Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, October 15, 2026 – Volume 1089

Traveling Blind With EchoVision: The Good And The Bad | The Blind Life | YouTube.com | October 10, 2026

Showcasing EchoVision during a trip, Sam from The Blind Life tests how Agiga’s AI glasses perform across airports and hotels. The practical trial highlights useful travel scenarios while flagging a limitation travelers with vision loss should weigh before relying on the device.

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1.) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week 📊️

A.) A Tribute To Brett Halle And What Envision’s News Means For Users | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 6, 2026

Following Envision’s announcement that it may wind down, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece assess the consequences for blind and low-vision users, Ally Solos owners, and the broader smart-glasses market. They examine the December 31, 2026 development deadline, unresolved warranty concerns, calls to open-source key tools, and pay tribute to Apple engineer Brett Halle.

B.) Image Description Toolkit 4.8: Image Descriptions From Windows AI on Copilot+ PCs | TheIdeaPlace.net | October 7, 2026

Version 4.8 of the open-source Image Description Toolkit can now use the AI hardware in Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 24H2 or later to describe images on the device, with no upload, account, API key or cost. The toolkit has supported Apple Intelligence on the Mac since version 4.6.

C.) JAWS Power Tip: How To Quickly Access Your Windows Desktop with JAWS | Freedom Scientific via TopTechTidbits.com | October 8, 2026

When you have many applications open, it can be difficult to quickly access your desktop to open a file, shortcut, or folder. WINDOWS+D is a Windows hotkey that instantly hides all open windows and shows the desktop, making it easy to get to what you need without closing anything. This is a fast way to clear your workspace and stay organized.

D.) Lumin Adds Outlook Support And Audio Reminders, With Sriram Ganesh | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 5, 2026

Showcasing Lumin’s new Outlook integration and audio reminders, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece put founder Sriram Ganesh through a live, voice-driven inbox workflow. Listener calls broaden the conversation to bulk email management, Office 365 connections, AI-assisted development, future pricing, calendar support, translations, and the challenge of competing with major voice assistants.

E.) How To Edit A Transcript In DocAccess Using Workbench | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | October 5, 2026

Showcasing DocAccess Workbench, The Accessibility Guy walks viewers through refining an accessible HTML transcript generated from a complex PDF. The demonstration covers instant remediation, manual document review, and chat-based corrections for issues the platform flags.

October 15, 2026 📅️

2.) JAWS Power Tip: How To Display a List of Open Applications Using JAWS | Freedom Scientific via TopTechTidbits.com | October 15, 2026

The Windows List dialog displays a list of all currently open application windows on your computer. This includes programs, documents, and other open windows.

October 14, 2026 📅️

3.) Ringside Access No Matter The Platform With Shawn And Jon | The Accessibility Guy Podcast | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | October 14, 2026

Sitting down with Jon Fukuda, Shawn Jordison examines how organizations can shift accessibility from a late-stage remediation task to an everyday operating practice. Their conversation maps out scalable approaches spanning documents, websites, video, design, staffing, audits, and remediation planning.

4.) Apple HomeView And What’s Next For JAWS And ZoomText | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 14, 2026

Sitting down with Apple’s smart-home announcements, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece assess HomeView’s accessibility implications and examine what Vispero Companion could mean for JAWS and ZoomText users. Matt Ater and Ryan Jones explain how the cloud-based assistant can adjust settings through plain-language requests, while ZoomText adds performance modes and photo object detection.

5.) Guitar Wiz: A Guitar-Practice Toolkit for iPhone and iPad | GuitarWiz.app | October 14, 2026

Guitar Wiz is an independent iPhone and iPad guitar-practice app that pairs a chord reference, tuner and metronome with spoken guidance for pitch and finger placement.

6.) Amazon Alexa Comes to the Orbit Player and Orbit Speak Plus | OrbitResearch.com | October 14, 2026

Orbit Research, working with the Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged in Mumbai, has added Amazon Alexa to the Orbit Player and Orbit Speak Plus in software version 2.3.1, bringing Audible, Kindle, news, podcasts and music to each device’s tactile controls and screen reader. The Orbit Player update also adds a new podcast app and voice recorder, and hotfix 2.3.1.2 improves text entry in Android apps such as the Alexa sign-in screen.

7.) Meta AI Glasses Firmware 129.1 Restores Aira Calls | Aira | October 14, 2026

Aira reported that Meta AI glasses firmware version 129 blocked Aira calls on iOS and Android and advised users to turn off automatic updates in the Meta AI app. Meta is now rolling out version 129.1, which Aira has tested and confirmed fixes the camera issue.

8.) NVDA 2026.3 Beta 5 Available for Testing | NVAccess.org | October 14, 2026

NV Access has released NVDA 2026.3 Beta 5 for testing. The 2026.3 release brings performance improvements, context menus and shortcuts in several dialogs, expanded touch gestures, and new braille tables and eSpeak languages, and this beta fixes NVDA failing to start on Windows versions older than Windows 10 1903.

October 13, 2026 📅️

9.) Blind Artist Richard Harlow On Tactile Painting, Accessible Cities And Running For Nanaimo Council | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 13, 2026

Sitting down with Richard Harlow, Steven Scott examines how the blind artist and Nanaimo council candidate rebuilt his creative practice after losing central vision to LHON. Harlow details tactile painting, accessible transit and civic documents, AI-supported campaigning, and why disability representation belongs in local government.

10.) NV Access Releases a New Package: Accessibility Testing With NVDA | NV Access | October 13, 2026

NV Access has launched Accessibility Testing with NVDA, a package with a training module, printable reference sheets, further reading, a WCAG reference guide and a badge, aimed at anyone who tests websites and apps for accessibility.

11.) Ray-Ban Meta Audio Glasses Review: No Camera, No Problem | Engadget.com | October 13, 2026

Engadget reviews Meta’s $349 Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses, which drop the camera for lighter, more comfortable frames with six microphones, open-ear speakers and up to 12 hours of mixed-use battery life, while keeping most Meta AI features such as live translation and walking navigation.

12.) TextEdit — The Unsung Hero of macOS | Podfeet.com | October 13, 2026

Podfeet tours TextEdit, the free word processor built into macOS, covering its styles, bullets, rulers, tables, line spacing, rich and plain text formats and settings, and finds that it works with VoiceOver.

October 12, 2026 📅️

13.) Alt Text Explained: What To Write, What To Skip, And Why | The Accessibility Guy | YouTube.com | October 12, 2026

Cutting through the confusion around image descriptions, The Accessibility Guy explains how context determines effective alt text and where common approaches fail. The walkthrough covers decorative and informative images, charts, diagrams, logos, and text-based graphics, including a two-layer approach for communicating complex visuals.

14.) Assistive Access — iOS Easy Mode, Revisited | Bas Broek | October 12, 2026

Developer Bas Broek revisits Apple’s Assistive Access mode and explains how iOS 26 lets third-party apps build their own simplified Assistive Access experience with the AssistiveAccess scene, new Info.plist keys and SwiftUI preview support, with advice on simplifying app flows and settings.

15.) Yes, Your Braille Computer Can Do That Now! – September 2026 | BlazieTech.com | October 12, 2026

Blazie Technologies’ September update for the BT Speak and BT Braille focuses on connections, including controlling an iPhone from the Perkins keyboard, opening files from Dropbox, downloading books from Project Gutenberg and resuming a podcast after a reboot.

16.) Learning Blind Tech Demonstration of Accessible Auphonic | DesireeRenae.com | October 12, 2026

On Learning Blind Tech, Desiree Renae demonstrates Accessible Auphonic, the desktop app she built for the Auphonic audio service, walking through presets, auditioning settings and creating a single-track production.

17.) Tamas G. Releases ssi263-speech 0.8 | Tamas G. | October 12, 2026

Version 0.8 of ssi263-speech, which emulates the SSI-263 speech chip using the original units’ own firmware, combines every unit into one NVDA add-on, adds the Apple II Mockingboard and 17 new Braille Lite 2000 languages, and improves the chip’s sound. Android, Apple TestFlight and Blazie emulator builds are also updated.

18.) What’s New in QuickMail 0.8.55 | Kelly Ford | October 12, 2026

QuickMail 0.8.55, the free Windows email program built for screen reader users, adds Export and Import Settings for moving accounts, signatures, rules, templates, keyboard shortcuts and more to another computer without passwords, and fixes copying a whole open message.

19.) Road to the National Coding Symposium 2026: BT Code | APH | October 12, 2026

This 56-minute APH video, presented by Dr. Stephen Blazie, opens the Road to the National Coding Symposium series with BT Code, the built-in Python learning and development environment for BT Speak and BT Braille, covering guided lessons with an AI coding assistant, a braille-first IDE and the Code Store for sharing projects.

October 11, 2026 📅️

20.) Too Busy To Be Blind: An Apple Engineer’s Second Act | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 11, 2026

In this reflective episode, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece speak with Brett Halle about losing his sight and rebuilding his relationship with the Apple technology he helped create. Halle explains why detailed bug reports matter inside Apple’s Radar system and recounts learning VoiceOver by approaching it as a puzzle to explore.

21.) Amazon Introduces Alexa Tablets With Alexa+ Built In | AboutAmazon.com | October 11, 2026

Amazon has introduced the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, 11 and 8, with Alexa+ built in, full Google Play Store access and a distraction-free Kindle reading mode. Prices start at $229.99, and the tablets ship October 14 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

October 10, 2026 📅️

22.) Traveling Blind With EchoVision: The Good And The Bad | The Blind Life | YouTube.com | October 10, 2026

Showcasing EchoVision during a trip, Sam from The Blind Life tests how Agiga’s AI glasses perform across airports and hotels. The practical trial highlights useful travel scenarios while flagging a limitation travelers with vision loss should weigh before relying on the device.

23.) Remembering Brett Halle: The Apple Engineer Who Helped Build Mac OS X | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 10, 2026

Following Brett Halle’s death, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece revisit the Apple engineer’s firsthand account of helping steer the company through its most consequential technical transitions. Halle recalls the NeXT acquisition, Mac OS X’s Core OS development, Steve Jobs’ return, and the closely held effort to move the Mac from PowerPC to Intel.

24.) Announcing the Homer Development Kit | Jamal Mazrui | October 10, 2026

Jamal Mazrui has released HomerDev, a free, open-source kit of shared C# and Python code, templates, sample apps, release scripts and AI skills for building Windows apps that work well with JAWS and NVDA. It is aimed at blind and low-vision developers who build software with AI assistance, and it is offered under the MIT License.

25.) ATL USB Protector: A USB Security Add-on for NVDA | Accessible Tech Labs India | October 10, 2026

Accessible Tech Labs India has introduced ATL USB Protector, an NVDA add-on that can automatically eject unknown USB drives or lock them in read-only mode, with a spoken warning and a short window to trust a drive. After community review uncovered several bugs, the developers fixed them and paused their Add-on Store submission for further private testing.

October 9, 2026 📅️

26.) NASA’s Artemis Webinar For Blind People: RS-25 Engines, Blind Engineers And Accessible Space | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 9, 2026

Sitting down with NASA engineers Dr. Robert Shelton and Dr. Craig Moore, Steven Scott examines how Artemis outreach can make spaceflight more accessible for blind and low-vision audiences. The discussion spans the RS-25’s updated, 3D-printed components, AI-assisted accessible math, sonified telescope data, and the case for sharing astronauts’ firsthand accounts from lunar missions.

27.) FastRoute Brings Audio Hijack-Style Audio Routing to Windows | FastRoute | October 9, 2026

FastRoute is a new Windows app for routing and processing audio, built around sessions of input, effect and output blocks in the style of Audio Hijack on the Mac. Sources include devices, applications, system audio and internet streams, effects include equalizers and a compressor, and audio can be sent across a network, including over the VBAN protocol.

28.) GitHub Downloader: Search GitHub Repository Releases and Download Asset Files | GitHub Downloader | October 9, 2026

GitHub Downloader 1.0 is a desktop utility for searching GitHub repository releases and downloading their files, built with native controls for NVDA and JAWS, with keyboard shortcuts, parallel downloads and English, Italian and Spanish interfaces.

29.) Seven Months on a Neo: Can an 8 GB Mac Handle App Development? | Becky K | October 9, 2026

Becky K reflects on seven months of building apps with VoiceOver on an 8 GB MacBook Neo, including managing memory and storage, the warning signs that the machine is overloaded, and moving to the Nova editor to work with her code more comfortably than in Xcode.

30.) Retroreader: Carry a Classic Reading Voice in Your Pocket | Retroreader.uk | October 9, 2026

Retroreader is open-source software from Sean Randall that turns the low-cost Freenove Media Kit, a pocket-sized ESP32-S3 gadget with a screen, speaker and headphone jack, into a portable reader for EPUB ebooks and plain-text files. It reads aloud with classic synthesizers long familiar to screen reader users, including DECtalk, Pico and OpenEVV, and is driven by a five-way control. The project is an early alpha, and testers and feedback are welcome.

31.) inlaut: Free, Private On-Device Dictation for the Mac, Now in English | Inlaut.de | October 9, 2026

inlaut is a free, open-source Mac dictation app from Tobias Marks that sits in the menu bar and types wherever the cursor is: hold down a key, talk, then release it. Recognition happens entirely on the Mac using NVIDIA’s Parakeet model, with no account and no cloud, and double-tapping fn switches to hands-free dictation. English support arrived October 9; an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 26 or later is required.

October 8, 2026 📅️

32.) Microsoft’s Hybrid AI Windows Event And The Surface Laptop Ultra | Double Tap | YouTube.com | October 8, 2026

Cutting through the hype around Microsoft’s hybrid AI push, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece examine what an agentic Windows could mean for blind and screen reader users. They assess the new Copilot, natural-language search and task automation alongside the $2,599 Surface Laptop Ultra, weighing the privacy and practical value of running models locally rather than sending sensitive work to the cloud.

33.) Control Your Email and Calendar by Voice With Lumin | TryLumin.ai | October 8, 2026

Lumin is an iPhone app, created by a founder with vision loss, for managing Gmail, Google Workspace and Outlook.com email and calendars entirely by voice in more than 40 languages. It can also read images and attachments, open web links and send audio reminders, and Android support is not yet available.

34.) Deeper Dive: Keyboard Differences Between Windows and Macs | Aresluna.org | October 8, 2026

A detailed reference on how keyboards differ between Windows and the Mac, covering key names, modifier keys, symbols, how shortcuts are written, text-field commands, reserved keys, and how keys such as Tab, Page Up, Home and End behave on each platform.

35.) NLS Sets Minimum Software Versions for BARD Access After December 31 | National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled | October 8, 2026

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled says devices must run at least BARD Mobile 2.2.5 on iOS, 2.1.1 on Android or 2.5.6 on Fire OS, or current eReader, BARD Express and DA2 software, to keep connecting to BARD after December 31. The BARD website and the My Talking Books skill have no minimum requirement.

36.) Historic Braillers | Perkins.org | October 8, 2026

Perkins School for the Blind opens a look back at the early braille writers that led to the Perkins Brailler, starting with the 1890s Hall Braille Writer and the Streif stenographic braille writer built for a German school for war-blinded veterans, with more of its collection to come.

37.) The Chat Place: An Accessible Companion for Your Claude Code Chats | TheIdeaPlace.net | October 8, 2026

Kelly Ford introduces The Chat Place, a Windows and Mac app that presents Claude Code sessions and messages in screen reader-friendly list boxes, flags which sessions need attention, reads replies as they arrive and handles Claude’s questions and permission requests from the keyboard. Version 0.1.2 also brings a user guide and Remote Control support.

38.) Monarch: More Than a Tablet | APH.org | October 8, 2026

APH explains why Monarch is more than a braille tablet, describing how its ten lines of braille and tactile graphics support textbooks and eBraille, the Tactile Graphics Image Library, drawing with Wing It, and apps such as Chess and the Periodic Table.

39.) What I Trust Muse to Do—and What I Don’t | Becky K | October 8, 2026

Becky K shares her experience with the Muse AI agent, which can read and create Word and PowerPoint documents, pass messages between people’s agents and take on research tasks, along with accessibility glitches in its Mac app and the personal tasks she keeps for herself.

Last Week 📅️

40.) BBQ 1 – Braille, Brands and Questions With HumanWare: The New Series of Expert Table Talks | LivingBraille.eu | October 7, 2026

LivingBraille.eu launches BBQ, a new series of Expert Table Talks on braille displays, with a first session in which HumanWare braille product manager Andrew Flatres answers users’ questions. The recording is available on YouTube and as a podcast episode.

41.) Early Version of the Accessible Android Emulator for Windows | Accessible Android Emulator | October 7, 2026

An early Windows alpha of the Accessible Android Emulator lets blind users create, run and test Android virtual devices without sighted help, with a screen reader from first boot and full keyboard control alongside NVDA or JAWS. Version 0.5.0 adds a speech bridge to the computer’s text-to-speech, microphone input and more device simulation options.

42.) New App From Andre Louis: ElevenLabs Speech | Andre Louis | October 7, 2026

Andre Louis has released ElevenLabs Speech, a companion app for generating speech with ElevenLabs voices, following his earlier ElevenLabs Music and Sound Effects apps. He notes that ElevenLabs is offering its V4 model free for a limited time, including through the API.

43.) Switching From Apple Podcasts to Earshot | Michael Babcock | October 7, 2026

Michael Babcock explains how VoiceOver users can move their podcast subscriptions from Apple Podcasts to Earshot, an iPhone podcast app built for screen readers, covering OPML import, setting the rotor order of episode actions, and the app’s pricing.

44.) Update to Intersector for iOS, an App for Identifying Intersections | Marco Salsiccia | October 7, 2026

Marco Salsiccia has updated Intersector, his iPhone app that identifies nearby and upcoming intersections for blind travelers, with faster and more reliable map data. The app also offers compass direction, a scan mode, a live mode that announces intersections while walking or riding, Siri shortcuts and an Apple Watch companion.

45.) From iPhone to iPad: Rethinking the Reading Experience | Becky K | October 6, 2026

Becky K describes redesigning her Start Speaking reading app for iPad, using SwiftUI’s split-view navigation to keep the library beside the open book, and relying on low-vision and VoiceOver testers when she had no iPad of her own.

46.) Meta Drops Celebrity Voice Options on the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 | GeekyGadgets.com | October 6, 2026

Geeky Gadgets compares the $449 Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 with the Gen 2, noting longer battery life, a sixth microphone, spatial audio and a customizable action button, while the Muse AI assistant comes to both models and the celebrity voice options are dropped.

47.) Tailscale Exit Nodes for You and Grants for Family Tech Support | Podfeet.com | October 6, 2026

Podfeet explains how Tailscale links a person’s devices into a private network, how to make an always-on device an exit node for a free personal VPN, and how access-control grants allow screen sharing into relatives’ computers for tech support without exposing the rest of the network.

48.) Shortcut Menu 0.5 for Android Makes Safe Mode Safer | Shortcut Menu | October 5, 2026

Shortcut Menu 0.5 for Android now turns the screen reader back on and announces which one whenever safe mode ends without a screen reader running, and it checks that its own voice works before turning anything off.

49.) Learning Blind Tech Interview With Jonathan Simeone on the PresentAble Application | DesireeRenae.com | October 4, 2026

Desiree Renae talks with Jonathan Simeone about PresentAble, his new app for JAWS users, which is available for preorder through Hartgen Consultancy.

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October 15, 2026 | Beyond the Basics: Navigate, Review, and Present More Effectively in PowerPoint Using JAWS | Vispero

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan of Vispero demonstrate practical strategies for working more efficiently in PowerPoint with JAWS, from navigating slides, placeholders, objects and the different PowerPoint views to adding alt text to images and videos so slide content is accessible. The session also covers reviewing object placement, reading order, graphics and other visual information, and moving through Slide Show view with practical tips for presenting more effectively. ACVREP credits are available to those who attend the live webinar.

October 15, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
This free Vision Support America session covers simple techniques for moving safely and confidently around the home and beyond, with particular attention to stairs and to preventing falls. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 15, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America looks at moving through the world safely and confidently with changing vision, and at how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

October 16, 2026 | Recognizing Elder Abuse: Signs, Resources, and Next Steps | NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision

12:00 PM PT, 1:00 PM MT, 2:00 PM CT, 3:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Jennifer Spoeri, executive director of the National Adult Protective Services Association, explains how to recognize abuse, neglect, exploitation and self-neglect among older adults who are blind or have low vision, along with reporting responsibilities and available resources. One ACVREP credit is available.

October 19, 2026 | Virtual Birding With the Birdability Community on Instagram Live | Birdability

7:00 AM PT, 8:00 AM MT, 9:00 AM CT, 10:00 AM ET, 2:00 PM GMT
Birdability goes live on Instagram at @birdability every morning of Birdability Week, through October 25, for virtual birding from backyards, parks and favorite accessible birding spots around the country. The week opens with Tammah Watts and her Mindfulness Mondays, and later stops include backyard birding in North Carolina, Central Park with That Quirky Bird Girl, a field trip with ASL, Jenn Lodi-Smith of The Spark Bird Project, and Everybody Birding Club in Ohio. Stay for the whole program or drop in for a minute or two. Free.

October 19, 2026 | Birdability Week 2026: Bird Where You Are | Birdability

Birdability Week returns October 19 through 25, 2026, with the theme Bird Where You Are – an invitation to notice birds in whatever way works best for you, whether that is from a window, a wheelchair, a car, a hospital room, a kayak or a favorite park bench. The week is a celebration of birders with disabilities and other health concerns, and includes a full schedule of free virtual events, the Offbeat Photo and Video Contest, and accessible outings hosted around the country. All virtual events include captions and ASL interpretation.

October 19, 2026 | Finding Balance: Self-Care While Birding – A Birdability Week 2026 Discussion | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains Eric Clow and Jayme Boucher co-facilitate an open community roundtable on the many ways disabled birders care for themselves while spending time with birds – from birding while floating in a pool, to adaptive equipment that reduces fatigue, to choosing places where birds can be enjoyed without walking. Bring your own tips and hear practical ideas from others. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 20, 2026 | An Engine for Innovation and Opportunity | Disability:IN

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
Disability:IN hosts a LinkedIn Live conversation with disability-owned entrepreneurs Ryan Mayer of Ryan Mayer Coaching, Dr. Ann Nguyen-Chung of Hippotanicals and Mary Jayne McCullough of Global Wordsmiths. The panel covers understanding customers, communicating what makes a product different and building the relationships that help a business grow.

October 20, 2026 | Lighting Tips for Everyday Life | Vision Support America

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America covers practical ways to make a home easier to see and move through, using contrast, better lighting and reduced glare. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 20, 2026 | Navigating Performance Discussions and the Accommodation Process Effectively | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
This Job Accommodation Network training gives supervisors and managers practical strategies for handling performance conversations and for responding when a disability disclosure leads to a request for reasonable accommodation. It covers what to say and how to explore accommodation solutions collaboratively when performance is part of the picture. Real-time captioning is provided.

October 20, 2026 | Make Your iPhone Work for You | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America walks step by step through the ways an iPhone can be adjusted to work better for changing eyesight, at a pace built to feel comfortable and doable. The session is free.

October 20, 2026 | Pathways to Disability Empowerment: Learn from the Success of Blind and DeafBlind Professionals | The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.

2:00 PM PT, 3:00 PM MT, 4:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. hosts a panel of blind and DeafBlind professionals who share how they found work, the accommodations they use to complete forms and attend meetings, and how they take part in everyday workplace life. Presenters are Eben Frisbie of Bank of America, author and retired human resources executive Sara Freeman Smith, and Paul DuCharme of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. The webinar is aimed at job seekers who are blind, low vision, DeafBlind, or blind with other disabilities, and attendees are invited to bring their own job search questions. Virtual (Zoom); ASL interpreters will be available.

October 20, 2026 | Birding While d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing Panel | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains, community members and past Accessible Birding Interns who identify as Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing and late-deafened share their birding journeys, the barriers they have encountered and the accommodations that have helped. The panel explores the distinction between Deaf as a cultural and linguistic identity and deaf as a term for hearing loss, the many ways people connect with birds beyond sound, and practical ideas for making bird walks, clubs and festivals more welcoming. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 20, 2026 | Teaching and Typing Math | BITS

5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
The BITS Education Team presents Teaching and Typing Math, a Tuesday evening course led by Professor Betsey Doane with Rebecca Skipper for assistive technology instructors and others who work with math. It covers navigating math in Word and on the web, Nemeth braille in the JAWS Braille Math Editor, math input by speech, and graphing with Desmos, and registrants must check each course date when signing up.

October 21, 2026 | Inclusive Nature Panel | Birdability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
Author and editor Lauren Pharr moderates a conversation with contributors to the upcoming book Inclusive Nature about creating outdoor spaces, conservation organizations and birding communities where more people truly belong. Drawing on lived experience and professional work, panelists explore how race, disability, gender and culture have shaped who has had access to nature, and identify actions individuals and organizations can take. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 21, 2026 | Part 2 – Web Accessibility Basics: Manual Screen Reader Testing | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Michael Parker from Access Ingenuity completes his two-part series with a session on manual screen reader testing of websites using JAWS. Attendees learn to spot missing or incorrect landmarks, poorly labeled controls, inaccessible dynamic content, and weak alt text, and to document findings against specific WCAG criteria.

October 21, 2026 | Introducing QuickMail from Kelly Ford | Brad Snyder | Blind Information Technology Solutions (BITS)

5:00 PM PT, 6:00 PM MT, 7:00 PM CT, 8:00 PM ET, 12:00 AM GMT
Kelly Ford demonstrates QuickMail, a free Windows email program built with other contributors to work smoothly with screen readers from the first day, with no custom scripts or workarounds. It brings Gmail, Microsoft, iCloud, IMAP and POP3 accounts together in one combined inbox, runs entirely from the keyboard, and includes a calendar, address book, message rules and templates. Ford explains why QuickMail was built and where it fits among today’s email programs, and attendees can bring their questions, frustrations and ideas directly to the developer. QuickMail is still in active development and has not yet reached version 1.0; virtual (Zoom), registration required.

October 21, 2026 | Community Coalition In-Person Launch & Celebration | Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion

5:30 PM PT, 6:30 PM MT, 7:30 PM CT, 8:30 PM ET, 12:30 AM GMT
The Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion marks the launch of its Community Coalition for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion with an in-person evening at the Parkview Event Space at Seattle Unity, 200 8th Avenue North, Seattle. Attendees see a live demonstration of the Coalition’s new online home on Circle, with Apple and Android apps, meet local DEI practitioners, have new books by three ISDI leaders signed, and share a light meal with music. Founding Member sign-up at reduced, locked-in rates is open at the event and runs through December 31, 2026. Tickets are $75, $35 or a contribution of the buyer’s choosing; the venue offers accessible garage parking, a van-accessible loading zone, elevator access and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.

October 22, 2026 | Disability Innovation Forum | Enable Ventures & SmartJob

6:00 AM PT, 7:00 AM MT, 8:00 AM CT, 9:00 AM ET, 1:00 PM GMT
Enable Ventures and SmartJob host a full-day, in-person conference at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC, on disability-led innovation in work, learning, design and investing. Sessions include a showcase of ten early-stage companies, a keynote from bionic pop artist Viktoria Modesta, a fireside chat with Axios co-founder Roy Schwartz, and eight panels.

October 22, 2026 | Keep Reading Alive | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America explores the different ways of keeping reading in your life as vision changes, in whatever format works best now. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

October 22, 2026 | Birding at the Intersections | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Birdability Captains and community members with intersecting identities discuss how race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, culture and neurodivergence shape people’s experiences of birding and time in nature. Panelists explore how barriers to participation overlap and reinforce one another, and how belonging is created when communities recognize the whole person rather than a single aspect of identity. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 23, 2026 | Home Organization and Labeling | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America hosts a supportive conversation on simple ways to organize and label a home so that it feels easier, calmer and more predictable to move around. The session is free and aimed at people adjusting to changing vision.

October 23, 2026 | Birding With an Energy-Limiting Condition Panel | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
Many birders live with conditions that affect energy, stamina, pain, fatigue or post-exertional recovery. Birdability Captains share how they have adapted their birding to fit changing bodies and lives – birding closer to home, pacing themselves, and embracing rest, mobility aids and technology. They talk honestly about the emotional side of adjusting expectations and letting go of the idea that there is only one right way to be a birder. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 24, 2026 | Birds and Brains: A Keynote Conversation About Traumatic Brain Injury and Healing With Birds | Birdability

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET
Birdability Week keynote speaker Day Scott (@TheWildernessGoddess) and Birdability Captain Emily Nichols talk about living with and recovering from traumatic brain injury, and the unexpected ways birds became part of the healing process. Drawing on lived experience and emerging science about the brain’s capacity to adapt and change, they reflect on how paying attention to birds can support healing, emotional well-being and a renewed sense of possibility. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 25, 2026 | Birdability Week Wrap-Up Social and Photo and Video Contest Winners Announced | Birdability

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET
Birdability Week 2026 closes with a community celebration and the announcement of the winners of the 2026 Offbeat Photo and Video Contest. See this year’s finalist photos and videos, hear the stories behind them, celebrate the photographers and videographers, and share your own favorite Birdability Week memory. Free. Virtual (Zoom). Captions and ASL interpretation provided; note additional access requests in your registration.

October 25, 2026 | FilmNorth and Artifact Studios Present Brailled It | FilmNorth

3:00 PM PT, 4:00 PM MT, 5:00 PM CT, 6:00 PM ET, 10:00 PM GMT
FilmNorth and Artifact Studios present Brailled It at FilmNorth, 2441 University Avenue West in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The evening opens with a filmmaking workshop for blind and low-vision students ages 16 to 25, followed at 6:30 PM Central by a screening of the film and a Q&A. Free; RSVP required.

October 26, 2026 | Make Your Android Work for You | Vision Support America

10:30 AM PT, 11:30 AM MT, 12:30 PM CT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT
In this free session, Vision Support America introduces the accessibility settings built into Android phones, working through small changes that build confidence one step at a time. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision who want their phone to be easier to use.

October 27, 2026 | Creating Accessible Coursework: From Content to Classroom | Allyant

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Liz Franklin of Allyant and digital accessibility coordinator Pam Doran present a live webinar on accessibility requirements for educational materials, with a demonstration of CommonLook Edu, a customer’s approach to scaling accessible coursework, and tips on budgeting and collaboration. Attendees receive a free seven-day trial.

October 27, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

October 28, 2026 | How to Convince People to Care and Invest in Accessibility | A11yTalks

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM GMT
A11yTalks hosts Stéphanie Walter, who covers nine common accessibility myths and push-backs and how designers, developers and project teams can answer them with data and examples. The session streams on YouTube.

October 28, 2026 | JAWS Essentials: Navigating PowerPoint with JAWS | Access Ingenuity

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Marisa Church from Access Ingenuity covers the core JAWS commands for PowerPoint, including moving between slides, reading slide content and speaker notes, and working with images, charts, and tables. The session also explains how a presentation’s structure affects what JAWS reads, in both editing mode and slideshow view.

October 28, 2026 | Cooking Tips for Changing Vision | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
This free Vision Support America session is a supportive conversation about working in the kitchen with changing vision, taking small practical steps toward feeling confident there again.

October 29, 2026 | Preventing Falls and Using Stairs Safely | Vision Support America

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
This free Vision Support America session covers simple techniques for moving safely and confidently around the home and beyond, with particular attention to stairs and to preventing falls. It is aimed at people with low or changing vision.

October 29, 2026 | Confident Movement and Open Conversations | Vision Support America

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM GMT
Vision Support America looks at moving through the world safely and confidently with changing vision, and at how to ask for help in ways that feel comfortable and respectful. The session is free and open to anyone adjusting to vision loss.

November 5, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 6, 2026 | 2026 Disability:IN EMEA Summit | Disability:IN

1:00 AM PT, 2:00 AM MT, 3:00 AM CT, 4:00 AM ET, 9:00 AM GMT
Disability:IN and Bloomberg bring senior leaders from Europe, the Middle East and Africa together in London to examine how companies are using neuroinclusion, accessibility, AI and data-driven insights to shape the future of work, technology and customer experience. The summit runs a full day on November 5 and a morning session on November 6 at Bloomberg in London, and attendance is by invitation request.

November 8, 2026 | 18th Annual Dining In The Dark Fundraiser To Benefit The Blind | Florida Outreach Center For The Blind

1:00 PM PT, 2:00 PM MT, 3:00 PM CT, 4:00 PM ET, 9:00 PM GMT
Experience an unforgettable evening at the 18th Annual Dining in the Dark, where guests enjoy a three-course meal served in complete darkness by the PBSO SWAT Team using night-vision goggles. The night also features live entertainment, an inspiring guest speaker, and a silent auction supporting programs for the blind community in Palm Beach County.

November 17, 2026 | Carter Kits: Supporting Positive Interactions for Neurodivergent Patients During Emergency Encounters | Accessibility Online

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Carter Kits co-founder Justin Severs and training and grants manager Andie describe the sensory bags their organization supplies to first responders, emergency department staff and community partners for encounters with autistic and neurodivergent patients, where a lack of tools and training still produces worse health outcomes. Dr. Sam Wrobleski of the Michigan EMS for Children Program also explains how that partnership works and how others might build one in their own state. Real-time captioning is provided.

November 18, 2026 | Birdability Book Club: Birdsong by the Seasons by Donald Kroodsma | Birdability

4:00 PM PT, 5:00 PM MT, 6:00 PM CT, 7:00 PM ET
The Birdability Book Club closes out 2026 with Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds by Donald Kroodsma, a lyrical guide to a year of sound. The book was chosen so readers could follow along month by month through the year and then gather in November to share reflections from twelve months of attentive listening. Free; registration required.

November 19, 2026 | Member-Only Event: Practices for Accessible Virtual Meetings | National Organization on Disability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET
A 25-minute virtual session for NOD Leadership Council members focused on practical, hands-on strategies for making virtual meetings more inclusive and accessible to all participants. The full briefing is restricted to Council members; non-members can join the Leadership Council to attend this and similar exclusive members-only sessions.

November 24, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

December 8, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 9, 2026 | Sight Tech Global 2026 | Sight Tech Global

9:00 AM PT, 10:00 AM MT, 11:00 AM CT, 12:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM GMT
Sight Tech Global, produced by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, returns as a free, fully virtual two-day conference on how AI and emerging technology can expand independence and access for people who are blind or have low vision. Registration is open.

December 17, 2026 | CEO Office Hours: Looking Back/Looking Forward | National Organization on Disability

10:00 AM PT, 11:00 AM MT, 12:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM GMT
In a free, year-end CEO Office Hours led by Beth Sirull, the National Organization on Disability reflects on milestones in disability inclusion and looks ahead to the strategies that will shape the coming year.

December 22, 2026 | Tech It Out | Hadley

11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, 2:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM GMT
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.

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