Self-advocacy and having blindness or low vision can be challenging at times when others don't know what it's like to have a disability or have met someone and don't know how to interact. However, it's about understanding how those of us with visual impairments are able to be independent using the accommodations that we use and letting others know that we're individuals like everyone else. This podcast is about raising awareness of blindness and low vision in a positive way and educating others that you can still have a successful and meaningful life even with a disability.
Athena Garcia is a university student who is majoring in Special Education with a concentration in Visual impairment at Arizona State University. She is on a journey to become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired in which her visual impairment motivated and inspired her to teach others with blindness and low vision and be an advocate for the blind and low vision community.
Episode 5: Breaking The Stigma Around Misconceptions
In this week's episode of the Finding My Voice podcast, Athena addresses misconceptions that individuals have about visual impairments. She also shares how individuals with blindness/low vision are able to be independent and successful in their own lives using the accommodations they use and how she has learned to embrace and accept her disability.
28 Dec 2022
Episode 4: Blindness Etiquette: Making Social Interactions Easier
In the fourth episode of Finding My Voice, Athena explains how to be considerate when interacting and communicating with individuals who are blind or visually impaired in our everyday lives. She also addresses how to be mindful of pedestrians who use a white cane or guide dog and shares the importance of being kind and understanding towards others.
15 Dec 2022
Episode 3: What My Orientation and Mobility Lessons Taught Me
In this week's episode, Athena explains how the white cane benefits individuals who are blind and low vision, shares an O&M success story and some of the challenges she faces as someone who is visually impaired. She also shares how using a white cane has made a difference in her life and also provides advice to other individuals like her who will be starting their Orientation and Mobility journey.
30 Nov 2022
Episode 2: Teachers Of The Visually Impaired (Featuring Stephanie Shaw)
Stephanie Shaw, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist shares what being a TVI entails and the benefits and challenges that come along with it. She also joins Athena in addressing misconceptions on visual impairment and educating others on that individuals with visual impairments are able to be independent and advocate for themselves.
30 Nov 2022
Episode 1: A Journey Towards Making A Difference
In the first episode of the Finding My Voice Podcast, ASU student Athena Garcia shares about her journey with having low vision and what being in a K - 12 school setting was like when she went without receiving accommodations from her local school district. She also shares how a nonprofit organization enabled her to receive the vision services needed to be independent and advocate for herself which resulted in her finding the passion for teaching others with visual impairments and pursue being a Teacher of the Visually Impaired.
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