Penny Forward Podcast

"I now find advocacy really rewarding, and I realize that it's a long game, and sometimes advocacy's going to feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall, but every so often, the wall moves just a little bit. So, there is hope, and it can get better, and that's why I do believe, very strongly, in the work that the NFB does. Because it has turned many lives around, including mine." Join us as we talk with Jonathan Mosen from NFB. Show notes The Past, Present, and Future of Blindness Media and Technology with Jonathan MosenDownload Guest: Jonathan Mosen Jonathan's Email: jmosen@nfb.org Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

"I did come to the realization that the food I purchase in the grocery store is never as good as the food that I grew up eating, so how do I get that good food, those really great tomatoes? I have to grow it." Join us as we talk about Homesteading By Touch and learn exactly what that is, what it means with our guest, Nella Foster, who lives it. Show notes Homesteading by Touch TranscriptDownload Guest: Nella Foster Nella's Email: jellybeanfarm@gmail.com Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

This is a bonus episode of the Penny Forward Podcast, a show about blind people building bright futures one penny at a time. In this episode, we feature an excerpt from our September Financial Sense¢ program, featuring Everett Bacon, VP of Blindness Initiatives with Aira. Everett talks about Aira's partnerships with financial institutions, and how Aira explorers are using Aira to make managing their finances, and working with their financial institutions, more accessible. Show notes Banking With Aira TranscriptDownload Guest: Everett Bacon, VP of Blindness Initiatives with Aira Aira Email: support@aira.io Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Because of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we wanted to focus on Penny Forward’s employment programs, so we brought on Jeremy Grandstaff, who leads our youth employment and advocacy programs, and is also the author of our Employment Essentials course, to talk about those things. In addition to his work with Penny Forward, Jeremy lives just outside Washington D.C, with his husband Jerry and their seeing eye dog Ozzy. Jeremy works for CurbCutOS as the VP of Business Development, focusing on bringing in new customers to help them develop accessible digital assets. And he is a strong champion of learning in the workplace about DEI initiatives. Show notes Employment Programs with Jeremy Grandstaff TranscriptDownload Guest: Jeremy Grandstaff with CurbCutOS Jeremy Grandstaff Email: Jeremyg@curbcutos.com or Jeremy.Grandstaff@pennyforward.com Phone: 202-810-5368 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

James Boehm, Amanda Juetten, and Angus Kola from Kustom Canes, and the You Cane Give initiative, talk about their organizations and how they fund a need that's super important, and one we probably don't think about here in the United States, which is the needs of the blind and visually impaired in the rest of the world, who may not have access to something as simple as a long white cane. Show notes You Cane Give Initiative TranscriptDownload Guest: James Boehm, Amanda Juetten, Angus Kola from Kustom Canes and the You Cane Give initiative. Kustom Cane Website: https://youcanegive.org/ Kustom Cane Email: KustomCane@gmail.com You Cane Give Email: YouCaneGive@gmail-com Phone: 901-483-1515 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Learn about the founder of this startup and what it takes to make your dream turn into reality. Show notes Glidance TranscriptDownload Guest: Amos Miller Glidance Website: https://glidance.io/ Glidance Facebook Profile https://www.facebook.com/glidance.io Glidance LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/glidance/ Glidance Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/glidance.io/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

In this episode, we have Richard Rueda, Katie Frederick, and Lori Scharff, not necessarily in that order, from the APH Connect Center, back on, as we do almost every year at about this time, to talk about the APH Connect Center. For those of you who are unaware of what that is, we’ll tell you in just a second. We’ll also find out what’s new at the APH Connect Center, and what people might be able to be expecting from the future. Show notes Penny Forward Podcast S2024 E16Download Connect with APH Connect Center APH Website: www.aphconnectcenter.org Email: connectcenter@aph.org Call information and referral line: 800-232-5463 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris, Liz, and MOe talk with Mike Calvo, co-founder of Pneuma Solutions, about how, as a high school dropout, running with the wrong crowd, he found growth, success, and belonging in the blind community. Show notes Penny Forward Podcast S2024 E15Download Connect with Pneuma Solutions Pneuma Solutions Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris, Liz, and MOe talk with Mike Calvo, co-founder of Pneuma Solutions, about how, as a high school dropout, running with the wrong crowd, he found growth, success, and belonging in the blind community. Show notes S2024 Episode 14 Mike CalvoDownload Connect with Pneuma Solutions Pneuma Solutions Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Hosts sit down with Marci Duty, a rep for Computers for the Blind, and talk about their low-cost laptops and desktop computers for the blind, their partners, and the education classes you can get access to with a computer from Computers for the Blind. Show notes Penny-Forward-Podcast-S2024-E13Download Transcript .TXT File Connect with Computers For The Blind Computers For The Blind Website: https://computersfortheblind.org/ Computers For The Blind Email: service@computersfortheblind.org Computers For The Blind Phone: +1 214-340-6328 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris and Liz sit down with J.J. Meddaugh, founder of AT Guys, to learn how he took a chance on starting an access technology business 16 years ago, and why he thinks it continues to thrive. Show notes penny-forward-podcast-S2024-E12Download Transcript .TXT File Connect with AT Guys AT Guys Website: https://www.atguys.com AT Guys Facebook Profile: https:///facebook.com/atguys AT Guys LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atguys AT Guys Instagram Profile: https://instagram.com/atguys AT Guys Mastodon Profile:atguys@mastodon.social AT Guys Other Profile: https://www.blindbargains.com AT Guys Phone: +1 269-216-4798 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Chris and Liz sit down with Marty Sobo from the Unmute family of podcasts to talk about his vision loss journey and how he, along with his business partner, Michael Babcock, built their family of educational content to help the blind community learn to use technology to live, work, and play. Penny-Forward-Podcast-S2024-E11-UnmuteDownload Transcript .TXT File Show notes Unmute.show website Email Unmute at feedback@unmute.show Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Continuing the theme of "employment", Chris and Moe sit down with Penny Forward's Vice President Liz Bottner to discuss her employment journey ultimately leading to her position as Assistive Technology Specialist for the Library of Congress. Liz tell us all about her employment history and what she believes is key to being successfully employed as a blind person. Show notes Penny-Forward-S2024-E10Download Transcript .TXT File Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Liz and Moe sit down with Heather Miller, director of education and training at World Services for the Blind, to learn about the new Small Business Professional microcredential offered by WSB, The Chicago Lighthouse, and Miami University. The Chicago Lighthouse Miami University Microcredential equips prospective entrepreneurs to gain the knowledge and skills needed for starting and running a small business. Students must first successfully complete two Chicago Lighthouse “Business Workshop Series” and may subsequently complete the Miami University “Introduction to Marketing” course to earn a microcredential certification. Show notes penny forward S2024 E9_Business Start-Up MicrocredentialDownload Transcript .TXT File Website: World Services for the Blind - Microcredential Resource: Forsythe Entrepreneurial Center Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Topic: A new online shop, started by a Penny Forward member, creates items that celebrate our disabilities. Some of you may be familiar with Desirée on Tik Tok, YouTube or Instagram as the Nearly Blind Knitter and Stitcher. “In dealing with my own blindness and both of my daughters’ medical complexities, our family learned for us the best way to cope is with a very dark sense of humor, first responders, ED and ICU I’m looking at you when I say dark. We also observed that you can get away with saying very cheeky things on t-shirts that you can’t say to someone’s face, and with our current culture people seem to pay more attention to a t-shirt then what you are telling them. So Flaunt Your Ability was born." Desirée’s goal with these shirts is to be funny while making a point and educating people while not crossing the line into offensive. However, what offends one person doesn’t necessarily offend another. Words can be as powerful as you let them. Show notes Penny-Forward-Podcast-Flaunt-Your-AbilityDownload Transcript .TXT File Desiree Christian at blue.rock.girl@gmail.com Website: Flauntyourability.com YouTube: The Nearly Blind Knitter and Stitcher Instagram: The Nearly Blind Knitter and Stitcher TikTok: The Nearly Blind Knitter and Stitcher Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

In this episode of the Penny Forward podcast, Marc Gillard from Guide Dogs for the Blind discusses the Orientation and Mobility Immersion program, detailing its evolution and impact on individuals with visual impairments. The hosts, Chris Peterson, Liz Bottner, and MOe Carpenter, explore the challenges and successes of the program, which provides comprehensive training at no cost to participants.During our conversation, Mark opened up about the hurdles that come with providing orientation and mobility services. From funding limitations to the scarcity of qualified instructors and stringent eligibility criteria, the path to delivering these essential services is fraught with challenges. Yet, it's the determination to overcome these obstacles that truly defines the spirit of Guide Dogs for the Blind. Show notes Penny-Forward-Podcast-Guide-Dogs-for-the-BlindDownload Transcript .TXT file www.guidedogs.com www.briotix.com Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

Our February 28th Wednesday Workshop with YNAB was so well-received, we are making it available for everyone! Transcription Penny-Forward-S2024-E4.5-YNAB-Zoom-CallDownload

In this episode of the Penny Forward Podcast, hosts Chris Peterson and MOe Carpenter interview Tyler Bennett from Rightfully Sewn. The Kansas City non-profit focuses on providing education and job opportunities in sewing and fashion for those facing employment barriers. Tyler discusses Rightfully Sewn's mission, its integration with Alpha Point, and the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion. The conversation also covers the sewing job market, training specifics, and how Rightfully Sewn addresses challenges faced by the blind community, while fostering an environment that welcomes a variety of projects and people. Show notes Penny-Forward-S2024E6-Rightfully-SewnDownload Transcript .TXT file www.rightfullysewn.com Alphapointe.org Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

In this episode of the Penny Forward podcast, hosts Chris Peterson and MOe Carpenter are joined by Cody Bair, a blind CPA from Colorado who specializes in research and development tax credits. With co-host Liz Bottner attending the American Council of the Blind D.C. Leadership Conference, the conversation is focused on understanding taxes from a blind person's perspective. Cody shares his extensive experience and provides insights on various methods of filing taxes, emphasizing the use of e-filing for efficiency and security. He covers essential documents needed for tax preparation, such as W-2s and 1099s, and stresses the importance of organization and safety when submitting sensitive information. Cody outlines the difference between tax deductions and credits, highlighting the increased standard deduction for blind individuals and the potential for a tax credit for accessible technology purchases. He also discusses the accessibility of tax software like TurboTax, offering personal anecdotes on its ease of use and potential hurdles for visually impaired users. Additionally, Cody touches on the Vita program, a valuable resource for individuals with incomes under $64,000, and the IRS's ability to produce notices in alternative formats, which can aid visually impaired individuals in timely responding to IRS communications. Show notes Penny-Forward-S2024-E5-Taxes-With-A-Blind-CPA-TranscriptDownload Transcript .TXT file Cody Bair Email: codyjbair@yahoo.com Cody Bair Phone: (970) 673-6998 Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin

In this episode, hosts MOe Carpenter, Chris Peterson, and Liz Bottner welcome guest Janeen Lea. They engage in an open conversation about dating, relationships, and budgeting. They share personal stories and offer creative date ideas ranging from inexpensive activities like geocaching and picnicking to attending community theater. The group also discusses the significance of safety in dating, especially for blind individuals, and provides tips for staying safe on dates, such as having an exit strategy and respecting boundaries. Additionally, they touch on the importance of communication and setting financial boundaries in relationships. The conversation concludes with an emphasis on balancing safety with enjoyment and forming meaningful connections. Show notes Penny-Forward-S2024-E4-Love-on-a-BudgetDownload Transcript .TXT file Connect with Penny Forward pennyforward.compennyforward@pennyforward.com Clubhouse House Facebook Youtube Get our app, guest membership is free! IOS/AppleGooglePlay Post Production help provided by Brynn Lee: Superblink.org Transcription services provided by Anne Verduin