From advocacy to fencing, Pat Pound is always in the fight. 🧠🤺

Born weighing just over a pound, Pat’s life began with a battle, and she never stopped competing.

She fought for advanced math classes after losing her vision at fourteen. She taught herself the abacus when no one else would. She led the Center for Independent Living out of financial crisis, became the first blind woman to direct the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, and played a key role in early ADA implementation.

Now retired, but only on paper, Pat uses Aira’s Visual Interpreters to manage her home, organize her late husband’s belongings, and keep her independence on her terms.

And her newest arena? Blind fencing. Pat’s helping bring it to the global stage, proving again that if someone else can do it, she can do it, probably better.

Read her full story in this month’s Community Profile:
https://aira.io/community-profile-pat-pound/

#DisabilityRights #BlindFencing #AssistiveTech #AiraExplorer #AccessForAll

It's an exciting time for wearable and hands-free tech, but “Will it work with Aira?” 👓

Check out our latest blog post to explore compatibility, resources, and what's coming up next in wearable integration: https://aira.io/using-smart-glasses-with-aira/

#AiraExplorer #VisualInterpreter #SmartGlasses #OnMyTerms #AccessForAll

£6.3m accessibility upgrade officially opened at Llanelli Station

The investment, funded through the Department for Transport’s Access for All scheme and delivered by Network Rail, Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government, was celebrated at a community event attended by Dame Nia Griffith MP, Llanelli Town Mayor Cllr J.E. Jones, and members of TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel.

The new facilities mean disabled passengers, parents with pushchairs and travellers with heavy luggage no longer have to trek around the level crossing to reach both platforms. The old footbridge has been removed, with the new structure offering lifts, improved ramps, better lighting, CCTV and tactile paving along the platform edges.

Kevin Collins, Project Director for Network Rail Wales & Western, said:

“We’re delighted to unveil these fantastic new lifts and the footbridge for passengers in Llanelli — improvements that have made the station more welcoming and significantly more accessible for everyone who uses it.”

Adrian Carrington, Head of Station Infrastructure at Transport for Wales, said:

“Llanelli is an important station to the Wales and Borders network and serves up to 400,000 passengers a year. The new bridge and lift facilities will enhance accessibility and create opportunities for Llanelli and the surrounding communities.”

Dame Nia Griffith MP added:

“It’s so important we now have lifts, which means that people with disabilities, parents with pushchairs and passengers with heavy luggage can access both platforms without trekking around the level crossing. I’m now keen to see Llanelli benefit from further improvements to train services as the Swansea Bay Metro project takes shape.”

Amanda Say, speaking for TfW’s Accessibility and Inclusion Panel, said:

“This project has made the station much safer by eliminating the need to use a level crossing to travel between platforms. It will greatly benefit all passengers, especially people with disabilities.”

The official opening marks a major milestone for Llanelli, but rail bosses say the work doesn’t stop here. Next up is Tenby station, where new accessible facilities are due to be delivered by December 2026.

Related stories

Construction milestone reached for Llanelli station bridge
Network Rail installs the main span of the new footbridge, paving the way for step-free access.

Work begins on new footbridge at Llanelli station
Construction kicks off on pedestrian bridge and lift to improve accessibility.

New images reveal Llanelli transport hub plans
Proposed multi-modal interchange includes EV bays, cycle storage and improved bus links.

New transport hub proposed at Llanelli station
Carmarthenshire Council unveils plans for a new interchange to boost connectivity.

Restoration underway at listed Llanelli station building
Victorian railway building in Tyisha Ward set to become a new community hub.

#AccessForAll #Accessibility #DepartmentForTransport #footbridge #Llanelli #LlanelliRailwayStation #LlanelliTrainStation #MayorOfLlanelli #NetworkRail #NiaGriffithMP #TransportForWales

We’re part of the Sight Tech Global lineup, December 9–10! 🎙️

Everette Bacon, our Chief of Blindness Initiatives at Aira, will share from his extensive experience in assistive technology and policy. Hear how we're shaping Aira's AI integration alongside fellow presenter, Google DeepMind.

Full speaker lineup: https://sighttechglobal.com/speakers/

#Accessibility #BlindAndLowVision #AssistiveTech #OnMyTerms #AccessForAll

Meet Jennipher Wilson, Aira’s product manager with startup fire and a surfer’s soul. 🌊

With over fifteen years in software and a track record across startups and Intuit, Jennipher has brought her expertise to support Aira and Aira ASL. She’s focused on building products that support access to information, reduce friction, and enhance independence.

She appreciates that Aira’s purpose goes beyond profit: “Every company and startup, they’re all just about bottom line. So when you actually get to be here and see that, no, it is actually about trying to help a community, an underserved community, and do the right thing.”

Read Jennipher's Staff Profile: https://aira.io/staff-profile-jennipher-wilson/

#InclusiveTech #Accessibility #AccessForAll #Innovation

“oh, you’re [some ND label]. Are there any accommodations we need to worry about?”
“if you already treat your staff well, you likely won’t even notice”

Most of the accommodations I need are provided for in decent office workplaces: the facility to type and not be forced to handwrite notes, flexible or semi flexible hours, the ability to use the bathroom when I need it, not giving me the nth degree if I take an (unpaid) sick day, being a bit less arsey if I have poor short term memory or have done something practical to work round that...

This is certainly not true for everything and everyone in situations like me, in fact we need to be better with accommodations for all not just for those of us who can get round some stuff with middle class perks. I will say there are a good chunk of us who can bob above water in a good workplace right now that would drown in a bad one.

And disability accommodations, at work or elsewhere, isn't a middle class perk that one should earn through the "right" skin colour, accent and education - it's a human right.

#disabled #neurodivergent #accessForAll