White Canes, Retina Research, and Building Community in Colorado

Jennifer and Michael celebrate the tenth episode of Colorado Views with a look at the people, resources, and ideas connecting Colorado’s blind and low-vision community.

They preview Aftersight’s upcoming White Cane Day celebration in Loveland, talk about the White Cane Project and the importance of making mobility tools accessible, and explore some newer technology and adaptive tools that may give people more options for navigating everyday life.

Then the conversation heads inside the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank and Eye Institute, where Jennifer and Michael recently toured research facilities and met scientists working on retinal research. They share what stood out to them, from seeing retinal tissue under a microscope to learning how years of research, specialized surgical tools, and the FDA approval process come together.

The episode closes with a look at the growing need for resources as more people experience vision loss later in life, along with some of the Colorado publications Aftersight is making accessible through audio. At the center of it all is one theme: community. No one should have to figure out vision loss alone.

Credits

Hosts: Jennifer, Volunteer and Publications Manager, and Michael, Community Outreach Manager
Producer: Jonathan Price
Organization: Aftersight

Connect with Aftersight

Website: aftersight.org
Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org

Learn more about Aftersight’s free services, audio publications, support groups, community programs, and other resources at aftersight.org.

00:00 — Welcome to Colorado Views #10
05:45 — White Cane Day Comes to Loveland
07:10 — Aftersight’s White Cane Project
10:00 — Cane Tips, Mobility Tools, and New Technology
18:10 — Touring the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank and Eye Institute
22:45 — Inside the Retina Research Lab
27:00 — From Research to FDA Approval
33:30 — Vision Loss, Aging, and Finding Resources
34:45 — Bringing Colorado Publications Into Audio
40:45 — Community Means You’re Not Alone

• (00:00) - Welcome to Colorado Views #10
• (05:45) - White Cane Day Comes to Loveland
• (07:10) - Aftersight’s White Cane Project
• (10:00) - Cane Tips, Mobility Tools, and New Technology
• (18:10) - Touring the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Bank and Eye Institute
• (22:45) - Inside the Retina Research Lab
• (27:00) - From Research to FDA Approval
• (33:30) - Vision Loss, Aging, and Finding Resources
• (34:45) - Bringing Colorado Publications Into Audio
• (40:45) - Community Means You’re Not Alone

Episode Summary

Jennifer and Michael recap Aftersight’s September hike, including new connections, more than 20 participant interviews, and one unfortunate crock pot. They also look ahead to a visit with the Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, explain how Lions Clubs help recycle eyeglasses and support Aftersight’s White Cane Program, and invite the community to the White Cane Day celebration in Loveland on October 17. Plus, Jennifer shares a first look at a new audio description project taking shape at Aftersight.

Credits

Hosts: Jennifer and Michael
Produced by: Aftersight
Podcast: Colorado Views

Contact

Jennifer: jennifer@aftersight.org
Michael: michael@aftersight.org
Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org
Website: aftersight.org

Episode Summary

Jennifer and Michael open this episode of Colorado Views with a very Colorado conversation about weather, humidity, air quality, allergies, thunderstorms, and how changing conditions can affect everyday life. From there, the conversation turns toward Aftersight’s September 12 Audio Trekkers hike and several upcoming community events.

They highlight emergency-preparedness opportunities with the Center for People with Disabilities, Ensight Skills Center’s 25th anniversary celebration, and the ongoing need for Aftersight volunteers. Jennifer explains how seemingly simple volunteer work, such as reading weekly grocery ads, gives people who are blind or have low vision access to information many sighted people take for granted.

The conversation ultimately becomes a broader discussion about advocacy and accessibility. Jennifer and Michael talk about sudden vision loss, caregivers trying to navigate unfamiliar resources, accessibility barriers in public spaces, and the danger of assuming that disability means helplessness. They also discuss Blind Pilots and efforts in Guatemala to help people who are blind or have low vision experience greater independence, mobility, community, and opportunity.

Credits

Show: Colorado Views
Hosts: Jennifer Neptune and Michael Sisneros
Producer: Jonathan Price
Presented by: Aftersight

Contact Info

Aftersight: aftersight.org
Audio Trekkers Hike: September 12, 2026 — Winter Park, Colorado
Ensight Skills Center: ensightskills.org
Ensight Anniversary RSVP: Eventbrite
Ensight contact referenced in episode: ria@ensightskills.org
Aftersight programs: Low Vision Support Group, Book Club, Tech Talk, volunteer opportunities, and white cane resources.

Chapter Markers

00:05 — Colorado Weather, Air Quality, and Getting Older
08:25 — The September 12 Audio Trekkers Hike
11:35 — Emergency Preparedness and CPWD
14:08 — Celebrating 25 Years of Ensight Skills Center
16:09 — Volunteer Match and Connecting With the Community
19:10 — Why Aftersight Needs Volunteers
22:16 — Advocacy and How Quickly Life Can Change
26:51 — Finding Resources After Vision Loss
27:55 — Blind Pilots, Guatemala, and Independence
32:19 — Recognizing Accessibility Barriers
35:04 — Designing Communication for Accessibility
38:11 — Taking Off the Blinders
38:36 — The Impact of Blind Pilots
42:20 — Aftersight Support Groups and Resources
42:49 — Questions, Comments, and Closing

Summary

Michael and Jennifer let this episode of Colorado Views wander in the best possible way, beginning with a recommendation for the casual and funny Four Bad Eyes podcast before heading into stories about falling down, harmless pranks, haunted places, horror movies, Alcatraz, and Michael’s remarkably detailed plans for surviving a zombie apocalypse.

The conversation then turns toward events and accessibility in Colorado. Jennifer shares information about Stop Kiss by Diana Son, an upcoming theater production for which she will provide audio description, and Michael and Jennifer preview Aftersight’s annual September hike in Winter Park in partnership with No Barriers and Adventure Guides.

From there, they explore how technology is changing accessibility for people who are Blind and Low-vision. Smart speakers can provide greater independence and easier access to information, while artificial intelligence raises more complicated questions. Can AI be useful without replacing human connection? When is AI advice helpful, and when should people question what it tells them? And why does Aftersight continue using real human readers rather than replacing them with synthetic voices?

The episode closes with a broader look at accessibility in everyday life, including self-checkout stations, hotels, public transportation, bus terminals, curb cuts, audio information, and the small design decisions that can either create independence or unnecessary barriers.

Through all the tangents, laughs, zombies, AI experiments, and serious questions, Michael and Jennifer return to one central idea: accessibility is not simply something for the Blind and Low-vision community to think about. Building a more accessible world requires awareness, advocacy, compassion, and people willing to notice what others may be experiencing.

Credits

Show: Colorado Views
Hosts: Michael Sisneros and Jennifer Neptune
Producer: Jonathan Price
Presented by: Aftersight

Contact Info

Aftersight: aftersight.org
Michael Sisneros: michael@aftersight.org
Jennifer Neptune: jennifer@aftersight.org

• (00:00) -
• (00:05) - — Welcome to Colorado Views
• (00:40) - — Discovering Four Bad Eyes
• (03:00) - — Falling Down Is Apparently Hilarious
• (10:00) - — Alcatraz, Ghosts, and Jump Scares
• (17:00) - — Horror Movies and the Unknown
• (28:30) - — Michael’s Zombie Apocalypse Plan
• (30:30) - — Stop Kiss and Accessible Theater
• (32:45) - — Aftersight’s Annual Winter Park Hike
• (36:00) - — Technology, Independence, and Smart Speakers
• (40:20) - — Talking to ChatGPT Like a Person
• (42:40) - — The Good and Bad of Artificial Intelligence
• (49:00) - — Why Aftersight Still Uses Human Readers
• (54:30) - — Is Technology Actually Making Life Easier?
• (01:00:20) - — Accessibility in Everyday Public Spaces
• (01:03:20) - — Rethinking Accessible Transportation
• (01:06:00) - — Why the Aftersight Hike Matters
• (01:09:30) - — Your Summit Is Your Summit
• (01:12:00) - — Advocacy, Courage, and Compassion

Episode Description

What does it take to make Colorado more accessible? It begins with listening to the people who rely on public transportation, accessible services, and community support every day.

Jennifer and Michael open the episode with a conversation about Colorado’s unusually hot and humid weather, Jennifer’s abandoned attempt to attend a five-dollar horseback ride, and the challenges of navigating summer without dependable air conditioning.

Michael shares highlights from an ophthalmology summit in Snowmass and discusses Aftersight’s weekly low-vision support group. The virtual group gives people from across the country a place to share challenges, celebrate victories, exchange practical information, and find encouragement from others who understand their experiences.

The conversation then turns to accessible transportation. Jennifer describes what she has learned through Atlantis Community’s Transit Academy and from RTD ADA Manager Gabe Christie. Jennifer and Michael examine the real costs of paratransit, proposed fare increases, unreliable transportation schedules, inaccessible bus stops, and the barriers blind and low-vision riders may encounter while using buses and trains.

A central message emerges: change requires participation. Public agencies need to hear directly from the people affected by their decisions, but community members must also attend meetings, join committees, share their experiences, and make their needs known.

Jennifer and Michael also discuss Aftersight’s upcoming community hike and Jennifer’s work providing audio description at the Arvada Center. Upcoming accessible productions include Misery, Barefoot in the Park, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Doubt, and Dear Evan Hansen.

The episode concludes with a humorous but sincere discussion about slowing down for animals on Colorado roads, including birds, geese, marmots, prairie dogs, and the migrating tarantulas of southern Colorado.

In This Episode

• Colorado’s unusual heat and humidity
• Aftersight’s weekly low-vision support group
• Transportation barriers facing blind and low-vision riders
• RTD, paratransit, Access-a-Ride, and fare concerns
• Why accessible planning must include people with disabilities
• The importance of attending public meetings and joining committees
• Audio-described theater at the Arvada Center
• Aftersight’s upcoming community hike
• Colorado wildlife and the responsibility to drive carefully

YouTube Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Weather Talk
09:46 Transportation Challenges and Advocacy
25:44 Community Engagement and Events
40:07 Conclusion and Call to Action
41:13 Aftersight Outro

Call to Action

Have an event, community story, accessibility concern, or Colorado topic that Jennifer and Michael should discuss? Colorado Views is also looking for future guests who can help inform, encourage, and connect communities throughout the state.

Contact

General feedback: feedback@aftersight.org
Jennifer: jennifer@aftersight.org
Michael: michael@aftersight.org
Website: aftersight.org

Credits

Hosts: Jennifer and Michael
Producer: Jonathan Price
Presented by: Aftersight

Summary

Michael and Jennifer recap a busy season of community connection across Colorado. They reflect on Aftersight’s Summer Social, where volunteers, board members, listeners, neighbors, young readers, and local creators gathered for food, conversation, and celebration. They also share stories from Denver Pride, including the interactive mystery-box activity and the thousands of personal connections made throughout the day.

The conversation looks ahead to the September 12 Audio Trekker Hike in Winter Park, presented in partnership with No Barriers. Michael and Jennifer explain how volunteers, sighted guides, companionship, accessible recreation, and flexible financial support can help more people participate.

They also discuss Famous Seamus Lights, Aftersight’s White Cane Project, Blind Pilots International, upcoming rural outreach, and the continuing work of bringing local Colorado publications to life through human narration for blind and low-vision listeners.

Credits

Show: Colorado Views
Hosts: Michael Sisneros and Jennifer
Producer: Jonathan Price
Presented by: Aftersight

Contact Information

Website: aftersight.org
Email: feedback@aftersight.org
Phone: 720-712-8856

Audio Trekker Hike registration and information: aftersight.org

Summary

In this episode of Colorado Views, Jennifer and Michael welcome their first guest, Elaine, for a wide-ranging conversation about community, advocacy, accessible wellness, and the ongoing work of Aftersight. They begin by highlighting Aspen Club and its “Stepping On” fall-prevention program, then move into a larger conversation about transportation access, Ride NoCo, VIA, RTD route concerns, Uber and Lyft accessibility, and the real-life impact transportation cuts can have on blind and low-vision people, seniors, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

Elaine joins the conversation from Wisconsin and shares her Colorado visit, including rock climbing, vegan food discoveries, and reconnecting with Michael. The conversation then turns toward Elaine’s upcoming work refreshing Aftersight’s audio-described yoga offerings. She explains how accessible yoga requires clear verbal guidance, multiple modifications, chair-based options, breath work, pacing, and a welcoming tone that helps people feel safe and included. Elaine also shares her work as a plant-based educator through PCRM, discussing how food, movement, and lifestyle changes can support long-term health.

The episode closes with updates about Aftersight’s upcoming Winter Park hike on September 12, the need for sponsors and volunteers, the July 11 summer social, and an invitation for listeners, volunteers, board members, and community members to share how Aftersight has impacted their lives.

Credits

Colorado Views
Hosted by Jennifer and Michael
Guest: Elaine
Produced by Jonathan Price

Contact info

Website: aftersight.org
Email: michael@aftersight.org
Email: jennifer@aftersight.org
Phone: 720-712-8856

Listeners can also leave comments on YouTube or reach out with feedback about future audio-described yoga sessions, transportation resources, volunteer stories, sponsorship opportunities, and community needs.

• (00:06) - Welcome to Colorado Views Episode Five
• (00:56) - Aspen Club and Stepping On
• (03:33) - Transportation Access and Ride NoCo
• (06:52) - RTD Cuts, Advocacy, and Daily Mobility
• (10:40) - Why Transportation Is a Community Issue
• (13:15) - Aftersight’s Resource Page
• (15:24) - Introducing Elaine
• (16:10) - Elaine’s Visit from Wisconsin
• (17:22) - Rock Climbing, Boulder, and Vegan Food
• (23:05) - Refreshing Aftersight’s Audio-Described Yoga
• (24:10) - What Makes Yoga Accessible
• (27:25) - Modifications, Chair Yoga, and Meeting People Where They Are
• (29:34) - Music, Breath Work, and Grounding
• (30:30) - Connection, Humor, and Teaching Style
• (32:50) - Naming the New Yoga Series
• (34:56) - Session Lengths and Focus Areas
• (36:38) - Plant-Based Education and Wellness
• (37:57) - Winter Park Hike Preview
• (38:18) - Breakfast, Lunch, Sponsors, and Volunteer Support
• (41:52) - Bananas, Allergies, and Trail Food
• (46:36) - Final Updates and Upcoming Events
• (47:49) - July 11 Summer Social
• (49:20) - Aftersight Stories, Volunteers, and Community Impact
• (51:20) - Closing Credits and Goodbye

Summary

In this episode of Colorado Views, Michael and Jennifer return with a packed conversation about community events, accessibility, outreach, and the wonderfully unpredictable stories that come with life in Colorado.

Michael shares his experience at Woodland Park Pride, including the welcoming atmosphere, music, food trucks, accessible park layout, clean bathrooms, and the community connections made throughout the day. The episode also looks ahead to Colorado Springs Pride and Denver Pride, where Aftersight will continue connecting with listeners, volunteers, and organizations across the state.

Jennifer and Michael also highlight Benefits in Action’s Pickleball for Benefits, Aftersight’s PSA opportunities for community partners, free soccer celebrations at Skyline Park, and the importance of promoting accessible events for the Blind and Low Vision community. The episode wraps with moving stories, pets, chickens, and Dorothy the chicken accidentally going for a ride around the block.

Credits

Podcast: Colorado Views
Episode: Ep. 4
Hosts: Michael and Jennifer
Organization: Aftersight
Website: aftersight.org

Contact Info

To learn more about Aftersight, visit:

aftersight.org

To submit events, resources, PSA information, or community updates, contact:

michael@aftersight.org
jennifer@aftersight.org