Blindness & Technology - YouTuber Sam Seavey

The Pulse

This week Joeita speaks to blind YouTuber Sam Seavey, creator of the Blind Life YouTube channel.

Highlights

• Blindness & Technology - Opening Remarks (00:00)
• Introducing Sam Seavey – YouTuber & Host of the Blind Life (01:13)
• Growing the Channel & Standing Out from the Crowd (03:06)
• Knowing Your Audience (04:51)
• Latest Tech Developments for the Blind (05:56)
• Applications of AI (08:18)
• Ethics of Adopting AI in the Blind and Low Vision Community (10:24)
• Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality & the Visually Impaired (12:00)
• Patriot Viewpoint Edge Enhancement (14:40)
• DIY Tech Solutions (15:47)
• Addressing the Digital Divide (17:05)
• Financial Barriers to Accessing Assistive Devices (18:51)
• TechnoAbleism & “Fixing Disability” (21:04)
• Blind & Low Vision Innovators in the Tech Field (24:06)
• Exciting Accessible Tech on the Horizon (25:11)
• Show Close (26:09)

About Sam Seavey

Sam was diagnosed at age 11 with Stargardt’s, an early onset form of macular degeneration, and was legally blind by his mid-teens. Over the last 30 years, he has developed an extensive background in research and understanding of assistive devices and techniques of living with low vision.

Sam is the founder and creator of The Blind Life YouTube Channel, which, according to a recent article from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, “is currently the largest resource for assistive technology on the internet.” With more than 50,000 subscribers and over 700 informative videos, Sam helps people world-wide living with vision loss, offering tips for managing daily tasks, reviewing assistive devices, and hosting informative interviews with key stakeholders in the visually impaired community.

Sam is recognized as an expert when speaking and presenting at national conferences. Featured in USA TODAY, WIRED

Magazine, and numerous national and international podcasts on assistive technology, he collaborates with tech giants like Google, SONY and Amazon, has created content for numerous websites and participates on Microsoft’s Window’s Accessibility Advisory Board.

Sam currently manages the A-T program at a nonprofit where he provides training on assistive devices ranging from low tech items like simple bump dots and magnifiers, to phone apps and assistive computer software. Whether he’s working one on one with clients or through his YouTube videos, Sam’s goal is to help everyone live their BEST BLIND LIFES!

Links:

The Blind Life Website, YouTube & Podcast

About The Pulse

On The Pulse, host Joeita Gupta brings us closer to issues impacting the disability community across Canada.

Joeita Gupta has nurtured a life-long dream to work in radio! She's blind, moved to Toronto in 2004 and got her start in radio at CKLN, 88.1 FM in Toronto. A former co-host of AMI-audio's Live from Studio 5, Joeita also works full-time at a nonprofit in Toronto, specializing in housing/tenant rights.

Find Joeita on X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeitaGupta

The Pulse airs weekly on AMI-audio.

For more information, visit https://www.ami.ca/ThePulse/

About AMI

AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through inclusion, representation, accessible media, reflection, representation and portrayal.

Learn more at AMI.ca

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