Access Matters

Hosted by Aira Tech Corp.

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Latest episode

Sep 2025

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EN-US

About the show

Whether it’s true crime or history, technical or humorous, podcasts are about stories. This new production from Aira and Jenine Stanley is about telling the story of how, where, when and why “ACCESS MATTERS”. What happens when people don’t have barriers to negotiate just to live their lives? What happens when people with disabilities have agency? Those questions will be addressed as we accompany Jenine on a journey through the world as someone with disabilities. It’s about technology, attitudes, and how these two factors combine to form true access. We’ll examine all aspects of life from travel to home management, school to work to glamour and fun.

Listen to episodes

22 recent

September 15, 2025Episode 255 min

S3E2 - Accessing the Summit

Episode Notes Season 3 Episode 2 Accessing the Summit We're excited to be supporting The Unseen Trailblazers team, one of the extraordinary teams embarking on the Accessibility Accelerator AccessibleTogether Expedition 2025 up Mount Kilimanjaro! Fresh from this adventure, Sachin Pavithran and Conchita Hernandez talk with Access Matters about the climb. Sachin, a senior executive overseeing the U.S. Access Board, has consistently challenged himself to overcome obstacles, even completing a 206-mile bike race. Conchita, with a doctorate in special education, runs her own consulting firm supporting the Spanish-speaking blind and low-vision community. They’ll take us day by day through the teamwork and perseverance it takes to reach the highest point on the African continent. We’ll also take a look at how Access Network partner Walmart makes shopping in-store and online more accessible when preparing for such epic journeys. Follow Sachin Pavithran: LinkedIn: (18) Sachin Pavithran | LinkedIn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sachin.d.pavithran Instagram: @sdpavithran Follow Conchita Hernandez Legorreta: LinkedIn: (18) Conchita Hernandez | LinkedIn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conchitaherdzlegorreta Instagram: @ConchitaLegorreta Conchita Consulting LLC Learn more about Accessibility Accelerator: https://accessibilityaccelerator.org/ Questions or comments about the show? Email us, accessmatters@aira.io. Learn more about visual interpreting at www.aira.io. Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

August 18, 2025Episode 144 min

S3E1 - A Recipe for Access

Episode Notes Our third season begins by delving into the impact of the “Intuit Small Business Owner” offer. Over 300 individuals, including Debra Erickson, Executive Chef and owner of The Blind Kitchen, currently benefit from this aspect of our service. Many people facing vision loss consider giving up cooking or grilling. Debra, a blind cook herself, meticulously researches and sells mainstream products that enable independence in the kitchen. Her website also houses a valuable library of tips and tricks. Aira’s professional visual interpreters and secure platform assist with many tasks such as managing financial information that demand confidentiality, supporting small business owners like Debra to achieve their dreams. Visit The Blind Kitchen web site at h t t p colon slash slash the blind kitchen dot com. You can email Debra at info at the blind kitchen dot com. Learn more about visual interpreting at https://aira.io. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at airacast@aira.io. Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

June 23, 2025Episode 1027 min

S2E10 - Access with a Kiwi Twist

Episode Notes In this final episode of Season 2 we introduce our newest Access Network partner, Eden Park, New Zealand’s national stadium. Next we look back at our season opener as Marci Carpenter and Ron Brown talk about how blind people access sporting events. This interview first aired in March of 2024. Learn more about Eden Park at https://edenpark.co.nz Learn more about Aira at https://aira.io Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

May 19, 2025Episode 945 min

S2E9 - Zeroing Barriers to Access

Episode Notes Earlier this year, Aira received an award from the renowned Zero Project, a globally recognized conference on accessibility. In this interview, we delve into the conference with Frances West, IBM’s inaugural Chief Accessibility Officer and the current CEO of Frances West & Co., and Florian Gutman from our Engineering Team. Additionally, CEO Troy Otillio shares his experiences with the Zero Project and offers valuable insights into Aira’s international growth and the future prospects, particularly in the field of AI. Learn more about Frances West at www.franceswest.co Learn more about visual interpreting on our web site, www.aira.io. Questions or comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

April 7, 2025Episode 852 min

S2E8 - Team with a Vision

Episode Notes Access Matters Season 2 Episode 8 Team With A Vision The Boston Marathon, one of the world’s most iconic races, is back this year, and we’ve managed to catch up with Laura Alpert about the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Team with a Vision . Running the marathon is a personal journey for many, and Ellen Goldberg, a 15-time Team with a Vision member, shares some of her unforgettable experiences. Blind and low vision runners often rely on guides to help them navigate the race, and Rebecca Trachsel, Jared Broughton’s guide, provides insights into the role of guides in the marathon. Cheyenne Meyer and Brett Simms have a great story about the teamwork of a couple who met while running the marathon. Don’t forget to support the team by checking out their various Give and Gain pages. Ellen Goldberg https://tinyurl.com/TWAVEllen Rebecca Trachsel, running guide for Jared Broughton https://tinyurl.com/TWAVRebeccaJared Cheyenne Meyer and Brett Simms, running couple Cheyenne as guide https://tinyurl.com/MABVICheyenneBrett Learn more about MABVI at https://mabvi.org United in Stride https://unitedinstride.com Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

February 24, 2025Episode 738 min

S2E7 - Access as Synergy with Matt Ater

Episode Notes Access Matters Season 2 Episode 7 Access as Synergy with Matt Ater Synergy is defined when elements combine with a result that is better than the some of their parts. In this episode meet Matt Ater, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for Vispero, makers of the JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion screen access programs. You may not have realized that Vispero and Aira have a very synergistic partnership. Matt talks about how visual interpreters support the accessibility work of Vispero and TPGI. We also discuss the new access with JAWS to kiosks, how potential changes in federal funding may affect assistive tech and state-based success stories. Read the report https://www.tpgi.com/restaurant-accessibility-for-blind-and-low-vision-customers/ Learn more about JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion at https://www.freedomscientific.com More info about visual interpreting is at https://www.aira.io. Contact us at airacast@aira.io Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

January 27, 2025Episode 641 min

S2E6 - Accessing Autonomy through Transportation

Episode Notes In this episode of "Access Matters," host Jeanine Stanley talks with Ron Brooks, founder of Accessible Avenue and Senior director of Policy and Stakeholder engagement with Uzurv. Ron shares his personal journey, highlighting the impact of technology like smartphones and apps on mobility for people with disabilities. He discusses the challenges and advancements in public transit, including the rise of rideshare services and autonomous vehicles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of adaptable, inclusive transit systems in fostering independence for individuals with disabilities. Find Ron's company, Accessible Avenue, at https://accessibleavenue.com. Learn more about Uzurv at https://uzurv.com. Comments or Questions about our podcast? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

December 11, 2024Episode 542 min

S2E5 - Accesing a vision of justice

Vision A Memoir of Justice and Blindness” is an insightful new book from retired federal court of appeals judge David Tatel. Judge Tatel talks with us about his 30-year career with the court, District of Columbia Circuit as well as his long history in the civil rights and civil justice field. How did his impending blindness shape his journey? How do the current decisions and actions of the Supreme Court affect our rights of access? Whether you are a legal scholar or just someone who wants to understand how our justice system works at the federal level, or you just want to know about the gorgeous German Shepherd on the cover of the book, this interview has something for everyone. This book is available in book stores, on line and in audio formats through Audible and the BARD app. Question or comments about the podcast? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. Episode Notes Notes go here Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

September 16, 2024Episode 438 min

S2E4 - Opening the Big Book of Event Accessibility with Stephen Cutchins

Episode Notes So your organization is holding an event. Inclusivity is crucial these days but where do you start? Stephen Cutchins, Senior Manager for Accessibility at CVent, joins Jenine to talk about accessibility in event planning. CVent offers its Big Book of Event Accessibility as a place to guide the industry toward more inclusive spaces. There’s money to be made when doing so and we’ll tell you more in this episode of Access Matters. For more information about CVent’s Big Book of Event Accessibility visit https://cvent.com/bigbook You can contact Stephen via email at sscutchins@cvent.com or find him, Stephen Cutchins, on LinkedIn. Read the 2024 Accenture report mentioned in this episode at https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document-2/Disability-Inclusion-Report-Business-Imperative.pdf Questions or comments about the show? Email us at accessmatters@aira.io. Learn more about visual interpreting at http://www.aira.io Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

June 17, 2024Episode 336 min

S2E3 - Racing with the Turtle!

Episode Notes Race Across America is a 3000 mile trek. Dave Wilkinson is working to become the first solo blind tandem cyclist to complete it. We’ll meet Dave and hear about how he incorporates accessibility into his life and passion for staying active and healthy as The Speedy turtle. You can follow Dave and the Speedy Turtle team at https://speedyturtle.net. Aira is proud to sponsor Dave’s ride. Be sure to watch our social media posts for his progress. Resources for accessible fitness: Cane and Able Fitness https://www.caneandablefitness.com/ Blind Fitness https://www.blindfitness.org/ Contact us at accessmatters@aira.io. Find out more at https://access-matters.pinecast.co

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