David Goldfield is a visually impaired technology user with over 35 years of experience working in the blindness technology space. He provided tech support for Blazie Engineering and then spent 18 years providing computer training to blind children and adults. After that, he worked at Comcast as a program manager for the company’s accessibility team. David is now the marketing director for Blazie Technologies, developers of computers with an eight-dot Braille input keyboard. David is a practicing Catholic. In his spare time, you’ll find him interacting with people on Mastodon and listening to interfaith debates. David has also been a dedicated Doctor Who fan for over 40 years and enjoys audio drama, particularly science fiction.

Personal Web Site:

www.DavidGoldfield.com

Blazie Technologies, developers of BT Speak and BT Braille

www.BlazieTech.com

Leasey Central (an add-on for JAWS or Fusion)

https://hartgenconsultancy.com/leaseycentral/

FastSMRW, a Mastodon client

https://brynify.me/pages/FastSuite.php

Fedra, another Mastodon client

https://github.com/trypsynth/fedra

Mona, my Mastodon client of choice for iOS

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mona-7-for-mastodon/id6755672518

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast

00:21 Introduction to Podcast

00:47 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

01:18 Introduction to Podcast guest - David Goldfield

44:12 Advert - NZ Election 2026 Disability Policies report

44:46 Introduction to the Deep Dive discussion

45:25 Deep Dive - The exhaustion of continually educating people about blindness and disability

01:19:09 Goodbye from Dr Pam

01:19:22 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast

Support the Disability Disrupters podcast by contributing to our tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops, view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts background music, credit and thanks to www.andrelouis.com

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is a Māori disability and human rights advocate, scholar and former lawyer of Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Ira and Tainui whakapapa. A disabled wahine and wheelchair user, she brings lived experience and expertise to her work advancing the rights of tāngata whaikaha and whānau hauā. Huhana holds a PhD in Law and tikanga Māori from the University of Waikato and has held numerous national leadership, governance and advisory roles across disability, health, justice and human rights. Her advocacy is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, intersectionality and the collective wellbeing of whānau and communities. She was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and disabled people.

Dr. Huhana talks about singer Dame Hinewehi Mohi and her daughter Hineraukatauri. For some history and context, read the history of the [Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre](https://www.rmtc.org.nz/history).

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast

00:21 Introduction to Podcast

01:02 Advert - Ask Dr Pam

02:11 Deep Dive Introduction

03:04 Deep Dive - Summary of Submission to the Disability Support Services Bill

22:25  Disability Support Services (DSS) Bill - Oral Submission by Foundation for Equity Research New Zealand

27:45 Intro to Podcast Guest

28:44 Interview with Dr. Huhana Hickey

01:19:10 Goodbye from Dr Pam

01:19:23 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops - view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript

Tim Young is the CEO of Smart Access, which has developed a data collection, categorisation, and navigation system for pedestrians with access needs to plan a safe journey. Tim started his business, which aims to improve infrastructure accessibility, after facing many obstacles and uncertainty when traveling around the country as a tetraplegic and wheelchair user.

Tim also uses his experience in his role as Chief Technology Officer of My Life My Voice to develop digital tools and conduct training on technology to improve outcomes and opportunities for disabled people.

Tim has completed a MSc in Psychology, developed an educational video game, a work placement program for disabled job seekers, and Co-founded the Magical Bridge Trust to build more accessible playgrounds.

00:00 Introduction - Disability Disrupters Podcast

00:21 Introduction to Podcast guest - Tim Young

00:33 Ad - Get interviewed for Disability Disrupters podcast

24:29 Deep Dive - Unpaid labour critique

41:10 Goodbye from Dr Pam

41:23 Advert - Tipjar support for the podcast

Disability Self-empowerment: Module One: Take charge of your future!

Available on amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Disability-self-empowerment-Module-charge-future-ebook/dp/B0FJLKGLTV

Disability Responsiveness New Zealand offers personalised mentoring and workshops - view the content of these at https://drnz.co.nz/about-our-workshops-and-programmes/

Audio Shorts, background music provided by www.andrelouis.com

Podcast audio and transcript editor : Britta Offergeld

Support Disability Disrupters by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/disability-disrupters

Read transcript