The Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast

Hosted by CCB Program staff

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100

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Oct 2026

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About the show

All the exciting news from the programs and personalities of the Canadian Council of the Blind

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60 recent

November 6, 2026Episode 20845 min

158. CCB-GTT APPS and TAPS LECTURE #3

The first session in our exploration of iPhone settings focused on connectivity and configuration. In the second part of our deep exploration of settings, we’ll begin with the group of settings having to do with how and when your iPhone makes you aware of information. This includes sounds and haptics, focus and notification settings. These will give you more power to decide under what circumstances your iPhone can interrupt what you’re doing. A good understanding of these settings is vital for blind users. We’ll also discuss the notifications centre and how to control which focus mode your iPhone is in using the Focus button in the control centre.

October 20, 2026Episode 20719 min

157. Siri AI demonstration

Russell demonstrates features of the newest iOS version 27 release using his iPhone. During his demo, Russell showcases several of the new accessibility and Apple Intelligence features available in iOS 27. the New Siri AI can only be accessed on Devices 15 Pro and above

October 8, 2026Episode 2061 hr 5 min

156. CCB-GTT APPS and TAPS LECTURE #2

An iPhone is designed to be useful for any person. To turn that into being the most useful as possible for you requires an understanding of settings. In this Apps and Taps session, we’ll dive deep into the available settings. We’ll talk about how the settings are organized and also about what choices you can make to configure your iPhone. This won’t be an exhaustive tour, so be sure to explore the settings on your own.

September 4, 2026Episode 20548 min

155. CCB-GTT APPS and TAPS LECTURE

The Apps and Taps lecture series is designed for people who want to continue learning about how to make the most of their iPhones while totally blind. While it doesn’t require people to have participated in the Unseen Touchscreen course, it assumes that participants have a basic working knowledge of how to use VoiceOver and the iOS operating system. Lectures of the Unseen Touchscreen course remain available in the CCB podcast if needed. In the Apps and Taps lecture series, we will dive deeply into various settings and concepts in the iOS operating system. One priority will be discussing new capabilities and changes which emerge in iOS, such as the arrival of Apple Intelligence. We will also go on deep dives into how to use a wide range of apps which are accessible using VoiceOver. These apps may be made by Apple and come on your iPhone. They may also be developed by third-party developers and be available from the App Store. Similar to the format used for the Unseen Touchscreen course, there will be two sessions per month. The first session will typically occur on the first Wednesday of the month. It will consist of a lecture which will be recorded for inclusion in the CCB podcast. Those who attend the lecture will be able to ask questions after the lecture is recorded, if time permits. The second session will typically be held on the third Wednesday of the month and will not be recorded. It will be an opportunity to ask any questions related to that month’s lecture or any other topic related to using iPhones from a blindness perspective. This will hopefully make certain that people get help and ideas from fellow iPhone users with whatever their current issues or areas of curiosity might be. It will also be a chance to learn about any newly discovered accessible apps.

June 9, 2026Episode 20455 min

154. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 40

During this course, we have discussed what your iPhone can do for you as a totally blind user. We have also discussed how to use your iPhone effectively, the many available accessible apps, and the many features built into your iPhone. Owning an iPhone is as consequential to one’s life as owning a car or house. In this final lecture, Michael Feir will discuss how to live well as owners of these powerful devices. He will point out some of the pitfalls which have proved damaging to individual users and society as a whole. He will share his best advice on how to minimize your chances of falling into these traps. On the other hand, knowing how to do things with your iPhone at the right time can be very empowering and stand us in good stead. We can use it to help ourselves and those with whom we share meaningful connections. Michael will give some pointers on how to be as ready as possible to use our iPhones well when it really matters. He also discusses how to keep your iPhone ready to serve and avoid doing things which make it less capable without good reason.

May 9, 2026Episode 20341 min

153. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 39

In this lecture, the focus will be on the personal economics of owning an iPhone. Having a device which can do so much means that you’re likely to save money which you might have needed to spend on other devices. You can also tap into markets of digital goods such as apps, books, and streaming services, among many others. There are unavoidable costs such as the price of the iPhone, accessories and a cellular data plan. We will examine these costs as well as other optional expenses. I’ll be sharing some advice on how to maximize your enjoyment while spreading out or minimizing costs.

April 2, 2026Episode 20258 min

152. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 38

The online world offers blind people many extraordinary benefits. However, owning an iPhone also exposes us to all of the spam calls, scams, fake emails, identity theft attempts, and other malicious activity. In this lecture, I will share what wisdom I’ve gained in avoiding becoming a victim of such activities while still participating in online life. We will also cover how your iPhone can protect you from this activity.

March 6, 2026Episode 20154 min

151. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 37

We have come a long way in the Unseen Touchscreen course. The focus of this month’s lecture is on using your iPhone to help you navigate and go places in the real world. There is a wide variety of apps which can help you do this. They typically use the GPS receiver in your iPhone combined with constantly updated map information. Some apps are built for absolutely everyone and made accessible to VoiceOver. Others are built specifically with blind users in mind. In this lecture, we’ll cover examples of both kinds of these apps, plus other apps which help with navigation and transportation.

February 5, 2026Episode 2001 hr 1 min

150. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 36

Your iPhone and the right apps can let you participate in social media from wherever you might be. In this lecture, we’ll talk about the dangers and benefits which participating in social media can entail. Rather than attempt to familiarize you with the various apps, we’ll focus more on common elements and the VoiceOver skills you’ll need to get the most out of whatever platform you might choose to explore.

January 14, 2026Episode 1991 hr 1 min

149. CCB-GTT Unseen Touch Screen Course Session 35

Your iPhone makes a very accessible gateway to all sorts of entertainment, including various streaming services. In this session, we’ll talk about some popular ones like Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. We’ll also discuss what makes YouTube and Twitch somewhat different from other platforms. How to explore content and how to activate described audio on the various services will be covered.