Afleveringen
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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 her husband Matt for visual descriptions of centerpieces and other details. She highlights the importance of photography and videography in capturing moments she could later experience up close, like seeing Matt’s reaction as she walked down the aisle. Brianna also touches on unique adjustments, such as memorizing her wedding vows and navigating the challenges of changing her name post-marriage. The episode wraps up with a look into her future plans, including saving for a house and exploring options for starting a family. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about love, resilience, and celebrating life’s big moments. Plus, don’t miss details on the upcoming Family Connection Conference on April 26, 2025!
Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment to help us spread hope to more families. Together, we can make a difference.
Connect with us here!: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast
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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 groundbreaking research, the Walls family’s story offers valuable insights for anyone facing the unknown.
Guided by our podcast assistant, Brianna Soper, the conversation dives into their experiences, the impact of the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation, and Colin’s inspiring determination to live a full and vibrant life. Whether it’s overcoming challenges in education, finding joy in hobbies like working on cars, or embracing the power of advocacy, this episode is a must-listen.
Stay tuned until the end for details about the upcoming Family Connection Conference in April 2025—a unique event bringing together families, experts, and advocates in the fight against retinal diseases.
Don’t forget to like, share, and leave a comment to help us spread hope to more families. Together, we can make a difference.
Connect with us here!: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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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 training, and self-defense courses, all accessible virtually. She emphasizes the importance of personal safety, mental health, and dignity for the blind and visually impaired.
Amy also shares her personal passion for self-defense, influenced by her wrestling and judo background, and highlights the impact of her work on individuals in the blind community. The podcast concludes with details on how listeners can support the Safety Positive Foundation through donations, awareness, and getting involved.
Connect with Amy and the the Safety Positive Foundation:
https://www.safetypositivefdn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/blindamy_/reels/?hl=en
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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 the care and support he received through the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation and Associated Retinal Consultants, which helped maintain her light perception through surgeries and ongoing treatments.
Tang discusses her passion for special education, driven by her own experiences and a desire to inspire others facing disabilities. Shee emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and encouragement in both education and everyday life. Looking ahead, Tang envisions a career dedicated to teaching young children with special needs, aiming to make a lasting impact by fostering positivity and resilience.
Find us on social here:
https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast
This podcast is brought to you by the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation. https://www.pediatricrrf.org/
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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 into clever videos, receiving laughs and positive feedback from friends and family. This creative process helped Hannah manage her difficulties while making others laugh, serving as her personal therapy. Despite her initial reluctance to acknowledge her vision impairment, Hannah found solace in the supportive community that her videos fostered, and she continues to share her experiences candidly and humorously.
Hannah also delves into her background, explaining that she was born with cone dystrophy, a rare genetic retinal disease that gradually worsened her vision. Initially, she maintained a near-normal life, working as a professional photographer for 13 years. However, in 2019-2020, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leaving her with only a pinhole of vision in one eye. This transition was tough, especially during the pandemic, but her family and friends provided crucial support. Hannah shares that joining online communities and connecting with others who have similar experiences was invaluable. She stresses the importance of communication and patience, advising those newly experiencing vision loss to seek support and be open about their needs.
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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 triumphs of adjusting to a new way of life. After graduating, Aisha embarked on a vocational rehabilitation program, eventually securing a job with the assistance of employment specialists. This episode illuminates the importance of support systems, adaptability, and determination in overcoming adversity and pursuing one's goals despite unexpected obstacles.
Connect with Aisha Na'Sha here: https://linktr.ee/AishaNasha
Connect with us here!: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast
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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 variety of games, from World of Warcraft to flight simulators. The conversation touches on the importance of accessibility in gaming, advocating for developers to prioritize inclusive design. Through personal anecdotes and practical insights, this episode illuminates the evolving landscape of accessible gaming and the transformative impact it has on individuals and communities.
Connect with us here! - https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast
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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 by ear rather than reading Braille sheet music, finding it more intuitive to memorize music through listening.
Throughout the conversation, Heather reflects on her experiences with schooling, her supportive family, and her career in music. She highlights the importance of representation and accessibility in the music industry and shares advice for aspiring musicians, emphasizing the value of practice, performance, and networking.
Overall, the episode provides insight into Heather's personal journey as a blind musician and advocate, offering inspiration and encouragement for listeners interested in pursuing their passions despite challenges.
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This episode features Heather Wolf, who shares her personal experiences living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and deafness. Heather discusses her journey of being diagnosed with RP in college and the challenges she faced due to progressive vision and hearing loss.
Heather explains her college experience and the accommodations she received, such as orientation and mobility training and assistive technologies like high contrast keyboards and magnification software. Despite facing social challenges due to her disabilities, Heather pursued a major in special education but later reconsidered due to the increasing difficulties.
The conversation delves into Heather's recent move and the challenges she encountered as a person with disabilities, including finding accessible housing and navigating support services. Heather also shares her experience learning Braille and recommends a free resource called Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired for Braille education.
Overall, the episode highlights Heather's journey living with multiple disabilities, the importance of accessibility and support services, and her ongoing efforts to adapt and thrive despite the challenges she faces.
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Charlie Kramer, a 30-year-old living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), shares his experiences growing up with a family history of RP and how it shaped his perspective. He proudly uses his cane every day and works as a life coach for people with disabilities, advocating for inclusivity and equality. He discusses his journey of accepting his disability and emphasizes the importance of awareness and seeking support. Charlie offers coaching programs to help individuals navigate challenges and build confidence. He highlights the difference between coaching and therapy, stressing the action-oriented approach of coaching. Charlie also discusses the expansion of his business, including hiring support coaches, and invites individuals to connect with him for coaching opportunities. Finally, he shares advice for those dealing with disabilities, emphasizing awareness, seeking support, and connecting with the disability community.
Link: https://www.charliekramervision.com/
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This episode is the conclusion of the conversation with Anastasia and Gia! These two extraordinary young women talk more about their daily life, training regimen, and how their long distance friendship keeps them going day to day.
Don't miss out – hit that subscribe button and join us on a journey that's all about smashing expectations, celebrating victories, and embracing the power of the human spirit. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and totally blown away by Anastasia Pagonis & Gia Pergolini. 🏆🎉
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This episode dives into the extraordinary journey of two remarkable Paralympic gold medalists, Anastasia & Gia. We uncover the awe-inspiring stories that have defined their lives and their beautiful friendship as fellow blind swimmers.
Don't miss out – hit that subscribe button and join us on a journey that's all about smashing expectations, celebrating victories, and embracing the power of the human spirit. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and totally blown away by Anastasia Pagonis & Gia Pergolini. 🏆🎉
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Welcome to part 3 of the conversation with Dr. Kimberly Drenser! This episode dives into CTR27, the basis for the idea behind Caeregen Therapeutics, the history of the company, and the work they've done to create medical solutions for retinal diseases.
Your host, Dr. Patrick Droste dives into this captivating three-part series that covers innovative and promising research for the future. We invite you to share this episode with friends and family!
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Welcome to part 2 of the conversation with Dr. Kimberly Drenser! This episode navigates the landscape of research & development challenges and the amazing scientific breakthroughs that Dr. Drenser has been involved with. This episode starts with the story of how Dr. Drenser became interested in the field of ophthalmology and continues by highlighting the milestones in the industry and her career.
Your host, Dr. Patrick Droste dives into this captivating three-part series that covers innovative and promising research for the future. We invite you to share this episode with friends and family!
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This episode embarks on a journey through the world of groundbreaking research with our special guest, Dr. Kimberly Drenser, who holds the prestigious title of what is called a double doctor (i.e. she holds two medical degrees).
Additionally, Dr. Drenser engaged in a two-year retinal fellowship with associated retinal consultants Dr. Anthony Capone and Dr. Michael Trese.
Your host, Dr. Patrick Droste dives into this captivating three-part series that covers innovative and promising research for the future. In part one, we will explore the fundamental definitions of principles that underpin genetic research and particularly genetic eye disease. Part two will navigate the captivating landscape of research development challenges, and part three will investigate pivotal moments that shape the trajectory of a scientific breakthrough from early-stage investigations to rigorous experimentation.
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Listen to this empowering and eye-opening episode that invites listeners into the extraordinary world of Shelby, a resilient and inspiring young woman who was born blind. Throughout this episode, Shelby explores the many aspects of her morning routine, shedding light on how she navigates her world. From waking up and orienting herself to the day ahead to choosing outfits, preparing meals, and getting ready for work or school, this episode delves into the practical, emotional, and creative aspects of Shelby's mornings.
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Dr. Phillip Hessburg is an authority on driverless automobiles, and this episode is all about what artificial vision in automobiles means for the visually impaired community. Interestingly, Dr. Hessburg was also on the organization of Retinopathy prematurity, associate Retinal Disease Board for many years, and he has a long history with our organization.
This episode dives into the future of mobility for the visually impaired and is a fantastic preview of technology that has the potential to transform the lives of many.
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Through Our Eye's is again looking at the Parent's Perspective. We speak with Alissa Williams, the mother of Brandon Warner, who was featured in episode #2.
Alissa outlines the challenges she faced in identifying Brandon's condition early in life and gives a detailed story that can be very helpful for mothers that find themselves in her shoes.
Alissa's story will take you on a journey. From learning braille to learning calculus, graduating college, and pursuing employment, Alissa and Brandon's story exhibits the possibilities available to the visually impaired community.
This podcast is made possible by the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation.
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This week's episode is about the history of the white cane for the visually impaired. Shelby, who uses the cane every day, will talk about her experience, and Dr. Droste will talk more about its history. If you're someone who values inclusivity and accessibility, you will be blown away by the powerful insights and perspectives shared in this episode.
This episode talks about the evolution of the white cane and its significance in the blind community, as well as the challenges and triumphs that Shelby and Dr. Droste have faced in their respective journeys.
If you're interested in learning more about the history of the white cane or just want to hear some truly inspiring personal stories, we highly recommend listening to this podcast. Trust us; it's well worth your time. #whitecanehistory #inclusivity #accessibility #podcastrecommendation #inspiringstories #empathy #understanding #compassion #blindcommunity
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