Welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. In this week's episode, AFB's Aaron and Tony wish everyone a happy Global Accessibility awareness Day (#GAAD), and take a look back at how accessibility has changed over the past 15 years. They then dive into a deeper conversation around the prevalence of isolation for people with disabilities, recognizing the mental health challenges that are often pushed to the sidelines. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and our friends at NAMI have some excellent resources for those struggling with mental health issues and other ways to share your own stories and experiences during #MHAM. Talking through isolation, Aaron and Tony flashback to the pandemic days when the world began to open up over Zoom, which has become a major tool for breaking through the isolation both during and after COVID. The question now is will AI robots become the next solution for that feeling of isolation many may feel in our society, or will it mature into an adolescent bot who sits on the couch watching television and talks snarky to us all the time. For those interested in the Apple update Tony and Aaron discussed at the top of the episode, you can learn more here: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/05/apple-unveils-new-accessibility-features-and-updates-with-apple-intelligence/ Like what you hear? Be sure to subscribe to get the latest episode when it drops, and you can learn more about AccessWorld, including our quarterly online magazine with its 26 years of back issues free and online, by visiting: www.afb.org/aw. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.Read transcript

Welcome back to another episode of the AccessWorld podcast, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility from the American Foundation for the blind (AFB). In this episode, Tony and Aaron unpack the power of AI after Tony’s frustrations with taxi and ride share denials on his way back from the Helen Keller Achievement Awards. They steer their way into the potential behind autonomous vehicles and how AI can be the bridge for greater independence. Aaron then gives a preview of what’s in the upcoming issue of AccessWorld magazine as they break into adaptive sports and Tony gets excited for the 2028 Paralympics. Check out AFB’s latest research on AI’s impact for not just people with disabilities but the broader community. There’s a whole section on transportation, and the AFB team will be releasing a mini-report breaking down transportation even further in the coming weeks.  During their conversation on the rise of driverless cars, Tony references a 2017 study by Ford and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on attitudes around driverless vehicles, offering an interesting take on how perceived attitudes continue to drive AV’s future prospects almost a decade later. And as always, you can visit the AccessWorld page for all the back-issues of AccessWorld magazine for free. Thanks for checking us out, and be sure to like and subscribe. And if you’re so inclined, you can learn more about our work at AFB and even consider making a gift to support us at www.afb.org. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.Read transcript

Welcome back to AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. In this week’s episode, Aaron flies solo, but isn’t alone as he welcomes back Lee Huffman from APH. Lee breaks down some of the exciting new low vision products and discusses ways blind and low vision consumers can get involved and have their voices heard. Check out the below links for more details. Interested in being a part of Monarch RISE or MSPP? Fill out the Monarch Projects Application on our website! https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=CPcnAZSSjkmhc2poUynnP45TXtU6mz5Bg2Hb2Ur-r_1UNFZDRk9VRE8xUERDWENPSVcwTFlWTlVIMyQlQCN0PWcu Each year, APH selects a research focus to guide new product development. This year’s focus is Low Vision Technology, and we want to hear from you about what works, what’s missing, and what needs improvement!  Take a Survey    Vision Professionals Survey – for teachers and professionals who support individuals with low vision https://greatquestion.co/american-printing-house/innl889x Adult Consumers / Parents & Guardians Survey – for adults with low vision and parents of children with low vision   https://greatquestion.co/american-printing-house/d61fkylw Become a Tester of APH Products  https://www.aph.org/blog/how-to-become-a-tester-for-aph-products/ This podcast is powered by Pinecast.Read transcript

In this episode of AccessWorld, Tony and Aaron catch up after CSUN, where Aaron presented on accessible video gaming and had a chance to hit the exhibit floor. From AI to smart glasses, they breakdown some of the exciting tech launching this year and look forward to what’s on the horizon. AccessWorld is a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). An extension of AccessWorld Magazine, a quarterly publication on digital inclusion and accessibility from  AFB, you can check out the current and all 26 years of past issues online for free. Aaron Preece is editor-in-chief of AccessWorld Magazine and Tony Stephens leads communications for AFB. Together, they enjoy meeting up each episode to talk through the latest trends and breakthroughs in access technology. To learn more about AFB, visit www.afb.org and consider making a tax deductible gift to help support our work creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. Learn more at www.afb.org. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.Read transcript

In this episode of Accessworld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility, Aaron and Tony talk with the research team at AFB’s Public Policy and Research Institute on their latest round of research found in the new report released this week: “The AI Quagmire: Benefits, Risks, and Aspirations of AI Through a Disability Lens.” You can access the report at: www.afb.org/AIResearch2. AccessWorld is a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). An extension of AccessWorld Magazine, a quarterly publication on digital inclusion and accessibility from  AFB, you can check out the current and all of our past issues online for free. Aaron Preece is editor-in-chief of AccessWorld Magazine and Tony Stephens leads communications for AFB. Together, they enjoy meeting up each epsiode to talk through the latest trends and breakthroughs in access technology. To learn more about AFB, visit www.afb.org and consider making a tax deductible gift to help support our work creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. This week co-host and AccessWorld Magazine editor-in-chief Aaron Preece gives a preview of his presentation he’ll give this week at the annual CSUN conference in Anaheim, California. The presentation builds off a post Aaron published last October where he reviewed the Wicked Quest video game. The presentation demonstrates how innovations from non-visual games can guide mainstream developers in making video games accessible to blind and low vision players. The session, titled “Game Accessibility 101: Translating Visual Gameplay into Sound,” will take place on Wednesday, March 11th, at 10AM in Grand A/B. For those attending, be sure to stop buy and give a shout-out to Aaron. The AccessWorld podcast is a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). A companion to AccessWorld Magazine, you can check out the latest issue and browse through the entire catalog of past issues at www.afb.org/aw. And, as always, be sure to like and subscribe from wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don’t miss out on the  latest episode when it drops. To learn more about AFB, or to support our work creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision, visit us at www.afb.orgrev.com . This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this episode of AccessWorld, Aaron and Tony break down the latest issue of AccessWorld magazine, which dropped on Feb. 24th. It’s Low Vision Awareness Month, and this issue has a number of articles on Google’s low vision accessibility updates. Aaron also wrote an article on a new accessible RPG game and gives a sneak peek into his upcoming presentation slated for the annual CSUN conference in March. They also bid farewell to hopefully winter’s last blast while looking forward to the audio-described winter Paralympics. Visit www.afb.org/aw for the latest issue of AccessWorld and be sure to like and subscribe from wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this episode of AccessWorld, Tony and Aaron sit down for a conversation with Jamie Dean, senior corporate counsel on Microsoft’s accessibility team. For over a decade, Microsoft has lead the way toward innovating exciting advancements in assistive technology and digital accessibility. Joining Microsoft in 2021, Jamie shares what lead him to Microsoft after 12 years in private practice as an attorney, and how his perspectives as someone with the lived experience of blindness amplifies his passion toward helping to make the world more accessible for all.  In addition to his service as a member of AFB’s Board of Trustees, he also serves as board chair of the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). Follow Jamie on LinkedIn. (Editor’s Note: During our conversation, we give a shout out to Jenny Lay-Flurrie, who lead Microsoft’s accessibility team. Jenny recently was elevated to head Microsoft’s Trusted Technology Group, which includes the accessibility team along with other key teams under Microsoft committed to “upholding the highest standards of trust, safety, and responsible business standards” as Microsoft develops and deploys new technologies. Jamie shares how the collaboration across these teams creates a positive culture that elevates accessibility, and we’re excited to see how new technologies coming out of Microsoft can empower people of all abilities.) Visit the podcast page for past episodes and transcripts. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Welcome back to another episode of AccessWorld, a podcast on digital inclusion and accessibility. In this episode, host Tony Stephens sits down with Matt Ater, senior vice-president for Vispero, a global leader in access technology and digital accessibility. This episode is also cross-posted on the AFB Possibilities podcast for this month, where listeners can also hear in-depth interviews from a diverse range of blind and low-vision voices. Matt's own story was so interesting, we felt it was worth sharing with both audiences. Matt has been forging his path forward in the accessibility biz for over three decades, and we're excited to have the opportunity to sit down with him, hear what got him into the industry, and learn about the great work Vispero is leading as we jump feet first into this new era of high-tech tools. Together, Tony and Matt wax nostalgic over the low-tech of their youth and dream about what's just beyond the horizon. AccessWorld Is a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). In addition to the podcast, fans of digital inclusion and accessibility can check out AccessWorld magazine, a quarterly e-zine published by AFB. Alongside his co-host Aaron Preece, editor-in-chief of AccessWorld magazine, Tony and Aaron take time to talk about what's new in access tech and digital accessibility. Be sure to like and subscribe to AccessWorld from wherever you get your podcasts, and you can read the latest issue of the e-zine along with all of its back issues at: www.afb.org/aw. You can CLICK HERE to also check out the podcast page for past episodes. To learn more about AFB, visit us online at www.afb.org and consider making a tax deductible gift to help support our work creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

This episode is a repost from episode #14 and is an interview with AW founder Deborah Kendrick. As we wrap up our 25th anniversary celebration of AccessWorld Magazine, we wanted to repost this special episode where Deborah shares the creation of AW. And if you're trying to spend those holiday gift cards, check out Deborah's annual gift guide in our most recent issue. Visitors can also walk down memory lane as we have all 25 years of back-issues available for free. Visit: https://www.afb.org/aw. Be sure to like and subscribe to AccessWorld via your favorite podcast app and feel free to leave us a comment. To learn more about AFB or to consider making a gift to support our work, visit: https://www.afb.org. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.