Blind Abilities

Mel Scott and her Team are busy making connections and selling EyesFreeWorkouts to the NFB17 attendees and took some time away to tell us about what is shaping up at BlindAlive. The iFactory talks about making web sites accessible and how they offer to help design and make existing sites accessible and inclusive to all. We hope you enjoy. Explore your world like never before From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before. Accessible devices Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones. Real-time request The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity. Certified agents Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever. You can find out more about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io On Twitter @airaio Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Attending a NFB Convention with a Guide Dog may seem a bit of a wonder and Lori Thompson talks about how she does it with her Guide Dog Logan. From managing the crowds and relieving her dog, Lori enjoys navigating and going about her way with Logan — her guide dog and companion at the NFB17 convention. You will also here from Julie Johnson, owner of On The Go, which sells Guide and Service dog gear. We hope you enjoy. . We hope you enjoy.. Explore your world like never before From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before. Accessible devices Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones. Real-time request The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity. Certified agents Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever. You can find out more about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io On Twitter @airaio Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

The Blind Abilities Coverage of the #NFB17 is sponsored by Aira. You can find out all about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io and on Twitter @airaio Jeff Thompson and Pete Lane cover the grounds at the NFB17 convention and talk to attendees and exhibitors. Pete Lane caught up with a representative of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and discussed what the EEOC can do for you as a person who is B/VI. . We hope you enjoy.. Explore your world like never before From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before. Accessible devices Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones. Real-time request The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity. Certified agents Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever. You can find out more about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io On Twitter @airaio Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Jeff Thompson and Pete Lane cover the grounds at the NFB17 convention and talk to attendees about what the NFB convention means to them. We also include a cast from the past from 3D Photo Works as they will be in their exhibit booth today. We hope you enjoy.. Explore your world like never before From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before. Accessible devices Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones. Real-time request The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity. Certified agents Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever. You can find out more about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io On Twitter @airaio Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

The Blind Abilities Coverage of the #NFB17 is sponsored by Aira. Jeff Thompson of the Blind Abilities Team arrived early and met up with Mark Erickson of Blind, Inc and talked about cane travel and the 32 students/staff that made the journey down to Orlando, Florida. Join Jeff as he talks about the day and what’s happening below the Blind Abilities balcony. You can find out all about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io and on Twitter @airaio   Explore your world like never before From exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in the city, to traveling the globe – Aira empowers the blind to experience their world and surroundings like never before. Accessible devices Aira’s platform works on wearable devices such as Google Glass and Vuzix that can be paired with your smartphones. Real-time request The tiny camera mounted on your wearable device provides instant feedback so Aira Agents can safely guide you with any activity. Certified agents Our network of trained Aira Agents, who could even be one of your family or friends, are able to assist you whenever and wherever. Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Eye-Link is an organization that was founded by Jim Justesen. He attended a Blindness training center in Minneapolis, Vision Loss Resources, and took note of the high cost of technology and the low income of his classmates. Knowing all too well that this was not isolated to just this center, Jim sought to help the situation and founded Eye-Link in 2000. With the passion of the Eye-Link Board and the volunteers, Eye-Link have been providingBlind/visually Impaired people with access to equipment that allows them to enhance their opportunities and enrich their quality of life. Partnering with State Services, eye-Link provides an option when all else has failed. Seniors do not have the same funding as those clients aiming for the work force and technology and accessibility may not be in the works at your State Services. That is where the partnership with Eye’Link brings another hope of opportunity for those most in need. You can find out more about Eye-Link on the web at www.Eye-Link.org or give them a call at 763-561-6967 Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

On Americas 241st Birthday we feature a poem: :Let Freedom Ring” by our friend and listener, Donald Arsenault. Happy Independence DayUS of A! Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Aira is demonstrated and put to use on the River City Live TV in Jacksonville, Florida. Pete Lane gets instant access to information from a Aira agent, Patrick Lane, in realtime as he navigates and sidewalks, streets and stores. Join the River City Live TV cast and hear about Aira and the benefits that you could be accessing today! You can find more information about Aira on the web at www.Aira.io and follow Aira on Twitter @Airio Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Kevin Key suffered a rare illness that left him with Vision Loss just 3 years ago. Today Kevin has fought back and is now a consultant with the city of Memphis in Tennessee advocating and educating the Business owners, managers and city officials about disabilities and creating opportunities. Kevin has accepted his blindness and has taken the time to tell us about his journey, how his parents set an example for him and how he wants to improve the opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce. From being an elected official and now a consultant to elected officials Kevin is taking it day by day and embracing the challenges with optimism and a positive approach while helping others in similar situations. Yes, Kevin may be sitting on the other side of the table today, and his experience on both sides makes his spot at the table a benefit for all people with disabilities. It is nice to know that Kevin’s voice is part of the disability awareness conversation. You can contact Kevin key by email and check out his web site at www.KevinKey.com Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Blind Abilities presents another installment in its iPhone 101 series involving Voiceover gestures. As we draw near the end of our gestures presentations, Pete reviews the 4-finger single tap. This gesture can be somewhat difficult to perform since its kind of tight having to fit four fingers onto your iPhone screen, especially when in portrait mode (upright with your Home button at the bottom). Pete shares a tip where he turns his phone sideways, with the Home button on the left. In this position, he can easily fit his four fingers across the screen. Listen in as Pete discusses how he adjusts the direction of his gestures to fit this position. The 4-finger tap is a serious time saver as it gets you to the top or bottom of a screen, a web site, or a list such as emails, podcasts or tweets in your Twitter feed with a single tap. Coming up, we’ll review some of those VO gestures that we haven’t yet covered in our 1, 2, 3 or 4 finger gesture presentations. And after that, stay tuned cause there’s plenty more coming! Be sure to share any questions, comments or suggestions with our Team. And let us know if we’ve missed any hidden gestures or uses for our single-finger double tap gesture. We’ve already heard from some listeners about one or two applications that we failed to mention. We’ll be covering those, and thanking those folks who dropped us a line in our next podcast! We love hearing from you!

Woodworking for the Blind Sixth Annual Summer Workshop Now Two Separate Sessions All Members Invited Advanced Woodworking Session Monday, August 21, thru Saturday August 26, 2017 Welcoming Dinner Monday evening August 21 Woodworking Fundamentals Session Saturday, August 26, thru August 31, 2017 Welcoming Dinner Saturday evening August 26 Each Session Has 4 Full Days of Meetings, Discussions, Instructions, Technique Sharing, Meals and Refreshments Spouses and Companions are Welcome! Summer Workshop Fee $350 (Includes Meals and Lodging) Includes Workshop Facilities, Instruction, Meals and Lodging Spouses and Companions $150 Hosted by George Wurtzel and Brian Buhrow (San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind) at their newly expanded, spacious workshop at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, California Fly to either San Francisco or Oakland Airport Arrival Transportation to Napa Available Through Evans Airporter Service http://evanstransportation.com EHC will pick up at Evans Airporter Office To register for the Advanced Woodworking Session go to: https://form.jotform.com/70997934794176 To register for the Woodworking Fundamentals Session go to: https://Form.jotform.com/71006204494145 Woodworking for the Blind Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Pete Lane and Nick D’Ambrosio present another installment in the iPhone 101 series involving Voiceover gestures. This episode explores the many ways we can use the Single-finger double-tap and Hold gesture. Ranging from several uses in Safari, the iPhone web browser, and sending audio messages in the Messages app, to Fast-forwarding and Rewinding music, Youtube videos or audio books in the player screens of your various audio apps, this gesture is one to learn. Join Pete and Nick with this comprehensive, yet concise presentation of the Single-finger double-tap and Hold gesture! Check out the entire iPhone101 series and for more iPhone related casts, Check out our iAccess series for more iPhone related tutorials. Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.

Greg Stilson, senior Product Manager at HumanWare, talks about the new Brailliant BI14 Braille display and how it is a perfect fit for the mobile iPhone user. Greg talks about his Aira explorer experiences and gives us an overview of his nearly 11 years at HumanWare. Join Greg and Jeff Thompson of the Blind Abilities team and learn about the latest from HumanWare, their parent company, Greg’s virtual navigational journeys with Aira and what’s this about a Hammock? You can find out more about HumanWare products on the web. And read all about the Brailliant below Quick Overview of the Brailliant BI14 • Rugged design built for the user on the go • Very light: 285 G 0.63 lbs. • Ergonomic traditional 8-dot braille input keys • Comfortable typing experience with a note taker style spacebar • 14 high quality braille cells with unique touch sensor routers • HumanWare signature thumb keys • Built-in intelligence allows for increased productivity anywhere • Pair up to 5 Bluetooth devices at once Plus one USB connection • Brailliant Sync ensures notes taken on the BI14 are available everywhere! • 15 – 20 hours of battery life • Size: 166x100x23 [mm] • Weight: 285 grams, 0.63 lbs Smart things come in small packages  In today’s fast-paced world, vision-impaired professionals and students need a device that lets them stay connected and stay productive on the go. Our latest innovation? The smart and compact Brailliant BI14. Our smallest braille display yet, it’s designed for ultimate efficiency without sacrificing ergonomics or comfort. So you can stay on track anytime, anywhere.    Stay on track when you’re on the go  Designed to boost productivity whether you’re at the office or out and about, the Brailliant BI14 boasts cutting-edge intelligence and innovative features made with the mobile professional in mind. • Rugged design made for mobility • Stable connectivity across multiple devices • Small and light to fit easily into your jacket or bag • Compact design with maximum comfort—type easily for hours on the ergonomic braille keyboard • Features 14 high quality braille cells with cursor routers (the same used on both our Brailliant and BrailleNote devices) • Reduced wrist fatigue thanks to our signature thumb keys—pan and navigate the display without taking your fingers off the braille display • Navigation joystick that makes it easier than ever to use your paired Apple device—simply flick the joystick to mimic touchscreen swiping • Micro USB for charging and connection to PC • Up to 20 hours of battery life   Connect to your favorite devices in seconds From daily commutes to business trips, staying connected when you’re on the move is more important than ever. That’s why we’ve designed the Brailliant BI14 to pair instantly with iOS devices, so you never have to miss an email, deadline or conference call again.  You can connect your BI14 with up to five iOS devices at once with Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) pairing. Simply unlock your iPhone or laptop and VoiceOver will instantly notify your BI14, translating all of your data into braille in real time.  Your BI14 even comes with a USB connection so you can stay charged on the go and keep braille at your fingertips anytime, anywhere.   Stay in sync • The Brailliant BI14 internal notes app makes it easier than ever to take notes in your meetings—in contracted or uncontracted braille. • To sync your notes with your other devices,

Public Relations Director for the National Federation of the Blind, Chris Danielsen, joins Jeff Thompson of the Blind Abilities Team to talk about the recent lawsuit filed in California regarding the accessibility of the Greyhound Bus web site and the Greyhound Application for the smart phone. This is new territory to include the App in the mix as previous cases involved access only to the web site. Today, as technology keeps moving forward and our shopping habits adjust towards the convenience afforded to us by companies insisting we get their app, maybe this lawsuit will set a precedence for accessibility to be considered in apps so everybody can have the same opportunities in the same space as everyone else. Here is Chris’s contact info: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 email Chris Here is the news release from the NFB.org web site: Blind Californians and Advocates Sue Greyhound Lawsuit Alleges Blind People Cannot Use Greyhound Website or Mobile App San Francisco (June 12, 2017): In February of 2015 Tina Thomas, who is blind, was planning a trip from her home in Los Angeles to Las Vegas to visit family and friends. She tried to book the trip on Greyhound.com, but her text-to-speech software couldn’t interpret Greyhound’s website. She called Greyhound to book her trip, explaining that she could not use the website, but Greyhound still charged her a “convenience fee” for booking by phone. She tried to use the website again earlier this year, but the experience had not improved. Ms. Thomas and four other blind Californians, along with the National Federation of the Blind, have now sued Greyhound in federal district court. The lawsuit alleges that Greyhound has designed its website and app so that they cannot be used by the blind. This violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and state laws, the lawsuit says. Blind people use screen reader software that converts the content of websites or apps into speech or Braille. This software can easily read text, but it cannot interpret pictures, graphics, and elements like forms and menus if they are not coded properly. The Worldwide Web Consortium has published in-depth guidelines on how to make websites compatible with screen readers, known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0, Level AA). Apple and Google have also published accessibility guidelines for apps designed for the iPhone and Android smart phones, respectively. Other major transportation providers, such as Southwest Airlines, Amtrak, and the ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft, have websites or apps that blind people can use to book travel. But Greyhound has not made the needed changes to its website or app, despite several requests from blind people and advocates. The lawsuit may be certified as a class action if the court approves. The suit seeks an injunction requiring Greyhound to make the needed changes to its website and mobile app. The case is National Federation of the Blind et al v. Greyhound Lines, Inc. et al, case number 3:17-cv-03368. The plaintiffs are represented by Timothy Elder of the TRE Legal Practice, www.trelegal.com, and by Lisa Ells and Michael Nunez of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, www.rbgg.com. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are interested in speaking with any blind individuals who have been unable to use the Greyhound mobile app or website with their screen-reader or who have been charged convenience fees for booking tickets over the telephone.  “Without the ability to drive, blind people need travel alternatives like Greyhound,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the blind. “It’s mystifying,

Christine Malec talks about her new Fan Fiction Novel, Before The Tide. This is a book Christine wrote in the universe of Harry Potter Books. Fan Fiction is just that, an author uses the universe and world created by another author and just, “Goes with it.” Christine talks about how her book Before the Tide came about and the processes that she goes through to create and develop her book. Christine has also published her own novel, Beltane and is working on another book in which she is building her own universe 8,000 years ago here on Earth. Quite the imagination and Christine does not stop at writing when it comes to creativeness. Her blogs, music and audio documentaries are full of interesting topics, sounds and details of travels, activities and fantasy. Check out Christine’s web site and get her newly released Fan fiction Book, Before the Tide. She has a text version and a MP3 audio version and the price is free. Check out her other creations, blog and music on her site while you are there You can find her web site here, BeltaneTheBook.com From the author Christine Malec: What makes five of the most powerful witches and wizards of their day retreat from the world to teach magic? 11th Century Britain is a perilous place, even for a sorcerer. It’s the summer of 1066, and England is on the brink of events that will bring destruction and transformation. A battlefield is an unspeakable place, but it can also be a place of astonishing heroism. Brought together by the manipulations of a wizard even more powerful than they, the Hogwarts four, inspired by the remarkable courage of Odo the Hero on Hastings field, find themselves embarked on a quest to the north, which keeps them one step ahead of the invading army. On their journey, they meet seductive sorceresses, vicious magical creatures, and people who are not what they seem. The country is changing, and magic is no longer as stylish as it once was. Should magicians interfere in the affairs of muggles? Should witches and wizards retreat from the world for their own safety? Is magic the only protection witches have in a violent world? And who is the cantankerous old wizard responsible for bringing these legendary friends together? This is a rollicking tale of adventure and magic, that peaks behind legends, and explores what it means to be different in a dangerous world. Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store.