Through Our Eyes

Accessibility doesn't have to come with a complicated price tag or a steep learning curve. Sometimes the most powerful tools are the simplest ones. In this episode, Dawn Campbell, Chief Operating Officer of the TouchPad Pro Foundation , shares the story behind the BrailleDoodle — a tactile learning device that helps blind and low vision children and adults explore braille and independent learning...

Most people know that research takes time. Few people understand what that actually means — the decades of experiments, the failed hypotheses, the teams of students, and the quiet persistence that eventually moves something from a lab to a clinical trial. In this episode, Dr. Kenneth Mitton, Director of the Pediatric Retinal Research Laboratory , and Nicole Giudici, MS, PA-C and member of the PRRF...

Breyanna Soper was diagnosed with FEVR at nine years old. By her early twenties, she had lost the majority of her functional vision. What she didn't lose was her determination or, eventually, the partner who would walk every step of that journey with her. In this special Father's Day episode, Breyanna and her husband Matthew join us for an honest conversation about what life, love, and parenthood...

Matthew Shifrin was 13 years old when a family friend typed out the first ever set of accessible Lego instructions for him on a braille typewriter. That experience changed everything. A decade later, Matthew founded Bricks for the Blind, a nonprofit that has adapted over 550 Lego sets and now reaches blind and visually impaired builders in more than 120 countries, all for free. In this episode, Ma...

When Mike Mulligan went to get contacts before a high school basketball game, he had no idea that appointment would change the entire trajectory of his life. He was diagnosed with Coats' disease at 18. Mike then built something he never expected: a career dedicated to helping others navigate vision loss with confidence, independence, and possibility. In this episode, Mike shares his journey from d...

When Amber Bobnar's son Ivan was diagnosed with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis at just a few months old, she found herself searching for answers, resources, and most of all, connection. What she found instead was a private email listserv full of invaluable information that no one outside of it could access. So she decided to change that. In this episode, Amber shares the story behind WonderBaby.org...

Dr. Antonio Capone has spent his career changing what is possible for children with retinal diseases. In this episode, he shares the journey from his early start in psychiatry to finding his calling in pediatric retina, where precision surgery meets long-term impact.  You'll hear how the field evolved over decades, why severe ROP cases declined, and how training specialists around the world helped...

What does it actually take to get a toddler to wear an eye patch every day for five years? According to Cathy Thompson, founder of Patch Pals, it takes routine, distraction, flexibility, celebration — and a patch that a child actually wants to wear. In this episode, Cathy and her daughter Mackenzie share the story behind Patch Pals: how a cataract diagnosis led to a daily patching battle, how Cath...

Jule Ann Lieberman's path into assistive technology grew out of curiosity, persistence, and a desire to stay independent. What began as an interest in learning more about technology evolved into graduate study, professional certification, and a career dedicated to helping blind and low vision individuals access the tools that support school, work, and daily life. In this episode, Jule Ann shares h...

As the founder of the Children's Low Vision Resource Center, Paula Korelitz spent decades turning advocacy into action for children with visual impairments and their families. In this conversation, she walks through the early days of meeting families in the NICU, building resources that did not exist, and connecting education, research, and real-life learning in meaningful ways. Paula shares why a...

Chef and educator Debra Erickson, founder of The Blind Kitchen, shares how vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa led her from culinary school to building a resource hub for blind and low-vision cooks. She discusses adaptive tools, smart safety strategies, and the freedom that comes when cooking feels possible again for kids, teens, and adults. You'll hear practical ideas for building kitchen confi...

When opportunity called , Wallace Stuckey answered by moving from Washington, DC to London to pursue his master's degree. His story is about curiosity, courage, and the practical side of starting a new life in a global city.   Through stories of learning new systems, meeting people from around the world, and finding accessibility in unexpected places, Wallace reminds us that growth often begins th...

In this heartfelt episode of *Through Our Eyes*, host Nicole Giudici welcomes Lisa LoVasco and her daughter Aria to share their emotional journey navigating Aria's diagnosis of a rare retinal disease, FEVR. As a new mom, Lisa recalls the overwhelming flood of unfamiliar information during that first doctor's visit, wishing for a simple, doctor-backed resource folder to guide families away from the...

In this episode of the  Through Our Eyes Podcast , we speak with Sheldon Lewis, a dedicated professional and family man who lives with a rare inherited condition called choroideremia, which causes progressive vision loss. Sheldon shares his journey, starting with his diagnosis at age nine and navigating the challenges of vision loss without much familial support in his early years. Despite these o...

Join us on this heartfelt episode of Through Our Eyes by the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation, where Megan, a devoted mother, shares her journey raising her visually impaired son, David. Diagnosed with a rare pediatric retinal condition at six weeks old, David faced significant challenges, but with the support of an exceptional Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), an inclusive school, and...

🎙️ Meet Laura, a remarkable young woman from Michigan living with FEVR, a rare retinal disease. Diagnosed at 18 months, she's blind in one eye but embraces life fully, from her job in memory care to training her service dog. Laura shares how her family's support and an IEP helped her thrive, urging others: "FEVR doesn't define you—it's just part of your story." Tune in for her inspiring journey an...

Wallace Stuckey returns to the Through Our Eyes podcast for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Capone of the PRRF. From early childhood surgeries to navigating significant milestones like high school, college, and grad school at King's College in London, Wallace discusses overcoming challenges with the support of his family, medical team, and assistive technology. He offers insights on advocating f...

In this heartfelt episode of the "Through Our Eyes" podcast, host Luisa Recchia sits down with Brianna Soper (formerly Willett) to discuss her recent wedding journey. Brianna, who has been visually impaired since her childhood due to retinitis pigmentosa, shares how her condition influenced the wedding planning process—from selecting her dress with the help of her supportive uncles to relying on h...

In this inspiring episode of  Through Our Eyes , we relaunch into a new season of the show with a powerful story of hope, resilience, and advocacy. Host Lisa Recchia welcomes Colin Walls and his father, Chuck, to share their journey navigating Colin's diagnosis of a rare retinal disease at just four years old. From early challenges and uncertainties to becoming advocates and champions for groundbr...

In this episode we speak with Amy Wilson, founder of the Safety Positive Foundation, who shares her journey from being a tomboy growing up in Missouri, diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration at age 10, to accepting her blindness and launching a nonprofit. Amy's foundation addresses personal safety needs in the blind community, offering services such as peer support groups, verbal advocacy tr...

In this episode of the "Through our Eyes" podcast by the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation, hosts Lisa Recchia and Brianna Willett engage with Taengkwa Sturgill, a 22-year-old student studying special education. Tang shares her journey with retinopathy of prematurity, detailing her adoption from Thailand and the challenges he faced due to his visual impairment. She expresses deep gratitude for...

In this episode of the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation podcast, Hannah, a content creator, discusses her journey with vision loss and how she has utilized social media as a therapeutic outlet. Hannah began creating videos on TikTok and YouTube in 2023 to cope with her vision loss, which started around three years prior. With the tool of humor, she transformed the challenges of her condition...

In this podcast episode, we hear a compelling narrative of resilience and adaptation from a Aisha, who experienced sudden vision loss due to a rare condition called pseudo tumor cerebri or idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Aisha shares her journey from diagnosis in adolescence to navigating high school and transitioning to a specialized blind school, providing insight into the challenges and t...

In this insightful episode of the Through Our Eyes podcast, hosts Luisa and Brianna are joined by special guest Shelby Craig to explore the world of accessible gaming. Together, they delve into the challenges and triumphs of navigating video games for individuals with visual impairments. Shelby shares her experiences and expertise, shedding light on the strategies and tools she utilizes to enjoy a...

This episode features Heather Hutchison, a blind social media influencer, musician, and author. Heather shares her journey of navigating life as a blind individual, her experiences in the music industry, and her advocacy work. She discusses her background in music, starting with piano lessons at a young age and eventually releasing albums and singles. Heather explains how she learned to play music...