In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono, Anil Lewis, and Danielle McCann (NFB Membership Building Coordinator) discuss the upcoming National Federation of the Blind National Convention. They talk about the virtual convention experience, which allows individuals who are unable to attend in person to participate in hours of convention content from home. They mention that there will be exclusive virtual events, such as a walk around the exhibit hall and a discussion on employment. They emphasize the importance of the convention and the opportunities it provides for networking, learning, and advocacy.

Important Links:

Convention Web page: https://nfb.org/convention

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Anil Lewis and Chris Danielsen are joined by Sanho Steele-Louchart, an attorney and the legal program coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind. They discuss strategies we employ to address issues faced by blind individuals in ways that make systemic change. They also describe some current cases and explain how the program can help with self-advocacy skills and resources.

Important links:

Legal program web page: https://nfb.org/legal

In this special episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Anil Lewis is joined by members of the Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Accessibility (CENA) team to discuss the work they do in promoting accessibility. They discuss topics such as artificial intelligence, including its potential benefits and risks, as well as various technologies and devices that promote accessibility, such as the Cadence Tablet, Monarch dynamic tactile display, and Tactonom Reader. They also highlight the work they do under the Nonvisual Accessibility Initiative grant from the state of Maryland, including training modules for education professionals, customer service training for the Maryland Department of Labor, and the Accessibility Inclusion Fellows program. Additionally, they mention upcoming boutiques and trainings on topics such as accessible video gaming, advanced PDF tagging, and native low-vision accessibility features. There is also a discussion of the Nonvisual Accessibility Self-Advocacy Toolkit, which provides resources for individuals to report accessibility issues and contribute to creating more accessible experiences.

Important links:

https://nfb.org/cena

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Melissa and Anil are joined by Marinela “Mari” Ortiz, an assistive technology instructor and writer. Mari shares her journey of pursuing her master's degree in assistive technology, including the challenges she faced at one university and her subsequent success at another. The discussion addresses topics including the importance of mentors and support systems in overcoming doubts and achieving goals and the value of meeting individuals where they are and helping them discover their own potential.

Important links:

Not Letting the Flood of Doubt Win (HTML) Not Letting the Flood of Doubt Win(MP3) by Marinela Ortiz (Braille Monitor, February 2024)

Episode transcript: https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/nations-blind-podcast/archive/not-letting-flood-doubt-win

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Anil, Melissa, and Chris Danielsen discuss the upcoming Washington Seminar of the National Federation of the Blind. They talk about their memories of past seminars and the importance of advocacy, as well as the issues that will be addressed during the seminar, including Social Security reform, accessible medical equipment, and website and software accessibility. They emphasize the power of personal stories in influencing legislators and encourage listeners to get involved in advocacy efforts.

Important Links:

NFB Washington Seminar Page: https://nfb.org/washington-seminar

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Anil and Melissa are joined by Gary Wunder, editor of the Braille Monitor, and Aaron Cannon, a blind accessibility specialist for Ancestry.com. They discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in various aspects of life, with feedback from listeners incorporated into the conversation. The discussion touches on AI tools such as Be My AI and ChatGPT, their benefits and limitations, and the broader implications of AI for the blind community and for society. Your thoughts are welcome on social media and at podcast@nfb.org or by calling 410-659-9314, extension 2444.

Important links:

National Federation of the Blind Resolution 2023-13 Regarding Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and their Information on Blindness: https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2023-resolutions#13

Large language model (Wikipedia entry): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_language_model

“There Will Come Soft Rains,” short story by Ray Bradbury about an automated house (Wikipedia entry with plot summary): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Will_Come_Soft_Rains_(short_story)

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Melissa Riccobono and Anil Lewis discuss various shopping strategies that blind people use, both in stores and virtually, and some of the pros and cons of each method. Shopping methods discussed include using apps like Instacart, Shipt, and more, as well as acquiring assistance from Aira and Be My Eyes. Join the discussion by sharing your own strategies and tips for possible airing on a future episode!

In this episode of the Nation's Blind Podcast, Anil Lewis and Chris Danielsen introduce the 2023/2024 Braille Readers Are Leaders contest, which is a project of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, a longtime partner of the National Federation of the Blind. Lisamaria Martinez, the project manager for the program, joins them to provide more details. They encourage listeners to sign up, practice their Braille skills at whatever level for a chance to win exciting prizes, and explore the benefits of Braille literacy.

Important links:

Register for the contest: https://actionfund.beanstack.com

Learn more: https://actionfund.org