Navigating Life with Vision Loss

1) Episode Summary   In this final episode of the sports series, host Kim Wardlow is joined by Kelly Liggett from No Barriers and Christine Holmberg, Executive Director of Foresight Adventure Guides , for a conversation about coaching, mentorship, support systems, and the power of trying something new with the right people beside you.   Kelly and Christine explore how coaches, guides, mentors, fri...

1) Episode Summary   In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , host Kim Wardlow talks with Erin Gaston, Director of Guest Experience at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, about how technology and accessibility are changing the live sports experience for blind and low-vision fans.  Erin shares how her team supports guest experience across Ball Arena, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and the...

1) Episode Summary  In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , Kim Wardlow continues the sports series with Calli Roars and Terry Garrett for a conversation about adaptive recreation, guiding, trust, and what it takes to try new things safely.  Calli brings the guide and recreation-provider perspective, while Terry shares his lived experience as a blind athlete who has participated in g...

1) Episode Summary   Kim Wardlow welcomes Trevor Hahn for a conversation about the legacy and future of blind sports, with a strong focus on climbing, snowboarding, independence, and adaptive outdoor adventure. Trevor shares how growing up low vision shaped his relationship with sports, how losing the rest of his sight forced him to rethink identity and freedom, and how climbing helped him find hi...

1. Episode Summary  In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , host Kim Wardlow welcomes Jared Ciner from Spirit Club for a grounded, encouraging conversation about accessible fitness, movement, and the importance of starting where you are. As part of Aftersight’s 16-week sports series, this conversation focuses less on becoming an elite athlete and more on the simple but powerful truth...

1) Episode Summary In this powerful panel conversation, Kim Wardlow brings together Shawn Cheshire, Penn Street, and Christine Holmberg for an honest discussion about women in sports, blindness, access, fear, courage, and what it really takes to create opportunity. The episode starts with a clear challenge: blind women in sports should not be treated like a separate afterthought, but as athletes w...

1) Episode Summary  In this episode, Kim Wardlow welcomes Paralympian Lex Gillette for a clear and highly practical conversation on how track and field works for blind and low-vision athletes. They break down the difference between track and field events, explain T11, T12, and T13 classifications, and walk listeners through the real mechanics of accessibility in the sport: blindfold rules, guide r...

Episode Summary  Kim Wardlow sits down with Christine Holmberg, Executive Director of Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind, for a conversation about skiing, confidence, freedom, and what becomes possible when blind and low-vision individuals are given the right support on the mountain. Christine shares how Foresight grew from a ski-specific program into a broader adventure organization, while...

1) Episode Summary  In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , Kim Wardlow sits down with Mindy Keene for a grounded and encouraging conversation about health, wellness, and the small choices that build a stronger foundation for life. Rather than focusing only on sports performance, this episode pulls back and looks at the bigger picture: sleep, hydration, movement, nutrition, stress, s...

1) Episode Summary  This episode continues the Navigating Life with Vision Loss sports series with a bold conversation on extreme sports. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Shawn Cheshire, who shares her journey from vision loss after a traumatic brain injury to becoming a record-setting athlete in biathlon, cycling, hiking, and mountaineering. Together, they unpack misconceptions about blindness and risk,...

1) Episode Summary  Kim Wardlow welcomes Evan Schwabrock, founder of Cane and Able Fitness, for a practical and encouraging conversation about getting started with strength training and gym fitness as a blind or low-vision person. Evan shares his story of losing most of his vision due to Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, how his background in kinesiology and disability studies shaped his work,...

Episode Summary  In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , Kim Wardlow continues the sports series by diving into aquatic sports with Jillian Stringfellow and Will Rastetter from Envision Blind Sports. Together, they unpack how blind and low-vision athletes can participate in swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and rowing with the right instruction, communication, and support...

1) Episode Summary  In this special Aftersight Original, Kim Wardlow shares the personal story behind her leadership and the road that led her to become Executive Director of Aftersight. She reflects on growing up in Lamar, Colorado, her early love for creativity, 4-H, cooking, service, travel, and the many work experiences that quietly prepared her for nonprofit leadership.  Kim walks listeners t...

1) Episode Summary   In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , host Kim Wardlow continues the sports series with a conversation about team sports, adaptive recreation, and the deeper personal growth that comes through play. Guest Ashley Thomas, founder of Bridge to Sports, shares her own story of living with spina bifida, becoming a wheelchair user, discovering sport later in life, and...

1) Episode Summary  In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , host Kim Wardlow continues the 16-week sports series with a deep dive into goalball —a fast-paced Paralympic sport designed specifically for blind and low-vision athletes.  Kim is joined by Lisa Tarkowski , a six-time Paralympic medalist and multi-sport Paralympian (goalball and track & field), and EJ Whitney , a coach a...

Episode Summary  Navigating Life with Vision Loss launches a new sports series—covering everything from beginner-friendly fitness routines to extreme sports—and kicks things off with beep baseball (often called “beepball”), an adaptive version of baseball designed for blind and low-vision athletes.  Guest Ethan Johnston shares his background (growing up as the only blind kid in a small Missouri to...

Episode Summary In this wrap-up of the Safety Series, Kim Wardlow and a fellow Aftersight host answer listener questions about real-life safety challenges. Listeners share concerns about traveling alone, involving neighbors in a safety network, feeling secure in public spaces, avoiding online scams, and improving home safety on a budget. Kim and her guest offer practical, honest advice—emphasizing...

1) Episode Summary In this final episode of the safety series, Kim Wardlow explores how to build a strong personal safety network with guest Joe Strechay. Joe explains that a safety network is more than an emergency contact—it’s a mix of trusted people who support day-to-day needs like transportation, home tasks, childcare, employment, and technology. Joe shares how his network evolved through col...

1) Episode Summary Host Kim Wardlow continues the Navigating Life with Vision Loss safety series by exploring what “safety” really means in parenting and caregiving—far beyond outlet covers and baby gates. Guest Bethany Joy Boring, a blind single mom, speaker, author, and mental health coach, shares candid stories about raising three boys while navigating progressive vision loss and hearing loss....

Episode Summary This episode explores the essentials of safe and confident solo travel for individuals who are blind or living with low vision. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes back seasoned traveler and travel advisor Sue Slater, who brings more than 40 years of firsthand experience traveling independently around the world. Kim and Sue break down domestic and international travel safety, including airpo...

Episode Summary In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the Safety Series by exploring how emotional, physical, and spiritual safety impact relationships. Joined by Bill Lundgren, host of Blindsight and longtime mental health advocate, the discussion dives deep into what it means to make wise relationship choices—from family and workplace connections to roma...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael...

Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Annaliese Knop, mental health professional, and Laura Millar, public health expert—co-founders of the Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)—for a deep, empowering discussion about safe online dating, boundaries, consent, and healthy connections in the blind and low-vision community. They unpack the “Be Nice and Educate” mindset often taught to blind individuals, showing h...

Kim Wardlow talks with Desiree Farley, Community Protection Specialist at the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, about recognizing and recovering from scams and fraud. They cover tech-support pop-ups, account takeovers, spoofed calls and AI voice mimicry, contractor and door-to-door schemes, safe public Wi-Fi use, device updates, credit freezes, and why reporting matters. Practical safegua...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the safety series with a deep dive into financial safety and independence. Joining her are Chris Peterson, Founder and CEO of Penny Forward, and Liz Botner, Board Member, Financial Educator, and Accessibility Advocate. Together, they explore how education and confidence can empower individuals who are blind or have low...