Blind Abilities - the Musical No. 5: When the Screen Spoke Back to Me - Curiosity, Confidence, and Accessible Tech
Release Date: 04/02/2026
Blind Abilities - the Musical No. 5: When the Screen Spoke Back to Me - Curiosity, Confidence, and Accessible Tech
Blind Abilities
We return with another Blind Abilities Musical about that first time you heard the screen speak back to you. How you dug in an learned about accessibility and use it in the workplace. And how the ever changing tech world keeps you on your toes. After the music ends, Pete Lane, Christina Covington, Lori Thompson and Jeff Thompson jump back into the studio for a lively, reflective, and thoughtful conversation about accessible technology and how it has changed their lives. They reflect on the first time they heard JAWS, VoiceOver, or ZoomText Extra speak, and how those early moments opened doors...
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No Limits to Learning: A Summer Program That Builds Independence
Blind Abilities
Step into a summer that could change everything. At the Colorado Center for the Blind, the invites blind, deafblind, and low vision students ages 15–21 to live, learn, and grow in a fully immersive experience. You’ll stay in real apartments, cook your own meals, travel using public transit, and build independence from morning to night. Days are filled with hands-on training in Braille, technology, orientation and mobility, and independent living skills—taught by blind mentors who’ve been where you are. Beyond the classroom, adventure awaits with rock climbing, whitewater rafting,...
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Curiosity Opens the Door: Louie McGee’s Journey from Minnesota to Law School
Blind Abilities
What does it take to step beyond comfort and truly build independence? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Louie McGee shares his journey from Minnesota to law school in Chicago, proving that curiosity—not perfection—is the real key to success. Born with Stargardt’s, Louie doesn’t just adapt—he explores. From completing a triathlon and rafting the Grand Canyon to studying abroad in London, he shows how asking questions and taking chances can open doors you didn’t even know existed. For students beginning their academic journey, Louie offers a powerful message: your path...
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Aira Goes Wearable Again: Unlocking Freedom with Meta Glasses
Blind Abilities
Aira is stepping into a new era of accessibility with hands-free support through Meta smart glasses, and Jenine Stanley joins Jeff Thompson to break it all down. With the latest update to the Aira Explorer app, users can now connect directly to Meta glasses and access visual interpreting services with a simple voice command—no phone handling required. This shift brings back the power of wearable access, allowing users to stay fully engaged in their environment while navigating, working, or tackling everyday tasks. Whether you’re using a cane, walking with a guide dog, or even...
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New Language, New Opportunities: Unlocking Independence Through English Learning with Abbi Mayland
Blind Abilities
What if learning English could open the door to independence, education, and meaningful work? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson sits down with English Language Learning specialist Abbi Mayland from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. Abbi shares how she helps students who are blind, DeafBlind, or low vision — and who may not speak English—build the skills they need to succeed. Using creative, hands-on teaching methods like real objects, conversation, audio learning, and Braille, Abbi supports students from all over the world as they grow in confidence and...
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Wellness Wednesday: Self-Esteem vs. Self-Confidence — And Yes, Those Are Nice Shoes
Blind Abilities
What’s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence—and why does something as simple as a pair of shoes sometimes spark the conversation? In this Wellness Wednesday episode, Beth, Robin, and Jeff explore how the way we present ourselves can shape how we feel on the inside. From compliments and comments to personal style choices, the crew reflects on how outside voices and inner dialogue influence confidence and self-worth. Do we dress for comfort, expression, or approval? And how do we find the balance between listening to feedback and staying true to ourselves? Join the Wellness...
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Riding the Future: Inside Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox Autonomous Rides with Kevin Chao
Blind Abilities
In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff welcomes Kevin Chao, an early adopter who has taken more than 60 rides in autonomous vehicles across San Francisco and Austin. Kevin shares his firsthand experiences riding in Tesla RoboTaxis, Waymo vehicles, and Amazon’s new Zoox autonomous vehicle—built from the ground up with no steering wheel and inward-facing seats. He describes what it’s like to request, ride, and interact with these driverless systems while offering feedback that helps improve the experience. From accessibility to independence, Kevin explores what autonomous transportation...
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Honor Judy, Protect 504: Why Awareness and Advocacy Matter Right Now
Blind Abilities
What happens when the foundation of disability rights is challenged? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Thompson welcomes back disability advocate and Villanova graduate Kaleigh Brendle to talk about the growing legal challenge to Section 504—one of the most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities. Kaleigh explains how recent lawsuits could weaken the requirement that people with disabilities receive services in the most integrated settings, a principle that helps keep people living, learning, and working in their communities rather than being pushed into...
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Blind Abilities – The Musical: More Than One Way To Be Blind
Blind Abilities
In Episode 4 of Blind Abilities – The Musical, Lori, Christina, Pete, and Jeff explore the strength and diversity found within the blind and low vision community by highlighting two major national organizations serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Inspired by the spirit of Thomas Paine’s Revolutionary War pamphlets—written to encourage and unite—we imagined what it might be like to discover each organization through words meant to inform, inspire, and invite participation. Through music and storytelling, this episode reflects on the opportunities, advocacy,...
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More Than a Diagnosis: Seeing Hope with Dr. Suleiman Alibhai & the Prevention of Blindness Society
Blind Abilities
In this episode, Jeff travels to the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington to meet CEO Caren Forsten and Dr. Suleiman Alibhai, the organization’s low vision clinical director—and the conversation leaves him feeling something that can be hard to come by after years of appointments: real hope. Dr. Alibhai isn’t focused only on charts, drops, or procedures. He starts with the person—what daily life feels like right now, what has become harder, what’s been lost, and where someone is emotionally before anyone starts talking about solutions. Caren shares how...
info_outlineWe return with another Blind Abilities Musical about that first time you heard the screen speak back to you. How you dug in an learned about accessibility and use it in the workplace. And how the ever changing tech world keeps you on your toes.
After the music ends, Pete Lane, Christina Covington, Lori Thompson and Jeff Thompson jump back into the studio for a lively, reflective, and thoughtful conversation about accessible technology and how it has changed their lives. They reflect on the first time they heard JAWS, VoiceOver, or ZoomText Extra speak, and how those early moments opened doors to independence, speed, confidence, and inclusion. The group talks about learning curves, keyboard shortcuts, workplace productivity, iPhone accessibility, adapting to software updates, and the importance of maintaining strong basic skills when technology changes. Along the way, they share memories of older tools, joke about screen readers, sound speed, and emojis, and compare how Macs, Windows PCs, and iPhones fit into daily life. A strong theme throughout the conversation is curiosity: the willingness to explore, problem-solve, and keep learning. The discussion feels warm, personal, and empowering, showing that technology is most powerful when it helps people participate fully and independently.
Thanks for listening!