In 2025, the American Foundation for the blind (AFB) launched the AFB Scholars Program, which provides substantial financial support and mentoring to graduate and undergraduate students who are blind. Our first cohort welcomed four students into the program, and we had a chance at the 2025 AFB Leadership Conference to sit down and meet with two of the scholars, Josh Olukanni at Georgetown and Annika Ariel at Stanford. Applications are open through February. 17th for our next class of scholars. Visit the scholars program page to learn more and apply. Goto: https://www.afb.org/scholarships.

Visit the podcast page for other episodes and transcripts, and to learn more about AFB or to support our work creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision, visit us online at www.afb.org.

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Welcome back to another episode of AFB Possibilities, a podcast from the American Foundation for the Blind. In this episode, Tony Stephens sits down for a conversation with Matt Ater.

Matt is Senior Vice President for Vispero, a leading global assistive technology and digital accessibility company. In this episode, Matt share his own journey as a blind leader in the digital accessibility space. Together, he and Tony cover the span from the early days of low tech, to what exciting opportunities are on the horizon through high tech. Matt's leadership has helped make the world more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision -- he's even in the kiosk Hall of Fame. So, we hope you enjoy this conversation.

You can learn more about the exciting work of Vispero at: https://vispero.com

Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and click here to access the podcast page for past episodes and transcripts.

To learn more about AFB or to support our work, visit us online at www.afb.org.

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As we kick-off 2026, we wanted to share a special episode taken from the opening plenary of the AFB Leadership Conference held in Arlington, Virginia this past November. In this episode, we welcome leaders from across the field of blindness who weigh in on the current pressing issues facing people who are blind or have low vision today.

Please be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast from wherever you get your podcasts. We're excited to bring an engaging new season of content to you over the coming year as we ramp up our podcasting efforts. Transcripts are available here on the AFB podcast page. For questions or comments, or to suggest an episode, email communications@afb.org.

Learn more about the American Foundation for the Blind by visiting our website at www.afb.org and consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support our work.

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Welcome to another episode of the AFB Possibilities Podcast. To mark Vocational Rehabilitation awareness week, which spans June 9th - 13th, AFB’s Tony Stephens sat down for an engaging conversation with Dr. Randy Pierce of Future Insight and Russell Martello from Visions to discuss the benefits around holistic approaches to rehabilitation.

Tony, Randy, and Russell met through the annual Vision Serve Alliance Conference this past April, where they spearheaded a track on holistic rehabilitation for people who are blind or low vision. At the end of the conference, they were committed to carrying on the conversations from the conference. So, Tony was excited they were able to join him to not only share their passion for this innovative approach to fostering independence, but we also get a sense of the rich history each guest has, which has helped form their own success in the field of blindness and low vision.

Russel serves as the Chief Development Officer for Visions, which is one of New York’s leading rehabilitation centers for people who are blind or have low vision. Randy serves as President & CEO of Future Insight, one of the leading rehabilitation centers in New Hampshire. Blinded in his early 20s, Randy is also an avid extreme outdoor enthusiast. You can learn more about his own adventures across the globe in his published memoir, See You at the Summit: My blind journey from the depths of loss to the heights of achievement.

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Spring has sprung, and so has a new season for the AFB Possibilities Podcast. As we kick-off this season, we’ll be focusing in on AFB’s Award winning documentary film Possibilities, which presents an authentic portrayal of life today for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. The film was awarded this past weekend the Broader Vision Documentary Award at the Garden State Film Festival, and we’re excited to share with you one of the featured voices in the film, New Jersey’s own Krystal Allen.

Recorded in 2024, AFB’s own Melody Goodspeed joined Krystal for a conversation on the challenges people face when striving for independence, and the joys of shared experiences that blind people share across the world. Haling from Newark, New Jersey, Krystal is a leading community voice for people with vision loss and founded the nonprofit EyesLikeMine, which is rooted in the firm belief that “Vision loss doesn’t break us, it builds…” She shares her own story and the work underway in North Jersey to breakdown misconceptions of blindness. A past fellow with AFB's Blind Leaders Development Program, she stresses the importance of mentoring and finding those pathways that open doors to independence.

Formally the Inform & Connect podcast, the AFB Possibilities Podcast captures the real life experiences of people who are blind or have low vision and those working to make our world more inclusive and accessible. A production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), listeners can learn more about the work of AFB by visiting www.afb.org.

Be sure to like and subscribe to this podcast and consider supporting our work by making a tax-deductible gift to AFB.

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AFB Possibilities is a production of the American Foundation for the blind, a podcast that focuses on life, culture, and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision. AFB Possibilities is produced and edited by Tony Stephens at the Pickle Factory in Baltimore, MD with digital media support by Kelly Gasque and Breanna Kerr. The theme music is by Zizo, compliments of ArtList.IO.. To learn more about AFB, or to help support our work, visit www.afb.org. Be sure to like and subscribe, and you can visit the podcast page at: https://afb.org/news-publications/media/afb-possibilities-podcast

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The AFB Possibilities Podcast is a production of the American Foundation for the blind. Previously the Inform and Connect Podcast, we take a deep dive into life, culture, and happenings for those experiencing blindness and low-vision. Melody Goodspeed is the host. And with her faithful guide dog Barney by her side, they travel the country, both literally and virtually, capturing the stories and experiences from the blind and low-vision community.

Ted Francavilla has been an active member of the AFB Board of Trustees, shepherding AFB's finances over the years. A retired senior executive with JPMorgan Chase, he's been a passionate advocate for people who are blind or have low vision over the decades, and he recognizes the importance that donors play toward making nonprofit missions move forward. Elizabeth Updike has over 40 years in the business of financial planning and wealth management. Together, she and Ted share best practices and advice for those of retirement age on how they can give smartly and make their money last longer.

Like this program? Please like and subscribe, and even consider making a donation to support our work expanding opportunity and creating a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. Visit www.afb.org to learn more.

Check out the AFB Possibilities podcast page for past episodes and transcripts.

Produced and edited by Tony Stephens at the Pickle Factory in Baltimore, Maryland. Digital media support from Kelly Gasque and Breanna Kerr.

Questions or comments? Email us at communications@afb.org.

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Welcome to another episode of the Inform & Connect Podcast, a production of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). In this episode, AFB’s Melody Goodspeed and Tony Stephens catch up with Spectrum’s Petr Kucheryavyy, who provides a breakdown of what’s new with SpectrumAccess and exciting news on the horizon for consumers of audio described content.

As the weather moves us more indoors, what better way to meet the changing seasons than curled up on the couch streaming the latest and greatest flics, or heading out to enjoy the rush of films that move into theaters during the final months of 2023. There’s lots on the horizon around making media more accessible, and Petr shares what’s in store for not just Spectrum subscribers, but anyone who enjoys accessing inclusive media through the SpectrumAccess app. So, before you press pause to cue up your own favorite streaming playlist, be sure to like and subscribe to the Inform & Connect podcast.

Inform & Connect is made possible through the generous supporters of the American Foundation for the Blind. Since 1921, AFB has worked to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. Consider making a gift today to AFB! Your contribution not only helps support this podcast, but all the exciting work our team does to bring the best in evidence-based research, advocacy, and programs intended to make our mission a reality. Go to www.afb.org to learn more about AFB. Transcripts of this podcast are also available on our podcast page for each episode.