In our last episode, we featured an interview with Jonathan Mosen, learning about his life in New Zealand. Today, we continue the conversation with an interview recorded in the spring of 2025, focusing on Jonathan’s new role with the National Federation of the Blind. We’ll hear about what it was like for Jonathan to move to the United States, the challenges that came with that transition, and the recognition he has received, including awards from both the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. Jonathan also reminds us of the importance of advocacy, especially in these times, saying: “People who are using all this accessible technology, people who are taking advantage of the environment in which blind Americans enjoy a lot of hard-won victories, you can lose them just as readily. And they will be lost unless we continue to organize and advocate and articulate the value that blind people bring.” Interviewer and Producer: Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In today’s episode, we begin a two-part interview with Jonathan Mosen, an advocate, technology professional, internet radio broadcaster, and podcaster. In this first part, originally recorded in 2022, we get to know Jonathan by hearing about his experiences growing up in New Zealand, his time at the school for the blind, and his work with two of the leading blindness technology companies, HumanWare and Freedom Scientific. We also explore Jonathan’s determination to make opportunities happen, including his strong desire to work in the radio field. As Jonathan recalls: “We used to have, at the Foundation for the Blind as it was called then, these career counselors, and one of them told me that radio was not a career that was viable for blind people anymore, and this is the ’80s, because radio was becoming a lot more computerized and the computer technology wasn’t accessible. And so I refused to accept this. I really wanted to work in radio, and I thought I could do a good job. So I decided that I would just have to make it happen for myself.” We’ll also hear this key piece of advice from Jonathan: “The one opportunity you definitely won’t get is the opportunity that you don’t go for.” Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll hear about the changes in Jonathan’s life since this interview was recorded, including his new role with the National Federation of the Blind. Interviewer: Robert Evans Produced and edited by: Cameron Scott and Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

From audio games and backend coding to advancing accessibility at one of the world’s largest tech companies, our guest, Michael Forzano, has built an impressive and impactful career. Growing up in Yonkers, New York, Michael’s parents noticed early on that his eyes were not responding as expected. A visit to the eye doctor led to a diagnosis of Norrie disease. Despite this, Michael quickly discovered a passion that would shape his future: computers. “I had really been interested in computers from an early age. I started using JAWS when I was, like, seven years old. I just gravitated towards it when I realized that there was something that I could do with it.” That early interest grew into a career in software engineering. Michael went on to develop audio games and eventually became a senior developer on the accessibility team at Amazon. Reflecting on his work, Michael shared, “What really draws me to programming today is the fact that I can build something and put it out into the world and have other people use it, it’s just amazing.” In this episode, we explore Michael’s journey into software engineering, his involvement with the National Federation of the Blind, his love of travel and his experience riding in a self-driving car. Interview and Voiceovers: Syed Safoola Post-production and Mixing: Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

A world where everyone with a disability is gainfully employed, that is the vision of Mike Hess, founder of the Blind Institute of Technology. Mike first learned about his vision loss in first grade during a school eye exam. When he was unable to see the balloons on the chart, he was referred to the Cleveland Clinic, where he was diagnosed with macular degeneration and told he would likely lose his vision by age 18. At the time, he didn’t fully understand what that meant, only what his mother told him: “It just means you’re going to be special, son.” Mike later found his path in technology while attending community college in Denver, where he participated in a computer training program for people with disabilities. He went on to work for several Fortune 500 companies, where he began to recognize the disability community as a largely untapped talent pool. This realization ultimately led him to found the Blind Institute of Technology, an organization dedicated to connecting talented individuals with disabilities to meaningful careers in tech. Join us as we get to know Mike, explore his educational journey, and hear the story behind the founding of BIT and the impact it continues to make today. As Mike said in the episode, “Let’s open up more doors for this amazing talent pool.” Links: BIT Website Interviewer: Khayree Lofton Edited by Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

From navigating vision loss in childhood to leading in the field of digital accessibility, James Warnken has built a career centered on education and inclusion. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, James was diagnosed at age nine with Stargardt's disease. His early education was marked by inconsistent accommodations and a lack of understanding from educators, often requiring him to advocate for his own needs in ways that proved exhausting. These challenges shaped his experience in school, and, at times, limited his engagement. Everything changed when James entered college. For the first time, he encountered a system that actively supported his success. Originally drawn to marketing, he discovered digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), setting the foundation for his career. Today, James serves as an instructor with the Blind Institute of Technology, where he teaches a digital accessibility course designed to prepare professionals with disabilities for careers in a rapidly growing field. In addition to teaching, he works in accessibility consulting, trains organizations, mentors apprentices, and advocates for more inclusive digital experiences. Join us as we explore James’s journey, from education challenges to building his own business and empowering others with disabilities to succeed in the workforce. On accessibility, James says, “it really isn't hard. It really doesn't cost a bunch of extra money when you approach it the right way. And the right way is doing it all the time, making it just a normal part of doing business, from planning to research, design, development, to launch.” Interviewer: Syed Safoola Edited by Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

In this episode, we feature the story of Brett Lewis, a digital accessibility leader and Paralympic athlete.  Today, Brett works for Freedom Scientific as a software engineer and product owner. He has also worked for Twitter, making sure the website was accessible for the disability community.  Brett lost his vision at age six and left his local elementary school to attend a resource school. That summer, his mother attended classes for teaching blind students, enabling  him to return to his local school and be mainstreamed. Reflecting on this part of his educational journey, Brett shared "I think having to go to my local school in many ways kept me from being too isolated. Maybe, as I said, helped shape a lot of my expectations for what I needed to do as I grew up." In the 1980s, Brett attended Stanford University, earning a bachelor's degree in math and computational science and a master's degree in engineering economic systems. This opened the door to software development, leading Brett to work for NADO,  Freedom Scientific and Twitter.  In addition to his work in the accessibility field, Brett is also a professional judo competitor, competing internationally at the Paralympics and World Championships. He has taken his love for judo to a new level as a  sensei, teaching judo to others.  Join us to hear about what it is like to work for Freedom Scientific, stories of judo matches, and tips about blindness along the way.  You can contact Brett using the following social links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-lewis-judo/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/brettlewisjudo.bsky.social Twitter: https://x.com/BrettLewisJudo This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Are you curious about the work of a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), the history of blindness education, or how technology supports learning for blind students? If so, this episode of Vision Towards Success is for you. Eileen Curran is a seasoned TVI with decades of experience in the field. “I was born with cataracts,” she explains. "I am one of six kids. Three of us were born with cataracts. Way back when I was born, they didn't have a good, solid procedure for dealing with congenital cataracts. So, due to the surgeries that I had and everything, I was left legally blind, where I have vision in one eye and nothing in the other. And in the one eye that I do see out of, it's about 20/200. So it's good usable vision that has been very stable throughout the years.”  Eileen earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in education from Boston College and went on to become a certified TVI. She spent 24 years at National Braille Press, where she held a variety of roles and authored several books, including Just Enough to Know Better and two Braille puzzle books. Her career has also included time at the Carroll Center for the Blind and as a TVI with Boston Public Schools. In this episode, we explore Eileen’s journey growing up with blind siblings, attending public school, and eventually finding her path as an educator. We’ll also dive into her work as an assistive technology instructor and her experiences as a published author. Along the way, we’ll discover what makes Eileen a successful teacher. Interviewer: Steven Smith Produced and edited by: Cullen Gallagher This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Satauna Howery Podcast Show Notes Airport announcements, audio description, e-learning—these are just a few of the places where you might hear today’s guest as we explore the power of the human voice. Our guest is Satauna Howery, a blind voiceover artist with over a decade of experience transforming the written word into sound. Satauna introduced herself by saying, “I grew up in Southern California, and I was born blind. I don’t have any sight at all—no light perception, no shadows, no color, no anything.” Despite this, she pursued her passions from an early age. As a child, Satauna discovered her love of music. She learned to play the piano, performed at charity events, and later expanded her musical repertoire with a drum machine and synthesizer. Her journey took a pivotal turn as a teenager when she gained access to the equipment she needed to learn and record her own content. In this episode, you’ll learn all about the voiceover field from someone who has navigated it with talent and determination. Satauna shares how she got her start in voice and music recording, offers insights on networking and self-promotion, and discusses how she overcomes accessibility challenges like accessing scripts. You’ll also pick up valuable tips along the way, including this essential piece of advice for any blind professional: “Know your screen reader!” Links: Satauna’s Website Interviewer: Cameron Scott Edited by Cullen Gallagher. This podcast is powered by Pinecast.