On this special edition of the AccessWorld podcast, we welcome AFB’s Chief Public Policy & Research Officer Stephanie Enyart and Senior Advisor for Public Policy & Research Sarah Malaier. Together, our hosts Tony and Aaron discuss with our guests the U.S. Department of Justice's recently published final rule on website and mobile app accessibility for state and local governments. This rule is the culmination of decades of advocacy and rulemaking and marks a significant step in ensuring that the digital world is fully accessible to people who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind. Learn more about the final rule on the AFB Blog: https://afb.org/blog/entry/final-rule-website-accessibility.

AccessWorld is a podcast and online magazine on digital inclusion and accessibility produced by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). The podcast drops at the start of each month, and the online magazine is published quarterly. To learn more about AccessWorld, visit www.afb.org/AW.

Aaron Preece is the editor-in-chief of AccessWorld, and Tony Stephens is the Assistant Vice President for Communications at AFB. Be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast, and you can also support our work by making a tax deductible donation at www.afb.orgdonate.

For past episodes and transcripts, visit the AFB AccessWorld Podcast page.

Welcome to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility from the American Foundation for the Blind. In this episode, Aaron and Tony celebrate the power that audio description can have toward making media more inclusive for audiences who are blind or have low vision. They welcome Roy Samuelson, a leading audio description performer, producer, and advocate who continues to be a champion for inclusive media and entertainment. Roy shares his own professional journey, how a close friend sent him on a mission to bring quality in audio description to the masses, and how the team he assembled for AFB’s documentary film “Possibilities” took the craft to a whole new level.

Want to learn more about those who work behind-the-scenes to make media more inclusive through audio description? Check out the Audio Description Network Alliance, where you can also find out more about your own favorite voices describing content for television and film.

To learn more about AFB’s documentary film Possibilities, visit www.afb.org/possibiliteis.

About the Hosts:

Tony Stephens is the Director of Communications for the American Foundation for the blind (AFB), and Aaron Preece is editor-in-chief of AccessWorld, a quarterly online publication produced by AFB encompassing all things digital inclusion and accessibility. To learn more about AccessWorld, and to gain access to over 20 years of back-issues free of charge, visit www.afb.org/aw.

Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates opportunity and expands possibilities through thought leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships. Learn more about AFB at www.afb.org and consider making a tax-deductible gift to support our work creating a future of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision.

Welcome back to another episode of the AccessWorld Podcast, a production of the American Foundation for the Blind. In this episode, our hosts Tony and Aaron welcome Enzo Caruso from Haptic. Their new venture from HapticLabs is rethinking the way haptic navigation can be used for travelers with disabilities. Enzo shares what lead to the release of their HapticNav app for Apple and Android devices and ways the app is being integrated into existing navigation platforms. They’ll be spotlighting the technology at SXSW this month as they prepare for integration in mainstream wearable devices. Users can download the HapticNav app for free on IOS devices.

Tony and Aaron also share exciting news for AFB’s TalentLab, which announced on March 1st that applications are now being accepted for the Digital Accessibility Bootcamp, a paid summer internship experience that is perfect for students majoring in computer science or a related field and interested in strengthening their accessibility skillset for a competitive marketplace. Check out the AFB Talent Lab page for more info on the internship program.

About Our Hosts

Aaron Preece is the Editor-in-Chief for AccessWorld, a quarterly online publication from the American Foundation for the Blind encompassing digital inclusion and accessibility. Tony Stephens is the Director of Communications for the American Foundation for the Blind. Together, Aaron and Tony enjoy diving into all things digital accessibility. You can access the current issue of AccessWorld, along with over 20 years of our back-issues, for free at https://afb.org/AW. For questions or comments about this episode or the podcast, email us.