AT Banter Podcast

This week Rob, Ryan, and Lis sit down to talk with Elizabeth Lalonde, advocate and founder of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, located in Victoria, BC. They discuss the origins of the Centre and its unique service model which includes a “non-custodial” approach to training in which blind teachers train blind students, before diving into a lively conversation regarding the importance of more training options for visually impaired Canadians. Show Transcript https://atbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/at-banter-podcast-episode-381-elizabeth-lalonde-pacific-training-centre.pdf Show Notes Pacific Training Centre for the Blind https://pacifictrainingcentre.ca/ Pacific Training Centre for the Blind on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091941198664 AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at #106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Rob, Ryan and Steve welcome Rabiah Dhaliwal, youth mental health activist, humanitarian, advocate and founder of Voice for Hope Foundation to the show to discuss her work in reducing the stigma around mental health and increasing access to mental health services, disability rights and inclusion, and the new Touchscapes Art Exhibit which brings accessible art to the public to highlight the importance of universal design. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/05/at-banter-podcast-episode-380-rabiah-dhaliwal-and-voices-for-hope-foundation.pdf Show Notes Voices For Hope Foundation https://www.voicesforhopefoundation.ca/ Touchscapes Exhibition https://www.nafvan.com/touchscapes-exhibition AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Rob, Ryan, Lis, and Steve get geeky about accessibility and nachos as they welcome back Tanner Gers to the show. In the years since Tanner last visited, he founded a company called AccessAbility Officer, which provides accessibility audits, technical accessibility certifications, and disability employment services. We discuss the growing demand for digital accessibility testing and certification and how it has the potential to provide a new career path for job seekers with disabilities. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/05/at-banter-podcast-episode-379-tanner-gers-and-accessability-officer.pdf Show Notes AccessAbility Officer https://accessabilityofficer.com/ Tanner Gers – AT Banter Episode 235 https://atbanter.com/2021/04/13/at-banter-episode-235-tanner-gers/ Tanner Gers LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannergers/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

AT Banter heads to the movies this week as Rob, Steve, Ryan, and Lis welcome blogger, YouTuber and movie reviewer John Stark, also known as Mac The Movie Guy. They discuss John’s vision journey, what made him position himself as a visually impaired movie reviewer, and the importance of high quality audio description before diving into a spirited discussion of some favorite movies and what he's looking forward to during the summer movie season. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/05/at-banter-podcast-episode-378-john-stark-aka-mac-the-movie-guy.pdf Show Notes Mac The Movie Guy Online https://macthemovieguy.com/ Mac The Movie Guy on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT8prgdVvLZW44eyY2roewQ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Excitement and the smell of coffee is in the air this week as the gang gathers together (at 8am on a Monday morning no less) to welcome Casey Greer and Cassandra Mendez from the Rare With Flair podcast. They discuss the origins of the podcast, the importance of sharing their lived experiences with others with rare diseases, share their insights into their podcasting journey, and talk about the impact the show has had in their lives. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/at-banter-podcast-episode-377-casey-greer-and-cassandra-mendez.pdf Show Notes Rare With Flair https://rarewithflair.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Ryan, Steve, and Rob welcome Tom Frank and Christine Chaikin from the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. CCLVI provides support, resources, education, and advocacy for those who are impacted by low vision and visual impairment. Tom and Christine tell us about CCLVI's origins, how it provides support, resources, and education to its membership and what advocacy looks like for the organization. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/at-banter-podcast-episode-376-council-of-citizens-with-low-vision-international.pdf Show Notes CCLVI Website http://www.cclvi.org Resource book and entertainment https://cclvi.info/ltlv/book-resources/ Resources in different categories https://cclvi.info/resources/ Join CCLVI http://www.cclvi.org/join https://cclvi.org/join/member-form/ https://cclvi.org/join/pay2022 AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

The air is buzzing with assistive technology excitement and geekery as Steve makes his triumphant return to the show in time to walk us through his report of all the things he saw at CSUN, the annual assistive technology conference in California. His list includes a host of cool new products, from lasers to new braille technology, wearables, artificial intelligence, and a few surprises thrown in for good measure! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/at-banter-podcast-episode-375-csun-2024-round-up.pdf Show Notes Low Vision International https://lviamerica.com/ Zoomax https://www.zoomaxusa.com/ EuroBraille https://www.eurobraille.com/ Trysight https://trysight.com/ QD Laser https://www.qdlaser.com/en/ Irie-AT https://irie-at.com/ Envision AI https://www.letsenvision.com/ Paige Braille https://paigebraille.com/ Audible Sight https://www.audiblesight.ai/ Paige Braille https://lviamerica.com/ Rebokeh https://rebokeh.com/ Orbit Research http://www.orbitresearch.com/ HIMS https://hims-inc.com/ New Haptics https://www.newhaptics.com/ Glidance https://glidance.io/ Autonomous Living Technologies https://www.auli.tech/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Love, exciting and new. Come aboard, we’re expecting you. No, we aren’t talking about love on a boat this week, we are talking love on a roll! Come join Rob, Ryan and Lis as they welcome podcaster and accessibility advocate Garrett Mayersohn to the show to talk about his podcast, Love On A Roll. We discuss dating with a disability, why he started the podcast, and how the push for inclusion and diversity has changed the dating environment (and how it hasn’t). It’s a fascinating discussion, filled with dating tips and surprises galore! You won’t want to miss this one! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/04/at-banter-podcast-episode-373-garrett-mayersohn-and-love-on-a-roll.pdf Show Notes Love On A Roll – on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-on-a-roll/id1524091310 Love On A Roll – on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/01SvVeb90zYJgR9nYWoSRg?si=rT7IxSgqTR2ouzOnmgc1gQ&nd=1&dlsi=07d6455c8f724dcf AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at #106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Colleen Connor returns for Part 2 of last week’s epic discussion of Audio Description including a scintillating discussion about describing “sensitive material” that made Ryan and Lis giggle and that you won’t want to miss! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/at-banter-podcast-episode-373-colleen-connor-returns-part-2.pdf Show Notes Blind Inspiration Cast https://www.blindinspirationcast.com/ Audio Description Training Retreats https://www.adtrainingretreats.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This episode Rob and Ryan feel old as they realize that it’s been 5 years since they have had this week’s guest on the show. Making her triumphant return to the podcast is Colleen Connor, director and co-founder of Audio Description Training Retreats and fellow podcaster at Blind Inspiration Cast. We catch up with her to see what is new after 5 years before diving into an inside look at Audio Description so epic that we had to break it into two parts! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/at-banter-podcast-episode-372-colleen-connor-returns-part-1.pdf Show Notes Blind InspirationCast https://www.blindinspirationcast.com/ Audio Description Training Retreats https://www.adtrainingretreats.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week the gang reassembles to get a bit geeky about assistive technology as they welcome Courtney Cameron, Eastern Region Coordinator for Neil Squire Society’s innovative program Makers Making Change - an online platform providing a low-cost alternative to commercially available assistive technologies that involves pairing volunteer makers with people with specific AT needs. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/at-banter-podcast-episode-371-courtney-cameron-and-makers-making-change-1.pdf Show Notes Neil Squire Society https://www.neilsquire.ca/ Makers Making Change https://www.makersmakingchange.com/s/ What Is Makers Making Change? https://youtu.be/s1z-3uZ3G60?si=TwPerMNhMJXrAJqa AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week we are diving back into the wonderful world of audio description as Ryan, Lis, and Rob welcome Tabitha Kenlon, Project Coordinator for The Audio Description Project. The ADP, founded by the American Council of the Blind, serves as a comprehensive resource for both consumers and providers of audio description services as well as a central hub for information and resources related to audio description including an extensive directory of audio-described content. If you are a fan of audio description, you don’t want to miss this one! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/03/at-banter-podcast-episode-370-tabitha-kenlon-the-audio-description-project.pdf Show Notes The Audio Description Project https://adp.acb.org/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

There is much rejoicing on the show this week as the Banter gang heads to their favorite place to talk about their favorite subject .. and if you guessed “the kitchen” to talk about “food”, you are clearly a regular listener! The rest of you, get your minds out of the gutter and listen as Lis, Ryan, and Rob welcome Mary Mammoliti, host of AMI’s Dish With Mary to talk about, food, accessible cooking, and her own journey through vision loss after being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/at-banter-podcast-episode-369-mary-mammoliti.pdf Show Notes Watch “Dish With Mary” on AMI Plus https://amiplus.ca/m/0/episode?seriesId=74X8SA9S Kitchen Cofession https://www.kitchenconfession.com AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Rob, Lis, and Ryan welcome Kevin Shaw, entrepreneur, broadcast media professional, digital accessibility specialist, musician and host of the AMI show “Mind Your Own Business” to the show! They discuss Kevin’s background, life as an entrepreneur, some of the common pitfalls faced by many starting out a new business, how technology has impacted today’s entrepreneurs, and much much more! Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/at-banter-podcast-episode-368-kevin-shaw-.pdf Show Notes Watch Mind Your Own Business on AMI Plus https://amiplus.ca/m/0/episode?seriesId=2TrQmHNU Kevin Shaw Online https://kevin-shaw.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

What do you get when you combine the magic of professional audio description with the detailed and wonderous illustrations in children’s books? Join Rob, Ryan and Steve this week as they talk with The Audiobook Wizard himself, Richard Rieman and find out! From professional news radio talent to audio describer and author, Richard tells us all about his current passion to create accessible versions of children’s books and even brings along a few samples to showcase how much a descriptive audio track can enhance the experience for any child. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/at-banter-podcast-episode-367-richard-rieman-.pdf Show Notes Imagination Storybooks https://dcmp.org/producers/1913-imagination-storybooks The Audiobook Wizard https://theaudiobookwizard.com/ The Audio Book Wizard on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5lqjv2TcPlb47Px4OjaiQg AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week the gang is very excited to welcome Virginia Vuleta, Director of Digital Content at Accessible Media Inc to the show to talk all about AMI’s brand new streaming digital streaming service AMI Plus. They discuss the benefits of this new streaming service, the challenges of implementing it, and future plans to roll it out to multiple devices. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/at-banter-podcast-episode-366-ami-plus.pdf Show Notes AMI Plus https://www.amiplus.ca/ AMI https://www.ami.ca/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Get ready to get a little geeky as Rob, Ryan, and Lis break down and discuss a few of the new assistive technology devices that were featured at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that happened in early January. They break down and discuss their impressions of Guidi, a haptic smart belt, Oorion, an app that features objection recognition, and EyeCane, smart glasses to assist people with age related Macular Degeneration. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/at-banter-podcast-episode-365-ces-discussion.pdf Show Notes Guidi https://www.ai-guided.com/product Oorion App https://www.oorion.fr/en EyeCane https://eyecane.com/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

This week Rob, Ryan, and Lis welcome Amos Miller, founder and CEO of Glidance, to the show to talk about their new self-guided mobility aid called Glide. They discuss its creation, how it fits in as an aid between a mobility cane and a guide dog, how it uses robotics and AI for objection detection and avoidance, and many of the use case scenarios for the device. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/at-banter-podcast-episode-364-amos-miller-and-glide.pdf Show Notes Glidance https://glidance.io/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324 or visit their Assistive Technology Showroom at 106 – 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

It’s been 57 years since we have had them on the show, so we figured it was high time to have the boys from Double Tap back on the show! This week the gang welcome Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, hosts of AMI’s Double Tap podcast Double Tap TV to talk about Assistive Technology, looking back at some of the highlights of 2023 as well as looking forward to what we’re excited about in 2024. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/at-banter-podcast-episode-363-double-tap-returns.pdf Show Notes Double Tap Online https://doubletaponair.com/ AMI https://www.ami.ca/ AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.

Recorded on World Braille Day, the AT Banter Gang sits down with a full house of Braille advocate superstars, including Riane LaPaire from National Network for Equitable Library Service, Adam Wilton and Jen Jesso from Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired, and Charmaine Co from Centre for Equitable Library Access. We dive into the importance of World Braille Day, some of the Braille related events planned for the month long “World Braille Days”, and discuss the importance of highlighting the importance of Braille in their daily lives. Show Transcript https://atbanter.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/at-banter-podcast-episode-362-braillepalooza-2024.pdf Show Notes NNELS https://nnels.ca/ CELA https://celalibrary.ca/ PRCVI https://www.prcvi.org/ World Braille Days 2024 Events https://nnels.ca/world-braille-days-wbd-2024 History of Braille https://nnels.ca/world-braille-days-wbd-2024 https://celalibrary.ca/Louis_Braille_EN AT Banter is brought to you by Canadian Assistive Technology, providing sales and training in Assistive Technology and Accessibility with over 30 years of knowledge and experience. Visit them online at www.canasstech.com or call toll-free 1-844-795-8324. Need repairs on your device? Chaos Technical Services offers service and support on almost any piece of Assistive Technology, while also providing parts and batteries. Visit them online at www.chaostechnicalservices.com or call 778-847-6840.