S201: Personal Safety At Home and in Public with Marty Sobo

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow launches the show’s new 16-week safety series with a conversation on personal safety at home and in public. Guest Marty Sobo, longtime accessibility advocate and host of Aftersight’s new podcast Code Orange, shares practical, real-world strategies for staying safe—whether you’re navigating daily life, traveling, or facing emergencies. Marty draws on his unique background as a former firefighter, technologist, and blind professional to offer actionable tips for home safety, traveling with confidence, and building a personal preparedness plan. The discussion also introduces Code Orange, which focuses on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness, and explores why preparation can reduce fear in unexpected situations.

Contact Info
Guest: Marty Sobo — Host of Code Orange and accessibility advocate
Aftersight Contact: [e-mail] | [phone]
Producer: Jonathan Price

Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Marty Sobo
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers
00:00 — Introduction to the safety series
01:15 — Marty’s background in firefighting & technology
05:55 — Journey into accessibility and advocacy
07:25 — Lessons from California wildfires
09:54 — Preparing your home for emergencies
12:21 — Low-tech and tech-based home safety tools
14:47 — Traveling safely with vision loss
17:08 — Requesting help when out in public
19:30 — Using Aira, FaceTime, and building a safety network
21:51 — A real-life drop-off gone wrong
24:10 — How Code Orange began
26:31 — The value of preparedness in emergencies
28:58 — Practical safety actions to take today
31:18 — Closing and listener contact info