In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael shares personal stories, including a recent hospital experience that highlights gaps in staff understanding of blindness, and offers strategies for educating providers, asserting one’s needs, and ensuring safety in medical environments. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and continuous education—both for blind individuals and for medical professionals.
Michael also discusses accessible technology in healthcare, from Kaiser Permanente’s app and medication labeling systems to tools like Envision labels and Braille organization strategies. He stresses that blindness itself is not the problem—societal attitudes and lack of awareness are. The episode closes with practical advice: ask questions, advocate for confidentiality, and remember that learning blindness skills through organizations like the Colorado Center for the Blind and NFB can empower independence and safety.
Contact Info
Guest: Michael Hingson
Chief Vision Officer, AccessiBe
Email: speaker@michaelhingson.com
Website: www.michaelhingson.com
Books: Thunder Dog, Live Like a Guide Dog, Running with Roselle
Aftersight Contact:
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: www.aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Michael Hingson
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
00:25 — Meet Guest Michael Hingson
02:53 — Understanding Barriers in Healthcare Settings
07:30 — Advocating for Yourself in Medical Situations
09:53 — Dealing with Misunderstanding and Bias
11:57 — The Art of Self-Advocacy Without Conflict
13:32 — Communicating with New Providers
15:54 — Knowing and Defending Your Rights
19:06 — Accessible Health Tech and Kaiser Permanente
21:31 — Labeling Medication and Accessibility Tools
23:24 — Adapting to Vision Loss Later in Life
26:38 — Blindness as Perception, Not Limitation
28:50 — Changing Medical Education on Disability Awareness
31:15 — The Importance of Inclusion and Communication
31:32 — Final Advice: Confidence, Questions, and Community
33:19 — Closing and Resources
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In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael shares personal stories, including a recent hospital experience that highlights gaps in staff understanding of blindness, and offers strategies for educating providers, asserting one’s needs, and ensuring safety in medical environments. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and continuous education—both for blind individuals and for medical professionals.
Michael also discusses accessible technology in healthcare, from Kaiser Permanente’s app and medication labeling systems to tools like Envision labels and Braille organization strategies. He stresses that blindness itself is not the problem—societal attitudes and lack of awareness are. The episode closes with practical advice: ask questions, advocate for confidentiality, and remember that learning blindness skills through organizations like the Colorado Center for the Blind and NFB can empower independence and safety.
Contact Info
Guest: Michael Hingson
Chief Vision Officer, AccessiBe
Email: speaker@michaelhingson.com
Website: www.michaelhingson.com
Books: Thunder Dog, Live Like a Guide Dog, Running with Roselle
Aftersight Contact:
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: www.aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Michael Hingson
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
00:25 — Meet Guest Michael Hingson
02:53 — Understanding Barriers in Healthcare Settings
07:30 — Advocating for Yourself in Medical Situations
09:53 — Dealing with Misunderstanding and Bias
11:57 — The Art of Self-Advocacy Without Conflict
13:32 — Communicating with New Providers
15:54 — Knowing and Defending Your Rights
19:06 — Accessible Health Tech and Kaiser Permanente
21:31 — Labeling Medication and Accessibility Tools
23:24 — Adapting to Vision Loss Later in Life
26:38 — Blindness as Perception, Not Limitation
28:50 — Changing Medical Education on Disability Awareness
31:15 — The Importance of Inclusion and Communication
31:32 — Final Advice: Confidence, Questions, and Community
33:19 — Closing and Resources
In this powerful follow-up to our transportation mini-series, Curtis Chong joins host Kim Wardlow to unpack the complexities of transportation access for individuals who are blind or have low vision—especially in rural communities. From building meaningful relationships to hiring “biological interfaces” (aka friends and human assistants), Curtis breaks down practical solutions with insight, wit, and experience.
He also addresses persistent issues in rideshare discrimination—particularly for guide dog users—and the limits of current advocacy within companies like Uber and Lyft. Curtis doesn’t just talk policy—he brings it down to the local level, offering actionable advice for anyone who wants to advocate in their town, build relationships with local officials, and contribute as a valued member of their community.
This is an unmissable episode for anyone navigating transportation with vision loss, as well as allies, policymakers, and public transit advocates who want to create a more inclusive world.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Introduction by Jonathan Price
01:32 – Curtis discusses rural transportation challenges
04:00 – Hiring “biological interfaces” and creative problem-solving
07:10 – Society’s dependence on visual information
09:35 – Aging, low vision, and driving: the emotional transition
11:55 – Issues with on-demand rides and guide dog discrimination
14:23 – Uber’s optional guide dog registration and its limitations
16:52 – Language barriers and the need for better communication with drivers
19:15 – Strategies for being seen, assertiveness in locating your ride
21:30 – Honking horns: the low-tech solution that works
23:59 – Defining independence and managing assistance
26:24 – Real advocacy at the local level: signals, sidewalks, and city hall
28:49 – Building connections: post office relationships and civic engagement
31:11 – Finding and offering value as a blind community member
32:56 – Rethinking transit: big ideas for a better future
35:23 – Wrapping up + Teaser for next week’s episode on family advocacy
📞 Contact Info:
Aftersight
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Website: aftersight.org
Navigating Life with Vision Loss
In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael shares personal stories, including a recent hospital experience that highlights gaps in staff understanding of blindness, and offers strategies for educating providers, asserting one’s needs, and ensuring safety in medical environments. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and continuous education—both for blind individuals and for medical professionals.
Michael also discusses accessible technology in healthcare, from Kaiser Permanente’s app and medication labeling systems to tools like Envision labels and Braille organization strategies. He stresses that blindness itself is not the problem—societal attitudes and lack of awareness are. The episode closes with practical advice: ask questions, advocate for confidentiality, and remember that learning blindness skills through organizations like the Colorado Center for the Blind and NFB can empower independence and safety.
Contact Info
Guest: Michael Hingson
Chief Vision Officer, AccessiBe
Email: speaker@michaelhingson.com
Website: www.michaelhingson.com
Books: Thunder Dog, Live Like a Guide Dog, Running with Roselle
Aftersight Contact:
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: (720) 712-8856
Website: www.aftersight.org
Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Michael Hingson
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Intro: Navigating Life with Vision Loss
00:25 — Meet Guest Michael Hingson
02:53 — Understanding Barriers in Healthcare Settings
07:30 — Advocating for Yourself in Medical Situations
09:53 — Dealing with Misunderstanding and Bias
11:57 — The Art of Self-Advocacy Without Conflict
13:32 — Communicating with New Providers
15:54 — Knowing and Defending Your Rights
19:06 — Accessible Health Tech and Kaiser Permanente
21:31 — Labeling Medication and Accessibility Tools
23:24 — Adapting to Vision Loss Later in Life
26:38 — Blindness as Perception, Not Limitation
28:50 — Changing Medical Education on Disability Awareness
31:15 — The Importance of Inclusion and Communication
31:32 — Final Advice: Confidence, Questions, and Community
33:19 — Closing and Resources
