Meaghan, Leslie, and George welcome one of their favorite people, Amy Wilson, back to the show. On this episode, Amy returns to tell us about her newly formed organization, Safety Positive Foundation. She fills us in on the foundation's beginnings in March of this year, what they are doing now, and what they hope to accomplish in the future. Amy is the former director of the Safety Education and Empowering Defense program through Strive 4 You. For more information, or to sign up for their weekly newsletter, visit SPF's website.

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Do you have a first aid kit in your home? At work? Do you carry one with you? On this episode, Meaghan, George, and Leslie talk about the importance of having a first aid kit, what to look for when purchasing one, how to make your own, and what items to consider for a variety of situations. And don't forget to include those pets or service animals. You can find a check list for making your own first aid kit from the Red Cross, and here's an example of a first aid kit that can be purchased from Amazon *** Please note the first aid kit listed above is not endorsed by us, but is only meant to be an example of the kind of kits available. When purchasing a kit, choose one that fits your needs or one that can be expanded to fit your needs.

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On this episode, George, Leslie, and Meaghan are thrilled to introduce Aly Slaughter.Aly is an enterprising yoga instructor and world traveler. She has a great story and we can't wait for you to hear it. She also gave us some pretty fantastic travel tips.

After listening to the show, check out Aly's blog

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In part 2 of this 2 part series, Leslie, George, and Meaghan continue their conversation with Braden Flax and Christine Grassman about their rolls, as volunteers with the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team. Braden discusses his interest in web accessibility and their work with the Peaces of Me Foundation, so there can be better communication between the disability community and the web site developers of sites that offer courses in first aid. Christine sheds light on the need for accessible first-aid kits equipment so that blind people have a better chance of helping someone in an emergency, and their work with Accessible pharmacy services to make this a reality.

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Show Description

In part 1 of this 2 part series, George, Leslie, and Meaghan welcome Christine Grassman and Braden Flax to the show to learn about there rolls, as volunteers with the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team. They talk about the accessibility challenges they faced with websites and online trainings, advocating for themselves with the team and discussing how to include people with disabilities in the future.

Resources from this episode

Pacific ADA A site providing ADA resources, webinars, and workshops to help individuals, and state and local agencies when considering accessibility before, during, and after emergencies.

Accessibility, Inc A non-profit in the Washington DC area, providing training programs in first aid, CPR, CNA, and babysitting.

American Red Cross

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Notes go here

On this episode, Meaghan and Leslie continue their discussion of privacy features and introduce some new tech. Meaghan elaborates on the privacy settings for Google Home and Leslie explains the new features of the compass app on the Apple Watch. To learn more about how to use the backtracking features of the compass app, check out Apple's support page on the subject.

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As smart phones and tablets become more advanced and we increase our ability to share not only our information but our location with apps and people, it can be hard to keep track of who has access. When Apple released iOS 16, their latest version, in September, they rolled out a new feature called Safety Check. This not only allows you to see the apps and people who have access to you, it allows you to manage the information shared and even rescind access to all with the touch of a button. On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan demonstrate accessing Safety Check using VoiceOver on an iPhone 12 Pro, running iOS 16, and discuss where to find privacy settings for android users.

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Over the past 25 episodes, we have shared some of our personal stories while bringing you information about safety on a variety of subjects. On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan invited Chad Bouton and Jim Barbour to the show to tell some stories of their own about their experiences while traveling and going about their daily lives.

Resources

ADA Basics for Emergency Management I Have a Service Animal, What Kind of Screening Should I Expect?

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Sailing the seas on a cruise ship can be an enjoyable way to sped a vacation, but is it safe?. George, Leslie, and Meaghan look at the cruise line industry's methods for keeping their passenger's safe as well as the accomodations they have made for people with disabilities.

Articles

Nine Ways for Staying Safe on a Cruise Ship Accessible Cruising: What to Expect A Beginner's Guide to Accessible Cruising Nine Best Ships for Cruiser's with Disabilities

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Meaghan, Leslie, and George follow up on their last episode with information about what to do after a mass shooting. The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, 365-days-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990.

Articles:

The Key to Stopping Mass Shootings How Do You Survive A Mass Shooting

Resources

The Mass Attacks Defense Toolkit Mass Shootings-The Issues

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Headlines about active shooters and mass killings have been prevalent in the media over the last few months. On this episode, George, Leslie, and Meaghan take a look at active shooter protocols for businesses and schools and how they affect people with disabilities.

Resources for this episode:

Active shooter resources from the FBI Run, Hide, Fight Article: “Schools Aren't Preparing Students With Disabilities for Active Shooter Scenarios” From Los Angeles Valley College Guidelines for People With Disabilities in Emergencies Special Education Legal Resources and Relief Society IEPs & Active Shooter Training

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Leslie, George, and Meaghan welcome Sergeant Matthew Floyd, of the Hultton Regional Police in Ontario. Matt joins the team to provide information and tips on how to know if someone claiming to be a police officer is legitimate,what kind of information emergency operators need in order to get the correct assistance to you as quickly as possible, and what kind of information you can give the police when reporting a crime that will help their investigation. Other topics discussed on the show were; why a person with a disability might want to register with the police, and the type of training the police go through to help them provide better service to people with disabilities.

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Notes go here

Meaghan, George, and Leslie welcome Amy Wilson back to the show. Amy is the director of the SEED program and stops by to give the team an update. SEED, which stands for, Safety Education and Empowering Defense, aims to bring safety education courses and self defense classes to the blind community through peer to peer training. Seed is one of three programs which will be offered by the STRIVE organization. For more information on Seed and the other programs offered through STRIVE, check out their website.

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To kick off the new year, George and Leslie (yep, you read that right, Meaghan couldn't make it this time), recount their experiences with air travel, their thoughts about safety with each aspect of a trip, and the products they like to use to make flying easier and safer.

PRODUCTS

511 Tactical cargo pants Scottevest jacket

OTHER RESOURCES

Delta Accessibility Services Article "The Ultimate Guide to Air Travel with a Disability Department of Transportation Passenger Support from Transportation Security Administration Accessibility with Air Canada Blog Post "Useful Travel Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired"

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Following a webinar George gave to the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Fransisco on the same subject, Meaghan, George, and Leslie discuss the pros and cons of carrying personal safety devices. The team will not be recording in December, so look for the next episode on the first Saturday in February. From all of us at Hands on Safety, we hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

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On this episode, George, Leslie, and Meaghan were excited to welcome Steve Baskis to the show. Steve is, among other things, an adventurer, author, speaker, and the host of his own podcast, Baskis360. Steve shared his adventures with the team and discussed some of the safety measures he employs while mountaineering, white water rafting, and participating in other sports. To learn more about Steve's adventures and endeavors, check out his website.

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There’s no place like home, so of course that’s where we want to feel safe. On this episode, Meaghan, George, and Leslie talk about home security from its most basic forms to more expensive options.

Some of the products discussed on the show were:

Video Doorbells

Allow you to see and talk to people at your door and records any activity that triggers them. Ring Video Doorbell Ufy video doorbell

Smart Locks

Allow you to open the door by touching your phone to a sensor and provide entry codes to trusted people. Yale smart lock August smart lock

Other Devices

The Amazon Echo can be set to guard mode so it will alert you when it hears the sound of breaking glass or the smoke alarm. Smart bulbs and smart plugs. Leslie likes the Kasa smart bulbs and Kasa smart plugs from TP Link. Smart thermostats, such as Nest allow you to monitor your home’s temperature and adjust settings from afar. Smart leak detector’s that notify you when a leak is detected. This product was new to the team, so here are some reviews that may be useful.

Home security systems

This was a hot topic, and the accessibility of each system was discussed. Ring Alarm ADT SimpliSafe Brinks Guardian Front Point Vivent

Other resources discussed on the show:

Article: “Benefits of Smart Devices for People Living with Disabilities” Article: “Smart Home Technology Enhancements for the Visually Impaired” Publication: “Smart Homes Made Simple”

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We've enjoyed bringing this show to you over the last year and a half. In that time, we have all had episodes that meant more to us than others. On this episode, George, Leslie, and Meaghan recap their favorite episodes and tell us why those shows were special to them. All the episodes mentioned below are in order of how they were discussed in the show. All the links below are from Spotify, but Hands on Safety can also be found on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts as well.

Meaghans's picks

E2 - calling for Help E9 - Shop Til You Drop E4 - Calm Before the Storm

George's picks

E14 - Make Good Choices E13 - On the Road Again

Leslie's picks

E6 - College Rules E11 -It's the Most Taxable Time of the Year E10 - Do You Consent

Other people's picks

Jim, our gues co-host picked the show he was on. E15 - Have Gun, Might Travel Jason, our theme composer picked every episode with the theme song as his favorite.

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Do you own a gun? Can you own a gun if you are blind? Can you get a concealed carry permit? On this episode, Leslie, George, Meaghan, and Jim welcome TJ Meloy, to tell us about the processes and challenges he went through to buy a gun and get his concealed carry permit as some one who is blind. The team also provides information on how to find both open carry and concealed carry laws for each state and briefly discuss the process for military veterans and retired police officers.

Gun permits are handled by each state's Department of Public Safety. To get information about your state's laws check out the links below. These may not be up-to-date so contacting the DPS in your state is advisable. USA Carry - for each state's gun laws US Concealed Carry Association - for information specific to getting a concealed carry permit Federal Hand Gun Laws - for federal laws and history

And of course, we can't leave out our Canadian friends How to Get a Gun in Canada

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We all want to have a good time when we go out for a night out on the town. We make plans with our friends, fix ourselves up, and maybe even make arrangements to get home when we've had to much to drink; but do we include steps for being safe when we make our pre-party plans? On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan tell us how they stay safe while having a good time and discuss additional tips and tricks to help everyone else stay safe as well.

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Summer is fast approaching and we all know what that means… That’s right! Travel season is here. Leslie, George, and Meaghan discuss staying safe while traveling no matter what mode of transportation you choose. Some of the topics covered are planning your trip, navigating airports, safeguarding documents and identification, hotel rooms, and taking care of service animals. George tells us a little about being interviewed by Nick Isenberg, host of the podcast, “The Tactile Traveler”, about active shooter situations, and we can’t wait to hear it.

For more information on what you might encounter when navigating airport security, visit the TSA’s page for traveler’s with disabilities.

If you are traveling with a service animal, you may find this blog post helpful.

For additional tips from other blind travelers, check out the following links: Tips and Tricks from a Blind Business Traveler Travel Tips for People Who Are Visually Impaired

Travel tips aren’t just for people with disabilities. These 7Essential Travel Safety Tips are also good to know.

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Show Description

Meaghan, George, and Leslie welcome Amy Wilson to the show. Amy is the director of the newly formed SEED program. SEED, which stands for, Safety Education and Empowering Defense, aims to bring safety education courses and self defense classes to the blind community through peer to peer training. Seed is one of three programs which will be offered by the STRIVE organization. For more information on Seed and the other programs offered through STRIVE, check out their website.

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This month, George, Meaghan, and Leslie welcome Brad Martin, a tax preparer for United Way, to the show to discuss the best tips for finding a reputable tax preparer, what can happen if you don’t, and the pros and cons of doing your own taxes.

Don’t feel comfortable doing your own taxes? Here are some resources for finding someone to help you for free. Check out VITA, a free tax prep program through the IRS, call 2-1-1 locally to get in touch with the United Way’s call center to find local tax preparers, or check out the My Free Taxes website to either find a preparer or get assistance while doing your own.

If you do want to do your own taxes, the following resources are useful tools that also work with screen readers for blind users. Tax Slayer Turbo Tax IRS Free File

And finally, if you want to go with a paid preparer, here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you have a reputable person.

A good preparer will… Ask you a lot of questions about your finances Will explain your return and make sure you understand it Give you a copy of your return Charge based on the form used, not a percentage of your return Many other tips can be found on the web. Here is a good place to start. And because we can’t forget our Canadian friends… contact the CRA in Canada to see if there are similar programs in your area.

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Show Description

In the last few months there has been a movement in the blindness community to bring sexual abuse and harassment to light and take steps to put an end to it. On this episode, Leslie, George and Meaghan welcome Laura Millar, a researcher and teacher of sexual health for people with disabilities, and Bobbi Pompey, a living skills instructor at the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Fransisco, to discuss consent and boundaries, not only in relationships but in our everyday interactions as well. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or would like more information, visit RAINN or call 1-800-656-HOPE. To find more information on this movement in the blindness community, search for #marchingtogether on Facebook or visit the Blind Survivors Support Collective on Facebook. The support collective can also be contacted by email at blindsscollective@gmail.com. You can also find more information on the Marching Together movement and the NFB’s Safety and Support task force on their website. To get more information the “Navigating Consent” classes for survivors and transgressors, check out the Navigating Consent website.

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With the holidays fast approaching. Meaghan, George, and Leslie discuss methods for keeping yourself safe while shopping in stores and online. They discuss the added need to be aware of and practice safety protocols during COVID 19 as well as how to look out for such things as; porch pirates who try to steal your packages, online scams, and your social media exposure. For more information about online shopping safety, visit the FBI's 12 Days of Online Safety Tips. If you do become a victim of cyber crime, the FBI asks victims to report cybercrime immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the local FBI office. For tips on protecting your home and yourself during the holidays, check out the Washington Metropolitan Police Department's page.

We would like to take this time to wish a very heartfelt Happy Holidays to all our listeners and we look forward to bringing you more new shows in the new year. We are taking the month of December off, but you can look for our next show to be released on February 6th. Again, Happy Holidays and stay safe.

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Dating is tough enough without adding an extra element of danger. On this episode, George, Meaghan, and Leslie discuss what you need to be aware of to protect yourself in the dating world, specifically when it comes to online dating and managing your online profile. assault and harassment are never acceptable and are never the victim’s fault no matter what you were wearing, drinking, or whom you were with. The National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) and online.rainn.org is here to listen and provide resources, and is anonymous, free, and available 24/7.

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On this episode, Leslie, George, and Meaghan discuss scams; types of scams, how to protect against them, and how to report them. Since they couldn’t possibly cover everything in one show, here is more information on the various types of scams. You can also find information specifically about imposter scams that appear to come from the US government here. This is also a census year in the US, be aware of people impersonating census takers. For more information on what to expect, check out the Census Bureau page.

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Meaghan, George, and Leslie discuss navigating college life, and important safety tips for using ride share services. Some of the most important tips covered in this episode are: limiting distractions while walking at night, letting others know where you are going , signing up for campus security alerts, getting to know your neighbors, and researching your campuses safety resources, such as call boxes and escort services. For a more comprehensive list, check out this article from the college express website. Although use a ride share service such as Uber or Lyft can be a great option for getting home safe, there are some important things to remember when scheduling your ride. Confirm that you are getting in the correct vehicle buy asking your driver's name and who they are there to pick up. Never give them your name or ask, "is your name...?" It is too easy for a impersonator to lie and tell you that's who they are. If you are able to visually confirm the driver by their picture or the make and model of their car, it is always a good habit to get into. We can never stress strongly enough how important it is to let others know where you are or where you are going. If you do get into a vehicle and feel unsafe, you can always share your ride through the ride share app or via text message by sending your location. Never feel ashamed to make up an excuse to get the driver to drop you off in a public place if you feel that you need to get out of the car. This may also be a good time to use some of those safety apps discussed in our second show, "calling for Help" and in Meaghan's review.

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As a follow-up to the previous show, Leslie, Meaghan and George discuss options for continuing to stay safe after the storm or disaster. They talk about issues such as keeping documents safe in various formats and keeping food for as long as possible. The team also discuss ways to let other’s no you are safe, finding local and national resources, and getting counseling. To register with the red cross that you are safe, text “safe” to 78876, or to register and look for people go through the Red Cross’s Safe and Well Center. You can also reach them by calling 1-800-733-2767. Local resources for caregivers, the elderly and people with disabilities can be found through ElderCare or by calling 1-800-677-1116. If you need disaster assistance, you can apply through a local FEMA agency which can be located through FEMA’s disaster assistance finder or by calling their help line at 1-800-621-3362. And to get more information you can find videos covering a variety of disaster topics in FEMA’s media library. And finally, if you need counseling to assist with emotional stress due to a disaster, SAMHSA has a 24/7 crisis hotline which can be accessed in the U.S. by calling 1-800-985-5990 or you can text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. Canadian residence can find assistance here.

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Now that we’re in the midst of hurricane season, Meaghan, George and Leslie discuss what you need to know to make a plan to prepare for dealing with bad weather, and other forms of natural, and man-made disasters. What should be in your packing list? What kind of things should you consider when making your plan?

The team also discussed apps and other resources for getting real-time information during severe weather and other disasters. The American Radio Relay League provides information for finding amateur radio operators, local HAM clubs, and becoming a licensed operator. 5-0 Radio is an app that gives listeners access to local police and fire scanners and HAM Radio repeaters. Downloading the app is free, but there is an option to upgrade for $5.00. The U. S. Federal Emergency Management Administration, FEMA has a wealth of resources on their website which can also be access through their iPhone and android. And finally, the American Red Cross also has apps for iPhone and android for emergencies. It includes links to their entire suite of emergency weather apps and first aid for people and pets.

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George, Meaghan, and Leslie discuss what it means to not only be aware of your surroundings, but aware of your situation as well. Through stories of their own experiences, and the experiences of others, they talk about trusting your instincts, using your senses, and having the right mindset. George describes the Cooper Code, a method he uses to help his students develop their situational mindset before, during and after a situation and talks about evaluating a situation with the 5 W's and how.

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Leslie, George and Meaghan discuss setting up the fastest ways to contact people in the event of an emergency and providing medical information for first responders. Leslie demonstrates setting up Emergency SOS settings in iOS and talks about the settings for the Apple Watch app. George demonstrates adding emergency contacts for android users. The team also discusses setting up medical ID information, fall detection on the Apple Watch and third-party apps. Some of them listed as the Top 5 apps to keep you safe. For more details about the apps discussed, read Meaghan's review.

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Leslie, George and Meaghan introduce themselves and the show. They also discuss statistics about crimes against people with disabilities, topics of future episodes, and [white cane[(https://www.acb.org/whitecane) laws.

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