White Canes Connect

Mar 04 2025 99 ep. 51 mins 2
White Canes Connect Podcast artwork

Shining a spotlight on the blind and visually impaired in Pennsylvania and what is important to us.

  Society & Culture
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Challenged for His Blindness, Not His Words: Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette

Mar 04 2025 35 mins  
In Episode 126 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Director of Government Affairs at the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Dylan shares his experiences as a policy advocate, including his recent congressional testimony on waste, fraud, and abuse in

Advocacy in Action: Jesse Shirek on Washington Seminar

Feb 26 2025 63 mins  
In Episode 125 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Jesse Shirek, a government affairs specialist with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). This episode focuses on the recently concluded Washington Seminar, an annual advocacy event where blind individuals from across the country meet with legislators to discuss key policy issues affecting the

Patti Cox & Glenda Such: Voices of Low Vision Advocacy

Feb 17 2025 55 mins  
In Episode 124 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein sit down with Patti Cox, President of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI), and Glenda Such, head of Low Vision Now! The discussion, which takes place during Low Vision Awareness Month, highlights the challenges, advocacy, and support systems available for individuals with low visi

Audiom: Revolutionizing Navigation for the Blind

Jan 30 2025 57 mins  
In Episode 123 of White Canes Connect, hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Brandon Biggs, CEO and co-founder of XR Navigation. Biggs introduces Audiom, a groundbreaking digital map designed for non-visual users. As a blind individual, he shares his journey from opera singing to inclusive design, motivated by the inaccessibility of digital maps on mainstream platforms like

Braille Rocks: Daniel Lubiner’s Vision for Literacy and Inclusion

Jan 20 2025 19 mins  
In Episode 122 of White Canes Connect, listeners revisit the 2024 NFB of Pennsylvania State Convention in Erie, featuring Daniel Lubiner's insightful presentation, "Braille: The Language of the Blind." Daniel, an accomplished educator and advocate, shared her journey from special education teaching to becoming a Braille expert, emphasizing the vital role of early intervention and d

Tech, Accessibility, and the Future of Healthcare with Andy Burstein

Jan 14 2025 11 mins  
In this engaging episode of White Canes Connect, listeners are treated to a dynamic presentation by Andy Burstein, CEO of Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind, during the 2024 NFB of Pennsylvania State Convention in Erie. Andy offers a captivating overview of his company’s innovative services, which cater specifically to individuals with disabilities. Andy shares exciting u

Updates & Insights from BBVS Director Dawn Sokol at the 2024 NFB of PA State Convention

Jan 09 2025 53 mins  
In Episode 120 of White Canes Connect, we revisit the 2024 NFB of PA State Convention in Erie, featuring an insightful presentation by Dawn Sokol, Director of the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS). Dawn offers a comprehensive update on the agency’s priorities, including hiring, outreach, and fiscal management, alongside an overview of key programs and initiatives. Da

President Lynn Heitz Delivers Presidential Report at Erie 2024

Jan 06 2025 28 mins  
In episode 119 of White Canes Connect, host David Goldstein reflects on the highlights of the 2024 National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Pennsylvania State Convention in Erie. The episode centers on President Lynn Heitz's powerful presidential report, where she draws inspiration from Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar to parallel the journey of blindness with the caterpil

Inside Erie 2024: Triumphs, Travel, and Looking to the Future

Dec 30 2024 51 mins  
In this episode of White Canes Connect, Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein are joined by Lynn Heitz, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, to discuss the highlights, challenges, and successes of the 2024 State Convention in Erie. From the arduous 10-hour journey to the seamless event execution, the conversation provides an in-depth look at what made this y

Simplifying Accessibility Advocacy with Kennedy & Karl

Dec 06 2024 45 mins  
In White Canes Connect episode 117, co-hosts Lisa Bryant and David Goldstein welcome Kennedy Zimnik and Karl Belanger from the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to discuss the Accessibility Toolkit, a resource designed to empower blind and low-vision individuals to advocate for accessible technology. Kennedy, an Access Tech Specialist, and Karl, a Non-Visual Accessibility Anal