VisionWalk Philadelphia
White Canes Connect
In Episode 112 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Bailey Bostelman, Regional Field Director for the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). The episode highlights the upcoming VisionWalk in Philadelphia on October 5th, where Lisa will be participating. Bailey shares insights into the mission of FFB, which has raised over $915 million to fund research for inherited retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease. She emphasizes the importance of community education, connecting those with low vision to resources, and the organization's no-cost...
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What to Expect in Erie
White Canes Connect
In Episode 111 of White Canes Connect, co-hosts David Goldstein and Emily Gindlesperger, both Vice Presidents of the NFB of Pennsylvania, discuss the exciting details surrounding the upcoming state convention in Erie. This year marks a return to Erie after over two decades, and the event will take place at the Ambassador Banquet and Conference Center. The venue promises accessibility and convenience, with two hotels connected directly to the center. Emily and David provide a rundown of the convention highlights, including a Veterans Celebration, talent show, and the highly anticipated auction...
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Erie 2024: Tracy Soforenko’s Path to Leadership and Advocacy
White Canes Connect
In Episode 110 of White Canes Connect, co-hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein gear up for the upcoming National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania State Convention, which will be held from November 7–10, 2024, in Erie, PA. The episode features an insightful conversation with Lynn Heitz, NFB of Pennsylvania’s president, and Tracy Soforenko, NFB of Virginia president and national representative for the event. The discussion covers the significance of hosting the convention in Erie for the first time since 1992, aiming to reach a broader audience of blind individuals across...
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Blind Social Club Receives $5000 Award for Social Initiatives
White Canes Connect
In episode 109 of White Canes Connect, co-hosts David Goldstein and Lisa Bryant engage in an enlightening conversation with Simone Cooper, founder of the Blind Social Club, and Katie Sampson, an advisor for the Sowing Excellence Awards. Simone shares her journey from starting the International Cuisine Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2017 to changing the name to a more-fitting Blind Social Club, which has since evolved into a vibrant community initiative aimed at fostering social connections among blind and visually impaired individuals. Simone discusses the inspiration behind the...
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Accessible Voting in Pennsylvania
White Canes Connect
In episode 108 of White Canes Connect, hosted by David Goldstein, the focus is on accessible voting in Pennsylvania. Diane Gordian from the Pennsylvania Department of State joins the podcast to discuss the importance of ensuring voting accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The episode features a recording from the August 7th "Coffee with the President" meeting, where Diane highlights key laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Voting Rights Act, that protect voters' rights. She also provides guidance on how voters can access support and assistance at polling...
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Heartfelt Experiences: National Convention's Impact on First-Timers
White Canes Connect
In Episode 107 of White Canes Connect, hosted by Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein, the focus is on the recent national convention. The episode features first-time attendees sharing their experiences and highlights. Angela Ferguson expressed how the convention surpassed her expectations, offering valuable insights and camaraderie. Anissa Brown and Kenny Robinson echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the supportive atmosphere and diverse activities, from legal seminars to talent showcases. Rabbi Lenny Sarko and Kosi Asabere discussed the challenges of overlapping events but praised the...
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NFB Convention Preview: Fun, Tips, and Excitement
White Canes Connect
In White Canes Connect episode 106, Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein, alongside guests Lynn Heights, Kaye Baker, and Camille Tate, delve into preparations and excitement for the upcoming NFB National Convention in Orlando, Florida, from July 3rd to 8th. The conversation transitions into an engaging discussion with Lynn, the President of the NFB of Pennsylvania, Kaye, the Secretary of the NFB of Florida, and Camille, the First Vice President of the NFB of Florida. They share their experiences and responsibilities in organizing the convention, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and...
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From NFB to Supreme Court: Laura Wolk Slavis' Story
White Canes Connect
In this episode of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein speak with Laura Wolk Slavis, the first blind woman to clerk at the United States Supreme Court. Laura shares her remarkable journey, starting from her early involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) due to her childhood diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Her father's proactive engagement with the NFB's resources set Laura on a path of empowerment and opportunity. Laura discusses her professional trajectory, including her time in Washington, D.C., her work with federal judges, and her impactful year with...
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Blind Baseball Comes to the USA with Ed Plumacher
White Canes Connect
In episode 104 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein sit down with Ed Plumacher from the United States Blind Baseball Association (USBBA). They delve into the inspiring journey of Ed, who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 15 and has since become a pivotal figure in adaptive sports. Ed shares his passion for blind baseball, detailing the foundational stages of the USBBA and his dedication to growing the sport in the U.S. He recounts his extensive career in professional sports broadcasting and how he adapted to vision loss by becoming an adaptive technology...
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Revolutionizing Tactile Aids with Touch Technology
White Canes Connect
In episode 103 of White Canes Connect, Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein speak with Kat Bottner, the First Vice President of the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, a along with PhD candidates Abigail Nolin and Kayla Hepler from the University of Delaware's Department of Material Science and Engineering. They delve into their groundbreaking research on tactile aids aimed at enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired. The project, initiated through Kat's network connection and supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health, seeks to...
info_outlineIn episode 103 of White Canes Connect, Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein speak with Kat Bottner, the First Vice President of the Keystone Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, a along with PhD candidates Abigail Nolin and Kayla Hepler from the University of Delaware's Department of Material Science and Engineering. They delve into their groundbreaking research on tactile aids aimed at enhancing accessibility for the visually impaired.
The project, initiated through Kat's network connection and supported by a grant from the National Institute of Health, seeks to innovate beyond traditional raised bumps and lines used in Braille. Abigail and Kayla explain their focus on the material properties that affect touch perception, like surface roughness and chemistry, to create more advanced tactile stimuli. This could potentially revolutionize the accessibility of spatial information such as graphs, maps, and diagnostic tests.
Kat's role as a consultant involves recruiting participants for the research and ensuring that their work remains user-focused. She also helps make the project's communication accessible, including braille labeling and proofreading.
The research has shown promising results, with tests indicating that certain chemical coatings can be distinguished by touch, paving the way for new tactile aids. The team is excited about the potential applications, including more intuitive touchscreens and enhanced Braille displays, which could significantly improve the daily lives of the visually impaired by providing more detailed and accessible tactile information.
Show notes at https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/103
Participate in the Study
If you would like to participate in the University of Delaware study, reach out to the team via email [email protected].
An Easy Way to Help the NFB of PA
Support the NFB of PA with every purchase at White Cane Coffee Company by going to https://www.whitecanecoffee.com/ref/nfbp. When you use that link to purchase from White Cane Coffee, the NFB of PA earns a 10% commission! Share the link with your family and friends! Listen to Erin and Bob Willman from White Cane Coffee on episode 072 of White Canes Connect.
Donate to the NFB of PA
If you want to donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, visit https://www.NFBofPA.org/give/.
We Want to Hear Your Story
Reach out with questions and comments, or share ideas! We want to hear from you. Call us at (267) 338-4495 or at [email protected].
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