The Eko Lens Podcast

In this special anniversary episode of The EKO Lens, Kenisha, Christine and Yorgos come together to celebrate the first year of both EKO Vision Foundation and The EKO Lens podcast. Together, they reflect on a year of amplifying blind and low-vision voices, sharing lived experiences, and building a community rooted in accessibility, inclusion, and belonging.During Blindness Awareness Month, we explore how lived experience shapes meaningful conversations about assistive technology and the work ahead. We also discuss EKO Review, a platform for rating assistive devices, internship programs empowering students impacted by disability, and future opportunities to expand our content, partnerships, and community engagement.Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are discovering us today, thank you for being part of this journey. Your story matters, your voice belongs, and our next chapter is something we’ll build together.

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes something you can wear?In this episode of The EKO Lens, host Dr. Kenisha Coon-Santiago sits down with Dr. Jesse Bolinger to explore the rapidly evolving world of AI-powered glasses and what these technologies could mean for people who are blind or have low vision.They discuss current technology options, accessibility and usability challenges, the role of the blind and low-vision community in shaping innovation, and the possibilities—and questions—that come with increasingly AI-powered assistive technology.Most importantly, the conversation asks: Are we designing technology for the blind and low-vision community, or are we designing it with them?From independence and everyday access to affordability, privacy, equity, and the future of wearable technology, this conversation goes beyond the excitement surrounding AI to consider what meaningful accessibility actually looks like.

What does it mean to grow up with changing vision—and then turn that experience into advocacy for the next generation? 🎙️👁️In this episode of The EKO Lens, host Dr. Kenisha sits down with Zoe, Vice President of the American Council of the Blind Next Generation (ACB Next Generation), for a conversation about living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), finding community, and advocating for a more accessible future for people who are blind or have low vision.Zoe shares her personal journey, including not receiving her diagnosis until 2020 and how her vision has changed over time. She and Dr. Coon explore what it means to navigate education and everyday life with vision loss, the importance of disability advocacy and community, and the role assistive technology can play in creating greater independence and access.They also look ahead at the future of accessible technology and innovation—and why the voices and lived experiences of blind and low vision people need to be part of designing that future.🔎 In this episode:• Zoe’s journey with retinitis pigmentosa• Blindness and low vision advocacy• The American Council of the Blind and ACB Next Generation• Assistive technology for blind and low vision users• Accessibility in education and daily life• Finding community after vision loss• Innovation and the future of accessible technology• Why lived experience matters in accessibility and inclusive design

What happens when the people who actually use assistive technology help shape what comes next?In this episode of The EKO Lens, Dr. Kenisha sits down with Scott Joffre, a blind influencer, content creator, and accessibility advocate, for an honest conversation about navigating life with low vision, finding community, and the technology that makes greater independence possibleScott shares his personal journey into the blind and low vision community, his experience creating accessibility-focused content, and some of the technology he uses in everyday life. We also explore innovations in assistive technology—including Scott's customizable cane—and why accessible design needs to include the voices and lived experiences of the people who will actually use it.The conversation also looks toward the future. From screen readers and adaptive devices to AI tools like ChatGPT, we discuss how rapidly evolving technology can create new possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision—and why accessibility cannot be something companies think about only after a product has already been built.Whether you're blind or have low vision, work in technology, care about inclusive design, or simply want to understand what's possible when innovation and lived experience come together, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we talk about:Scott's journey with low vision and blindnessBecoming a content creator and accessibility advocateAssistive technology that supports independenceScott's innovative customizable caneWhy companies need real users involved in accessibility testingAI, screen readers, and the future of accessible technologyThe importance of designing with the blind and low vision community, not simply for themThe EKO Lens brings together lived experience, technology, accessibility, and community to explore what inclusion can—and should—look like.

In this episode of The EKO Lens Podcast, we sit down with Ben, a Ghanaian Canadian living with retinitis pigmentosa, to discuss his journey toward acceptance, independence, and advocacy.Ben shares how losing his vision reshaped his perspective on life, the importance of connecting with the blind and low vision community, and the ways assistive technology has transformed his daily experiences. From AI-powered devices to accessible apps, we explore how innovation is creating new opportunities for independence while also discussing the work that still needs to be done.Together, we challenge common misconceptions about blindness, talk about the importance of inclusive design, and imagine future technologies that could make the world even more accessible. Whether you're part of the blind and low vision community, a technology innovator, or simply interested in creating a more inclusive world, this conversation offers valuable insights, practical ideas, and hope for what's possible.Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, accessibility, community, and the future of assistive technology.

What happens when one of life's most devastating moments becomes the catalyst for a lifetime of advocacy?In this inspiring episode of EKO Lens, Dr. Kenisha Coon-Santiago sits down with Alyas Omeed, a human rights advocate whose life changed forever after losing his sight at just seven years old in a grenade explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan.Rather than allowing tragedy to define him, Alyas transformed his experience into a mission of empowerment. Today, he works to advance accessibility, expand employment opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision, and champion disability rights around the world.Together, we explore:Alyas's journey from childhood trauma to global advocacyThe importance of accessibility as a human rightBreaking stereotypes about blindness and disabilityEmployment, inclusion, and creating opportunitiesFinding purpose through resilience and lived experienceWhy disability inclusion benefits everyoneThis conversation is a powerful reminder that while blindness can change the course of a life, it never defines a person's potential.Whether you're part of the blind and low vision community, a disability advocate, or someone passionate about creating a more inclusive world, this episode will leave you inspired to rethink what's possible.

Dr. Kenisha Coon sits down with Dr. Jesse Bolinger, a legally blind individual living with hydrocephalus, to discuss the evolution of assistive technology, the power of community advocacy, and the future of accessibility innovation. From AI-powered tools to autonomous vehicles, this conversation explores how lived experience shapes technology, expands independence, and drives meaningful change for the blind and low vision community.

In this episode of the Eko Lens Podcast, host Dr. Kenisha Coon sits down with accessibility advocate and innovator Tom Babinszki to explore the intersection of technology, advocacy, and inclusive design for the blind community.Tom shares his journey from growing up with limited awareness of the blind community to becoming a leading voice in tactile accessibility innovation. Together, they discuss the transformative impact of tactile maps, 3D printing, and accessible navigation tools in schools, museums, public spaces, and restrooms.The conversation also dives into the urgent need for standardization in accessibility practices, the role of advocacy in systems change, and why accessibility must move beyond compliance toward dignity-centered design.This episode is an inspiring look at how lived experience, innovation, and community leadership can help build a more equitable and accessible future for all.

In this episode of The Eko Lens, host Dr. Kenisha Coon welcomes Dana Barber, State Coordinator of Blind Services at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Dana shares her powerful personal journey with retinitis pigmentosa, beginning with her diagnosis at just five years old and evolving into a lifelong commitment to supporting individuals with vision loss. Through honesty, humor, and insight, she reflects on how assistive technology opened doors to education, independence, and a meaningful career centered on advocacy and empowerment.Throughout the conversation, Dana explores the life changing role of technology, from her early experiences learning computers to embracing newer innovations like Meta Glasses and other accessible tools. She also highlights the impact of programs like College Quest, designed to help students with vision loss confidently transition into college life and adulthood. Together, Dana and Kenisha discuss the importance of community, mental health, self acceptance, and the ongoing process of navigating disability with resilience and hope. This episode offers an inspiring and authentic look at the intersection of accessibility, leadership, and innovation.

In this powerful and inspiring episode, Kenisha sits down with Brandy Mims—also known as Unique, the DeafBlind Dancer—whose work is redefining what movement, expression, and communication can look like.Brandy shares her journey navigating life with Usher syndrome, and how she has transformed challenges into creativity, connection, and purpose. Through dance, she has developed innovative ways of engaging with the world—using body awareness, counting, rhythm, and vibration to express herself and connect with others.This conversation goes beyond movement. It’s about resilience, identity, and reimagining accessibility in ways that center lived experience. Brandy also speaks to the importance of representation and how she empowers others in the deafblind community to find their voice, their movement, and their space.This is an episode about possibility about what happens when we stop defining people by limitations and start recognizing the brilliance in how they navigate the world.