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.

Welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility.

February is Low-Vision awareness Month, and we're excited to welcome Lee Huffman from the American Printing House for the Blind. Lee is a familiar voice for AccessWorld enthusiasts

, having held down the helm for AccessWorld before joining APH. Lee, who also has low vision, shares his experiences and offers great insight into where we've been, and where we are going in regards to technology for low-vision consumers. Hosts Aaron and Tony along with Lee also share the challenges that often rise up when companies try to have a one-size-fits-all approach toward accessibility, not recognizing the vast spectrum that exists for users with varying conditions like low-vision.

Read more about low-vision and assistive tech in the February issue of AFB's AccessWorld E-Zine, which can be delivered right to your inbox this Feb. 20th. Visit www.afb.org/aw and sign-up today. You can also access back issues for free!

Listen to past episodes and access transcripts on AFB's podcast page. Transcripts are usually available within 48 hours after an episode drops. You can also check out other podcasts produced by AFB. And, while you're there, consider making a tax-deductible gift to the American Foundation for the Blind. Your gift helps us create a future of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision.

Happy New Year and welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility.

In this episode, Tony and Aaron kick off 2024 by sharing their resolutions on improving their braille. Tony shares how he's an old dog still trying to master UEB. Aaron offers guidance in a previous article that breaks down the transition to UEB. We then take a deep dive into distinguishing the difference between accessibility and usability. While accessibility is a critical piece of making the internet accessible for all, usability takes us that extra step toward assuring we can be fully inclusive with our digital content. Check out this previous AFB Tech Notes post on the value of usability.

Aaron also breaks down accessible gaming for the blind, sharing some insight taken from the most recent issue of AccessWorld. You can check out the latest issue, published each quarter, along with all the back-issues by visiting: www.afb.org/aw.

AccessWorld is produced by the American Foundation for the blind (AFB. For questions or comments, email communications@afb.org. You can support our work by liking and subscribing to the podcast, and even consider making a donation today by visiting www.afb.org.

It's an AFB family gathering for this end-of-year episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. In this episode, co-hosts Aaron Preese and Tony Stephens welcome AFB's Breanna Kerr and Kelly Gasque, who lead AFB's digital communications. Kelly and Breanna offer up some helpful tips for making sure your social media posts and documents are accessible, just in time for all those end-of-year .pdf reports and holiday posts.

Aaron, Breanna, Kelly , and Tony also breakdown 2023, sharing their favorite accessibility wins for the year, and Aaron shares what's new in the latest issue of AccessWorld.

AccessWorld is a podcast from the American Foundation for the Blind. The podcast is an extension of AccessWorld magazine, a quarterly online publication that focuses on all-things digital inclusion and accessibility.

Enjoy the podcast? Be sure to like and subscribe, and even consider making a donation. Transcripts are available on the AFB podcast page.

Welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. In this, our second episode, we take a deep dive into the latest update for Apple IOS 17. We’re excited to have AccessWorld frequent contributors Janet Ingber and Judy Dixon, who break down the mainstream updates and new accessibility features for IOS-17 users. Check out their posts on the AFB blog for more information.

We also wrap up National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), with a reminder that inclusion in the workplace continues to be something worth having on our radar year round. AccessWorld has a wealth of articles in back issues that spotlight employment in the tech field as well as in other careers. So, don’t forget that you can access for free every issue of AccessWorld going back to the year 2000.

We close out the episode with a sneak peak of what’s in the upcoming issue of AccessWorld, which will drop later this month.

About The Podcast:

AccessWorld is a podcast produced by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Since 1921, AFB has been expanding possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. The podcast is an extension of the online publication AccessWorld, a quarterly e-zine that focuses on digital inclusion and accessibility. 

Aaron Preece is the Editor-in-Chief for AccessWorld. His co-host Tony Stephens is the Director of Communications for AFB. Together, they enjoy taking deep dives into topics encompassing digital inclusion and equal access for people with disabilities. For questions, comments, or show suggestions, feel free to send us a note. And be sure to like and subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes on the 1st of each month. You can also subscribe to AccessWorld on the AFB subscriptions page to get the latest issue of the publication when it drops each quarter.

Transcripts of each episode are released at the time or shortly after the posting of each podcast on the AFB podcast page.

Welcome to the first episode of the AccessWorld podcast, a new podcast from the American Foundation for the Blind. This episode is a cross-over with our Inform & Connect podcast. AccessWorld will be released the first of each month, and provides additional commentary and in-depth takes on all things relating to digital inclusion and accessibility. Please like and subscribe today wherever you get your podcasts. Questions and suggestions can be sent to communications@afb.org, and check out AccessWorld online at www.afb.org/AW. You can also learn more about AFB’s programs, research, and advocacy at www.afb.org, and even consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support our work.

AFB — Creating a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision.