Navigating Life with Vision Loss

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss , host Kim Wardlow continues the safety series with a focus on fraud prevention . Attorney Heidi Gassman , a specialist in trusts, estates, and fraud prevention, shares insights from 30 years of practice. The discussion covers how fraud starts, early red flags, and practical steps to protect yourself—especially in the blind and low-vision communi...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the safety series with a focus on digital safety and identity protection. Guest Brandon Kennelly from Trenware, Aftersight’s managed service provider, breaks down practical strategies for protecting against phishing scams, spoofed websites, and identity theft. He explains why phishing attacks have risen dramatically, h...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the Safety Series with a deep dive into home safety and smart tools. Guest Neva Fairchild, a nationally recognized advocate and expert in independent living skills, shares her journey from growing up with low vision to becoming a leader in accessibility at the American Foundation for the Blind and Dallas Lighthouse for...

Kim Wardlow welcomes safety guide and advocate Amy Wilson to unpack why boundaries are a core safety skill—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Amy reframes “self-defense” to start with psychological safety: dignity, clarity, and the right to say no without apology. Together they tackle common myths (“I’m not allowed to set boundaries”), how to spot when your limits are too loose or...

In this week’s episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the Fall safety series with a conversation on personal and community safety. Guest Jim Pilkington, longtime accessibility advocate and One Touch Self-Defense instructor, shares his journey with retinitis pigmentosa and how he turned his lived experience into action by teaching self-defense for individuals with b...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow launches the show’s new 16-week safety series with a conversation on personal safety at home and in public. Guest Marty Sobo, longtime accessibility advocate and host of Aftersight’s new podcast Code Orange, shares practical, real-world strategies for staying safe—whether you’re navigating daily life, traveling, or facing emerge...

In this powerful finale of our 16-week advocacy series, Dr. Charles Powell returns to reflect on where advocacy stands today and what needs to shift to create lasting change. He dives into enforcing disability rights laws, expanding digital accessibility, challenging employment discrimination, and calling both blind and sighted individuals to action. This is more than a conversation—it’s a movemen...

In this heartfelt episode, Kim Wardlow is joined by longtime advocate and educator Melissa Green, who shares her deeply personal healthcare journey as a blind individual navigating a system often unprepared for true accessibility. Melissa talks candidly about a life-threatening overdose due to a pharmacist’s error, fighting stigma in hospitals, and how she advocates for herself and others in medic...

In this inspiring and deeply informative episode, Dr. Charles Powell returns to Navigating Life with Vision Loss to tackle a powerful topic: Youth Advocacy. He and Kim discuss the urgent need to equip blind and low-vision youth—and their families—with the tools to advocate for themselves. From navigating inaccessible classroom materials to asserting their rights in higher education and the workfor...

In this empowering second part of our conversation with Julie Reiskin, we dive deep into how advocacy becomes action—especially at the state and local levels. Julie walks listeners through the journey of how a bill becomes law in Colorado, explains the importance of testimony (and how to give it), and shares practical ways to engage even if public speaking feels intimidating. We also hear the insp...

In this powerful episode, host Kim Wardlow speaks with Julie Reiskin from the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition to explore the practical steps and critical importance of state and local advocacy. Julie shares her personal journey into disability rights after being diagnosed with MS, and the impact of healthcare inequities that led her to become a lifelong advocate. The conversation dives into un...

In this powerful episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow sits down with acclaimed blind photographer and accessibility advocate Ted Tahquechi. Ted shares his compelling journey from a career in video game design to losing his sight after a traumatic car accident, and how he reinvented his artistic voice through photography and tactile art. Listeners will discover how Ted’s in...

In this episode, Kim Wardlow is joined by Evan Starnes to explore how social media can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy, community building, and change—particularly in the blind and low vision community. Evan shares his journey from discovering digital advocacy on Twitter to becoming an influential voice in accessible tech. They dive into platform-by-platform comparisons, discuss the pros and...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow sits down with Darcy McLean, a Beyond Vision Skills Trainer at the Center for People with Disabilities (CPWD). Darcy shares her personal journey with low vision, the beginnings of her advocacy work, and how grassroots efforts have led to significant accessibility improvements at recreation centers and arts venues across the metr...

In this heartfelt and informative episode, Kim Wardlow welcomes therapist and advocate Darran Zenger to explore the dynamics of family advocacy in the blind and low-vision community. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience living with Usher Syndrome, Darran dives into what it means to advocate for and within your family. From setting expectations and communicating evolving...

In this powerful follow-up to our transportation mini-series, Curtis Chong joins host Kim Wardlow to unpack the complexities of transportation access for individuals who are blind or have low vision—especially in rural communities. From building meaningful relationships to hiring “biological interfaces” (aka friends and human assistants), Curtis breaks down practical solutions with insight, wit, a...

In this powerful and personal episode, Kim Wardlow sits down with longtime advocate Curtis Chong to discuss transportation equity and accessibility. Curtis shares his life story—growing up blind in Hawaii, learning programming in a pre-digital world, and his decades of advocacy work in technology and transportation. He breaks down the evolution of public transit and paratransit systems, and shines...

In this inspiring episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow sits down with Zach Tidwell, a Marine Corps veteran turned accessibility advocate and self-taught software developer. After losing his vision due to a traumatic brain injury, Zach found himself navigating inaccessible educational systems and daily tools. Instead of settling for frustration, he became the solution—learning t...

In this powerful episode, Navigating Life with Vision Loss dives into the vital world of legal advocacy for people who are blind or have low vision. Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Dr. Charles W. Powell II, a triple master’s graduate and founder of Divine Visions Consulting and Paralegal Services. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 2012, Dr. Powell transformed personal adversity into professional pu...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow is joined by Dominick Petrillo, a blind sports writer and advocate who has contributed to Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Rotoballer, and covers the Philadelphia Eagles. Dominick shares his journey of breaking into the competitive world of sports writing, the barriers he has faced as a blind journalist, and how he continues to...

In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, Kim Wardlow welcomes Dr. L Penny Rosenblum, a nationally recognized expert in blindness education and advocacy. With over 30 years of experience in research, teaching, and program development, Penny shares her insights on how students, families, and educators can advocate for accessible education. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on blin...

This is the second episode in our 16-week series on advocacy. In this episode, Kim Wardlow welcomes Melissa Fishburne, an Aftersight board member, to discuss her journey of self-advocacy and the importance of empowering oneself. Melissa shares her personal experiences growing up with low vision, the challenges she faced in embracing her identity, and how she ultimately became a strong advocate for...

In the kickoff to the new 16-week season on advocacy, Navigating Life with Vision Loss welcomes Angela Winfield, an attorney and nationally recognized disability rights advocate. Angela shares her personal journey from being a shy child with low vision to becoming an empowered advocate, passing the bar, and influencing accessibility policies. This episode explores the fundamentals of advocacy, how...

Episode Title: Looking Ahead to 2025 Host: Kim Wardlow Guest: Jonathan Price Episode Overview: In this special New Year’s episode, host Kim Wardlow is joined by Aftersight Podcast Producer Jonathan Price to discuss exciting changes coming to Navigating Life with Vision Loss and updates on Aftersight's other podcasts. Jonathan shares insights into NLVL’s new seasonal format, the topics for the Spri...

Episode Title: New Year, New Goals Host: Kim Wardlow Guest: Charlie Kramer Episode Overview: In this special New Year’s Eve episode, host Kim Wardlow is joined by guest Charlie Kramer to discuss setting meaningful and achievable goals for 2025. They delve into strategies for creating effective goals, tracking progress, and managing challenges like fear of failure and unexpected obstacles. Charlie...