Change Makers: A Podcast from APH

American Printing House has a big goal: a future that belongs to everyone. For more than 160 years APH has created products that provide access for people who are blind or low vision. To create a world that welcomes everyone, we know it's going to take a lot of change makers. Join us as we highlight the people who are making the biggest difference in our field. We'll talk to everyone from CEOs to students. Know someone we should highlight? Email communications@aph.org.

All Episodes

Change Makers: A Podcast from APH

Careers in STEM

September 26, 2024 • American Printing House • Episode 107

On this episode of Change Makers, learn about the wide world of careers in STEM. The opportunities are truly endless. After that, hear an update for the next Connect the Dots event.

On This Episode (In Order of Appearance)

Katrina Best, APH Accessible Coding Product Manager
Allison Mello, Assistive Technology Specialist at California School of the Blind
Saqib Shaikh, Microsoft Seeing AI Engineering Manager
Erin Sigmund, APH Community Relations & Policy Advisor

Additional Links

Narrator: 0:00

<silence> Welcome to Change Makers , a podcast from APH. We're talking to people from around the world who are creating positive change in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. Here's your host.

Sara Brown: 0:15

Hello and welcome to Change Makers. I'm APH'S Public Relations Manager, Sara Brown . And on this episode, we're learning more about careers in stem. The opportunities are truly endless. After that, here an update for the next Connect the Dots event up. First, it's important to get kids interested in stem and I have APH's Accessible Coding Product Manager, Katrina Best here to tell us more. Hello Katrina and welcome to Change Makers.

Katrina Best: 0:45

Thank you for having me here, Sara.

Sara Brown: 0:47

So for my first question, I always ask, would you like to just let our listeners know who you are and what you do at APH?

Katrina Best: 0:55

Absolutely. So as the accessible coding product manager, my role involves working on the STEM team, which includes two other product managers, Dr. Li Zhou in charge of math, and Dr. Roseanne Hoffman in charge of science and Health, as well as Avery Baggette, who is our product specialist. And then also my bosses , um, Mike Wood. And in this role I review products that pass our internal PIC review committee. PIC stands for Product Idea Committee, which listeners can submit ideas by Googling, suggest a product form and American Printing House. If a submitted idea passes the committee review, then it comes to me, if it falls in accessible coding or engineering. And I begin working on making it a reality with our internal software development team, production team , uh, marketing, possibly other departments or external vendors , um, and such as companies or nonprofits to make a product. And APH. It involves several teams and people , uh, touching the products. It's a very exciting position to be in. And Sara, I really love what I do. I wouldn't wanna do anything else. <laugh>,

Sara Brown: 2:03

I can tell, I can hear the passion. Now this product is about STEM. What products does APH have to help expose children to the world of STEM?

Katrina Best: 2:13

That's a wonderful question, Sara. We have several <laugh>. Bear with me while I get through some of them. Um, in terms of the accessible road to code , uh, products that introduce children to programming and engineering, APH offers a variety of products specifically designed to introduce children who are blind or have low vision to the exciting world of stem. So taking you down the road of product or accessible coding. When the student is in pre-K, we have Code and Go Robot Mouse , which is a partnership with learning resources. So we really are trying to look at creating more partnerships. And you'll hear me say that , um, along the journey as I take you because it makes sure that the products that are being used in the general education setting are then adapted to students who are visually impaired. So next step is CodeQuest. This app is an app on the iPad and it's available for students who are learning sequencing algorithms and many other valuable coding skills, while also teaching gestures associated with voiceover. The built-in screen reader created by Apple. This is a great product for students to not only learn the basics of coding, but also to learn the basics of screen reader gestures needed to navigate iPads and iPhones, which is a skill that teachers the visually impaired are task with teaching following. This is Code Jumper . Code Jumper was designed for students ages seven to 11, second grade through fourth grade. And it was originally designed by Microsoft and then it's been further developed by APH. This educational , uh, tool bridges the gap and opens up the world of coding to every student, which is a unique physical programming language that enables children to learn coding concepts through a hands-on tactile experience. Now that being said, Sara, we are working behind the scenes on Code Jumper to develop an exciting new update. So a beginning introduction to text-based programming languages called CJ Threads, which students will not necessarily need to use , um, the physical pods. So it will be more based on , um, using the text-based programming language Python. This is set to launch at CSUN in March of 2025 when students will transition to the programming that they're already used to in Code Jumper . Um, and the concepts that we will be introducing are strings, variables, loops and error messages. Many parents and teachers will be happy to hear about the introduction to error message statements in the form of text <laugh> because currently if you have an error in Code Jumper , it makes a burping noise, which I'm sure all of your students and children love on the block code side of Code Jumper . But now watch that. I've said this and one of our software engineers will probably put the burping sound in when students receive an error message. Now in terms of engineering, we offer many products that we partnered with Lanco on Snap Circuits Junior 130 Access Kit, and RC Rover Brick and Brick Structures for those following our engineering products closely. Snapino was also on the list , um, and we are working to still continue that product, but we have to find some different vendors to help with creating the kit because Lanco did stop carrying it. Um, honestly, Sara, if I was still a TVI or an O&M in the school setting, I would be ordering one of each of our products and hosting STEM workshops for students or creating a STEM club. I also think it's important for TVIs and parents to know these products exist and to speak with classroom teachers and service providers about getting them for their classroom and to include them in clubs and computer science courses.

Sara Brown: 5:43

Now, just briefly, can you talk about the Road to Code, because that's an important part in all those products you just mentioned I know are on that road. So briefly just talk about what the Road to Code is and let our listeners know.

Katrina Best: 5:57

Absolutely. All of those products are currently on our roadmap. However, we are working behind the scenes to expand our roadmap offerings and we are currently looking at products that are on the market that are used in the general education setting. We wanna form partnerships with products that are already being used in the K through 12 classrooms and make them accessible so that students with visual impairment, they're not sitting in the corner and working on something else while the rest of the class is having fun , uh, learning experiences centered around coding and engineering. Lastly, I do wanna touch on the Monarch. I know there's quite a stir already, but we have a few exciting applications in the works that will be available on the Monarch. Not right away because I know there's others coming out, but I wanted to make sure that folks know that there will be a few ways to learn computer programming via the Monarch. So stay tuned for that.

Sara Brown: 6:46

Now , this podcast again is about STEM and mainly because somebody posted on one of our social media platforms wanting to know about careers and jobs and opportunities for people in stem. So can you talk about how accessible the world of STEM is for individuals who are blind or low vision?

Katrina Best: 7:03

Absolutely. So the world of STEM is becoming increasingly accessible thanks to advancements in technology and the development of specialized tools. For example, tactile graphics, screen readers and other accessible software have opened doors that were once closed. Organizations like APH are constantly working to create improved resources that enable individuals who are blind or low vision be able to fully participate in STEM fields. However, there's still a lot of work to be done and it's important that we continue to advocate for inclusivity and accessibility in education and the workspace. One area that APH has been working in recently is having a presence at more of the major computer science related organizations and conferences. This helps us network with other organizations, nonprofits and companies, creating the tools that are being used in the K through 12 and college spaces to teach students computer science and engineering. A few of us here at APH have been actively involved in CSTA is c and uh , other organizations working to ensure that computer science becomes more accessible and ultimately is accessible and being the voice that represents what our students and target market needs are. I'm really proud to be working at APH and seeing that the directors, software engineers, product managers, my myself, are finding ways to get invited to sit down at the table with these organizations because these larger companies do want their products to be accessible. They just aren't sure exactly what that means. It's our job to help inform them so that it trickles down to the students and so that our students and TVI and classroom teachers are supported so that our students can enter a competitive job market with the same or even slightly better skills than their cited peers in the areas of data science, artificial intelligence, computer programming, et cetera , things that haven't even been developed yet. We live in an age now where everything should be accessible from the ground up, no excuses. And if it's not accessible, now it is time to fix it.

Sara Brown: 9:01

Absolutely. And you know, here at APH, accessibility is baked in in the beginning and that's, that's how we roll here. So it should , for those you know who haven't thought about accessibility, it's time to start making sure accessibility is thought about at the very beginning and not just an afterthought. Now, what are some important things one needs to know if their child is interested in pursuing STEM for a potential career?

Katrina Best: 9:26

Absolutely. If your child is interested in pursuing a career in STEM, it's important to encourage 'em to explore their interests from a young age, provide them with accessible tools and resources that cater to their specific needs, like tactile learning materials or accessible coding platforms. It's also crucial to connect them with mentors or role models who are already succeeding in the field . Finally, advocate for their inclusion in all educational settings, ensuring that they have equal opportunities to participate in STEM activities and coursework. Keep an eye out for local music museums or museums that are within , uh, close driving distance camps and groups centered around accessible computer science. One of those camps is Space Camp for interested visually impaired students. And I'll send you a link for that, Sara. And then also I pulled a statement from the University of Alabama and Huntsville's GenCyber Camp that one of my colleagues here at APH told me about the University of Alabama in Huntsville host cyber camps for deaf and hard of hearing students, as well as a camp for blind and visually impaired students. And it's funded by the National Security Agency, Microsoft and the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blinds, regional National Technology Institute for the Deaf Dem Center. Students learn about online safety, cybersecurity careers, cryptography, and more , uh, says Jesse Hairston, CCRE assistant director. And I've met Jesse . He is excellent. The CCRE Assistant Director, we partner with the Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for Deaf Regional STEM Centers and the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind bring students in from across the country so students don't have to live in Alabama. Our partnership with the FBI gives our campers experience with real world tools as they learn about cybersecurity careers. And , uh, UAH has been hosting these camps since 2017. And then something else I wanted to talk about was the STEM career outlook. So in 2024 there are approximately 10.4 million workers employed in STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the United States, the number is expected to grow significantly over the next decade with projections estimating an 11% increase by 2032, which translates to around 1.1 million new jobs . The growth rate is substantially higher than the overall growth rate for all occupations , which is projected at just 2.8% during the same period . And STEM jobs also tend to offer higher wages compared to non-ST STEM jobs with a median annual wage of $101,650 in STEM fields as of 2023 compared to $48,000 for all other occupations. The demand for STEM professionals is particularly strong and fields like computer science, engineering, and healthcare related STEM roles and the growth of STEM jobs is driven by technological advancements, increased reliance on digital infrastructure and the need for skilled professionals in areas like renewable energy, artificial intelligence, that buzz area and biotechnology. And all of that data was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sara Brown: 12:34

So there's some pretty good job opportunities out there for anybody interested in stem. That's what I heard. Okay. <laugh>. <laugh> . So it's never too late to start, you know, getting a little interested in that field and, and guiding your child to that field and getting them exposed to all our wonderful STEM products that APH makes and, and , and sells and exposed to just the different camps and whatnot . It's such an amazing field. Is there anything else you wanna share with our listeners before I let you go?

Katrina Best: 13:04

Absolutely. I'd like to emphasize that STEM is for everyone. Products like Code Jumper and others on our Road to Code are just the beginning. They represent a shift toward making STEM education inclusive and accessible for all. It's important to remember that diversity in STEM brings fresh perspectives and innovations, innovative solutions. By you being true to yourself, you'll bring a new perspective to the STEM field that no one else can bring you belong in stem.

Sara Brown: 13:39

Alright , Katrina, thank you so much for coming on and talking to me today.

Katrina Best: 13:42

Thank you so much, Sara.

Sara Brown: 13:45

I've put links to the APH products and camps Katrina mentioned in the show notes. Now I'm talking to Allison Mello, Assistive Technology Specialist at the California School for the Blind. Hello Allison and welcome to Change Makers.

Allison Mello: 14:00

Thanks for having me today.

Sara Brown: 14:03

Great. It's so good to talk to you. And this podcast is about STEM and STEM careers and just where that , that, that, that area can lead you. But up first, can you just introduce yourself and let us know what it is that you do at California School for the Blind?

Allison Mello: 14:19

Yeah, so I'm an Assistive Technology Specialist for the California School for the Blind. And what that means is we serve , my team is a team of four and we serve our on-campus students doing push in tech lessons and assessments, but we also do outreach across the whole state doing workshops, assessments, trainings , um, conferences, all kinds of good sorts of things. And we also put on , uh, events throughout the school year for that are kind of a combination 'cause they're on our campus, but they're open to students and teachers across the state.

Sara Brown: 15:05

So assistive tech that's more of your, your screen readers, your braille writers , all that assistive, all that technology and, and all those devices that assist, that essentially help a person navigate their daily life. Correct?

Allison Mello: 15:19

Yes, that's correct.

Sara Brown: 15:20

And there's a lot of STEM in that. So talk about why STEM is important to learn for individuals who are blind or low vision.

Allison Mello: 15:29

Yeah, so STEM key in STEM technology, so it's a huge part , um, in multiple ways. So , uh, one, two kind of be in the STEM arena. You have to have a good , um, knowledge of the technology that you're using just to first do the job, right. But then also if you kind of know your technology, then you can then, you know, point out bugs, point out , um, things that make your , uh, you know, make websites inaccessible. You would actually have the terminology if you knew coding languages, you, you could have the knowledge to point out JavaScript errors that make your , um, your screen reader impossible to use on a website because there's popups or reels that are constantly changing , um, or knowing about, like , uh, when you're using a screen reader, for instance, like there's first letter navigation like h for headings, right? Uh , well that's something that's written into the backend of the, of the coding of the website. That's the HTML code. So like you already have this knowledge when you're using first letter navigation when you're on webpage, you just don't know that you're already speaking in HTML. So it's really, really, really intertwined with one another. And then also there is a growing number of just mainstream toys and pieces of technology that are in the STEM field and environment that are becoming more accessible or just accessible inherently from unboxing.

Sara Brown: 17:28

It's almost to the point where you, you you're using coding in your daily life might as well hone that skill and get a , get a good job from it almost right now, even in your job you use still . Right?

Allison Mello: 17:44

So , um, my position is specialist, but we do a lot of STEM on our campus. So for example, we host a day of code every year, and I'm currently planning that right now. It'll be in December. And so , um, me and my team have come up with , um, accessible foundational , uh, coding curriculum. It's on our website on the CSB website under the assistive technology page. There's a computer science curriculum page that we wrote, and it's a bunch of different hands-on and screen-based activities , um, that teachers can use in their classroom, whether it's a TBI or gen ed, just incorporating it into their curriculum. Um, and we use these during day of code, which is open to off campus and our on campus students where it's basically all day different types of like building with robots, making websites, doing hands on , like non-screen based activities just to understand coding and programming principles. We're also , um, a couple years ago I created this like techie toy gift guide and it came out around the holidays just pointing out mainstream products that parents could get for their kids that are mostly, or if not all accessible, you know, maybe mostly if you have to add a couple of like bump dots or , um, specifically colored tapers or labeling , um, that you could , that they could get for their kids to encourage STEM exploration. And so we're revamping that and it's coming out this year. Um, so I'm actually currently working on that. Um, and then we are going to be hosting the, it's a long acronym, but P-O-S-B-I, it's essentially a , um, conference in April that is about specifically STEM for the blind and low vision community and , um, how schools for the blind are incorporating it into their curriculum. So we're really, really into stem.

Sara Brown: 20:14

My, my final question for you is, do you have anything else you would like to share before I let you go?

Allison Mello: 20:22

Um, I think that, I'm gonna do a plug here, but I think that CSB is like the biggest chair trailblazer right now in terms of STEM, I would say. Oh , an amazing place to start looking for resources, teacher or parent is our website and the assistive technology page. We have training resources, YouTube channels available. We've got a huge STEM focus I would say look us up, reach out. Um, we've got lots in more in store that we're cooking up every year.

Sara Brown: 21:13

All right , Allison , thank you so much for coming on and talking to me. You know , on Change Makers.

Allison Mello: 21:19

Thank you.

Sara Brown: 21:20

I've put links to the California School for the Blind in the show notes so you can stay up to date on all the exciting things they have in store. Up next I have Microsoft's Seeing AI Engineering Manager. Saqib Shaikh here to talk more about what he does and the careers he's seen in this world of stem. First off, why don't you let our listeners know what it is that you do? You know, if you can take me through a day,

Saqib Shaikh: 21:48

I'm Saqib Shaikh, I lead the Seeing AI team at Microsoft where we are looking at how we bring new technologies like artificial intelligence to help people who are blind or have low vision. So as I said, I lead the Seeing AI team and Seeing AI is a mobile app. We call it a talking camera or a visual assistant so you can hold up the phone and it's gonna help you complete daily tasks. And I started that team way back when we've been around for seven, eight years. And now I am the engineering manager. So I lead the teams building this product and the day-to-Day is everything from helping engineers writing their code to going and meeting um, people from other companies for partnerships and yeah, a lot more besides.

Sara Brown: 22:40

Wonderful. Thank you so much. And if you can, would you mind to share how could a individual who is blind or low vision utilize AI for good?

Saqib Shaikh: 22:50

Yeah, AI is a powerful technology and you know, it's getting all the media hype these days . I would, the things you can use it for are so varied depending on what you're interested as an individual. So I would definitely start exploring with tools like Microsoft Copilot or Chat GPT , just learning. If you ask Copilot questions then it can help you. Um, so many things like, you know, write something for you or even create images or answer your questions and just start becoming familiar with what AI can do. And then based on your personal passions and interests, you can apply that to whichever field , um, is the one you choose to follow.

Sara Brown: 23:44

Wow. Now this, this podcast is about the world of STEM and getting, getting , um, getting our younger generations exposed to the world of stem, especially our individuals who are blind or low vision. Can you talk about how you got into this world of STEM and, and just how you got to where you are today?

Saqib Shaikh: 24:03

Yeah, I would say STEM is absolutely accessible and I was very fortunate to go to a school for the blind where everything was nicely adapted. But even if you are doing this alone with, you know, your parents and your um, teachers, there are ways to adapt everything. So I would definitely encourage people to follow the STEM path if that's , uh, one that interests you. For me, I, yeah, I was naturally interested in mathematics and science and I, I found these things really interesting and then I discovered computers and I thought, wow, this is even cooler. And I learned to program and that took me off to university to study first computer science and then I did another degree in artificial intelligence way before it was a cool thing to do.

Sara Brown: 24:54

Wow. So before you say you did a career in artificial intelligence before it was, you know, the thing, how did, how was that explaining to people what you were doing, especially if it wasn't really like mainstream as it is today? What was the reaction to that?

Saqib Shaikh: 25:11

Um, <laugh> like, of course, you know , to my parents, they were just like, oh, well we dunno what this thing is, you know , go ahead and do it. But for me, throughout my career, I, I always felt that if I do something that excites me, that interests me, I'm gonna work harder and spend more hours at it. And , um, I think that is a key for anyone to be successful is, you know, follow what interests and excites you.

Sara Brown: 25:36

Now my next question is, can you talk about some of the careers that you've encountered in this field of yours? Because I feel like a lot of people, you know, they hear , they hear the word stem, they might not know exactly what all the careers are out there. And this is like, for example, a lot of kids today, they wanna be a basketball player, they wanna be in the NBA , but they might not have the talents, but they don't understand they can be the team physician, the head coach, the the owner , um, the athletic trainers. What about all the other possibilities if, if you can talk about in the world of STEM?

Saqib Shaikh: 26:09

My goodness, like the careers you can have are just so varied. Me personally, I joined Microsoft straight outta university and have had a whole range of adventures along the way. And so, you know, one side of STEM is computers learning to program computers. But even in a company like Microsoft, there are so many different professions and then you look at something like mathematics and you could be a statistician or a data scientist , um, and you could look at, you know, going into biology and doing , um, research there. And I think the key thing is in each of these fields there are certainly some things which are not that accessible and they could be made accessible with uh , sighted help. But there are also, like you said about the basketball player, there are all these different roles around the edge. So if you want to go into bio biology or medical research, there are definitely accessible aspects to that which someone who is blind could pick up as well.

Sara Brown: 27:18

Thank you for that. And that's so true. There's a , there's a world of opportunity out there now. What would you say to anyone not sure where to start in getting their child sort of exposed to this world of STEM and, and technology?

Saqib Shaikh: 27:34

Depending on the age, just start with the basics. <laugh> , there are good courses and tutorials and again, there's a range of which ones are accessible, but I think it's key to make sure that the fundamentals are there at the early years. Whether that is making sure that they can do mathematics or whether they can understand the basics of all the sciences, biology, chemistry, physics. And it's hard for me to give specific advice because each of these has special accessible resources , um, which I'm sure APH can have pointers to. But if you learn those basics and then take it from there as the child's interests evolve . So maybe in the teenage years is it that they want to do electronics and then, you know, yep , that's doable or is it that they want to start learning to program and there are online courses for that. So really identifying what are the areas of interest and then finding the accessible courses. And I feel bad saying that 'cause I feel like I really want to give deep advice, but that it varies so much from topic to topic. But um, yeah, there, there are definitely accessible resources for so many of these areas.

Sara Brown: 28:54

Now talk about AI impacting STEM careers. Are they impacting it for the better or are they working in harmony, <laugh> working in harmony together?

Saqib Shaikh: 29:05

Yeah, people get worried about the fact that oh, AI can now do such and such, which used to be something I'd spend my day on or whatever. But it's also opening up so many opportunities that were never there before. So it's not something I generally worry about, but I think it's important to keep up with what's possible and to , um, use AI in the ways that helps you and to understand, you know, what are the new opportunities. So one thing that excites me a lot is personalized education. And this is not something that's been realized today, but maybe more a glimpse of the future that as AI is able to personalize content and generate instructions in different ways, I'm excited to think, you know, can we end up in a place where it's describing things to blind students in the best way for them rather than a more generic way. So that's just one example of how AI is enabling education in a, in a different way to what was possible before.

Sara Brown: 30:11

Wow, this is so exciting to hear all this <laugh> and where, what do you see for the future of AI along with STEM careers? What do you see for the future?

Saqib Shaikh: 30:21

I think having that , um, education on STEM understanding because using this technology is one thing, but you know, we can also be the people creating the next generation of this technology and that's why STEM matters. 'cause if you want to , uh, be someone building the next ai , um, having that mathematical foundation and the scientific principles is absolutely key. So AI is really exciting, unlocking so many opportunities. I encourage everyone to explore how you can use it, but then also those fundamental skills of STEM will be what enable you to be someone on the journey of inventing the next generation. So specifically in terms of STEM careers, that's what I would really recommend. But AI in general is very exciting. And if I may speak a moment about seeing AI in my work there, what we're doing is basically imagine you had a sighted assistance with you all the time in the form of an app on your smartphone, for example. And so the, I think the AI is going to be able to understand each of us as humans, understand the world around us, and then allow us to find out what we need to at the right time so that it can help with so many of your daily tasks. To me, that's so, so exciting that we're in a world where something like this is possible and I'm even more excited by seeing where it goes tomorrow.

Sara Brown: 32:01

Wow , that's really exciting. It , it's an exciting time. Now before I let you go, is there anything else you'd like to share or discuss?

Saqib Shaikh: 32:10

I think it's just really that remember that it's possible. Remember that there are many, many blind scientists and mathematicians and engineers and in all walks of life out there and you can do a web search and find profiles of people these days. But in all walks of life there are blind people being successful and it is absolutely possible. And again, there are so many communities and resource groups out there who are discussing and finding the solutions and finding ways of making different content accessible. So be part of those communities to learn and then also to pay it forward and help the next people , uh, looking for something. So yes, it requires figuring some things out, how to make things accessible, where the best source of information is for your particular field or the topic you're trying to learn. But it's possible and don't forget that. So yeah, we'll there will be problems, there'll be workarounds, but there are so many examples of blind people who've made it in stem that use that as your, you know, motivation, that it is definitely possible.

Sara Brown: 33:35

Alright . All right . Saqib, thank you so much for talking to me today on Change Makers. I loved hearing from you.

Saqib Shaikh: 33:40

Thank you so, so much. This was a real pleasure. And if I may just finish with a plug for Seeing AI, please do go to

Sara Brown: 33:46

Absolutely. Go ahead, go ahead. It's all yours,

Saqib Shaikh: 33:48

<laugh> , go to www.seeingai.com and download and let us know what you think. Thank you.

Sara Brown: 33:57

And I will definitely put a link to that , um, website that you just mentioned in our Show Notes for those out there listening that wanna give it a give it a try. So Saqib, thank you so much again

Saqib Shaikh: 34:09

Now . Thank you . It's been a pleasure.

Sara Brown: 34:12

Now to talk more about the upcoming Connect the Dots event. I have a h's. Erin Sigmund here to tell us more. Hello Erin .

Erin Sigmund: 34:19

Hi Sara. Thanks for having me.

Sara Brown: 34:21

Up first , um, do you wanna let our listeners know you know, who you are and what you're doing for Connect the Dots?

Erin Sigmund: 34:27

Absolutely. So I'm Erin , I'm the community relations and policy advisor here at APH and that means I get the fun job of connecting Louisville to APH and APH to Louisville. One of the ways that we're doing that is through our Connect the Dot series where we are bringing ideas, exhibits, expressions of the DOT experience all around the city to different library branches. This month is of September, it's National Guide Dog Month. And then looking forward to October, we have White Cane Day. So this month and September 28th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Newburgh Library. We are talking about all things orientation and mobility, teaching the public how to some people who are blind or low vision navigate, they'll have a chance to get hands-on with low tech and high tech tools like White Canes, Tactile Towns, VR, Cardinal, and families will discover all sorts of different tools that different people use to travel safely.

Sara Brown: 35:32

And this is a really important thing because people just don't understand how does an individual who is blind or low vision navigate the world. So this is a really good event to help them understand and be a little bit more aware when they see an individual walking with a white cane. Is there anything else you want our listeners to know about this event or about Connect the Dots in general?

Erin Sigmund: 35:52

They're gonna learn more, like you said, and they're gonna learn some tips and tricks for etiquette as well, things to do or not to do around a guide dog or a white cane. And I'm really pleased that it is white cane users and guide dog users who will be leading those stations and sharing from their own experiences. So come on out and check it out.

Sara Brown: 36:13

Okay Erin, thank you so much for coming on Change Makers and talking to me today.

Erin Sigmund: 36:17

Thanks Sara.

Sara Brown: 36:19

I've put links in the show notes for the upcoming Connect the Dots event and in those show notes you'll also find the APH products, a link to the California School for the Blind, and a link to Seeing AI. Do you have a podcast suggestion? Let me know by sending an email to changemakers @ap.org . As always, thank you so much for listening to this episode of Change Makers and be sure to look for ways you can be a change maker this week.