BEST Together Podcast

Victoria Watts is a disability rights activist, entrepreneur and mother. When her youngest son, Cyrus, was born visually impaired, Victoria had just launched her own product line, VictoriaLand Beauty. After realizing that those with blindness or vision impairments have no way of easily identifying consumer product packaging, she launched the CyR.U.S. System of Raised Universal Symbols, a proprietary tactile recognition system comprised of a set of raised trademarked symbols, making packaging accessible with a simple touch. Recently, Victoria launched her newest invention, Touch Tags, which are categorized by product type and can be placed on any product at home. Victoria is on a mission to make accessible packaging the norm rather than the exception and we could not be more supportive of her mission.

In this month's episode of the BEST Together Podcast, we sat down with Kelsey Fernandez, Regional Manager, Puppy Raising Services and Katie Perez, Manager, Children and Teen Programs from Southeastern Guide Dogs. In our conversation we discuss the process of training a guide dog, fostering a guide dog puppy, dog programs for children as young as 5 years old and etiquette for interacting with guide dogs in public among so much more! 

Sam Seavy is the host of a popular You Tube Channel called the Blind Life that highlights and reviews accessible products, new technologies and apps made for the blind community. Sam is himself legally blind due to a vision impairment diagnosis called Stargardt disease which causes one to progressively lose their central vision. Since he started his You Tube channel in 2013, Sam has gained more than 49,000 subscribers and over 6 million views. Listen to our latest episode of the BEST Together podcast where we talk to Sam about his diagnosis, life growing up, what led him to create the Blind Life and of course, exciting new developments in accessible technology for the blind community. 

Jaimee Kadish is a Southern California native from Santa Monica where she spent her youth playing a variety of team sports. She began her journey in movement training by attending Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she studied classical modern dance, ballet, jazz and improvisational techniques. She pursued higher education in dance performance, completing her Bachelors in Fine Arts degree at California State University, Long Beach. After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive eye condition, she pivoted her focus from dance performance to kinesiology and functional movement training. With a passion to deepen her knowledge of supporting young children through movement, she expanded her education, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. While developing her skills and tools as a classroom teacher, she recognized the need for movement-based education in school and program settings. She founded her new nonprofit, In-Sight Outreach to empower the visually impaired and blind community through movement literacy. After understanding the mental and physical challenges of what it means to be visually impaired, she has embraced this new identity with compassion and curiosity and aims to encourage others to continue their journeys alongside her own.

Griffin Pinkow is the founder of the Foreseeable Future Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired through sports and recreation. Griffin has run four marathons, created his own non profit organization to help the visually impaired community, and is now attempting to make the Paralympic Team in Tandem Cycling, all by the age of 30. Going from a healthy, active teenager to slowly losing his sight due to a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) at age 11, Griffin has demonstrated what it means to persevere through unexpected change, and has truly made a difference in hundreds of lives others by showing them how to stay active and endure in the face of challenge. Listen as we discuss the work of FFF, tandem cycling, Griffin's entire journey, and how he's turned his own story into major impact and support for others.

James Boehm is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the Accessibility Coordinator at The Refuge Center in Franklin, TN. James is a passionate leader and an advocate who values empowering others to their fullest potential. His specialties within counseling include, but are not limited to, adjustment to disability, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, suicidal ideation, and addiction. Boehm believes strongly in advocacy and equality for all individuals, including people with disabilities. James serves on the Nashville Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, is the former President of the Nashville Chapter and state VP of the National Federation of the Blind, and is Founder and President of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit You Cane Give with his wife, Wendy Boehm. He also founded and served on the TN Association of Guide Dog Users (he has an amazing guide dog named Bogey) and has been a mentor to college students with Learning Ally. In this episode, James shares his story of battling mental illness, becoming blind as an adult and how he’s learned to handle life’s various chapters with honesty and optimism, and through healing, collaboration and empowerment.

Julia Bowman is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and works on the Birth to 3 team at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. Prior to her career as a TVI and in early intervention, Julia was a chemist. When her child was born with severe visual impairments and multiple disabilities, her experience with the Perkins School for the Blind prompted her to switch careers. She chose to focus on birth to 3 because she believes, like BEST, that this is where the greatest impact can be made in the life of a child with blindness and their family. Join us for this conversation with Julia who shares her insights as both parent and teacher. 

Ashley Emmons has worked at Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) in Louisville, KY since August 2008.  VIPS is a non-profit organization that provides education to young children (birth to age 5) with visual impairments in both Kentucky and Indiana.  She holds many teaching certifications including Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE), Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). In this episode, we ask Ashley questions about all things O&M and discuss the importance of orientation and mobility services for infants and toddlers with vision impairments.  

Kathy Mullen is Director of Education at Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) in Louisville, KY. Kathy oversees the agency's education programs, including the full-time VIPS and Kids Town Preschools, toddler and infant classes, Summer Enrichment and statewide outreach services. VIPS serves as the model and inspiration for many of BEST's programs and services, and Kathy has been instrumental in helping guide us every step of the way. In this episode, we learn how VIPS got started, what has led them to the robust program they are today and where they are headed next. 

Dr. Terese Pawletko has worked with children since 1976, first as a teacher of the visually impaired, then as school and pediatric psychologist. Since 2001, Dr. Pawletko has been in private practice, evaluating children with autism spectrum disorders, visual impairments and other learning and developmental challenges. While at the Maryland School for the Blind, Dr. Pawletko and her colleagues developed the first program in the country for children with visual impairment and autism. She is considered a national expert in this area and has presented at regional, national, and international conferences, conducted evaluations of children suspected of dual diagnosis, and provided consultation to and training of parents and service providers. Listen as we discuss the challenges and history of diagnosing visually impaired children with ASD.

Paula Landry, EI-TVI, Orientation and Mobility Specialist and certified VIISA and INSITE trainer, co-founded A Shared Vision in Colorado. Today, the nonprofit is the leading provider of Early Intervention vision services in the state. Wearing many leadership hats, Paula provides operational support and mentoring for A Shared Vision's teachers.  She also leads the nonprofit's efforts to provide education and support for the broader community that serves very young children with blindness or visual impairments, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, pediatricians, agencies and hospitals. Prior to A Shared Vision, Paula worked with the Anchor Center for Blind Children as a board member, Teacher of the Visually Impaired and leader of the Infant and Parent Program.  Paula is also the proud mother to a 20-year-old daughter, Maddie, who is blind.

Sarah Barnes is the Senior Director of Youth and Employment Services at Lighthouse Louisiana in New Orleans. Sarah oversees the services and programming provided by the Youth Services Team which include those provided to children and students with visual impairments of all ages as well as transition services for students with disabilities who are in their final year of high school. She works closely with families and assists them in their efforts to advocate for their children to ensure they get the services and tools they need to succeed in school and life.

Kate Borg is the Director of Outreach at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI).  She previously worked for the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB). Kate has been an administrator, instructional coach, classroom teacher, and itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI). This is our first in a series of episodes featuring programs across the country serving children who are blind or low vision, and their families. Join our conversation with Kate as we learn all about the Texas model of services and why early intervention is so critical. 

Ken Quinn is a husband, father of three, advocate, student and accessibility and tactile graphics consultant. He also happens to be blind. Ken's younger sister, Alicia Holt, is a wife, mother of two and Team Lead and Nonprofit Coordinator. She has typical vision. For this month's podcast we invited Ken and Alicia to talk with us and explore sibling dynamics when it comes to disability. Does having a brother or sister with a disability lead to less focus on the child who does not have a disability? Does having a sibling with a disability equate to a feeling of protectiveness? Does having a disability and growing up with a sibling who does not have a disability make things harder or easier? How can parents and caregivers foster a positive and secure relationship between siblings? We dive into these questions and more in our conversation as Ken and Alicia share their lived experience. 

Kim Owens is a mother, blogger, entrepreneur and recent empty-nester who has a website called Navigating Blindness where she has chronicled her journey in raising a son who has a genetic condition causing progressive vision loss. Kim's son, Kai, is now 19 years old, in college and was diagnosed with a vision impairment at the age of 9. Kim joins us this month to share her story -- the story of a mother who knew something was wrong, fought for answers, advocated for her son and went on to advocate and support other families going through similar journeys.

Brooke Pernice is a teacher, singer-songwriter, works in ministry and happens to have been born blind due to Leber Congenital Amaurosis. She joined us in a webinar setting earlier this year to provide her lived experience and advice for both parents and providers. We loved our conversation so much that we decided to share it on our podcast. Listen as she shares her experiences about living and thriving with blindness.

Annie Hughes has been a Teacher of the Visually Impaired for over 40 years. She joined us in a webinar setting earlier this year to provide her lived experience and advice for both parents and providers. We loved our conversation so much that we decided to share it on our podcast. Listen as she shares her experiences and best tips for caring for a young child with blindness or vision loss.

Born a micro premie at just 23 weeks, Abby Sweet is now a thriving and joyous 14-year-old student at the Tennessee School for the Blind - her  true appreciation for life and the future ahead are infectious. In this interview, Abby offers up advice and wisdom well beyond her years, and reminds us that we truly are BEST together and that we are all miracles.

Kate is a board-certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), singer-songwriter, and registered yoga instructor in Nashville, TN. Kate attended Belmont University, was a founding member of its Music Therapy program, and was among the first graduating class of Music Therapy students in 2016. Alongside her passion for Music Therapy, Kate received 4 years of training in voice, rhythm guitar, performing, and songwriting through Belmont’s School of Music. Kate has used her unique skill set to help both children and adults with behavioral challenges, disabilities, autism, mental illness and chronic illness. Listen as Kate explains how music therapy can be a helpful tool in empowering both children and adults.

JP Williams is songwriter, singer, and public speaker. Blind since the age of 10, JP brings a unique perspective to his work as a life coach and musician. He has performed on the stage of the Grande Ole Opry, written a no. 1 hit single and has his own publishing company. Recently he has turned his focus to his work as a life coach. Listen as JP discusses the trauma of losing his vision and his philosophy of name it, claim it, change it.

Heather Field is a Special Education Teacher, Parent Coach/Advocate and owns a tutoring center in Franklin, TN. She grew up on a farm in Australia as one of 8 children and has been blind since the age of 2. In this episode, Heather shares her lived experience and tips for both parents and teachers working with young children who are blind or visually disabled.

In this inaugural episode of the BEST Together Podcast, Alison and Stacy tell their own stories, share how they met and what united them to become two moms on a mission! They talk about why they created their nonprofit, Blind Early Services TN (BEST), and what they hope this podcast to be for other families and providers working to give young children with blindness or low vision their BEST start. Join us no matter where you are in your journey or where you are in the world. We are here to lift you up and propel you forward!

Meet Alison Clougherty and Stacy Cornwall, the co-hosts of the BEST Together Podcast! As parents of young boys who are blind, Alison and Stacy experienced first hand the importance of specialized services and support in the early years of raising a child with a vision disability. The goal of this podcast is to bring inspiring stories, informational resources and uplifting support to parents, caregivers and providers of children who are blind or low vision.  In this short intro, we share what to expect from our new podcast series. We're excited to have you with us!