You are a warming, comforting presence. It is audible proof that others care and wish me well; not only my family and friends, but an entire network of people. I don't know what I would do without you.
Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid is using audio as an advocate for people with vision loss. In 2004, while working as an IT developer, Thomas lost his sight as a result of cancer. Disturbed by the lack of accessibility in is community, he helped launch a local advocacy organization. He later pursued a dormant interest in audio production in order to help promote topics pertaining to vision loss. In addition to producing original stories for Gatewave, Thomas is developing a new website with other content creators with vision loss to dispel myths and misconceptions about blindness through person first storytelling.
Thomas currently serves as a board member of Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund; raising awareness and supporting children and families impacted by Retinoblastoma, a rare childhood eye cancer. He is a former officer of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind where he remains an active member. Among other interests and hobbies, Thomas enjoys writing, public speaking, music production and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Podcasts:
Tommy Edison, a blind film critic, is not only providing answers to misconceptions about blindness through his career, but he also has his own YouTube channel where he provides answers to other questions about blindness.
I was fortunate to have a chance to talk to Joe Strechay from the American Foundation for the Blind — A.K.A. the man behind Daredevil.
For whatever reason, I’m sure not many think about style, fashion or beauty when thinking about blindness. Style Blogger, Stephanae McCoy thinks we should.
In this interview for Gatewave, I feature Mel Scott of Blind Alive who started exercise programs that can be done “eyes free.”
Telephone technology in its basic form hasn’t really changed since its inception. Two people speak to one another on each end of the line. What about those with both hearing and vision loss? Ultratec has just introduced the Braille CapTel.
Brandon Keith Biggs, an Opera singing blind student studying abroad in Italy, is really more than meets the eye.
When not biking, running and swimming, this mild mannered tri-athlete is Sommelier Amy Dixon.
Produced around Academy Awards time, this program features two movie related posts.
