2626 Braille Blooms with New Tech from Perkins (Jul. 1, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
The Perkins Brailler is getting a digital upgrade that helps blind students transition into STEM careers and access online content. This budget-friendly tool translates mechanical typing into digital text. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Charlson and Megan Gagne about how the Braille Bloom brings paper braille into the modern digital age.

2625 A Firsthand Review of Meta Smart Glasses (Jun. 24, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Smart eyewear offers unique benefits for accessibility. Peter details how he uses his new smart glasses to privately navigate his phone, read museum signs, capture family photos, and more. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Joe Borden and Becky Furuta from Avenue Vision about these assistive features and the benefits of purchasing smart glasses directly from an optician.

2624 MEMS Technology Enables a Modern 2-D Tactile Display (Jun. 17, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Innovative MEMS technology is changing how the visually impaired can interact with digital information. Dave Schleppenbach from Tactile Engineering introduces the Cadence Tactile Tablet, a 2D refreshable display. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave about how this modular device renders Braille text, complex graphics, and even live video.

2623 Catching Sight – A Story of Dogs and Self-Acceptance (Jun. 10, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Professional guide dog training offers a deep level of communication and personal safety. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Deni Elliott about her experiences with several guide dogs and her journey toward self-acceptance. They also discuss Deni’s new book “Catching Sight” and the unique partnership that forms between a person and a working service animal.

2622 Meet Cookie – Your AI Sidekick in the Kitchen (Jun. 3, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Voice controlled cooking can make kitchen tasks easier for everyone, especially people with vision loss. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Daria Marmer, developer of the Cookie Voice Recipes app, about her AI powered tool shaped by blind user feedback to improve accessibility, reduce physical screen interaction, and support hands free cooking.

2621 Touching the Digital World with Dot Pad X (May 27, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Innovation in Braille technology is changing the landscape for tactile literacy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Dave Williams from Dot Inc about the new Dot Pad X. This specialized display uses unique electromagnetic pins to render high-quality graphics and multiline text, offering a powerful new way for individuals to interact with digital content.

2620 Encore of 1221 Cracked Ribs and Alligator Scares in a Canoe (May 20, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
A 65-mile planned canoe outing turned into a demanding test of endurance for blind paddler Jose Tamayo. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about navigating dry riverbeds, startling alligator encounters, painful cracked ribs, and the unpredictable challenges that transformed his trip into a memorable outdoor adventure.

2619 Making Assistive Tech Affordable with Hable Products (May 13, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Innovating for accessibility is at the heart of Hable. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Freek von Welsenis about Hable One and the simplified Hable Easy for smartphone control. They also explore the SpeechLabel system and tactile StackTiles, which provide versatile ways for blind individuals to label medications, appliances, and other items.

2618 Gliding Into the Future of Mobility (May 6, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Glide is moving closer to becoming a new primary mobility aid for blind users. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Amos Miller, founder and CEO of Glidance, about its two wheeled design, autonomous steering, extensive user testing, the upcoming pilot launch, and how added AI features may support safer and more confident independent travel in 2026.

2617 Support Service Providers for Deaf-Blind Coloradans (Apr. 29, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Support Service Providers (SSPs) play a vital role in helping people with dual sensory loss stay informed and independent. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with SSP Vicki Scarboro about guiding techniques, tactile communication, haptics, mentoring, and Colorado’s state funded program that connects trained SSPs with deaf-blind individuals.

2616 Individualized Low Vision Care for Better Living (Apr. 22, 2026)

Show Notes
Transcript
Many people with vision loss are unaware that low vision specialists provide highly individualized services that differ from routine eye care. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with low vision optometrists Dr. David Simpson and Dr. Cade Oost about personalized evaluations, tailored tools, and goal based strategies that help people stay active and independent.