Independent Perspective 1730 guest Erin Brunelle on the Be My Eyes App.

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Erin Brunelle of the University at Buffalo’s Center for Assistive Technology (CAT). She’s the Training Coordinator of CAT Client Services. Welcome to the program Erin.

Guest:  Thanks for having me Ernie.

Host:  It’s our pleasure to have you. First, we should at least give a nod to your sponsor who makes it possible for you to be with us and that is TRAID. Could you tell us what that is?

Guest:  Of course, so, we've been kind of a frequent flyer on this program in the past. My director Kimberly Naus is typically the voice that everyone hears; she's currently out on leave so I'm just filling in her pretty big shoes to fill while she's out.

Host:  And we’re grateful.

Guest:  Yes, of course. So, TRAID stands for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities. It is actually spelled T R A I D. Even though everyone wants to spell it T R A D E we are T R A I D and we are actually a program that supports people who have disabilities, caregivers, family members, professionals, really many, many people in our area. We do cover five counties, so we cover Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming counties. And the services we provide are things like public awareness training, and also a demonstration and loan of assistive technology. And all of its free. It's all covered by taxpayer dollars and we have a really wide inventory of devices. Today I'd like to talk about not so much devices as much as things that are actually available for free for installation on people's phones and one of them specifically for computers as well.

Host:  That sounds delightful. And its name reminds me of what you might tell your guide dog if you had one.

Guest:  (Laughter). Oh, of course. Yes. I think that's probably where the name comes from. The app is intended for people who have visual impairments to actually essentially connect with a sighted volunteer. So, it's called the Be My Eyes app. And it's free. It's available for Android and iPhones. It does require internet access. So, we're just rounding out the end of our blizzard of 2022, and I was giving some thought as to what to talk about and want to think about some things that might be available just on people's phones, because that might not be much more than what you had during the blizzard. So, the app does require internet access, or a mobile connection to like your data plan. But essentially someone who doesn't have any functional vision could, or even if they're visually impaired because of the environment or circumstance, whatever that may be. They can actually open up the app. It would the app would ask for permission to access their camera, and then it would actually connect them with a sighted volunteer who is somewhere in the world. That volunteer can then, you know, ask for a little bit of information about what this person may be looking for. And request that they move the camera around so that they can you know, just as the app is called, be their eyes.

Host:  That sounds like it could be very exciting. I imagine that it takes care to make sure that you're connected to someone who speaks your same language.

Guest:  Yes, I would imagine that as well. I've never heard any language barriers from the people that I know use it. So, I believe that that must be something that they include in the screening process or when you're setting up an account.

Host:  Oh, that sounds like a wise precaution. And you say that you folks would help the individuals that wanted to use it to download it for free.

Guest:  Yes. We can assist with the download or even a demonstration of it. On some of the other kind of benefits of our program are things like information assistance. So, if someone gave us a call and said that they were in need of some kind of tool to help their parent at home or their friend who's visually impaired, then this could be a good tool we may recommend for them

Host:  Erin we're running short on time. I'm sure people will have questions. How can they reach you?

Guest:  They can give us a call at our number, which is 716-836-1168.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Erin.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Erin Brunelle, Training Coordinator of Client Services at the University at Buffalo’s CAT. I've been your host Ernie Churchwell.