Shane DeSantis teams up with Kira and Mohamed, two blind/low vision college students, to break it all down from a student point of view. They talk about choosing a campus that fits you, connecting earl…
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BITS Has the Solutions: Empowering Blind Tech Users Through Community, Training, and Opportunity
18:32
18:32
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18:32
In this Blind Abilities episode, Jeff Thompson talks with Jeff Bishop, president of BITS—Blind Information Technology Specialists—an all-volunteer organization empowering blind and low-vision individuals through accessible technology, community, and hands-on learning. Bishop outlines BITS' rapid growth, affordable memberships, and expanding reach a…
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Wellness Wednesday: What Do We Do for Wellness and Staying on Track
17:43
17:43
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Beth, Robin and Jeff dive into what they personally do to replenish their energy whether it be mental or physical. Listen in as they talk about the practices they incorporate into their routines and daily life. From soothing showers, daily intentions, to checking off virtual lists, and celebrating the accomplishments. Check out all the Wellness Wed…
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Brian Rust: From Educator to Entrepreneur
21:19
21:19
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21:19
This episode features Brian Rust, a passionate educator and entrepreneur. Navigating life with vision loss, he shares how he has turned a challenge into success. As a proud graduate of the Ohio State School for the Blind, he continued his education and has had a successful career in teaching physical education, where he’s made a significant impact …
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Orientation and Mobility: Building Confident Independence for Blind and Low Vision Students
53:45
53:45
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Orientation and mobility (O&M) gives blind and low vision students the skills to travel safely, confidently, and independently—at home, at school, and beyond graduation. In this conversation hosted by State Services for the Blind (SSB), O&M specialists Jennifer Pelletier and Abdi Mumin, along with Transition Coordinator Shane DeSantis, talk with pa…
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Step Up, Dive In, Play On: Exploring Adaptive Sports and Community
12:18
12:18
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From the Minnesota State Capitol to the halls of the Department of Transportation, White Cane Day 2025 shined a light on independence, confidence, and community. Jeff Thompson takes listeners inside a vibrant gathering of blind athletes, adventurers, and advocates who prove that anything is possible when you step out and give it a try. From sailing…
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Wellness Wednesday: Navigating Todays Job Market with Wellness and Confidence
29:27
29:27
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29:27
In this episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth Gustin, Robin Ennis and Jeff Thompson talk about employment and the many aspects of looking for a job. They discuss how to prepare for interviews, what challenges job seekers face today, and how to stay motivated throughout the process. The conversation also touches on how artificial intelligence is chang…
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The Blind Drive: From Federal Cuts to New Tech: Apple, Aira, and the Shifting Road Ahead for the Blind Drive
39:58
39:58
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The Blind Drive puts you in the passenger seat with Jeff Thompson and Tim Schwartz as they run down what's shaping life for blind and low vision people right now. From federal cuts hitting the Rehabilitation Services Administration to new pressure in Iowa over blind Iowans' right to keep their shades on (or off), the landscape is shifting fast. We …
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Minnesota Honors White Cane Day: Safety, Freedom, and a Future Without Limits
27:40
27:40
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White Cane Day 2025 at the Minnesota State Capitol was a celebration of pride, freedom, and possibility. Leaders, students, families, and blind, low vision, and deafblind Minnesotans gathered to affirm a simple truth: the white cane is not just a mobility tool — it is dignity, safety, and independence. Speakers honored the history of White Cane Saf…
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The Blind Drive: Beyond Compliance: Why Accessibility Must Be Usable to Be Real - Compliance Is for Lawyers—Usability Is for Humans
29:40
29:40
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In this episode of The Blind Drive, Jeff Thompson and Tim Schwartz dig into the heart of something far bigger than a news headline—it's about access, equity, and the right to fully participate in life. A recent class action lawsuit filed against DraftKings for failing to make its sports betting platform accessible to blind users sparks a deeper con…
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From Screen Readers to Self-Reliance: Cheryl's Journey to Becoming a Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist
30:14
30:14
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In this Blind Abilities conversation, Cheryl McIntosh shares her journey toward becoming a Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist, or CATIS, and how she empowers others to build independence through technology. Cheryl teaches screen reader users—primarily JAWS and VoiceOver—through personalized virtual training. She explains that s…
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Social Security, Medicare, and Medical Assistance A Parent's Roadmap to Understanding Benefits
1:31:45
1:31:45
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This parent-focused webinar demystifies benefits so you can plan with confidence. Benefits Navigator Marcy LaCroix explains how SSI and SSDI work, why "logic" often feels missing, and how to use work incentives so your teen can try jobs without losing critical supports. You'll hear when and how to apply, what documentation Social Security looks for…
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Unscripted: Apple Store Tripping, CoPilot Be Gone, Straps and Tethers, and Microphones, Interfaces and the Studio Sound
31:11
31:11
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In this episode of Unscripted, Jeff Thompson and Sree Roy dive into the everyday mix of tech talk and personal takes, all in the natural flow of conversation. Sree kicks things off with a trip to the Apple Store, exploring iPhone crossbody straps and even the Beats lanyard trend. The two reflect on the surprise availability of the iPhone 17—thin as…
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Canoes, Confidence, and Connections: Students Paddle the Mississippi with SSB
9:02
9:02
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9:02
Adventure, laughter, and teamwork filled the day as 18 students who are blind or low vision joined State Services for the Blind and Wilderness Inquiry for a canoe trip on the Mississippi River. For many, it was their first time on the water, but with guidance, encouragement, and life-long memories being made, students and parents alike built confid…
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Tech Abilities: Apple Picks Meta Tricks and a Bug Fix... But, is that it?
42:01
42:01
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The Tech Abilities crew is back with Serina, Seyoon, Sree, Cheryl, and Jeff stirring up plenty of laughs and tech talk. Did anyone score a sweet deal at the Apple Orchard sale Well the iPhone 17 might just be the pick of the crop. The team dishes on the first round of iOS and Mac updates, including that sneaky VoiceOver bug that Apple promises to s…
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The Blind Drive: PiccyBot, Precision, and Being Present
35:27
35:27
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The Blind Drive dives into PiccyBot—an AI that can describe not just photos but video. Tim Schwartz shares how it's changing the way he explores the world, while Jeff Thompson zooms out to ask where this AI wave is taking us. Jeff also puts a new Wixey Bluetooth angle gauge to work in the woodshop, with VoiceOver calling out precise blade angles ri…
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Wellness Wednesday on a Friday: What Does Wellness Really Mean?
16:00
16:00
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Wellness Wednesday… on a Friday? Beth and Jeff step up to the mics—without Robin this time—to explore whether the word wellness has lost some of its meaning. Is wellness about carefully balancing all the little pieces of life—mind, body, and spirit—or is it simply how you feel about yourself day to day? Together, Beth and Jeff unpack the buzz aroun…
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Unlock Your Future with Cybersecurity Through The Apex Program
21:59
21:59
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The Apex Program is opening doors to careers in cybersecurity for blind and visually impaired students across the country. With over 750,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs, this program offers a life-changing opportunity. In just 12 weeks of accessible online training, students can earn Network+ and Security+ certifications that employers value more t…
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unscripted: AirPods, AMC Hacks, and a Little Nail-Gun Wisdom
43:04
43:04
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43:04
unscripted returns with Jeff and Sree in a fast, funny, and useful sprint through tech and daily life. Jeff opens with a hard-won shop lesson—don't test a nail gun on your finger—then pivots to Apple's event: Sree's wow is AirPods for heart monitoring and live translation, while Jeff riffs on Apple's new cross-body strap for safer phone carry. The …
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The Blind Drive - Apple Droppings: Aww So Many Droppings
43:48
43:48
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Jeff and Tim treat Apple's big show like a fun night at the movies, and the take is refreshingly simple. iPhone Air gets ultra thin with 256 gigs standard, while the Pro models flex 48 megapixels and clever software. But for confident blind users, the win isn't megapixels, it's brains. Center Stage keeps you framed, dual recording grabs you and the…
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Woodworking Without Limits: Bob Geyer's Journey Back to the Shop
35:57
35:57
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What happens when woodworking meets determination, technology, and a supportive community? Meet Bob Geyer, a retired public works professional turned passionate blind woodworker. After losing his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, Bob nearly gave up his tools—until a chance encounter with Woodworking for the Blind (WW4B) at Enchanted Hills Camp changed…
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Artificial Intelligence is everywhere these days, but how do we really use it—and what should we be cautious about? In this episode of Wellness Wednesday, Beth, Robin, and Jeff dive into the good, the bad, and the "oh my" moments of working with AI. From brainstorming and sparking ideas to getting quick answers, AI can be a useful tool. But with it…
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The Blind Drive: Humanness First, Ambassadorship Second
45:01
45:01
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45:01
In this opening episode of The Blind Drive, Jeff Thompson, Liz Bottner, and Tim Schwartz get real about "ambassadorship," authenticity, and living blind life on our own terms. With humor and sharp storytelling—from a "Scarlet Letter B" riff to a crosswalk shove gone wrong—they tackle the tension between educating the public and simply being human, …
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A Spark for Success: Empowering Youth to Step Into Their Future
22:59
22:59
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22:59
In this Blind Abilities podcast, Jeff Thompson speaks with Laila Nachar, the Multiple Systems and Pathways Navigator at State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. Laila's new role is all about helping blind and visually impaired students, ages 14 to 21, prepare for their futures by focusing on pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS). She works…
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"Blind Abilities - Unscripted, The debut episode — Keyboards, iPhones, and AirTag Adventures
46:00
46:00
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46:00
Welcome to the very first episode of Blind Abilities: Unscripted — where tech, news, and everyday life with blindness and low vision all come together, in the moment. No script. No filter. Just straight talk. Join the Unscripted Crew — Cheryl McIntosh, Seyoon Choi, Sree Roy, and Jeff Thompson — as they kick things off with an honest, lively convers…
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Level Up: Building Confidence, Skills, and Futures for Blind and Low Vision Students
23:40
23:40
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23:40
Envision's Level Up program is more than a summer camp—it's a launching pad for blind and visually impaired students stepping into independence, college, and careers. Since 2006, Level Up has combined skill-building with hands-on experiences that prepare students for life beyond high school. From technology training to culinary arts, engineering, h…
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