Inclusion in Motion by AEBC

In these excerpts from a previous episode, Cruising with a Guide Dog, Richard shares his experiences travelling with his guide dog on cruise ships and navigating ports of call.

In this third Android training session, Glenn Sepke demonstrates how to use Gmail and the Files app on Android devices with the TalkBack screen reader. Topics include adding email accounts, navigating email categories and settings, composing and reading emails, and managing local andcloud storage.Download the accompanying Word document here: https://bit.ly/4dz4iul   https://e243e96c-4bb7-44ad-87e6-fb1e8ae96185.usrfiles.com/ugd/e243e9_db4f0cc9b2104805a4a26f1c86118e38.docx

In this second article in the series, Linda Bartram reflects on a recent trip to Europe and her experiences navigating air travel as a blind traveller. Drawing on multiple flights and airports, she shares firsthand observations about the assistance she received and the challenges sheencountered along the way.

This turned out to be Part One of a deep dive into VoiceOver settings with Marcia and Diana. Learn about demonstrated accessibility features including VoiceOver settings, braille display configuration, speech customization, recognition options, verbosity settings, and sound and haptic feedback.

After a month of travelling through Greece and Great Britain, Linda Bartram shares some of the lessons she learned along the way. From trip planning and accessible tours to smartphone challenges and staying connected, this blog offers practical tips for blind and low vision travellers.

AEBC's second authors event during National Accessibility Week features presentations from two guest authors.Penny LeClair discusses her book, “Life with Jefferson”, which tells the story of her guide dog and the impact he had on her family. Lynn Jensen presents her debut book, “Best Kept Secrets for Travelers with Sight Loss”, offering practical tips for travelling while blind or having low vision. Topics included hotel navigation, dining out, and travelling with guide dogs.Both authors answer questions from the participants audience about their experiences and their books.

AEBC’s first National Accessibility Week Authors Event of 2026 featured two inspiring authors who discussed their books. Hannah Levitt introduced her book. “All About Us: 20 True Tales of Courage and Disability”, highlighting remarkable stories of people with disabilities, including a NASA scientist, a paratriathlete, and a teenage mayor. David Lepofsky discussed his memoir, “Swimming Up Niagara Falls”, sharing his role in securing disability rights to be included in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1980.Both authors answered questions about their research and writing processes, as well as the evolution of disability advocacy.

As part of National AccessAbility Week 2026, AEBC hosted a virtual event featuring Marie Renaud, NDP MLA for St. Albert. She discussed her efforts to introduce Bill 206, the Accessible Alberta Act. She then answered questions from attendees about accessibility issues, including income supportprograms.

What happens when accessibility policies clash with real-life experiences?One AEBC member shares his personal experience using a rideshare service while travelling with a guide dog. It turns out, policy and practice do not always align.

This is the second of four Android sessions presented by Glen Sepke. This session focuses on how to access and navigate the Play Store, as well as how to add and manage contacts on your phone.Download the accompanying Word document: https://bit.ly/4dz4iul

Ryan Fleury and Marcia Yale explore the mixed emotions and important conversations surrounding National AccessAbility Week. Marcia shares a sneak preview of AEBC’s upcoming National Accessibility Week events happening on June 3 and 4. The conversation broadens into an honest and thoughtful discussion about what accessibility really means and why these conversations matter year-round. 

Museums are increasingly using touch, audio description, and other sensory experiences to make art and history more accessible and engaging. Here, we explore museums that offer accessible tours, audio descriptions, and interactive experiences that bring history and art to life, making them more accessible and meaningful for everyone.

Diana Brent and Chantal Oakes share practical tips for navigating unfamiliar websites using screen readers on PC and iOS. They explore key strategies for finding your way around new sites, including how to use heading structure effectively, and how to make the most of headings and linkslists for faster navigation.

As plans for the return of Ontario Northland passenger rail service continue to develop, many travellers are looking for more information about fares, accessibility, and trip planning. Our blog reflects on recent reporting from Toronto CityNews and explores why clear, accessible communication will be important as more details emerge.

Brian Moore, Manager of Digital Accessibility for TD bank, walked participants through the general layout of the TD website using his screen reader. He included tips and tricks for easy navigation and becoming comfortable using on-line banking tools and controls.

Census 2026 is underway — but many blind and partially sighted Canadians face accessibility barriers that make participation difficult. Learn what barriers exist and practical steps you can take to help make it a little easier.

Louise's journey to her sixth guide dog is one of patience, perseverance, and the incredible bond formed through partnership. Discover the behind-the-scenes process of what it really takes to find the perfect match.

Jeff Bishop, President of Blind Information Technology Solutions, teaches us how to craft prompts to get the most out of using AI tools to improve our work efficiency.   

We had the pleasure of speaking with AEBC’s recently retired Communications Coordinator, Carol Austin, as she reflected on her three years with our organization. She shared her experiences as well as the accomplishments she’s most proud of, including playing a key role in launching AEBC’s podcast.

Marcia Yale, National President of AEBC and Scholarship Committee Co-Chair, presents the AEBC/Allyant Scholarship Program. Scholarship recipient, Aidan Lapp, shares how the support has made his university experience more fulfilling—opening the door to extracurricular involvement andmentoring others.

Is it still volunteering when lived experience shapes decisions and drives change? This episode thoughtfully explores how volunteering is evolving—and why it may be time to rethink how we recognize contribution.

Guest presenter Wendy Edie demonstrated and explained howshe uses her smart glasses and provided some comparisons with other typescurrently available.

The session focused on teaching group text messaging functionality in iOS devices. Diana Brent demonstrated how to create and manage group messages, including adding contacts, naming groups, and using features like FaceTime and phone calls with groups. She explained the limitations of group messaging, such as the 32-person limit for iMessage groups and the need to use SMS/MMS when including Android users. The demo covered various methods for adding contacts to groups, including using the To field, search functionality, and phone numbers.

Today we sit down with Marcia Yale, President of AEBC, and Lee Pigeau, Executive Director, to talk about National Volunteer Week and the vital role of volunteers in our organization. From the time and care they give to the connections they build, this conversation reflects on the impact of volunteers and why our work would not be possible without them.

Book release by one of our members: Life With Jefferson — a heartfelt look at the bond between a guide dog and the person they support. Co-authored by AEBC member Penny LeClair, this endearing book explores trust, independence, and the everyday companionship that changes lives.

This Tech Training Tuesday session focused on providing an introduction to Microsoft Teams, led by Richard Marion. The presentation covered basic navigation, keyboard shortcuts, and key features of both the desktop and mobile versions of Teams, including how to start meetings, manage chat windows, and use accessibility features.

Learn how to handle email attachments more efficiently across both iOS and Windows in this Tech Training Tuesday session.Marcia Yale walks through practical tips for managing attachments on iOS devices, including how to use the Files app to share documents directly—an effective workaround for current limitations with the attachment button in iOS 16. On the Windows side, Diana Brent demonstrates two simple methods for attaching files in Outlook, using either File Explorer or keyboard shortcuts.The session also covers how to open and save multiple attachments, along with helpful techniques for selecting files using Control and Shift keys. Throughout the session, participants raise useful questions about organizing attachments in a specific order and working with multiple files at once.Whether you’re new to these tools or looking to improve your workflow, this session offers clear, practical guidance you can put to use right away.

Today we chat with Louise Johnson, a longtime AEBC member and current Board Director. Louise talks about her journey and in particular her experiences with guide dogs because she is currently working with a new guide dog! Very exciting!

Today we talk about how to use the Apple Password feature. How to set it up and what you can use it for.RESOURCE: Quick Start Guide to Using Apple Passwordhttps://e243e96c-4bb7-44ad-87e6-fb1e8ae96185.usrfiles.com/ugd/e243e9_83e1c0cbfe8b4f9b8048d0dd3cee180a.docx

A personal account by Suleman Arshad about barriers, gaps in services, and what true accessibility would require.

Starting the month off with another Tech Tuesday Drop In. Today we talk about authorization codes, forwarding, and Outlook Signatures.

WayAround tags are used to help individuals who are blind or partially sighted to identify and manage objects using NFC technology. Neva Fairchild, a representative from WayAround, explains the various types of tags, including stickers, buttons, magnets, and clips, and demonstrates how they can be used to label items such as clothing, food, and household products. She highlights the app's features, such as cloud storage for tags and customizable templates, and addresses a few questions about accessibility and compatibility with different devices.

We were pleased to meet with Stephanie Cadieux, Canada's Chief Accessibility Officer for a presentation on her office’s activities. She spoke about the work already done by Accessibility Standards Canada and the Canadian Standards Association, work which will lead to the removal of barriers in the lives of persons with disabilities. She is very optimistic that Canada is on the right track.

Marcia Yale takes us through how to use the Hable One and Hable Easy. These are braille devices braille keyboards that work with both iOS and Android devices. Marcia demonstrates the devices' features and functionality, including navigation, typing in braille, and accessing menu settings. Download: Hable manuals compiled into a Word document referenced in the recording: https://e243e96c-4bb7-44ad-87e6-fb1e8ae96185.usrfiles.com/ugd/e243e9_b363582357c0429db08981799c152b16.docx

Diana Brent explains how to use Braille Screen Input as a braille keyboard on IOS devices, talks about new commands and discusses required settings  in depth.  

For this Tech Training Tuesday, we held an open tech drop in to answer questions. We talk about accessing and setting the call volume in Zoom, a discussion of how to tame the Magic Tap, and then we focus on using email in iOS, Android or computer.

Presentation by AEBC Executive Director, Lee Pigeau, on Legacy Giving and what it can mean for AEBC. Learn about wills and leaving a legacy that protects your estate, your family and helps our community. Legacy giving sounds bigger and scarier than it is—and this session brings it back down to earth. In one hour, we’ll explain legacy giving in plain language, show how ordinary people make a lasting impact in simple ways, and clear up the myth that you need wealth to leave a gift behind. You’ll hear why the John Rae Society exists, how it supports AEBC’s future, and how legacy giving can fit into your life without pressure, paperwork panic, or hard decisions on the spot. This is a gentle, practical introduction for people who care about AEBC and want to understand their options.Download Transcript: https://e243e96c-4bb7-44ad-87e6-fb1e8ae96185.usrfiles.com/ugd/e243e9_886b1d4d6f5d4ba0b99ded29d7fe9ce3.docxVisit blindcanadians.ca for more info: https://www.blindcanadians.ca/post/the-john-rae-society

Ryan Fleury sits down with Chantal Oakes, President of the BC Affiliate of AEBC. Together they cover a range of topics including the power of mentorship, the lack of skills training and gaps in access to technology tools that support independence for people who are blind, experiences living with blindness, the power of the BC Affiliate community, and a plug for the upcoming, can't-miss, Trivia event.

White Cane Week starts this Sunday, February 1, 2026. Linda Bartram writes on our blog about how the white cane is still very relevant in today’s tech-driven world.

Guest presenter Bryan Bashin from Be My Eyes joined us to talk about and demonstrate this extremely useful app which connects blind or low vision users who want assistance with volunteers and companies across the world, through live video and AI. Use your smartphone to get free, instant visual description anytime, day or night. Connect with a volunteer, take a picture and let Be My AI™ describe it, or reach out to our partners through the Service Directory for help with their products. It can also be connected to some smart glasses including RayBan Meta glasses.

Ryan Fleury sits down with Marcia Yale to chat about her choir singing hobby, her early involvement at AEBC, and how she feels about having an Executive Director, among many other topics. We hope you enjoy this new series of informal chats with AEBC folks.

Glen Sepke presents an introduction to the Android operating system. In this session you will learn customization, accessibility features for blind, low vision, motor impairment, etc., using TalkBack, as well as a brief tour of the Google Play Store and using Contacts. Follow our channel to be notified when Part Two becomes available!Written notes available here.

Hear from Jeffrey Stark who spent a year and a half using smart glasses—from Ray-Ban Meta to Meta Oakley Vanguard—to see what they actually offer for people who are blind. Honest pros, cons, and practical realities from lived experience.

A special presentation with Patrick Long from Innosearch, which is a useful tool on the web, computer, iOS or Android platform, that assists with researching and/or booking flights, hotels, and provides an improved shopping experience.

Listen as the AEBC National Board and staff express their holiday greetings as we close out 2025. Transcript of the message is available here: https://e243e96c-4bb7-44ad-87e6-fb1e8ae96185.usrfiles.com/ugd/e243e9_0b83d9098eb449ecbae13e335df4bc1e.docx

Welcome to a replay of a Tech Training Tuesday Demo of software called Speaking Access. Speaking Access is a voice-control program for Windows designed to help people operate their computer using spoken commands instead of remembering complex keyboard shortcuts. It works with the NVDA screen reader so users who are blind or visually impaired can navigate apps, move through text, select items, and dictate content by voice. The software includes guided lessons, a voice menu system, and audio proofreading, and it runs entirely offline for privacy. A free 7-day trial is available, with a one-time purchase fee after that.Learn more and download here: https://www.speakingaccess.com/