Season 3 Episode 2  Accessing the Summit 

We're excited to be supporting The Unseen Trailblazers team, one of the extraordinary teams embarking on the Accessibility Accelerator AccessibleTogether Expedition 2025 up Mount Kilimanjaro! Fresh from this adventure, Sachin Pavithran and Conchita Hernandez talk with Access Matters about the climb. Sachin, a senior executive overseeing the U.S. Access Board, has consistently challenged himself to overcome obstacles, even completing a 206-mile bike race. Conchita, with a doctorate in special education, runs her own consulting firm supporting the Spanish-speaking blind and low-vision community. They’ll take us day by day through the teamwork and perseverance it takes to reach the highest point on the African continent. We’ll also take a look at how Access Network partner Walmart makes shopping in-store and online more accessible when preparing for such epic journeys. 

Follow Sachin Pavithran:  LinkedIn: (18) Sachin Pavithran | LinkedIn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sachin.d.pavithran  Instagram: @sdpavithran 

Follow Conchita Hernandez Legorreta:  LinkedIn: (18) Conchita Hernandez | LinkedIn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conchitaherdzlegorreta Instagram: @ConchitaLegorreta Conchita Consulting LLC

Learn more about Accessibility Accelerator: https://accessibilityaccelerator.org/ 

Questions or comments about the show? Email us, accessmatters@aira.io. Learn more about visual interpreting at www.aira.io.  

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Our third season begins by delving into the impact of the “Intuit Small Business Owner” offer. Over 300 individuals, including Debra Erickson, Executive Chef and owner of The Blind Kitchen, currently benefit from this aspect of our service. Many people facing vision loss consider giving up cooking or grilling. Debra, a blind cook herself, meticulously researches and sells mainstream products that enable independence in the kitchen. Her website also houses a valuable library of tips and tricks. Aira’s professional visual interpreters and secure platform assist with many tasks such as managing financial information that demand confidentiality, supporting small business owners like Debra to achieve their dreams.

Visit The Blind Kitchen web site at h t t p colon slash slash the blind kitchen dot com. You can email Debra at info at the blind kitchen dot com.

Learn more about visual interpreting at https://aira.io.  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at airacast@aira.io.

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In this final episode of Season 2 we introduce our newest Access Network partner, Eden Park, New Zealand’s national stadium. Next we look back at our season opener as Marci Carpenter and Ron Brown talk about how blind people access sporting events. This interview first aired in March of 2024. Learn more about Eden Park at https://edenpark.co.nz Learn more about Aira at https://aira.io

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Earlier this year, Aira received an award from the renowned Zero Project, a globally recognized conference on accessibility. In this interview, we delve into the conference with Frances West, IBM’s inaugural Chief Accessibility Officer and the current CEO of Frances West & Co., and Florian Gutman from our Engineering Team. Additionally, CEO Troy Otillio shares his experiences with the Zero Project and offers valuable insights into Aira’s international growth and the future prospects, particularly in the field of AI. 

Learn more about Frances West at www.franceswest.co Learn more about visual interpreting on our web site, www.aira.io.

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io.

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Access Matters  Season 2 Episode 8  Team With A Vision 

The Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most iconic races, is back this year, and we’ve managed to catch up with Laura Alpert about the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Team with a Vision  . Running the marathon is a personal journey for many, and Ellen Goldberg, a 15-time Team with a Vision member, shares some of her unforgettable experiences. Blind and low vision runners often rely on guides to help them navigate the race, and Rebecca Trachsel, Jared Broughton’s guide, provides insights into the role of guides in the marathon. Cheyenne Meyer and Brett Simms have a  great story about the teamwork of a couple who met while running the marathon. Don’t forget to support the team by checking out their various Give and Gain pages. 

Ellen Goldberg  https://tinyurl.com/TWAVEllen

Rebecca Trachsel, running guide for Jared Broughton  https://tinyurl.com/TWAVRebeccaJared

Cheyenne Meyer and Brett Simms, running couple Cheyenne as guide  https://tinyurl.com/MABVICheyenneBrett

Learn more about MABVI at https://mabvi.org 

United in Stride https://unitedinstride.com

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Access Matters  Season 2 Episode 7  Access as Synergy with Matt Ater

Synergy is defined when elements combine with a result that is better than the some of their parts. In this episode meet Matt Ater, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Vispero, makers of the JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion screen access programs. You may not have realized that Vispero and Aira have a very synergistic partnership. Matt talks about how visual interpreters support the accessibility work of Vispero and TPGI. We also discuss the new access with JAWS to kiosks, how potential changes in federal funding may affect assistive tech and state-based success stories. 

Read the report  https://www.tpgi.com/restaurant-accessibility-for-blind-and-low-vision-customers/ 

Learn more about JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion at https://www.freedomscientific.com

More info about visual interpreting is at https://www.aira.io. Contact us at airacast@aira.io

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In this episode of "Access Matters," host Jeanine Stanley talks with Ron Brooks, founder of Accessible Avenue and Senior director of Policy and Stakeholder engagement with Uzurv. Ron shares his personal journey, highlighting the impact of technology like smartphones and apps on mobility for people with disabilities. He discusses the challenges and advancements in public transit, including the rise of rideshare services and autonomous vehicles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adaptable, inclusive transit systems in fostering independence for individuals with disabilities. Find Ron's company, Accessible Avenue, at https://accessibleavenue.com. Learn more about Uzurv at https://uzurv.com. Comments or Questions about our podcast? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io.

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This book is available in book stores, on line and in audio formats through Audible and the BARD app.

Question or comments about the podcast? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. Episode Notes

Notes go here

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So your organization is holding an event. Inclusivity is crucial these days but where do you start? Stephen Cutchins, Senior Manager for Accessibility at CVent, joins Jenine to talk about accessibility in event planning. CVent offers its Big Book of Event Accessibility as a place to guide the industry toward more inclusive spaces. There’s money to be made when doing so and we’ll tell you more in this episode of Access Matters. 

For more information about CVent’s Big Book of Event Accessibility visit https://cvent.com/bigbook You can contact Stephen via email at sscutchins@cvent.com or find him, Stephen Cutchins, on LinkedIn.     Read the 2024 Accenture report mentioned in this episode at https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document-2/Disability-Inclusion-Report-Business-Imperative.pdf

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io.  Learn more about visual interpreting at http://www.aira.io

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Race Across America is a 3000 mile trek. Dave Wilkinson is working to become the first solo blind tandem cyclist to complete it. We’ll meet Dave and hear about how he incorporates accessibility into his life and passion for staying active and healthy as  The Speedy turtle. You can follow Dave and the Speedy Turtle team at https://speedyturtle.net. Aira is proud to sponsor Dave’s ride. Be sure to watch our social media posts for his progress. 

Resources for accessible fitness: 

Cane and Able Fitness https://www.caneandablefitness.com/

Blind Fitness  https://www.blindfitness.org/ Contact us at accessmatters@aira.io.

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

On April 8, 2024 the country stopped to observe a unique celestial event. Aira was excited to take part in one of the community celebrations, “Total Eclipse of the Park” in Rochester, New York. Event organizer Kiki Smith talks about offering choices about how to take in this eclipse, accessibly and inclusively.  Listen to full coverage of the event at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpKbRLW8CKk&t=14s

You can email Kiki Smith at Kirstyn@seacrochester.org. Or contact her by phone at  585-721-2624.

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Access Matters Season 2 Episode 1 What matters when accessing sports?

Welcome to Season 2! In our first episode, Jenine talks with Marci Carpenter and Ron Brown, two sports fans who share their game day experiences. How does “access” play a role in their enjoyment of the game? Plus, learn about Aira’s newest partnership in the world of sports. 

Read more about Aira and the Portland Sea Dogs: https://aira.io/more-accessible-sports-games-with-visual-interpretation/ 

Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. 

Learn more about visual interpreting at www.aira.io.Episode Notes

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In our previous episode we heard about county-wide access. Imagine if an entire state had a dedicated department devoted to access for people with disabilities. Theresa Montano, Senior Solutions Architect of Accessibility, and Karen Pellegrin, Senior Manager, Technology Accessibility Program, join Jenine to talk about how the state of Colorado provides services, programs and activities to both residents and visitors. Whether you’re adventuring in a state park, doing business in a state building or navigating a state web site, access isn’t just a state of mind. 

You can learn more about Colorado’s Technology Accessibility Program at: https://oit.colorado.gov/about-us/programs 

You can contact them via email at: oit_accessibility@state.co.us

Comments or questions about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io.

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Access Matters  Episode 9: Access at the County Level with Heidi Johnson 

The global pandemic proved that access to local government information is crucial. In this episode Jenine takes a look at access at the county level with Heidi Johnson, ADA Coordinator for Miami-Dade County, Florida. Did you know there are 3207 counties or county equivilants in the United States, including the parishes of Louisiana. You might be surprised at how many services are provided at the county level in your area. Heidi tells us about everything from public health to parks, libraries, voting and even the water that comes from your tap in Miami-Dade County, and how her office helps all of the agencies involved provide inclusive environments.  

Access, and more specifically the ADA, involve social equity in all programs, services, activities and facilities at the state and county levels. Heidi’s own life experience in the regulatory field as well as being someone with a disability has served her well in her current role. Join us for a virtual trip around Miami-Dade County and all it has to offer.  

Learn more about Miami-Dade County services at: https://www.miamidade.gov

Phone: 305-375-2013  For a list of ADA coordinators by county department, visit: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/ada-coordinators.page 

Contact the podcast at accessmatters@aira.io. Thanks for listening. 

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Access Matters Episode 8 Access at work for all Featuring Dan Frye and Joy Mistovich 

In our second podcast spotlighting National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we talk with Dan Frye, Director of Employment and Professional Development with the National Federation of the Blind. Dan has held various roles in state agencies and private industry. We’ll hear his crucial points that lead to success in  job seeking and workplace accessibility. An example of such accessibility is Joy Mistovich, Education Department Assistant and Digital U X Accessibility Specialist at the Butler Institute of American Art. In fact, it’s her job. Joy tells us about her journey. 

Learn more about Dan and his work at the National Federation of the Blind at https://nfb.org. You can email him at dfrye@nfb.org. You can call him at NFB’s national office, 1.401. 659.9314 Ext. 2393.  

Learn more about the Butler Institute of American Art and Joy’s work in accessibility at https://butlerart.com  You can email her at joymisto@gmail.com. 

The Butler is one of our Aira Access Network locations. You can get visual interpreting assistance to browse their collections and web site. 

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Access Matters  Episode 7: Access in a room full of elephants with Jonathan Mosen 

October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the United States. That means Jenine and her guests will be talking about access in the workplace. The subject isn’t limited to the US though.   A familiar name within the blind and low vision community, Jonathan Mosen MNZM currently serves as CEO of Workbridge, the largest New Zealand-owned agency dedicated to the employment of disabled people. He also hosts the popular Living Blindfully podcast, heard by members of the blind community in more than 113 countries. The “elephants” they’ll discuss include disclosure in the hiring process, career advancement and how technology will affect disabled people in the future. 

You can learn more about Jonathan and find helpful links to his podcast at https://livingblindfully.com. 

Learn more about Workbridge at https://workbridge.co.nz.

Comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io.

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Access Matters  Episode 6: Practical Access with Anthony Corona 

What causes someone to strive for greater access to the community? For Florida Council of the Blind’s Governmental Affairs Chair, Anthony Corona it comes down to listening from the human heart. This native New Yorker and former AP East Coast Entertainment Editor shares his story and how he works toward more extensive access in the Miami area. Continuing the theme of practical access, Everette Bacon demonstrates how one feature of an app can provide security through access to visual information. 

Listen to Anthony on ACB Radio Sunday Edition, https://www.acbmedia.org/category/se/, email sundayeditionac@gmail.com. You can also catch him on the Pride Connection and Take 2 Radio Soaps podcasts. , 

Learn more about visual interpreting at https://aira.io. 

Have questions or comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. 

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Access Matters  Episode 5 Access on Target with Steve Decker 

“Accessibility shouldn’t just be a box you check. It should be cool.” … Steve Decker 

Shopping,  whether it’s on-line or in a store, involves many factors when it comes to access. Target was one of Aira’s initial national retail partners with nearly 2000 locations and  400,000 team members throughout the US, plus their web site and mobile apps. Target’s Senior Manager of Accessibility, Steve Decker, talks about how his team has built inclusion through accessibility into the Fortune-50 retailer’s offerings. Jenine will take a look at how access to retail services happens, and as always, she’ll have thoughts. 

To learn more about Target’s accessibility efforts, visit https://target.com/accessibility. Share your experiences with Target both in-store and on-line at accessibility@target.com 

Questions or comments? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. 

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Episode 4: From Acting to Accessibility

Everette Bacon joins Aira as our Vice President of Blindness Initiatives. In this episode Jenine talks with him about his journey and what access means to him. We’ll also contemplate what it means to both be an actor regarding one’s disability and designing systems that don’t force people to “act”. 

Everette Bacon can be reached at everette@aira.io. 

Learn more about visual interpreting on our web site, http://aira.io. Episode Notes

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Access Matters  Episode 3: Business Travel and More! Are You in?

In this episode we continue to talk about travel, this time in the context of employment with Jeff Wissel, Chief Accessibility Officer with DisabilityIn. From the Disability Equality Index to the Procure Access initiative, over 450 corporations are involved with a vast range of DEI&A resources. Jenine and Jeff discuss disclosure and how it’s played a role in their personal journeys. Jeff also talks about   their upcoming conference. For more information about any of these resources, visit http://disabilityin.org. You can contact Jeff at accessibility@disabilityin.org.

Follow the hash tag #AreYouIn to keep up with events and more with DisabilityIN. 

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

Episode 2 Accessing the Magic of Flight 

In this episode Jenine talks with Michael Hingson, technology evangelist and blind traveler about his airport experiences. Then, what happens when over 3000 blind and low vision people and their families come to a city? Facilities like the Houston Airport System are ready! Jenine talks with Tambre` Moten, who leads ADA initiatives and innovation for the Aviation Risk and Regulatory Compliance Division of Houston Airports

Resources 

Learn more about Mike Hingson at http://michaelhingson.com.

Learn about the accommodations, features and special events in the Houston Airport System and contact Tambre` Motan for disability accommodations at https://www.fly2houston.com/

Information about the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, Department of Transportation can be found at https://www.transportation.gov › disabilitybillofrights

Contact us: accessmatters@aira.io. 

Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

IN this first episode of Access Matters we talk with Clark Rachfal, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs with the American Council of the Blind and Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind about just “Why does access matter.” 

Resources:  American Council of the Blind, http://acb.org ACB Media, http://acbmedia.org  advocacy@acb.org 

National Federation of the Blind, http://nfb.org  NFB convention, http://nfb.org/convention 

“Bridging Another Digital Divide, Accessibility for Blind and Low Vision Consumers https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/bridging-another-digital-divide-accessibility-for-blind-and-low-vision-consumers

Accenture Disability Inclusion Research Report  https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/pdf-89/accenture-disability-inclusion-research-report.pdf

Learn more about visual interpreting at http://www.aira.io. Contact us at accessmatters@aira.io

https://youtu.be/BBJnH7kyM0k