unseen: Life as a Blind Immigrant

It’s been almost three years since unseen first premiered. Just when we thought that we’re wrapping up, the current political climate around immigration enforcement reinvigorated the work we’re doing. This episode is a special know-your-rights workshop geared for disabled immigrants, family members, or allies if ever they encounter ICE or immigration enforcement authorities at home, work, and heal...

Our film unapologetically prioritized blind and undocumented immigrant audiences – communities that are systemically pushed to the margins. As unseen’s impact campaign comes to a close after two years, we want to share our process and journey with you. Geared for those who want to use cinema for social impact, this episode was recorded during a live webinar where we unpacked every step of our impa...

Through an interview with our impact producer emeritus, Qudsiya Naqui, on her show Down to the Struts, we talk about the values that guided the making of our film-turned-podcast, unseen. Featuring a conversation between Qudsiya, our main protagonist, Pedro, and director/producer, Set, the three talked about the shared experience that led them to create the project. They also discussed the role of...

Through her interview with Thomas Reid on Reid My Mind Radio, we're highlighting Nefertiti Matos Olivares, who voiced the audio description for our film and podcast. In addition to narration, Nefertiti is a Quality Control specialist, workshop facilitator and AD advocate and writer. Unfortunately, it’s that last role, writer, that still continues to be a bit controversial. It’s expected that those...

We're highlighting the independent access artist Cheryl Green, who served as accessibility producer and wrote the audio description for our film and podcast. Through her interview with Thomas Reid on Reid My Mind Radio, get to know Cheryl as a filmmaker focusing on disability identity and culture and making media accessible. She began making films after acquiring disabilities from brain injury. He...

Wherever we turn for the last several months, it's almost impossible to not notice the 2024 US elections. Unfortunately, the discourse has left out (if not dehumanized altogether) the communities our show uplifts: people with disabilities, undocumented immigrants, and perhaps even you who is just trying to get by in your everyday life. For this bonus episode, we want to give you a pause from all t...

At work, Pedro expertly teaches other blind individuals the skill sets they need to lead a life with vision loss (e.g. using a cane, reading in Braille). In spite of that, Pedro tells his boss that he often feels unworthy of the opportunities he has received in life. Looking back at his life, Pedro reflects on his goals as a young student, and how he is now living a version of that, in spite of th...

A few years after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, Pedro’s grandmother suddenly passes away. Although he eventually earns a Master’s in Social Work, Pedro wonders whether his sacrifices were all worth it, since his grandma passed away while he was studying. This guilt causes Pedro to wallow in depression. As his immigrant parents also age with no access to healthcare or a comfortable retiremen...

In 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. occurs in Las Vegas. As a social work student, Pedro becomes a frontline responder, specializing in Spanish-language mental health services for immigrant survivors. At home, Pedro discusses the barriers he faces in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, preventing him from receiving support to go to school even though he is putting his training into...

On a hot, summer day, Pedro takes the bus to his university. When a passenger notices the dog next to him, Pedro explains that he gets assistance from his guide dog because he is blind. As he arrives on campus, Pedro heads to the registrar. He pays for tuition out of pocket as an undocumented student. Pedro has faced numerous challenges, being both undocumented and blind, but his mentors have give...

We invite you into a new way of listening to podcasts. “unseen: Life as a Blind Immigrant” is a new immersive show about Pedro. But instead of telling you why Pedro is so interesting, we’ll put you inside the story of his life instead. Tune in every Tuesday of October 2024 for new episodes, wherever you listen.