20250706 0800 ACB Families Breakfast Talks Tech with Tyson Originally Broadcasted July 6, 2025, on ACB Media 2 When we think about technology, we often think about expensive devices that are priced well beyond our ability to pay. Recently, however, less expensive solutions have made the tech world more reachable for everyone. Tyson Ernst, an access technology instructor with the Orientation and Training Center in Seattle, WA, helped us share information about more affordable options for everyday tasks at home, at work and at play.

20250628 1300 Introducing BlueSky and Mastodon Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2025, on ACB Media 4 Participants joined BITS, and presenter Merv Keck as we took a look at these exciting and popular social media platforms. We began with an introduction to the Skeets app for BlueSky, which was followed by an overview of the Mona app for Mastodon. Presenter: Mervin Keck, BITS Mentoring Technology Specialist, Hamburg, PA.

20250628 1130 Using Your Phone and Smart Glasses to Describe the World Around You Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2025, on ACB Media 3 Participants learned from experts how to use smart phone apps to help describe images, photos, and videos to help you better understand the world around you. Several apps were demonstrated including Ally, Gemini, PiccyBot, Seeing AI and more. Moderator: Carl Richardson, Co-Chair, ACB Audio Description Project, Boston, MA Presenters: Cory Kadlik, Assistive Technology Manager, Perkins Library, Framingham, MA, Michael Babcock, American Council of the Blind Member Services Administrative Assistant, Coos Bay, OR, and Jeff Bishop, BITS President, Tucson, AZ

20250628 1000 Efficient Messaging Using WhatsApp and JAWS with Brian Hartgen Originally Broadcasted June 28, 2025, on ACB Media 2 When we think of sending and receiving messages with WhatsApp, we perhaps think of doing so using our smart phones. But a computer-based app exists to carry out the same functionality. While this is a very accessible application, usage of this app is made far more efficient through the use of JAWS scripts. If you receive many messages each day, you're going to want to process them fast. In this BITS presentation, Brian from Hartgen Consultancy showed participants how to link a WhatsApp account to their computer, described the application in detail, but above all, demonstrated how you can be a WhatsApp super user by working with many keyboard shortcuts and abbreviated speech. Come along to find out how you can send and receive messages and make calls with incredible speed! Presenter: Brian Hargen, Owner - Hartgen Consultancy, United Kingdom

20250627 1300 Solving Your Tech Issues When You Are Not A Wizard Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2025, on ACB Media 2 Do you get frustrated when your devices do not work as expected? Participants joined Basics with BITS presenter Deborah Armstrong as we explored step by step methods for solving many common tech issues. Attendees learned how they need not be a geek to solve the most common tech problems. Presenter: Deborah Armstrong, Alternate Media Specialist, De Anza College, Milpitas, CA.

20250627 1130 The World of Windows-Microsoft Tools for the Blind Community Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2025, on ACB Media 4 Participants explored the latest advancements in Windows assistive technologies, including powerful AI-driven features and updates to Narrator and Magnifier. They learned how these tools are transforming digital experiences for blind and low vision users, from improved navigation and task efficiency to rich image descriptions and fundamental enhancements. This session showcased the innovations driving inclusive productivity forward. Speaker: Nidhi Jain, Microsoft

20250627 1000 Getting Started with WhatsApp on Your iPhone Originally Broadcasted June 27, 2025, on ACB Media 2 As of January 2025, WhatsApp has approximately 3.14 billion monthly active users worldwide. This marks a significant increase from previous years, solidifying its position as one of the most widely used messaging platforms globally. Participants joined BITS members Nicki Keck and Melissa Wolf, along with guest presenter Drew Mochak as they explained how to get started using WhatsApp on your iPhone. Our team showed attendees how to get the app, setup an account, find and join groups, send your first message, and much more. Presenters: Drew Mochak, WhatsApp Application Engineer, Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, Melissa Wold, BItS Mentoring Specialist, Nashville, TN, and Nicki Keck, BItS Mentoring Specialist, Hamburg, PA.

20250626 1000 Unleashing Your Inner Slacker Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 2 Slack is a communication platform designed for teams and workplaces, facilitating collaboration through instant messaging, file sharing, and integration with various productivity tools. Slack provides channels for topic-specific discussions, direct messaging for private conversations, and supports video calls and screen sharing. But how do you get started using Slack? Participants joined BITS and presenter Jack Falejczyk, as he helped us understand and get started using this popular platform. Jack explained how to download and install the app on your PC, and create an account. Jack also demonstrated how to begin using the platform, use of keyboard commands for increased efficiency, and more. Presenter: Jack Falejczyk, self-employed - Access Technology consultant, Chicago, IL

20250626 1600 Using Technology to Help Those Living with a Dual Sensory Loss Live to the FullestJ Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 4 Participants joined Scott Davert, Coordinator of the Technology Research, and Innovations Center for the deaf blind at HKNC, as he explained how we can use technology to live without dual sensory loss to the fullest.

20250626 1600 Using Technology to Help Those Living with a Dual Sensory Loss Live to the FullestJ Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 4 Participants joined Scott Davert, Coordinator of the Technology Research, and Innovations Center for the deaf blind at HKNC, as he explained how we can use technology to live without dual sensory loss to the fullest.

20250626 1430 Writing Audio Description with AI Tools Originally Broadcasted June 26, 2025 on ACB Media 4 This session was a discussion and demonstration of audio description AI writing and assessment tools and how they work on their own and with essential human collaboration. Moderator: Renee Arrington-Johnson Presenters: JOEL SNYDER, PhD., Author of The Visual Made Verbal, President, Audio Description Associates, LLC, Takoma Park, MD, Caroline Desrosiers, Founder and CEO, Scribely, Truckee, CA, Brett Oppegaard, Ph.D., Professor, School of Communication and Information, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, HI, Professor Sri Kurniawan, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, and Rick Morin, ACB Media and IT Manager, Burlington, MA