AFB Possibilities

Welcome to another episode of the AFB Possibilities Podcast. To mark Vocational Rehabilitation awareness week, which spans June 9th - 13th, AFB’s Tony Stephens sat down for an engaging conversation with Dr. Randy Pierce of Future Insight and Russell Martello from Visions to discuss the benefits around holistic approaches to rehabilitation.  Tony, Randy, and Russell met through the annual Vision Serve Alliance Conference this past April, where they spearheaded a track on holistic rehabilitation for people who are blind or low vision. At the end of the conference, they were committed to carrying on the conversations from the conference. So, Tony was excited they were able to join him to not only share their passion for this innovative approach to fostering independence, but we also get a sense of the rich history each guest has, which has helped form their own success in the field of blindness and low vision. Russel serves as the Chief Development Officer for Visions [https://www.visionsvcb.org], which is one of New York’s leading rehabilitation centers for people who are blind or have low vision. Randy serves as President & CEO of Future Insight [https://www.futureinsight.org], one of the leading rehabilitation centers in New Hampshire. Blinded in his early 20s, Randy is also an avid extreme outdoor enthusiast. You can learn more about his own adventures across the globe in his published memoir, See You at the Summit: My blind journey from the depths of loss to the heights of achievement. AFB POSSIBILITIES IS A PODCAST FROM THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB [https://www.afb.org]. CHECK OUT THE PODCAST PAGE FOR PAST EPISODES AND TRANSCRIPTS HERE [https://afb.org/news-publications/media/afb-possibilities-podcast]. BE SURE TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO CATCH FUTURE EPISODES, AND CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT TODAY TO HELP SUPPORT THIS PODCAST AND OUR BROADER WORK TO CREATE A WORLD OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

Spring has sprung, and so has a new season for the AFB Possibilities Podcast. As we kick-off this season, we’ll be focusing in on AFB’s Award winning documentary film Possibilities, which presents an authentic portrayal of life today for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. The film was awarded this past weekend the Broader Vision Documentary Award at the Garden State Film Festival, and we’re excited to share with you one of the featured voices in the film, New Jersey’s own Krystal Allen. Recorded in 2024, AFB’s own Melody Goodspeed joined Krystal for a conversation on the challenges people face when striving for independence, and the joys of shared experiences that blind people share across the world. Haling from Newark, New Jersey, Krystal is a leading community voice for people with vision loss and founded the nonprofit EyesLikeMine [https://www.eyeslikemine.org], which is rooted in the firm belief that “Vision loss doesn’t break us, it builds…” She shares her own story and the work underway in North Jersey to breakdown misconceptions of blindness. A past fellow with AFB's Blind Leaders Development Program, she stresses the importance of mentoring and finding those pathways that open doors to independence. Formally the Inform & Connect podcast, the AFB Possibilities Podcast captures the real life experiences of people who are blind or have low vision and those working to make our world more inclusive and accessible. A production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), listeners can learn more about the work of AFB by visiting www.afb.org [https://www.afb.org].  Be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast and consider supporting our work by making a tax-deductible gift [https://www.afb.org/donate] to AFB. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

IN THIS EPISODE, YOUR HOST MELODY GOODSPEED SITS DOWN WITH THE AUDIO DESCRIPTION TEAM FOR THE AFB DOCUMENTARY FILM POSSIBILITIES [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28627309/#] (2024). SHE’S JOINED BY AD PRODUCER ROY SAMUELSON, AD WRITER COLLEEN CONNOR, AD QC SPECIALIST SERINA GILBERT,AD PERFORMER SAUTANA HOWERY, AND AD WRITER BRIDGET MELTON. THE TEAM SHARES THE UNIQUE APPROACH THEY TOOK TOWARD CREATING OPEN AUDIO DESCRIPTION FOR THE FILM, AS WELL AS OFFER A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE AUDIO DESCRIPTION CRAFT AND THE WORK IT TAKES TO MAKE COMPELLING AUDIO DESCRIPTION. AFB Possibilities is a production of the American Foundation for the blind, a podcast that focuses on life, culture, and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision. AFB Possibilities is produced and edited by Tony Stephens at the Pickle Factory in Baltimore, MD with digital media support by Kelly Gasque and Breanna Kerr. The theme music is by Zizo, compliments of ArtList.IO [http://ArtList.IO].. To learn more about AFB, or to help support our work, visit www.afb.org [https://www.afb.org]. Be sure to like and subscribe, and you can visit the podcast page at: https://afb.org/news-publications/media/afb-possibilities-podcast [https://afb.org/news-publications/media/afb-possibilities-podcast] This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

WELCOME TO THE AFB POSSIBILITIES PODCAST. IN THIS FIRST EPISODE OF THE NEWLY REBRANDED PODCAST FROM THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND (AFB), WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU A SPECIAL INTERVIEW DURING THIS SEASON OF GIVING WITH AFB TRUSTEE TED FRANCAVILLA AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR LIZ UPDIKE. The AFB Possibilities Podcast is a production of the American Foundation for the blind. Previously the Inform and Connect Podcast, we take a deep dive into life, culture, and happenings for those experiencing blindness and low-vision. Melody Goodspeed is the host. And with her faithful guide dog Barney by her side, they travel the country, both literally and virtually, capturing the stories and experiences from the blind and low-vision community. Ted Francavilla has been an active member of the AFB Board of Trustees, shepherding AFB's finances over the years. A retired senior executive with JPMorgan Chase, he's been a passionate advocate for people who are blind or have low vision over the decades, and he recognizes the importance that donors play toward making nonprofit missions move forward. Elizabeth Updike has over 40 years in the business of financial planning and wealth management. Together, she and Ted share best practices and advice for those of retirement age on how they can give smartly and make their money last longer. Like this program? Please like and subscribe, and even consider making a donation to support our work expanding opportunity and creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. Visit www.afb.org [https://www.afb.org] to learn more. Check out the AFB Possibilities podcast page [https://afb.org/news-publications/media/AFB-Possibilities-Podcast] for past episodes and transcripts. Produced and edited by Tony Stephens at the Pickle Factory in Baltimore, Maryland. Digital media support from Kelly Gasque and Breanna Kerr. Questions or comments? Email us at communications@afb.org. This podcast is powered by Pinecast [https://pinecast.com].

Welcome to another episode of the Inform & Connect Podcast, a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). In this episode, AFB’s Melody Goodspeed and Tony Stephens catch up with Spectrum’s Petr Kucheryavyy, who provides a breakdown of what’s new with SpectrumAccess and exciting news on the horizon for consumers of audio described content. As the weather moves us more indoors, what better way to meet the changing seasons than curled up on the couch streaming the latest and greatest flics, or heading out to enjoy the rush of films that move into theaters during the final months of 2023. There’s lots on the horizon around making media more accessible, and Petr shares what’s in store for not just Spectrum subscribers, but anyone who enjoys accessing inclusive media through the SpectrumAccess app. So, before you press pause to cue up your own favorite streaming playlist, be sure to like and subscribe to the Inform & Connect podcast. Inform & Connect is made possible through the generous supporters of the American Foundation for the Blind. Since 1921, AFB has worked to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. Consider making a gift today to AFB! Your contribution not only helps support this podcast, but all the exciting work our team does to bring the best in evidence-based research, advocacy, and programs intended to make our mission a reality. Go to www.afb.org [http://www.afb.org] to learn more about AFB. Transcripts of this podcast are also available on our podcast page for each episode.