Where accessibility meets innovation. Hosted by Evan Starnes, Blind Level Tech explores the latest in assistive technology, accessible design, and everyday tools that empower the blind and low-vision community. Each episode dives into real stories, expert insights, and practical solutions—from screen readers and AI tools to mobility tech and inclusive apps. Whether you’re blind, low vision, a professional in the accessibility space, or simply curious about how technology is reshaping lives, this show offers fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways.
Produced by Aftersight, Blind Level Tech is more than a tech podcast—it’s a platform for inclusion, discovery, and possibility.
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Where accessibility meets innovation. Hosted by Evan Starnes, Blind Level Tech explores the latest in assistive technology, accessible design, and everyday tools that empower the blind and low-vision community. Each episode dives into real stories, expert insights, and practical solutions—from screen readers and AI tools to mobility tech and inclusive apps. Whether you’re blind, low vision, a professional in the accessibility space, or simply curious about how technology is reshaping lives, this show offers fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways.
Produced by Aftersight, Blind Level Tech is more than a tech podcast—it’s a platform for inclusion, discovery, and possibility.
VoiceOver to Voice Lines: Radio, Rails, and Accessibility with Austin Seraphin
Blind Level Tech
45 minutes
4 months ago
VoiceOver to Voice Lines: Radio, Rails, and Accessibility with Austin Seraphin
Evan Starnes sits down with accessibility consultant, amateur radio operator, and co-founder of Philly Touch Tours, Austin Seraphin. They trace his journey from the Apple IIe and BASIC to Linux and open-source advocacy; revisit the “Eliza” moment that sparked a lifelong love of programming; and dig into why universal design beats retrofits and overlays every time. Austin shares memories of the Braille ’n Speak (and today’s BT Speak), the iPhone’s inflection point for accessible tech, and practical guidance for developers—ship with native controls, respect platform semantics, and test with screen readers. They close with the lasting impact of Philly Touch Tours and where to find Austin’s current consulting work.
Contact Info
Guest — Austin Seraphin: austinseraphin.net
Aftersight (feedback & voicemails): feedback@aftersight.org
| (720) 712-8856
Producer credits: Produced by Jonathan Price for Aftersight. Host: Evan Starnes.
Show Credits
Host: Evan Starnes
Guest: Austin Seraphin
Producer: Jonathan Price
A Production of Aftersight
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Cold open & show intro
00:32 — Guest setup: who is Austin Seraphin
02:37 — Early sparks: Apple IIe, Echo, and BASIC
07:29 — The “LIST” epiphany: Eliza source code moment
09:41 — From Apple IIgs to DOS and the early screen reader era
12:02 — Linux today: Arch, Slint, and accessibility trade-offs
14:24 — Braille ’n Speak to BT Speak: tools that shaped a generation
16:44 — iPhone 3GS and the mainstreaming of mobile accessibility
19:08 — Apps, color identifiers, and learning the new paradigm
21:33 — Teaching kids to code: Swift Playgrounds and beyond
23:55 — Philly Touch Tours: origin story and tactile learning
29:02 — Universal design in practice: chisels, ramps, and patterns
31:37 — Why “accessible from day one” beats retrofits
36:25 — Platforms compared: native controls vs. the web wild west
38:50 — Electron, performance, and the cost of abstraction
41:18 — Accessibility overlays: why quick fixes fail users
42:55 — Consulting reboot and where to find Austin
43:42 — Wrap-up, future episodes, and Aftersight CTAs
Blind Level Tech
Where accessibility meets innovation. Hosted by Evan Starnes, Blind Level Tech explores the latest in assistive technology, accessible design, and everyday tools that empower the blind and low-vision community. Each episode dives into real stories, expert insights, and practical solutions—from screen readers and AI tools to mobility tech and inclusive apps. Whether you’re blind, low vision, a professional in the accessibility space, or simply curious about how technology is reshaping lives, this show offers fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways.
Produced by Aftersight, Blind Level Tech is more than a tech podcast—it’s a platform for inclusion, discovery, and possibility.
