Access Information News for Monday, November 2, 2026 – Volume 1091

Will Hannah Be A “Married Single Mom”? | Squirmy and Grubs | YouTube.com | October 30, 2026

Addressing recurring claims that Hannah could become a “married single mom,” Shane and Hannah Burcaw examine the assumptions behind the label and what it suggests about their relationship. The conversation places caregiving, partnership, and public perceptions of interabled marriage in sharper context.

Your Voice Is a Strategic Advantage: Personal Branding, Podcasting and Web Presence for Blind Professionals. Free Workshop with Dr. Kirk Adams and Aaron Di Blasi, Dec. 16, 7 pm CT, on Zoom. Register Today! | Blind Professionals Network

Most blind professionals are judged before they are known. This free ninety-minute workshop is about changing that order.

Dr. Kirk Adams opens with why a personal brand is evidence rather than self-promotion, and answers the objection he hears most often: that you have nothing to say. Aaron Di Blasi, PMP, then gives you the build order, five pillars in sequence, because each one depends on the one before it: your domain, your logo, your tagline, your website and your email at that same domain.

Only then does the session turn to social media, newsletters, press releases and video, and to the part almost nobody teaches, which is that publishing is the easy half and being read is the hard half. You will draft a Personal Brand Kit during the session and leave with your own domain, logo brief, tagline, website plan and email address.

December 16, 2026
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Central Time, which is 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm Eastern
Register Today!

The workshop is hosted by the Blind Professionals Network and is open to everyone; BPN membership is not required to attend, and registration takes a minute. You can also read the full announcement for the running order and what attendees take away.

👉 Submit a news article for free here, with timing and placement determined by our editors.

👉 Submit a Sponsored News Article here, with timing and placement determined by you.

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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked News Articles From Last Week 📊️

A.) What It’s Really Like To Be Deafblind And Graduate From Harvard Law School Ft. Haben Girma | Molly Burke | YouTube.com | October 23, 2026

Conversing with disability rights lawyer and author Haben Girma, Molly Burke traces Girma’s path through education, isolation, and the barriers that made Harvard Law School harder to access. Their exchange examines Braille-based communication technology, guide-dog travel, workplace discrimination, and why independence must include the freedom to rely on support.

B.) Parents Say Special Ed Students Being Taught in Stairwells, Classrooms With Asbestos | NBCChicago.com | October 21, 2026

Parents at Prescott Elementary School in Chicago’s Lincoln Park say special education students are receiving instruction in offices, hallways, storage rooms, stairwells and classrooms with asbestos. Parent Ana Ribeiro says the spaces were reduced for music and dance rooms; Illinois health officials confirm an open asbestos investigation, while CPS says all instructional areas are safe.

C.) I Shouldn’t Have Went To Oktoberfest… (Here’s Why) | Legally Blind No Limits | YouTube.com | October 23, 2026

Reacting to his first Oktoberfest in the Dominican Republic, Legally Blind No Limits navigates the packed festival and shares the experience from a legally blind perspective. The outing tracks the crowd challenges, local craft beers, festival atmosphere, and the costs behind the celebration.

D.) Getting Ready For Our Baby! | Squirmy and Grubs | YouTube.com | October 22, 2026

As Hannah’s pregnancy enters its final months, Shane and Hannah Burcaw walk through the practical preparations shaping their transition to parenthood, starting with learning the mechanics of a car seat. The episode also spotlights the accessibility considerations involved in family travel, including their wheelchair-accessible Toyota Sienna.

E.) Curb to Cabin Canada Episode #1: Interview With Steve Dawson, Senior Operations Manager, Fnyx Aviation Services | DonnaJodhan.com | October 20, 2026

Toronto Pearson handles more than 4,000 wheelchairs a day, says Steve Dawson, senior operations manager at Fnyx Aviation Services, in Donna J. Jodhan’s inaugural Curb to Cabin Canada interview. Dawson says Fnyx assists 27 airlines, trains agents to ask blind travelers how they want help, and faces rising demand alongside terminal-space and training constraints.

October 31, 2026 📅️

2.) New Sign Language Video Service Launched in Pharmacies | NewsSTV.tv | October 31, 2026

Scotland has launched a six-month Contact Scotland BSL Video Remote Interpreting pilot in pharmacies. The free, no-booking service connects British Sign Language users to interpreters via smartphone for Pharmacy First consultations on minor illnesses, including colds, coughs and flu.

October 30, 2026 📅️

3.) When Scammers Take Aim at Persons With Disabilities – Beware of These 2 Imposters | BarrierFreeCanada.org | October 30, 2026

Barrier Free Canada warns that fraudsters increasingly target seniors and people with disabilities by impersonating benefit agencies, banks, service providers and family members. The post says threats involving suspended benefits and demands for urgent verification exploit accessibility barriers, financial insecurity and reliance on essential services, and calls for accessible prevention and reporting.

4.) Mike “The Situation” On Jersey Shore, Sobriety & His Incredible Second Act | Sean Callagy | YouTube.com | October 30, 2026

Sitting down with Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Sean Callagy traces the reality star’s path from addiction and incarceration to sustained sobriety, family life, and service. Sorrentino explains how he redirected the obsessive drive behind his destructive years into personal development and a plan to expand recovery treatment centers across all 50 states.

5.) What It’s Really Like To Refuse Treatment For Your Blindness… Ft. Lachi | Molly Burke | YouTube.com | October 30, 2026

Sitting down with Lachi, Molly Burke examines the artist’s path from concealing low vision to embracing blindness, accessibility, and a fuller public identity. Their conversation tracks Lachi’s Glam Canes, her work with RAMPD to push music-industry access, and her rejection of the idea that disabled people must wait for a cure before living fully.

6.) Will Hannah Be A “Married Single Mom”? | Squirmy and Grubs | YouTube.com | October 30, 2026

Addressing recurring claims that Hannah could become a “married single mom,” Shane and Hannah Burcaw examine the assumptions behind the label and what it suggests about their relationship. The conversation places caregiving, partnership, and public perceptions of interabled marriage in sharper context.

7.) HHS Final Rule Amends Section 504 Regulations to Codify Statutory Exclusions From the Definition of Disability | HHS.gov | October 30, 2026

HHS finalized a rule adding Section 504’s statutory exclusions to 45 C.F.R. 84.4(g), stating that gender dysphoria not resulting from physical impairments is not a disability under the Rehabilitation Act for HHS-funded programs. OCR said the rule resolves ambiguity left by the 2024 final rule; HHS received more than 380 comments on the December 2025 proposal.

8.) How Moving Civil Rights Enforcement Out of the US Department of Education Threatens Students’ Protections From Race, Sex and Disability Discrimination | TheConversation.com | October 30, 2026

Under a June 2026 interagency agreement, the Trump administration plans to move most Education Department Office for Civil Rights enforcement to the DOJ. Former Education officials Bridget Joyce and Kimberly Robinson warn DOJ’s Educational Opportunities Section, which had about 40 lawyers in January 2025, cannot absorb OCR’s 22,687 annual complaints or guarantee review.

9.) Union Calls Out ‘Reprehensible’ Disability Support Cuts | BegaDistrictNews.com.au | October 30, 2026

Victorian government schools will see the Disability Inclusion program cut 2.5%, with support for 7,000 students halted for two years from Term 1. Australian Education Union Victorian president Justin Mullally says the changes amount to hundreds of millions in cuts; Education Minister Gabrielle Williams says funding must remain sustainable.

10.) The Social Security Administration Is Changing the Criteria for Disability Due to Cardiovascular Diseases in the United States Starting Today | CiberCuba.com | October 30, 2026

The US Social Security Administration began using revised cardiovascular disability criteria on October 30, 2026, covering new SSDI and SSI applications, pending claims, and applicable continuing-disability reviews. New dedicated listings cover aortic valve disease, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac graft vasculopathy, but diagnosis alone does not establish eligibility.

11.) He’s Traveled the World in a Wheelchair, Inspiring Millions | CNN.com | October 30, 2026

Cory Lee, 36, has reached 56 countries and all seven continents using a 400-pound power wheelchair, despite airline transfers, inaccessible restrooms and repeated equipment damage. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 2, Lee runs Curb Free with Cory Lee and co-founded a 2022 nonprofit that provides travel grants to wheelchair users.

12.) He Was Diagnosed With Autism at 3. His Parents Spent Years Sensing Doctors Were Missing Something | DisabilityScoop.com | October 30, 2026

Owen Johnson’s updated genetic result linked his autism and developmental symptoms to a rare ITSN1 variant after initial 2021 testing found no explanation. Texas Children’s researcher Ryan Dhindsa says ITSN1 variants raise Parkinson’s risk tenfold; his lab is following roughly 20 families and using reprogrammed cells and mice to map the syndrome.

13.) Nationwide Challenge Encourages Community Gardens to Enhance Accessibility, Inclusion | DisabilityScoop.com | October 30, 2026

The HHS Administration for Community Living selected 70 teams in its Cultivating Connected Communities Prize Challenge, a national effort to make community gardens more accessible to people with disabilities and older adults. Phase 1 winners receive $4,000 and can compete for another $8,000 to implement ideas such as modified raised beds, adaptive tools and inclusion programs.

October 29, 2026 📅️

14.) Remarkable World Commentary Episode #120: Interview With Hayley, Founder, Tactile Map Accessibility Project | DonnaJodhan.com | October 29, 2026

Fifteen-year-old UK advocate Hayley Zia describes the Tactile Map Accessibility Project, a free design and toolkit for accessible toilets that combines braille labels, tactile layouts and QR-code audio guides. In Donna J. Jodhan’s Episode 120 interview, Hayley says her petition has reached about 1,044 signatures; her school has installed the first maps, and she plans to approach Surrey County Council.

15.) Hadley’s Support – You Don’t Have To Figure It Out Alone | Hadley | YouTube.com | October 29, 2026

Addressing the uncertainty that can accompany changing sight, Hadley outlines how its team helps people identify practical next steps and emotional support. The discussion underscores that services are free and available both to people experiencing vision loss and to those supporting them.

16.) “Medically Frail” Medicaid Enrollees Won’t Have to Prove Their Inability to Work to Keep Coverage | Stateline.org | October 29, 2026

A federal judge in Boston blocked the Trump administration’s requirement that disabled or chronically ill Medicaid recipients prove they cannot work to receive a medically frail exemption. The ruling preserves the underlying 80-hours-a-month work mandate while upholding a 12-month limit on medical evidence and one self-attestation per enrollment period.

17.) Budget Extends the Agony, As Disabled People Face Further Wait for Labour’s Decisions on Benefit Cuts | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 29, 2026

Chancellor John Healey deferred Labour’s decisions on PIP and out-of-work disability benefits until the Timms and Milburn reviews are published in November, with a white paper and legislation planned for next year. The budget offers a 100-pound energy payment for eligible English households and a carer’s allowance taper, while OBR forecasts social-security spending at 11.2% of GDP through 2030-31.

18.) Disabled People Praise Shocking TV Care Home Experiment That Mirrors Nazi Rhetoric | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 29, 2026

Channel 4’s The Experiment, directed by disabled filmmaker Richard Butchins and featuring Sophie Morgan and Mat Fraser, uses a fake care home to trace modern arguments about disability costs and segregation to Nazi Germany’s Aktion T4 program. Disability Rights UK praised its parallels with current rhetoric, while activist Simone Aspis said the format trivialized the issue.

19.) PIP Review Member Delivers Powerful Rebuttal to Research by Colleague That Called for Cuts to Child DLA | DisabilityNewsService.com | October 29, 2026

Phil Stevens, chief executive of Disability Action Haringey and a member of the PIP review steering group, co-wrote a rebuttal to Jean-Andre Prager’s proposed cuts to child DLA. Prager’s Policy Exchange research note sought to restrict eligibility for three fast-growing mental health conditions, claiming savings of GBP11.9 billion over four years.

20.) Supreme Court to Hear Case With Big Implications for Disability Rights | DisabilityScoop.com | October 29, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a challenge to Colorado’s universal preschool rules requiring participating private religious schools to avoid discrimination. Disability advocates warn that accepting the schools’ claim could recast IEP-linked services, accommodations and accessibility measures as discrimination against students without disabilities; a ruling is expected next year.

21.) Mapping Disabled Americans’ Access to Democracy: Colorado | AmericanProgress.org | October 29, 2026

Colorado earned a 4.1 out of 5 overall voting-accessibility score in the Center for American Progress Accessible Democracy Tracker, versus 3.3 nationally. Its 4.7 ADA-compliance score led five categories, while registration, at 3.2, was the state’s lowest and a target for disability-focused outreach.

22.) Mapping Disabled Americans’ Access to Democracy: Pennsylvania | AmericanProgress.org | October 29, 2026

Pennsylvania scored 3.8 out of 5 for voting accessibility in the Center for American Progress’ Accessible Democracy Tracker, above the national 3.3 average, but earned just 2.8 for in-person voting. CAP points to House Bill 1396, which would expand considerations for early voting sites and require ballot drop boxes, as a potential response to transportation and access barriers.

23.) Mapping Disabled Americans’ Access to Democracy: Ohio | AmericanProgress.org | October 29, 2026

Center for American Progress’ Accessible Democracy Tracker gives Ohio an overall voting-accessibility score of 2.9 out of 5, versus 3.3 nationally, with voter registration scoring just 1.7. The fact sheet points to HB 470’s proposed automatic voter registration and identifies accessible curbside signage, poll-worker training, and additional ballot drop boxes as improvements.

24.) Outreach, Education Key to Voting Accessibility, Wisconsin Advocates Say | WisconsinWatch.org | October 29, 2026

Wisconsin’s 11.7% turnout gap between voters with and without disabilities ranks among the nation’s largest, according to Rutgers University’s analysis of 2022 data. Disability Rights Wisconsin’s Lisa Hassenstab says outreach and implementation remain hurdles as an August ruling found the state’s absentee ballot violates the ADA; ExpressVote machines offer electronic marking, enlarged print, and screen readers.

25.) Voting Rights Are Disability Rights: Confronting Barriers to Accessible Democracy | NewAmerica.org | October 29, 2026

Disabled voters face a fragmented system of 10,500 election jurisdictions, shrinking federal election funding, and proposed ID rules that could disproportionately burden the 20 percent of disabled Americans without driver’s licenses. Panelists at New America’s Power at the Polls event called for federal accessibility standards, privacy-by-default voting systems, remote voting options, and curbside voting.

26.) Worker Alleges Tesla Invented Her Disability – Then Fired Her Over It | HCAMag.com | October 29, 2026

Tesla faces a Nevada lawsuit from a former Gigafactory production associate who alleges the company treated a 2022 chemical burn as a disability she did not have, placed her on unpaid leave, and fired her in January 2024. The complaint says the EEOC issued a March 3, 2026 reasonable-cause finding; Tesla has not had the allegations tested in court.

27.) Disability Welcome Group Launches National Consultation Into Church Accessibility | ChurchInWales.org.uk | October 29, 2026

The Church in Wales has opened a national consultation on accessibility, seeking input from disabled people, carers and people with relevant professional experience. A disabled-majority Delivery Group, formed after Governing Body backing in April 2026, will use responses to guide policy, worship, information, funding and local-church resources.

28.) Youth-Led Accessibility Innovation Takes the Grand Prize at Tech4City 2026 | GovInsider.asia | October 29, 2026

Sunday, a voice-first AI accessibility platform built with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped, won S$16,000 at Huawei’s Tech4City 2026 in Singapore. The student team’s app lets people with visual and motor impairments operate any smartphone app in natural language; testing with about 73 users yielded 45 percent more tasks completed independently and cut completion time from 20 to five minutes.

29.) People With ADHD Entitled to a Third off Their Train Travel | TheTimes.com | October 29, 2026

Broadened eligibility criteria for the UK’s Disabled Persons Railcard now include neurodivergence as a qualifying condition, meaning people with ADHD are entitled to a one-third discount on rail travel. More than 450,000 people already hold the railcard, which offers the fare reduction to eligible passengers.

30.) Deribasovskaya in a Wheelchair: An Accessibility Test | Intent.press | October 29, 2026

Odesa accessibility ambassador Oleg Sokolov tested the Soborna Square-to-Deribasovskaya route and found improved curb cuts but missing tactile paving, steep ramps and businesses blocked by stairs. League of the Strong’s Oksana Kondratyuk says only 23.3% of more than 1,300 monitored pharmacies were barrier-free.

31.) Handi-Link: Goalball, Employment, Thrive | Cam Wells | CJAM 99.1 FM | October 29, 2026

This program focuses on disability issues. Host Cam Wells will explore all sides of this comparing and contrasting with able bodied life. This week Featuring: Jeff Tiessen Thrive Magazine. Sean Wiltshire Avalon Employment. Peter Parsons Goalball Coach.

October 28, 2026 📅️

32.) Curb to Cabin Canada Episode #2: Interview With Devin Glim, Staff Lawyer, and Patrick Robitaille, Clinic Placement, ARCH Disability Law Centre | DonnaJodhan.com | October 28, 2026

ARCH Disability Law Centre’s Devin Glim and clinic student Patrick Robitaille say Canada’s accessible-transport rules set a minimum floor: blind passengers’ stated assistance needs should be respected, and airlines and airports remain responsible for contractors. They point travelers toward the Canadian Transportation Agency for travel-specific complaints and frame Air Canada v. Rose as a test of the high bar for undue hardship.

33.) Podcasts by Dr. Kirk Adams: Interview With Mary Williams, Founder, and Sian Welch, Chief Executive Officer/Administrator, New Start Health Enterprises | DrKirkAdams.com | October 28, 2026

Mary Williams and Sian Welch detail New Start Health Enterprises’ model for helping catastrophically disabled people transition from hospital to home. The California organization operates three six-bed homes serving 18 patients, combining round-the-clock nursing, therapy and independence training while navigating Medi-Cal and managed-care barriers.

34.) How To Convince People To Care And Invest In Accessibility – Stephanie Walter (A11yTalks – Oct 2026) | Accessibility Talks | YouTube.com | October 28, 2026

Cutting through the assumptions that stall accessibility work, Stephanie Walter examines how teams can make a stronger case for investment and sustained attention. She maps nine recurring objections against practical evidence and examples, framing accessibility as a design and delivery concern that reaches across projects.

35.) When Vision Loss Affects The Whole Family | Hadley | YouTube.com | October 28, 2026

In this insightful conversation, Hadley examines how vision loss can reshape relationships and daily routines for relatives and friends alongside the person experiencing it. The discussion considers the emotional and practical pressures facing support networks, as well as the resources available to help families adapt together.

36.) Jamie Roth Sees Now What She Didn’t See Before | Even Though I’m Blind | YouTube.com | October 28, 2026

Conversing with Jamie Roth, Cazerny Bussey examines how sudden sight loss reshaped Roth’s identity, spiritual outlook, and sense of possibility. Roth also traces the experiences behind her book, Should’ve Seen That Coming, and her podcast, My Higher Self Has Questions.

37.) The B.C. Conservatives Promised Long-Awaited Changes in Disability Policy. Will They Follow Through? | CTVNews.ca | October 28, 2026

British Columbia’s Conservatives have promised long-awaited changes to disability policy. The report considers whether the party will carry out those commitments, as interim Leader Lorne Doerkson appeared onstage during the party’s provincial election night in Vancouver on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026.

38.) Legal Groups Urge Federal Appeals Court to Hold Maine Accountable for Disability Rights Violations | MainePublic.org | October 28, 2026

Legal advocacy groups asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to block proposed changes to Maine’s 2024 settlement with the DOJ over alleged ADA violations in children’s behavioral health care. The state and federal government seek to remove provisions including an independent reviewer; the ACLU of Maine calls oversight essential.

39.) Families of Kids With Disabilities Endure Hardships Without Caregiver Pay | DisabilityScoop.com | October 28, 2026

Idaho ended its Family Personal Care Services program in July 2025, citing fraud, abuse and insufficient administrative resources, leaving parents and spouses unable to be paid for Medicaid-eligible care. Only about half of nearly 900 former participants had Medicaid-paid direct-care workers by June, amid a statewide workforce shortage; Rep. Ilana Rubel plans to reintroduce a restoration bill.

40.) Sex Toys Need to Work for Disabled Bodies | GlobalDisabilityNews.org | October 28, 2026

University of Calgary researchers interviewed 12 disabled adults in Canada about sex toys, finding that tiny switches, painful grips, noise and unclear product details can make many designs unusable. Participants called for hands-free options, predictable controls, accessible instructions and disabled people in paid product testing from ideation through launch.

41.) I Am Not From Here | DisabilityDebrief.org | October 28, 2026

Disability-inclusive development still reproduces ableism inside organizations that promote inclusion abroad, writes consultant Meritt Buyer. She links the USAID closure and US budget cuts to catastrophic program losses, noting that disabled workers appear to be among those facing the hardest job searches after widespread layoffs.

42.) Are Waymo’s Driverless Cars the Next Step in Accessibility? | WUSF.org | October 28, 2026

Waymo opened its Tampa robotaxi service to all riders on Oct. 14 after a limited September launch, positioning autonomous rides as an option for people unable to drive. Accessibility advocates cite independence and reliable guide-dog access, but users report app and vehicle-entry hurdles, while a local car briefly drove on the wrong side of the road.

43.) A Guide to Voting Accessibility for Illinois Voters With Disabilities, the Elderly and Non-English Speakers | NorthernPublicRadio.org | October 28, 2026

Illinois requires every polling location to have an accessible voting system and wheelchair-accessible entry and booth; many counties use ExpressVote machines with Braille remotes, audio, large text, Spanish and Sip-n-Puff support. Curbside voting, assistance from a companion or bipartisan election judges, accessible mail ballots, and multilingual services broaden access; five counties must offer Spanish ballots.

44.) Key Disability Rights Case Is Under Threat, Local Advocates Say | WGBH.org | October 28, 2026

Massachusetts disability advocates warn that a June DOJ memo and a September ruling in Texas v. Kennedy threaten the integration mandate underlying Olmstead v. L.C., the 1999 Supreme Court decision protecting community-based services. Gov. Maura Healey joined 17 governors criticizing the memo, while advocates cite staffing shortages, Medicaid cuts and immigration crackdowns as added risks.

45.) The Dot Experience Puts Accessibility at the Center of Storytelling | SpectrumNews1.com | October 28, 2026

Louisville’s Dot Experience opens Friday as an accessibility-first museum using touch, sound and interactive exhibits to tell the history and future of accessible technology. Director Darrick Wood said the venue marks nearly 170 years of work by the American Printing House for the Blind; a Helen Keller exhibit was previewed by Keller Johnson-Thompson, Keller’s great-grandniece.

46.) Detroit Clerk Says Accessible Voting Machines Used by Many Counties Are “Trash” | MichiganPublic.org | October 28, 2026

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey called the city’s Voter Assist Terminals “trash” while maintaining they are tested before each election. Blind voters say failures of Liberty Vote machines can force them to disclose ballot choices to poll workers; 64 other Michigan counties use the same equipment.

47.) Why Accessibility Overlays Don’t Work: Findings From U.S. State Government Websites | LFLegal.com | October 28, 2026

Alison Walden and Matt Vitale’s 2025 review of all 50 U.S. state government websites found seven states using overlays from five companies, yet the tools did not fix keyboard navigation, form-label, or PDF barriers. In October 2026, only five of those states still used overlays; the researchers recommend investing in accessible design, disabled people, and sustainable processes instead.

48.) Ghana’s NCA Engages Persons With Disabilities to Test Website Accessibility | TechReviewAfrica.com | October 28, 2026

Ghana’s National Communications Authority brought people with disabilities and representatives of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations to Accra for hands-on testing of its website. Participants used phones and laptops to assess navigation, search, news, consumer-rights and complaint services against WCAG 2.2 Level AA expectations.

October 27, 2026 📅️

49.) Remarkable World Commentary Episode #119: Interview With Diane Bergeron, Head, Global Strategies & Senior Vice President Public Affairs, CNIB | DonnaJodhan.com | October 27, 2026

CNIB’s Diane Bergeron says resilience is built through failure, tracing her advocacy approach to an early rejection from a Montreal stable and a career spanning government, international partnerships and public affairs. She also details guide-dog air travel, where Canadian rules require added space on domestic flights but not international routes.

50.) Podcasts by Dr. Kirk Adams: Interview With Victoria Hillard, Founder & Executive Director, Blind Professionals Network | DrKirkAdams.com | October 27, 2026

Victoria Hillard recounts going blind at 30 from neuromyelitis optica and building Blind Professionals Network from a 40-member Zoom group in 2019 to nearly 1,000 members. The nonprofit provides free assistive-technology training, employment services and support groups, while BPN Workplace Solutions hires blind professionals for accessibility testing and workplace training.

51.) Blind Girl Describes What She Thinks Sea Creatures Look Like! | Molly Burke | YouTube.com | October 27, 2026

Showcasing her sensory imagination, Molly Burke describes how she pictures an array of sea creatures without sight. The conversation offers a personal perspective on how touch, sound, language, and cultural imagery can shape mental pictures of the underwater world.

52.) Ottawa Tables New MAID Legislation, Excluding People Suffering Solely From Mental Illness | CBC.ca | October 27, 2026

Canada’s Bill C-41 would indefinitely bar people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness from receiving MAID, while permitting advance requests before a person loses capacity. Justice Minister Sean Fraser said advance-request MAID would operate only where provinces establish legislated safeguards, raising the prospect of uneven access.

53.) Documentary Details Life Inside Controversial Facility Known for Electric Shock Devices | DisabilityScoop.com | October 27, 2026

An award-winning documentary recounts Jennifer Msumba’s seven years at Massachusetts’ Judge Rotenberg Center, the only U.S. facility known to use electrical stimulation devices for behavior treatment. JRC calls the film false and incomplete; 55 people had court approval for the devices in 2024.

54.) Social Club Opens Doors for Neurodivergent Young Adults | DisabilityScoop.com | October 27, 2026

Fun on the Spectrum St. Pete, launched in May by Bill Eckert and his 25-year-old son Billy, brings neurodivergent adults ages 20 to 29 together for structured social events. The St. Petersburg group has become a social lifeline for attendees and a support network for parents; Melody Englmann, 24, said regular meetups have improved her confidence and social skills.

55.) Voting Guide Highlights Rights for Those With Disabilities | DisabilityScoop.com | October 27, 2026

With the midterm elections approaching, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, National Disability Rights Network and McDermott Will and Schulte issued an updated 88-page guide on voting rights for people with cognitive disabilities. It covers guardianship, state competency laws, poll assistance and provisional ballots.

56.) For Blind Voters, Massachusetts Is One of the Most Accessible States for Voting | WGBH.org | October 27, 2026

Massachusetts lets voters with disabilities receive, mark and electronically return ballots through a portal adopted permanently under the 2022 VOTES Act, a system advocates call a national model. The state is replacing aging AutoMark machines, while local officials reported only 10 applications in Worcester, six in Springfield, nine in Cambridge and one in Lowell.

57.) Blind Woman Says Smart Glasses Replaced Her Guide Dog | ABC.net.au | October 27, 2026

Ballarat resident Heidi Biggin, legally blind for 16 years, says Meta AI glasses have let her identify store sections and shop independently, to the point that she may not seek another guide dog. Guide Dogs Victoria’s Erin Goedhart says the glasses are useful alongside a cane or dog, not a replacement for primary mobility aids.

58.) d’Vinci Interactive and the National Organization on Disability Receive Awards for EnAble Learning | Nod.org | October 27, 2026

The National Organization on Disability (NOD) and d’Vinci Interactive won a Silver W3 Award and a Silver Davey Award for EnAble Learning, the digital training platform they built together to teach workplace disability inclusion. Its accessible, self-paced courses cover mental health at work, neurodiversity, digital accessibility and inclusive leadership for organizations of any size.

59.) Helen Keller Services CEO Dr. Susan Ruzenski to Retire After 47 Years | HelenKeller.org | October 27, 2026

Helen Keller Services announces that Dr. Susan Ruzenski will retire as chief executive officer on January 1, 2027, after 47 years with the organization, and its Board of Trustees will conduct a national search for her successor. As CEO since 2021 she expanded early childhood education on Long Island and launched the annual AccessAbility Awards.

60.) Self-Advocating at the Bank | BlindCanadians.ca | October 27, 2026

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians offers guidance for blind and partially sighted Canadians on self-advocating at the bank, including which rules apply under the Accessible Canada Act, identifying bills and coins, using ATMs with headphones, large print checks, alternate-format statements and accessible online banking. It encourages customers to know their right to reasonable accommodation and to ask for it.

October 26, 2026 📅️

61.) Who Gets to Name the World? | DrKirkAdams.com | October 26, 2026

Dr. Kirk Adams links naming to institutional power, from the 1998 Akayesu ruling that recognized rape and sexual violence as possible genocide to the 2019 renaming of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. He cautions that organizations replacing DEI labels with “belonging” or “engagement” should be judged by resources, access, accountability, and affected communities’ influence.

62.) Who Says You Have To See It To Believe It? | Blind History Revealed, Ep. 1 | Even Though I’m Blind | YouTube.com | October 26, 2026

Opening Blind History Revealed, Be-Asia Gray challenges assumptions about blindness while outlining why representation and access belong at the center of historical storytelling. She draws on her relationship with her brother, Cazerny Bussey, to introduce a series spanning blind innovators, disability rights, culture, and overlooked lives.

63.) Why Every Company Should Be Hiring People With Disabilities | Driven by Purpose | YouTube.com | October 26, 2026

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Evan Rosenblum speaks with Cleanlogic co-founders Isaac Shapiro and Mike Gesser about making disability hiring a durable business practice rather than an annual campaign. They outline a Texas partnership involving HEB and VibrantWorks, plus vocational rehabilitation support that can cover an employee’s first 90 days and provide job coaching.

64.) The Cooking Without Looking TV Show Chocolate Covered Oreo Edition! | Cooking Without Looking | YouTube.com | October 26, 2026

Showcasing accessible confectionery techniques, Flo Walsh welcomes Nellie Cardenas and Victor Padro for two approaches to making chocolate-covered Oreos. Cardenas shares methods from her experience as a blind cook, while Padro brings a partially sighted perspective as audience members contribute questions and comments.

65.) Ohio’s Crackdown on Medicaid Fraud Cuts Off Care for Some Disabled People | NBCNews.com | October 26, 2026

Ohio’s anti-Medicaid-fraud measures have made it harder for disabled residents to secure reliable caregivers, according to NBC News’ reporting. The resulting gaps can block daily in-home support, putting recipients’ health and independence at risk even as Republican leaders say the crackdown protects taxpayers and vulnerable people.

66.) Residents Sue CT for Using IQ Score to Deny Intellectual Disability Services | CTMirror.org | October 26, 2026

Four Connecticut residents are suing the state over a DDS rule that denies intellectual-disability services unless applicants have an IQ score of 69 or below, even when they have documented adaptive deficits and clinical diagnoses. A 2027 legislative report is due to recommend a definition that does not rely on a single test score.

67.) SSI Increase Prompts Fresh Worries About Asset Limits | DisabilityScoop.com | October 26, 2026

SSI’s maximum federal benefit for individuals will rise to $1,029 a month next year under the annual COLA, while the program’s $2,000 asset cap remains unchanged. Disability advocates say the disparity makes it harder to save for essentials; bills to raise the cap and update the $65 earned-income disregard have not received hearings.

68.) Hearing Actor Ellen Pompeo Cast in Deaf Role in New Hulu Show “Not a Sound” | GlobalDisabilityNews.org | October 26, 2026

Hulu’s adaptation of Heather Gudenkauf’s Not a Sound has cast Ellen Pompeo as Amelia Winn, an ER nurse who becomes deaf after a hit-and-run and later investigates a nurse’s death. Deaf writer Rikki Poynter criticizes the choice because Pompeo is hearing and does not know ASL, arguing that Hollywood continues to give Deaf roles to hearing actors despite a pool of Deaf performers.

69.) J&J Allegedly Fires Its Own HR Manager Over Disability Request | HcaMag.com | October 26, 2026

A former Johnson & Johnson Employee Relations and Labor Relations manager filed an ADA and FMLA lawsuit in Florida, alleging she was fired after seeking a full-time remote-work accommodation and taking leave. The complaint cites a strong January 2026 review and full bonus; J&J has not been found liable.

70.) DOJ Sues Stagg Group Over Disability Access at 26 Garden Street, Site of New Rochelle Chemical Incident | TalkOfTheSound.com | October 26, 2026

The DOJ sued Stagg Group, alleging Fair Housing Act accessibility violations across six multifamily buildings with 607 units, including the 185-unit West View at 26 Garden Street in New Rochelle. Prosecutors cite an inaccessible curb ramp and obstructed laundry-room entrances there; the site separately faces a DEC dispute following a 2025 chemical incident that severely injured worker Jose Candelario.

71.) Local Orchestra Makes Concerts Accessible to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind Community | WOSU.org | October 26, 2026

Worthington Chamber Orchestra will make haptic vests available at every 2026-27 Masterworks concert, translating sound into torso vibrations for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind patrons. The group bought 12 vests and will use them alongside an ASL interpreter and live light show in April 2027 outreach performances.

72.) Worcester Conference Puts Accessibility Barriers in the Spotlight | WorcesterCitizen.Substack.com | October 26, 2026

Worcester City Council’s second Accessible Worcester conference gathered residents to identify barriers affecting disabled people on public transport and in shops, restaurants, events and public services. The council says it will take forward priority actions, while its Place and Economic Development Committee receives an accessibility report on November 2.

73.) 2026 AccessAbility Awards: Five Honorees, One Shared Commitment | HelenKeller.org | October 26, 2026

Helen Keller Services recaps its 2026 AccessAbility Awards, held October 9 at the Helen Keller National Center in Sands Point, New York, which honored Canon U.S.A., Dot Inc., OXO, Rylo and the Michigan Road Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library for advancing accessibility for people who are blind, have low vision or are DeafBlind.

Last Week 📅️

74.) Echovision Vs Meta Smart Glasses For Vision Loss… It’s Not Even Close?! | Legally Blind No Limits | YouTube.com | October 25, 2026

Reacting to Sam from The Blind Life’s travel test, Cory compares EchoVision with Meta smart glasses through the lens of real-world accessibility. The discussion weighs continuous AI assistance, airport navigation, hotel information, and a key limitation that could shape a purchase decision for people with vision loss.

75.) N.J. Advocates Warn Federal Rollbacks Could Force More People With Disabilities Into Institutions | NJ.com | October 25, 2026

Following a Sept. 23 federal court order vacating Section 504 provisions requiring federally funded programs to operate in the most integrated setting, New Jersey disability advocates fear weaker enforcement of community-based care. Connecticut codified the ADA integration mandate in June; New Jersey has not, though state protections remain.

76.) Jersey’s Automated Mobility Scooters Trial to Give ‘Independence’ | BBC.com | October 25, 2026

Shopmobility Jersey has launched a Liberation Station trial that lets registered users book, pay for and unlock mobility scooters by phone using a secure code. Founder Edward Trevor MBE says the remotely managed service may be the first of its kind in the British Isles; it operates from 06:00 to 21:00 BST and could expand island-wide if successful.

77.) Jordan Adopts Standards to Promote Accessibility and Inclusion | JordanNews.jo | October 25, 2026

Jordan’s Standards and Metrology Organization adopted JS ISO/IEC 10779:2026, accessibility guidance for office equipment used by older people and people with disabilities, and JS ISO 21001:2026 for educational management systems. Acting Director General Wafaa Al-Momani said the measures align national standards with international references and aim to reduce barriers to services.

78.) Campaign Works to Make Halloween Accessible for Those With Limited Mobility | CTVNews.ca | October 25, 2026

Treat Accessibility, a campaign focused on Halloween access, aims to make the holiday more accessible for people with limited mobility and other difficulties. The Montreal effort puts attention on barriers that can prevent people with mobility needs from taking part in traditional Halloween activities.

79.) RTI Report Flags Major Gaps in PwD Employment, Accessibility | TheShillongTimes.com | October 24, 2026

An RTI report covering 115 Meghalaya government offices and educational institutions found that 95 employ no persons with disabilities, and only the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests has formally implemented the RPwD Act. Disability groups are demanding backlog audits, recruitment drives and digital-accessibility audits, threatening protests and hunger strikes.

80.) Four Psychological Profiles Emerge in Older Adults Facing New-Onset Disability | BioEngineer.org | October 24, 2026

A study of 254 adults aged 60 and older in Jiangsu Province, China, identified four psychological profiles within three months of new-onset disability. Participants with high strain and low personal and social resources had significantly poorer Psychological Adaptation Scale scores, while high strain alone was not linked to worse adaptation.

81.) Youth With Disabilities Urge Government to Improve Healthcare and Accessibility | NilePost.co.ug | October 24, 2026

At a five-day National Youth Disability Summit in Namugongo-Kyoto, participants called on government to keep essential medicines in stock, expand specialized care and enforce accessibility standards. SHAU project officer Winfred Nabikoolo cited gaps in disability training, sign-language access and supplies such as catheters, enema bags and sunscreen.

82.) Itzhak Perlman Issues Plea Regarding Access for Those With Disabilities | TheViolinChannel.com | October 23, 2026

After a North Bethesda hotel gave away his ADA-accessible room despite a reservation made six months earlier, violinist Itzhak Perlman urged hotels and other service providers to honor accessibility commitments. Perlman, a longtime disability advocate, said accessible rooms are a necessity, not a luxury; a concert promoter found him another hotel.

83.) Keralam: Disabled Man’s Sit-in Outside Eatery Exposes Accessibility Barriers | NewIndianExpress.com | October 23, 2026

After a wheelchair user could not enter a Koyilandy eatery, schoolteacher Ashwin Babu staged a sit-in outside the premises and sought action on disability-friendly infrastructure. Management gave a written assurance to install a ramp and accessible bathroom facilities by October 25; activist Nandana N cited weak implementation and inaccessible grievance systems.

84.) N.S. Ferries Making Travel Accessible for People With Hidden Disabilities | YourSouthShore.ca | October 23, 2026

Northumberland, Bay and CAT ferries introduced the Hidden Disability Sunflower Program in July 2026, offering free lanyards that signal a passenger may need extra time or assistance without disclosing a diagnosis. Accessibility committee chair Donna MacNeill says a Sensory Sail with Autism PEI is planned for Nov. 7.

85.) A Guide for Scooter and Wheelchair Users Visiting Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor in Maine | DaytonDailyNews.com | October 22, 2026

Mobility traveler Jimmy Dinsmore found Acadia National Park offers car-accessible scenic roads and the Schoodic Peninsula, while many trails remain difficult or impossible for wheelchair and scooter users. Acadia Boat Tours provided dock transport and says it accommodates permanent wheelchair users, but Bar Harbor’s cobblestones, steps, curb gaps and parking layout fall short.

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November 3, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America shares simple ways to make the home easier to see and move through by using contrast and lighting and by reducing glare.

November 3, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to make an iPhone work better for the eyes, at a pace that feels comfortable and doable.

November 5, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 5, 2026 | Create Repeatable AI Workflows | Vispero

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Vispero presenters Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan show how to turn recurring responsibilities into repeatable AI workflows built from reusable prompts, instructions, templates and review steps. The session covers spotting tasks suited to a workflow, breaking them into clear steps, and testing and refining the result for more consistent output. ACVREP credits are available for those who attend live.

November 5, 2026 | Accessibility and Air Travel | Accessibility Online

11:30 AM PT, 12:30 PM MT, 1:30 PM CT, 2:30 PM ET, 7:30 PM GMT
Accessibility Online joins the U.S. Access Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration to walk through accessible air travel, from arriving at the airport through boarding and deplaning, along with the laws that cover terminals and flights and common access problems and their solutions. Video remote interpreting and real-time captioning are provided.

November 5, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores different ways to keep reading part of daily life, in whatever way works best now.

November 6, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 6, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free, supportive conversation for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to organize the home so it feels easier, calmer and more predictable again.

November 7, 2026 | Let’s Go Shopping 11: Virtual Holiday Shopping Event | Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events

The 11th Let’s Go Shopping virtual holiday shopping event, founded by Laura Legendary, runs over two days with small-business entrepreneurs. Vendors can apply and shoppers can join the announcements list through the event’s information page.

November 8, 2026 | 18th Annual Dining In The Dark Fundraiser To Benefit The Blind | Florida Outreach Center For The Blind

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Experience an unforgettable evening at the 18th Annual Dining in the Dark, where guests enjoy a three-course meal served in complete darkness by the PBSO SWAT Team using night-vision goggles. The night also features live entertainment, an inspiring guest speaker, and a silent auction supporting programs for the blind community in Palm Beach County.

November 8, 2026 | Let’s Go Shopping 11: Virtual Holiday Shopping Event | Let’s Go Shopping Virtual Events

The 11th Let’s Go Shopping virtual holiday shopping event, founded by Laura Legendary, runs over two days with small-business entrepreneurs. Vendors can apply and shoppers can join the announcements list through the event’s information page.

November 9, 2026 | Tribal and Rural Accessibility Town Hall | National Council on Disability and U.S. Access Board

8:00 AM PT, 9:00 AM MT, 10:00 AM CT, 11:00 AM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
The National Council on Disability and the U.S. Access Board bring Tribal leaders and elders, people with disabilities, service providers and community organizations together at Ability360 in Phoenix to discuss accessibility in Tribal and rural communities, from public facilities and transportation to healthcare and housing. The town hall is also available online, and attendees may offer public comments.

November 9, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America

10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America introduces ways to make an Android phone more accessible, focusing on small, meaningful changes that build confidence.

November 10, 2026 | Accessible Surveys Live Demo (Americas Session) | Accessible Data

8:00 AM PT, 9:00 AM MT, 10:00 AM CT, 11:00 AM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
Accessible Data hosts a free live demo of Accessible Surveys on Zoom, showing a survey that adapts to the person answering, with sign language video, text read aloud, Easy Read and multiple languages. Co-founders Jerry Nicholson and Christophe Geiser also show how organizations can create and launch accessible surveys without technical hurdles, followed by an open Q&A. The same demo repeats on November 12 for Asia-Pacific and for Europe and Africa.

November 11, 2026 | Disability Law Legal Update: A Smattering of ADA Cases II | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this ADA Legal session, the Southwest ADA Center and the Great Lakes ADA Center review recent court decisions, settlements and agency policy changes under the Americans with Disabilities Act, from accommodation delays and return-to-office rules to service animals, accessible parking and effective communication in health care. The session closes with live audience questions, and real-time captioning is provided.

November 11, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, supportive conversation for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America takes small, meaningful steps toward feeling comfortable and confident in the kitchen again.

November 12, 2026 | Accessible Surveys Live Demo (Asia-Pacific and Europe and Africa Sessions) | Accessible Data

Accessible Data repeats its free live demo of Accessible Surveys on Zoom in two sessions: Asia-Pacific at 5:00 PM Sydney (1:00 AM ET), and Europe and Africa at 11:00 AM London (6:00 AM ET). Jerry Nicholson and Christophe Geiser show a survey adapting to the person answering, with sign language video, text read aloud, Easy Read and multiple languages, then take open questions. Attendees choose their session on the booking form.

November 12, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America shares simple techniques for moving safely and confidently at home and beyond, from preventing falls to using stairs.

November 12, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores how to move through the world safely and confidently, and how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful.

November 13, 2026 | Disability Lived Experience Through the Lens of Relational-Cultural Theory with Dr. Kirk Adams | International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC)

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Dr. Kirk Adams joins the RCT-Informed Leadership & Change Affinity Group to explore disability lived experience through Relational-Cultural Theory, drawing on his life as a blind leader and his doctoral research on blind adults successfully employed in corporate America. The discussion may cover condemned isolation, accessibility and belonging, authenticity and interdependence, and shared power and repair, and how leaders can turn relational understanding into meaningful action. The 90-minute session meets on Zoom and is facilitated by Ileya Grosman, PhD.

November 17, 2026 | Scaling Digital Accessibility through ServiceNow: From Requests to Results | Accessibility Online

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this Section 508 session, Accessibility Online looks at how the FDIC uses the ServiceNow platform to run and scale its digital accessibility work, including document remediation requests, Section 508 training, application testing and IT reasonable accommodation requests, and how its reporting tools keep compliance on schedule. Video remote interpreting and real-time captioning are provided.

November 17, 2026 | Carter Kits: Supporting Positive Interactions for Neurodivergent Patients During Emergency Encounters | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Carter Kits co-founder Justin Severs and training and grants manager Andie describe the sensory bags their organization supplies to first responders, emergency department staff and community partners for encounters with autistic and neurodivergent patients, where a lack of tools and training still produces worse health outcomes. Dr. Sam Wrobleski of the Michigan EMS for Children Program also explains how that partnership works and how others might build one in their own state. Real-time captioning is provided.

November 17, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America shares simple ways to make the home easier to see and move through by using contrast and lighting and by reducing glare.

November 17, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, step-by-step session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to make an iPhone work better for the eyes, at a pace that feels comfortable and doable.

November 18, 2026 | Birdability Book Club: Birdsong by the Seasons by Donald Kroodsma | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
The Birdability Book Club closes out 2026 with Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma, a lyrical guide to a year of sound. The book was chosen so readers could follow along month by month through the year and then gather in November to share reflections from twelve months of attentive listening. Free; registration required.

November 19, 2026 | Member-Only Event: Practices for Accessible Virtual Meetings | National Organization on Disability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
A 25-minute virtual session for NOD Leadership Council members focused on practical, hands-on strategies for making virtual meetings more inclusive and accessible to all participants. The full briefing is restricted to Council members; non-members can join the Leadership Council to attend this and similar exclusive members-only sessions.

November 19, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores different ways to keep reading part of daily life, in whatever way works best now.

November 20, 2026 | 2026 Virtual Technology Fair | Carroll Center for the Blind

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
The Carroll Center for the Blind hosts a free four-hour technology fair on Zoom with sessions on VoiceOver image and Live Recognition features, Lumin AI and JAWS Page Explorer, tech support with Aira and Quick Assist, and the Indigo GPS app for iOS, each followed by live Q&A.

November 20, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free, supportive conversation for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America explores simple ways to organize the home so it feels easier, calmer and more predictable again.

November 23, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America

10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM GMT
In this free session for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America introduces ways to make an Android phone more accessible, focusing on small, meaningful changes that build confidence.

November 24, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

November 25, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
In this free, supportive conversation for people with low or changing vision, Vision Support America takes small, meaningful steps toward feeling comfortable and confident in the kitchen again.

November 30, 2026 | From Room to Route: Practical Ways to Build Spatial Concepts with Room with a View and Grid and Go | APH

12:00 PM PT, 1:00 PM MT, 2:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
In this APH Passport to Innovation webinar, presenter Karen demonstrates practical ways to teach spatial concepts with Room with a View and Grid and Go, taking learners from understanding a familiar room to reading a tactile map and planning a route. The session also shows how the same materials can be adapted for different learners and extended beyond orientation and mobility into sensory efficiency, independent living, classroom concepts and recreation. Participants leave with activity ideas and a repeatable instructional sequence for their own practice.

December 1, 2026 | CEO Office Hours: Disability & Intersectionality | National Organization on Disability

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
National Organization on Disability President and CEO Beth Sirull hosts an in-depth conversation with Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Business Councils at Marriott International, reflecting on progress and looking ahead in disability inclusion. Gandhi draws on more than 30 years in strategy, organizational change, community engagement and global business.

December 8, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 8, 2026 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: The Science of Birdsong With Donald Kroodsma | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Ornithologist and author Donald Kroodsma, one of the world’s leading experts on birdsong with more than 45 years of research behind him, opens the new season of Birdability’s monthly Blind Birder Community Conversations. He goes beyond familiar mnemonics to the acoustic differences that let listeners tell species apart by sound, and to what birds are actually doing with their voices. The series is designed by and for blind and low vision birders, and sighted birders are welcome too. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

December 9, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 16, 2026 | Your Voice Is a Strategic Advantage: Personal Branding, Podcasting and Web Presence for Blind Professionals | Blind Professionals Network (BPN)

5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 1:00 AM GMT
Dr. Kirk Adams and Aaron Di Blasi, PMP, walk blind professionals through building a public presence in the order it actually has to be built: domain, logo, tagline, website, and email at that same domain. Only then does the session turn to social media, newsletters, press releases and video, and to the part almost nobody teaches, which is that publishing is the easy half and being read is the hard half. Attendees draft a Personal Brand Kit during the session and leave with their own domain, logo brief, tagline, website plan and email address. Free and open to everyone; registration is required.

December 17, 2026 | Blindness as Method: Contemporary Art and Creative Practice | Dark Room Ballet

3:00 PM PT, 4:00 PM MT, 5:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
Bill Porter leads a three-hour seminar that treats blindness and low vision as sources of artistic knowledge and method rather than limitations, looking at how artists including Carmen Papalia, Andy Slater, Emilie Louise Gossiaux and David Johnson work through touch, sound, memory and description. Through presentation and group discussion, participants consider their own lived experience as a source of creative knowledge. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Bill Porter.”

December 19, 2026 | Weightlifting for Dancers | Dark Room Ballet

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Krishna Washburn, a blind ballet teacher with multiple certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, leads a fully audio-described workshop that helps dancers build their own resistance-training program with household objects, resistance bands or gym equipment. Participants learn to choose exercises, track sets and repetitions, progress safely over time and adapt training after injury; no weightlifting experience is needed. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Weightlifting.”

December 22, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

January 12, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Birding by Ear and Mnemonics With Jerry Berrier | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Jerry Berrier, a lifelong blind birder and co-founder of the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, leads a practical, participatory session on birding by ear and on using mnemonics to learn and remember bird songs and calls, with examples from birds across a broad geographic range. Berrier has been birding by ear since the 1970s and has led programs for Mass Audubon, L.L.Bean and the Carroll Center for the Blind. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

January 13, 2027 | Introduction to Simonson Jazz | Dark Room Ballet

9:30 AM PT, 10:30 AM MT, 11:30 AM CT, 12:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
Valentina Bertani teaches a ten-class course in the movement principles and exercises of the Simonson jazz dance method, building class by class to the full-body format, for blind and visually impaired adults with no Simonson experience, including those who have never studied dance. Classes meet Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:00 PM Eastern, January 13 through March 17, are not recorded, and attendance at all ten is strongly encouraged. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Simonson Jazz.”

January 17, 2027 | Actor’s Toolbox: An Actor’s Practicum | Dark Room Ballet

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Luna Vintner leads an eight-week introductory acting course in which students build practical tools for any acting pursuit: working with a scene partner, staying present, listening and responding truthfully, analyzing scripts and preparing audition material. Two-hour sessions meet Sundays from noon Eastern, January 17 through March 7; no acting experience is needed, but regular attendance and a good internet connection are required. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing darkroomballet@gmail.com with the subject line “Acting.”

February 3, 2027 | Developing a Contemporary Art Practice | Dark Room Ballet

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Bill Porter leads a 16-week hybrid course that helps artists build and sustain an independent contemporary art practice through research, experimentation, making, critique and revision, with particular attention to the work and scholarship of blind and low vision artists. Eight live sessions meet every other Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:30 PM Eastern, February 3 through May 12, with online activities between them; enrollment is limited to eight students. Tuition-free on Zoom; register by emailing info@darkroomballet.com with the subject line “Bill Porter Spring.”

February 9, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: A Deep Dive Into Warblers | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Birdability’s Blind Birder Community Conversations take a deep dive into warblers, with particular attention to identifying and enjoying these much-loved and sometimes challenging birds through their songs and calls. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

March 9, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Spring Migration and Bird Conservation With Scott Weidensaul | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Naturalist, ornithologist and author Scott Weidensaul returns to the Blind Birder Community Conversations to talk about spring migration, bird conservation and themes from his recent work and writing, just as birds begin moving north again. His book Living on the Wind was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

April 13, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: The Diversity of Birdsong With Juan Pablo Colasso | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
Juan Pablo Colasso, who has identified more than 1,000 bird species by sound, joins the Blind Birder Community Conversations for a discussion of the extraordinary diversity of birdsong and an international perspective on birding by ear. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

April 29, 2027 | Blind Travel Summit 2027 | Blind Travel Foundation

The Blind Travel Foundation’s biennial gathering, hosted by United Airlines at its headquarters in Willis Tower, Chicago, expects 200 to 250 blind and visually impaired travelers, advocates, and industry partners for two days of conversation about accessible travel. Activities are also planned around the Summit, so attendees can stay for the weekend. A speaking application, sponsorship levels, and registration and hotel details will be announced soon.

April 30, 2027 | Blind Travel Summit 2027 | Blind Travel Foundation

The Blind Travel Foundation’s biennial gathering, hosted by United Airlines at its headquarters in Willis Tower, Chicago, expects 200 to 250 blind and visually impaired travelers, advocates, and industry partners for two days of conversation about accessible travel. Activities are also planned around the Summit, so attendees can stay for the weekend. A speaking application, sponsorship levels, and registration and hotel details will be announced soon.

May 11, 2027 | Blind Birder Community Conversations: Bird-a-Thon Welcome and Preparation Session | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT
The last Blind Birder Community Conversation before the Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon on May 23 and 24 is a welcome and preparation session covering how the event works, ways to take part, birding by ear, connecting with other birders and everything participants need to feel ready. Open to blind, low vision and sighted birders. Virtual (Zoom); every registrant receives the recording.

May 23, 2027 | Birdability’s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2027 | Birdability

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, created by and for blind and low vision birders, returns for 2027 with two days celebrating birding by ear, community and all the different ways people experience birds. Birders of any age, experience or location identify as many species as they can by sound or by whatever sight is available, solo, in a group or as part of a team. Registration details are still to come; the event page offers sign-up for 2027 updates.

May 24, 2027 | Birdability’s Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon 2027 | Birdability

The Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon, created by and for blind and low vision birders, returns for 2027 with two days celebrating birding by ear, community and all the different ways people experience birds. Birders of any age, experience or location identify as many species as they can by sound or by whatever sight is available, solo, in a group or as part of a team. Registration details are still to come; the event page offers sign-up for 2027 updates.

⬆︎ 16.) Sponsor: National Organization on Disability

Sponsor Since: September 21, 2026 📅️

Website: https://nod.org/ 🌐️

About: National Organization on Disability (NOD) is a nonprofit that works with large employers to increase the hiring, retention and advancement of people with disabilities. It was founded in 1982, growing out of the United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons, by Alan A. Reich, the first person to address the UN General Assembly from a wheelchair. In the four decades since, it has moved from broad public-awareness work toward a business-to-business focus, presenting disability inclusion as a question of business performance rather than charity. That posture is captured in the organization’s own line, “Unlocking human potential. Enhancing business performance.” Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and led by President and Chief Executive Officer Beth Sirull, National Organization on Disability earns most of its support from the employers it serves rather than from individual donors.

Its employer work runs on four connected programs. The Leadership Council is a paid corporate membership network, currently listing 35 member organizations, offering access to disability-inclusion specialists, talent-acquisition support, peer networking and public recognition. EnAble Learning — with memberships available for individuals as well as corporate packages — is an on-demand training platform whose self-paced courses cover disability fundamentals, neurodiversity at work, managing teams through rising mental-health challenges, and accessibility in artificial intelligence and emerging technology. The Disability Inclusion Network is a professional membership for individuals seeking disability inclusion insights, peer connections, and actionable tools to positively impact their workplaces. A Speakers Bureau books disability advocates, athletes, creators and staff for corporate events and employee resource group meetings. NOD also conducts federal policy advocacy and research, the latter increasingly through a federally funded university consortium studying disability employment policy. In support of every organization’s unique goals, NOD offers à la carte services and creates packages that fit your needs. Offerings include employee workshops, talent acquisition process audits, and executive search strategy sessions. Employers can contact NOD at development@nod.org for more information.

⬆︎ 15.) Sponsor: The Inspiration Foundation

Sponsor Since: August 26, 2026 📅️

Website: https://www.inspirationfoundation.org/ 🌐️

Email: jgrandstaff@inspirationfoundation.org 📧️

About: The Inspiration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to increase the employment rate of people with disabilities. It was founded in 2006 by Isaac Shapiro and Mike Ghesser, the co-founders of the bath and body care brand Cleanlogic, and named for Isaac’s mother, Beatriz “Bea” Shapiro, who lost her sight to retinitis pigmentosa at about seven years old. Bea went on to become a long-distance runner, to found a technology training center for blind and visually impaired people, and to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Arizona. Her frustration was a practical one: the assistive technology disabled jobseekers were being trained on was too often out of date before they ever reached an interview. For its first two decades the Foundation answered that directly, awarding grants to nonprofit organizations serving blind and low-vision people so they could put current screen readers and Braille displays in front of the people who need them, including a dedicated fund for VisionServe Alliance member organizations.

In 2026 the Foundation appointed Jeremy Grandstaff as its first Executive Director. Grandstaff is blind, holds degrees in management information systems and organization development from Bowling Green State University, and brings two decades of organizational development and change management experience to the role. Under his leadership the Foundation has set a goal of increasing employment for people with disabilities by ten percent over the next five years, pursued through two pipelines running at once: a stronger pipeline of candidates, supported by the technology grant program, and a pipeline of employers who are actively hiring, promoting and retaining people with disabilities. The employer side of that work is being formalized into a certification called the Inspiration Seal, currently in pilot while its criteria are developed. Organizations interested in the technology grant program can reach Jeremy Grandstaff directly at jgrandstaff@inspirationfoundation.org.

⬆︎ 14.) Sponsor: Luna AI

Sponsor Since: August 16, 2026 📅️

Website: https://trylunaai.com/ 🌐️

Study Line: +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️

WhatsApp: +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️

About: Luna AI is a voice-first AI tutor you reach the same way you would reach a friend, by picking up the phone and calling. There is no app to download, no account to create, and no screen to navigate. You dial, you say what you would like to learn, and Luna teaches you out loud. What makes it more than a talking search engine is the method behind it. Luna works through active recall, which means it asks the questions and listens to your answers rather than simply reading material at you. Testing yourself, and explaining an idea in your own words, is one of the most reliably effective study techniques in learning science, and a spoken conversation is the most natural way there is to do it. Founded in 2026 by Derek Fine, Luna AI is built for people who want to learn without a screen, including blind and low-vision students who want to work through their material independently from start to finish.

In practice, that means you can practice conversation, pronunciation and vocabulary in a new language, walk through a practical how-to step by step while your hands are busy, or turn a commute, a walk or a session at the gym into real study time. Subscribers can go further and build a Study Library from their own coursework, lecture notes, PDFs, transcripts and Quizlet sets, which Luna turns into spoken review sessions that quiz you until the material sticks. Topic-based study sessions are free, so there is nothing to install and nothing to sign up for before you try it: just call +1 (231) 879-5862 📱️ from any phone, anywhere in the world, at any hour, or reach Luna the same way on WhatsApp. Learn more at https://trylunaai.com/.

⬆︎ 13.) Sponsor: Even Though I’m Blind (ETIB)

Sponsor Since: August 10, 2026 📅️

Website: https://eventhoughimblind.com/ 🌐️

About: Even Though I’m Blind, Inc. (ETIB) is a blind-led media and advocacy organization founded by Cazerny Bussey, a Brooklyn-born recording artist, author, entrepreneur, speaker, and father of five who lost his eyesight at fifteen. The organization takes its name from a track on Bussey’s 2021 album Cfly 728, one of three records he has released since 2012. ETIB’s stated mission is to uplift blind and visually impaired people by creating platforms and experiences that inform, inspire, connect, and open doors — and it does so through a working set of properties rather than a single channel.

Those include the ETIB Experience, an interview podcast featuring blind entrepreneurs, artists, advocates and pageant titleholders; ETIB Radio, an internet stream that gives independent blind and visually impaired musicians genuine airplay; the Community Connect Directory, a staff-verified listing of businesses that are blind-owned, visually-impaired-owned, or that specifically serve blind and low vision people; Seen Through Sound, a community project collecting short recorded messages of encouragement; plus a blog and an events calendar. Bussey founded ETIB, in his words, to help people feel “visible, connected, informed, and empowered without using pity as the message.”

Home | About | Podcast | Radio | Blog | Directory | Events | Join ETIB | AI Chat | Donate

⬆︎ 12.) Sponsor: Blind Professionals Network (BPN)

Sponsor Since: April 13, 2026 📅️

Website: https://blindpronet.org/ 🌐️

Email: BPN@BlindProNet.org 📧️

Phone: +1 (800) 699-8238 📱️

About: Blind Professionals Network (BPN) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to advancing the professional success of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Fully staffed by BVI professionals, BPN’s wealth of education, passion, and lived experience leads the efforts in bridging the employment gap between talent and opportunity. Through our no cost professional development trainings, mentorship, and a dynamic network rooted in our core values of the acronym “SUCCESS”, we equip our members with the skills, confidence, and resources needed to thrive in today’s workforce. Complementing these premier services, our BPN Workplace Solutions division partners with employers to deliver custom Jaws training, accessibility testing, and professional development training to enhance inclusive hiring, training, and retention strategies. Together, these two focus areas unite to break barriers and achieve professional success.

BPN Workplace Solutions | Facebook | LinkedIn | Club House

⬆︎ 11.) Sponsor: Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI)

Sponsor Since: January 24, 2026 📅️

Website: https://i4sdi.org/ 🌐️

About: The Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI) is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 to help individuals and organizations build the capability to create workplaces, and communities, where diversity, equity, and inclusion are real, practical, and sustainable. ISDI’s work is grounded in evidence-based approaches and a long-term, systems-change mindset that goes beyond one-off trainings or performative efforts.

ISDI is best known for stewarding the Northwest Diversity Learning Series (NWDLS), a respected DEI education program with more than 27 years of impact, offering virtual, interactive workshops led by thought leaders and subject matter experts from across the country and Canada. ISDI also offers special events, small learning cohorts, and professional development sessions that equip leaders, HR/DEI practitioners, and employees with actionable skills for inclusive leadership and healthy dialogue across difference. In addition, ISDI provides consulting and curated resources to help organizations strengthen strategy, leadership accountability, and measurable progress toward more inclusive and equitable cultures.

About Us | Coalition | Contact Us | Consulting Services | Diversity Learning Series | Donate | News | Registration | Resources

BlueSky | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

⬆︎ 10.) Sponsor: The Blind Kitchen

Sponsor Since: January 15, 2026 📅️

Website: https://theblindkitchen.com/ 🌐️

About: The Blind Kitchen is an accessibility-driven culinary brand founded by legally blind chef and educator Debra Erickson. Built to help people with vision loss cook safely and confidently, The Blind Kitchen curates adaptive kitchen tools alongside clear, practical instruction, showing that losing sight doesn’t mean losing your place in the kitchen.

Through an intentionally accessible online experience and a growing library of step-by-step demos, tips, and strategies, The Blind Kitchen empowers blind and low-vision cooks (and the people who support them) to reclaim independence, creativity, and joy around food, because independence belongs in every kitchen.

Kitchen | Store | About the Chef | FAQs | Library | Recipes | Contact

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

⬆︎ 9.) Sponsor: The Cooking Without Looking TV Show

Sponsor Since: January 12, 2026 📅️

Website: https://cookingwithoutlookingtv.wordpress.com/ 🌐️

About: The Cooking Without Looking TV Show is an award-worthy, barrier-breaking TV show and podcast created and executive produced by Renée Rentmeester to change the way we see blindness, by showing blind and low-vision cooks doing what they love: preparing delicious meals with confidence, creativity, and humor. Originally launched on public television, the series has grown into a multi-platform experience that features talented hosts and guest cooks who share real-life kitchen strategies, adaptive techniques, and the kind of practical know-how that makes cooking feel possible, enjoyable, and empowering for everyone.

Designed with accessibility at its core, Cooking Without Looking goes beyond what’s on the screen. Episodes emphasize clear, descriptive instruction and sensory cues, sound, texture, aroma, and timing, so viewers and listeners can truly follow along, and recipes are shared in ways that support independence. Produced through the Vision World Foundation, the show also connects audiences with resources and community, proving week after week that great cooking isn’t about eyesight, it’s about skill, curiosity, and the joy of making something wonderful.

Home | Recipes & Tips | Contact | YouTube

⬆︎ 8.) Sponsor: Driven By Purpose Podcast

Sponsor Since: November 3, 2025 📅️

Website: https://thedrivenbypurposepodcast.com 🌐️

About: We’re building more than a media company — we’re cultivating a global movement where purpose drives progress.

What began as a mission to create employment for the 1 in 4 Americans living with disabilities has grown into a dynamic platform at the intersection of advocacy, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Our goal is simple: to amplify the voices, solutions, and stories that are driven by purpose.

At Driven by Purpose, we spotlight purpose-led businesses, breakthrough technologies, and human stories that challenge limits and redefine what’s possible. From adaptive innovations to inspiring leaders, we explore how purpose fuels progress and unlocks potential.

But this isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about taking action. Through powerful content, strategic partnerships, and accessible platforms, we’re building bridges between those who need solutions and those creating them.

⬆︎ 7.) Sponsor: Able News at The Viscardi Center

Sponsor Since: July 4, 2025 📅️

Website: https://ablenews.com 🌐️

Email: ablenews@viscardicenter.org 📧️

About: Able News at The Viscardi Center is a monthly periodical for, by, and about people with disabilities. It amplifies the perspective of a diverse disability community and reports on news, technology, sports, health and wellness, culture, travel, advocacy and opportunities to learn and connect. It is a valuable resource and brings readers disability news like no other source.

Read Able News

⬆︎ 6.) Sponsor: Aira

Sponsor Since: September 9, 2024 📅️

Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐️

Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store

Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/

Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 📱️ | AU: +1.800.765.096 📱️ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 📱️ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 📱️

Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📱️ | AU: +61.488.839.767 📱️ | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📱️

Email: support@aira.io 📧️

Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram

About: Aira’s mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting.

We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone’s device of ‘choice’, a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera’s view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating – just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables.

Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free.
https://aira.io/download-and-try-it/

Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time.

Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works.

Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it.

⬆︎ 5.) Sponsor: Dr. Kirk Adams

Sponsor Since: July 22, 2024 📅️

Website: https://drkirkadams.com/ 🌐️

About: Dr. Kirk Adams is a visionary leader, transformative speaker, and lifelong advocate for disability inclusion. With over three decades of experience in advancing accessibility and creating opportunities for individuals who are blind or low-vision, Dr. Adams has become a powerful force for change in the areas of leadership, accessibility, and inclusion. His journey — from navigating vision loss as a young child to becoming a recognized thought leader in disability empowerment — uniquely equips him to help organizations understand, integrate, and champion inclusive practices that benefit all.

Dr. Adams is a highly sought-after speaker, known for his engaging and thought-provoking keynotes on disability inclusion, accessible leadership, and the power of resilience. He has spoken at numerous national and international conferences, including corporate seminars, public policy forums, and industry events, where his personal story and professional insights have inspired leaders to rethink their approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. His passion lies in empowering organizations to create environments where every individual — regardless of ability — can thrive.

As a speaker, Dr. Adams brings authenticity, warmth, and a depth of experience that resonates with audiences from all backgrounds. He understands that true leadership is about more than just policy; it’s about creating cultural shifts that value each person’s unique contributions. Whether he is addressing a Fortune 500 company, a non-profit, or a community group, Dr. Adams’ message is clear: inclusion benefits everyone, and together we can build a world where opportunity is accessible to all.

Dr. Adams currently resides in Seattle, Washington, where he continues his advocacy work, builds strategic partnerships, and enjoys life with his family. He is proud to be a part of the movement towards a more inclusive future — one conversation at a time.

⬆︎ 4.) Sponsor: Barrier Free Canada

Sponsor Since: November 10, 2023 📅️

Website: https://barrierfreecanada.org/ 🌐️

About: Barrier-Free Canada/Canada Sans Barrieres (BFC/CSB) advocates for the Canadian Parliament to enact a strong and effective Canadians with Disabilities Act (CDA) to achieve a barrier-free Canada for all persons with disabilities.

To this end, BFC/CSB is seeking endorsements from national disability organizations to build a non-partisan community coalition. BFC/CSB would also like to identify point persons from these organizations to act as key contacts.

The steering committee of BFC/CSB has drafted a set of principles concerning a CDA that are drawn from the principles that underpin the provincial disability legislation in Ontario and Manitoba. A CDA is not meant to replace provincial disability legislation. It will complement such legislation and benefit Canadians living in provinces with and without provincial disability legislation. At this point in time, CNIB, March of Dimes Canada, Canadian Hearing Society and MS Society of Canada have endorsed the BFC/CSB principles and confirmed their support for the movement to enact a CDA. There is no individual or organizational charge for membership in BFC/CSB.

Please contact Donna Jodhan, Founder of Barrier-Free Canada, at info@barrierfreecanada.org 📧️ with any questions or to express your organization’s support and identify a key contact.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | Mastodon (Search For: @news@mastodon.barrierfreecanada.org).

⬆︎ 3.) Sponsor: Hadley

Sponsor Since: September 18th 2023 📅️

Website: https://hadleyhelps.org/ 🌐️

Email: info@hadleyhelps.org 📧️

Phone: (800) 323-4238 📱️

Get Started: https://hadleyhelps.org/learn 🎓

What would you like to learn today?

Donate: https://hadleyhelps.org/donate/support-hadley ❤

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations to fund its programs.

About: The mission of Hadley is to create personalized learning opportunities that empower adults with vision loss or blindness to thrive — at home, at work, and in their communities.

Founded in 1920 by William Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life, Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who “get it.” And you don’t need to come to Hadley. Hadley’s help comes to you; online, on the phone or through the mail.

Since relaunching in July 2020, more than 70,000 people have signed up with Hadley, registering more than 200,000 workshop interactions. And our workshops have 98% satisfaction ratings. We reach all 50 states and more than 100 countries. And more people learn braille from Hadley than from any other organization worldwide.

Hadley is a proud partner of the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program.

Hadley’s help conveniently meets learners where they are. Free of wait lists. Free of office visits. Free of charge.

Social: Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | YouTube

⬆︎ 2.) Sponsor: Eyes on Success

Sponsor Since: August 21, 2023 📅️

Website: https://eyesonsuccess.net/ 🌐️

About: This half-hour weekly podcast and radio program discusses products, services and daily living tips for people with vision loss. It is available through radio reading services across North America, via several internet streaming services, and to everyone else as a podcast. To date, the show has been downloaded in all 50 states in the US and over 100 other countries on all the inhabited continents. Eyes On Success is hosted and produced by Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey.

Each episode is basically a success story. Some are human stories of visually impaired people’s accomplishments in academics, employment, sports or pastimes. Others are descriptions of adaptive aids that enable visually impaired people to achieve things. These include screen readers, magnifiers, navigation aids, and others. In all cases, the focus is on success.

Eyes On Success has been airing weekly since January 2011. Prior to January 2013 the name of the show was ViewPoints. Other than the name, nothing has changed.

Listening To Eyes On Success

You can listen to Eyes On Success on your smart home device by saying “play the Eyes On Success podcast”, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, YouTube or your local radio reading service. Listeners can also follow the show on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).

Connecting with Eyes On Success

Email: To contact us with questions, comments or suggestions for future shows send an e-mail to hosts@EyesOnSuccess.net 📧️.

Weekly Announcements: If you would like to receive weekly announcements of upcoming episodes, you can join our low traffic “announcements only” list by sending an e-mail to: EyesOnSuccess+subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️.

Email Forum: If you would like to connect with other listeners and share your thoughts about what you’ve heard on the show, you can join our listener email forum by sending an email to: EOS_Discuss+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️

⬆︎ 1.) Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions

Sponsor Since: November 7th 2022 📅️

Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐️

Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education.

Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️

Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️

About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We’re proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it’s a right. It’s also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive?

Contact us here. We’ll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs.

⬆︎ 17.) Sponsor: Your Name Here

Sponsor Since: Today 📅️

Website: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsorship-packages/ 🌐️

Phone: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

Email: news@accessinformationnews.com 📧️

About: Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world’s leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 49,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here.

We couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for your support!

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As of November 7, 2022 the distribution of Access Information News is made possible by our Sponsors, our Supporters, our Advertisers and Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd., a leading international provider of professionally outsourced marketing administration and consultation services.

Any time the Access Information News Publication carries less than its Sponsor limit, Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. donates the remaining dollars necessary to keep the publication running.

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Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4)

In addition to serving as Publisher for Access Information News Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters, PR-Director for the AT-Newswire Press Release News Distribution Service, and President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Access Information News on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP
Email: publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️
Toll-Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

Aaron Di Blasi, PMP

Email: publisher@toptechtidbits.com 📧️
Toll Free: +1 (855) 578-6660 📱️

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Location: Boulder, Colorado

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News John also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and low-vision persons.

John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

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Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Jenna also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits and AI-Weekly newsletters and runs her own advocacy foundation.

Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd.

Jenna’s son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology.

Jenna Lang, PMP

Editor (2024-Present)
AI-Weekly 🌐
The Week’s News in Artificial Intelligence

Editor (2022-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information

Project Management Professional (2022 – Present)
Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. 🌐
Innovative ideas. Solutions that perform.

Editor (2020-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology

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Editor: Vicki Walton

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Editor Since: January 9, 2024

Location: Benton City, WA

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (PST/PDT) (GMT-8/GMT-7)

In addition to serving as an Editor to Access Information News Vicki also serves as an Editor to the Top Tech Tidbits publication and works as a Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester at Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Vicki Walton

Editor (2024-Present)
Top Tech Tidbits 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Technology

Editor (2024-Present)
Access Information News 🌐
The Week’s News in Access Information

Web Accessibility Specialist / IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges 🌐
Better Jobs, Brighter Futures, a Stronger Washington

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ABOUT ♿️

Founded in 2022, Access Information News is the world’s leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 49,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week, along with the caregivers, companies and organizations that serve and support them. Subscribe here. Review the most recent issues here. Access Information refers to informational topics that directly affect the lives of people with disabilities. Access Information includes any and all information related to bettering the lives of people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang and Vicki Walton. Access Information News is a sponsor, reader and advertiser supported publication.

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