Basically Blind

During the pandemic, life was turned upside down for many. We had to find new ways to do everyday tasks like shopping, working, teaching, etc.  Recently, there have been a number of shifts than nudge us closer to how things were in 2019, but many don't want some changes to go away. Avery shares why she hopes working from home, virtual events, and flexibility don't disappear.

Being a woman comes with its own challenges. Avery reflects on how women can be shamed about taking care of themselves with the term "high maintenance." You rarely hear men described that way, and society puts less pressure on men for how they look than women. Avery unpacks this phrase and reclaims what it says about someone.

No one can do it alone. It is important to find a group of people who you can connect with and who support you through good and hard times. Avery reflects on the many groups she has sought out during her life including a peer support group in middle school called the Friendship Club.

No, we're not talking about the iconic scene from Friends where Ross yells, "Pivot!" repeatedly in an effort to navigate moving a couch upstairs (watch here). Right now, many people are leaving their current jobs for new ones. Some are staying on the same career path, while others are taking the opportunity to set off on a new course. Avery shares how she successfully pivoted her career and her advice to others trying to do the same.Mentioned Resource: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett & Dan Evans

spring is here, and change is in the air. Avery shares updates from her recent trip to the eye doctor and changes around health, career, and lifestyle.

This month Avery read Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau. She goes over the content, main themes, and tone of the book and shares what she learned, critiques, and her honest recommendation on whether to read or skip it.

Learning from each other and sharing lived experiences is one of the most powerful ways to influence people. On the heels of celebrating 6 years of marriage, Cam and Avery review what they've learned from each other. 

Quitting can feel like a failure. It is hard to separate the fact that your current situation is no longer serving you vs. you just not being able to cut it.  Avery talks through the mental process she works through when deciding if she should quit a job, relationship, or community group, and the intense internal struggle of knowing she has to let someone down to do what is best for her.

The experience of going to the movies is hard to beat. From the film itself to the popcorn and snacks, it just hits different. Streaming platforms often have audio descriptions available, but not all theaters offer this accommodation. Avery recently tried out using audio description technology at a movie theater for the first time and shares her experience and gives recommendations on how to avoid some of the issues she ran into.

The Academy Award-winning movie CODA follows Ruby, a high school senior who is the only hearing member of her immediate family. The film explores isolation, fear of the unknown, and the need we all have to be understood. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss how each of them could relate and the biggest takeaways.

People with disabilities can live independently, but like anyone else, every once in a while they may need help. But when should you help and how should you offer it? No one wants to risk offending others, but it can be so hard to watch someone struggle with a task. Avery provides guidance and personal examples on how to best navigate this.

Belonging is a term commonly used alongside Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Brene Brown has said, "The opposite of belong, from the research, is fitting in. Fitting in is assessing and acclimating: 'Here's what I should say, or be, here's what I shouldn't say and avoid talking about. That's fitting in. Belonging is belonging to yourself first." Avery reflects on the many ways she's tried to diminish having a disability to make others more comfortable over the years. Becoming confident about what makes you different doesn't happen overnight, but there is no reason someone can't start working toward it today.

It is important for people to be trailblazers and break into spaces where someone with their identity hasn't had access to before, but there is a significant burden that falls on people who are the first. Avery talks about her own experiences with this and gives tips on how to be an ally.

Society is taking diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) more seriously than ever before. We've made huge strides, but there is a long way to go. There are still so many instances when people can feel like they don't belong. Avery reflects on how isolating it can feel to exist in spaces where you're the only person with a certain identity.

The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, a black teenager who leads two separate lives. There is the version of herself for Garden Heights, the predominantly black neighborhood she calls home, and another version of herself that exists at the mostly white prep school she attends in an affluent suburb. After witnessing her childhood friend being killed by a police officer during a traffic stop, Starr's two worlds collide. She is forced to confront the privilege and prejudice of her classmates and has to reevaluate relationships with others and herself. Avery recaps the main plot points and themes around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility that appear in the movie. 

It is always important to educate yourself on the experiences of others and the privileges you have that others may not. This applies to any group that society presses. In honor of Black History Month, Avery shares some of her picks for books, movies, and TV shows. There are so many great resources out there, and this is just a sampler.BooksBetween the World and Me  by Ta-Nehisi CoatesUncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel AchoHow to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. KendiWhite Fragility by Robin DiAngeloTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Vanishing Half by Brit BennettSuch a Fun Age by Kiley ReidThe Hate U Give by Angie ThomasMovies13thThe Hate U GiveI Am Not Your NegroIf Beale Street Could TalkTV ShowsThe WireInsecureAbbott Elementary

Sure, dating can be fun, but as Olivia Rodrigo would say, "God, it's brutal out here." Add on a historically marginalized identity like having a disability, and the dating world can be an even trickier space to navigate. Avery opens up and reflects on her dating life and how being legally blind impacted it. She reminds people that even if society or "friends" say you should settle, you deserve to find your ideal partner just as much as anyone else.

Setting boundaries can be difficult for everyone, but it gets even trickier when you move through life with an identity that society views as having less power. The need to be liked and seen as capable seems even more important when you're in that position. Avery talks about how she's struggled with this and how leveraging the word "no" has changed things for her.

The Social Model of Disability is the belief that people with disabilities aren't at a disadvantage due to their disability but due to barriers created by society and environments. Avery speaks on this and refers to how this YouTube video cleverly shows how the Social Model of Disability works.

Job hunting is exhausting. In a perfect world, all companies would value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Unfortunately, that's not the case, and the burden of evaluating how inclusive a company is falls on the job seeker. Avery goes over tips on how to find a company and manager that values DEIA.

It is one thing to include a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) statement on your website, but for a company to truly be inclusive, they need to walk the walk. One of the first ways to show people your values is in the recruiting and interview process. Avery breaks down what improvements can be made in each step of the process. DEIA needs to be prioritized at the very beginning when the job description is being written to when the final hiring decision is being made.

Everyone is making resolutions this time of year, but few people stick to them. Avery shares why she prefers to make goals rather than resolutions, what she hopes to work on this year, how she identified what she wanted to focus on, and her tactics to successfully achieve these goals.

New Year's is always a time for reflection and setting goals. With 2022 around the corner, it is important to take in all the accomplishments and growth over the past year. Avery reflects on 2021 and the changes in her health, career, and personal life.

Happy Holidays! This time of year offers so many holiday movies to get you in a festive mood. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss The Family Stone. The marketing for this movie made you think this was lighthearted when it is actually dealing with some heavy subjects. Avery and Cam reset the expectation and dive into some of the more cringe-worthy scenes around historically marginalized identities and the reoccurring themes of making assumptions and the need for control.

Moving through life with low vision has plenty of challenges, but it isn't all bad. Avery acknowledges this truth and shares some of the "perks" of being legally blind. Many of these positives are accommodations or services provided through the state but not all.

Recently there has been a surge of content online where people share how they have "blind privilege". Avery shares her thoughts on the trend and clarifies what privilege is. She also goes into the importance of understanding how accommodations are necessary for equity.

It's the holiday season, and that means gift-giving g. Avery is joined once again by Andrea and they offer up great gift ideas for really anyone on your list but highlight good and bad gifts for someone with a visual or hearing impairment. Keep in mind, everyone is different, and the key to giving a great gift is choosing something that specific person will love.

It is easy to recognize and condemn overt acts of racism, but subtle and persistent racism is just as damaging. In Such a Fun Age, the author shows the variety of ways people can experience and display racist behavior. Having read the book twice, Avery shares her main takeaways. The book demonstrates how intent doesn't matter as much as impact, how people will accept what reinforces their narrative and reject what doesn't, and how all people are flawed (even when they don't think they are).

brands that put a priority on diversity and inclusion stand out from the pack.  More and more consumers are looking for companies that stand for something. Avery shares some of her favorite inclusive brands and why they resonate with her. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to brands that stand for something and don't alienate others.Brands mentioned:American EagleFenty BeautyHumanraceHausRare Beauty

Some people chose to have kids, and others don't. It is a very personal decision, and it can be an even more complicated decision if you have a disability. Avery has her husband and partner, Cameron, on the podcast to discuss having kids. They talk through the pressures of society, the pros, the cons, and the personal guilt you can battle if you have a disability and are thinking about having kids.

Representation of minority groups is a problem at large. Avery has Andrea on this episode to discuss specifically how disability is portrayed in pop culture and media.  They explore examples, what's wrong, what's good, and what stereotypes are being perpetuated.

In honor of Spooky Season, this month's installment of The More You Know Series takes a look at the movie Hush. In the film, a deaf and mute woman living in a secluded area falls prey to a serial killer. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss reactions to the movie overall as well critiques on the depiction of disability and representation in Hollywood.

Avery breaks down what Inspiration Porn is, her personal experience with it, and what you can do to avoid it. The term was coined by disability advocate Stella Young and refers to the objectification of people with disabilities to inspire people without disabilities.Resources:Stella Young's TEDx TalkHow to Avoid "Inspiration Porn" - Forbes

At some point, you've probably asked yourself or friends would you rather be blind or deaf. It is a loaded question with a lot to consider. Avery invites Andrea Lambrecht back to the podcast to discuss. Find out what someone blind and someone with a hearing impairment have to say on the matter.

Watching movies and TV is a huge part of pop culture. Meeting someone and finding out you have the same favorite show immediately helps you build rapport. However, “watching” something is a visual act. How does someone who is blind or visually impaired watch movies or television shows? Avery goes into utilizing audio descriptions on streaming platforms, what it was like before audio descriptions, what it is like after, and which streaming services stand out in this area.If you would like to enable audio descriptions on a platform or find titles with audio descriptions, use the resources below to learn more.Audio Description for TV Shows and Movies - Netflix Help CenterHow to Use Audio Descriptions with Downloads - Netflix Help CenterUse Audio Descriptions on Apple TVAccessibility Features on HBO MaxAudio Descriptions for Movies and Shows on HuluHow to Turn on Accessibility Features like Closed Captioning and Audio Descriptions on Paramount+?How to Turn Audio Descriptions On Disney+Disney+ Titles with Audio DescriptionsPeacock Audio Description Titles

This month's installment of The More You Know Series takes a look at Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. Avery recaps and shares her reactions to this award-winning documentary. For those interested in watching the film, it can be found on Netflix.

People with disabilities are used to being questioned about potential cures or treatments that could improve their current condition. While the mindset of needing to "fix" someone is a key part of ableism, medical discoveries are made every day. Choosing to lessen a disability is a personal one. Avery shares her feelings on if she would want to no longer be blind.

We're all familiar with racism and sexism, but what about ableism? Avery goes over the definition, how it shows up in society, and what can be done to combat it. 

Love what you do. It seems so simple, so why does it seem so hard at times? Everyone strives to be passionate about their work, but Avery makes the case for why it is even more important for members of marginalized communities to find work they love.

Avery reflects on the frustration of people not seeing her being "blind enough". Many people have an image of what someone with a disability looks and acts like, and if you don't fit in that box, you aren't really a disabled person. In a world full of shades of grey, why do people still try to put others in such black and white categories?

The first installment of The More You Know series focuses on the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. Currently a psychology professor at Stanford University, Dweck's book lays out how a person's mindset can stand in the way of reaching their full potential. Avery summarizes the main points of the book, offers her critiques, and connects how mindset relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Avery gives an update on her physical and mental health. She shares how recent and persisting diagnoses are impacting her life and how she views herself.

Anyone can fall victim to imposter syndrome, but studies show that minorities and people with disabilities are even more prone to it. On top of this, people in historically marginalized groups often fight against stereotype threat. Avery defines each of these terms and gives examples of how both of these concepts are detrimental.

Exercise is important not just for physical health but mental health as well. However, when you are blind or visually impaired finding ways to stay active can be a little tricky. Avery explains what has and hasn't worked for her, and what she is trying to do now.

If people don't realize someone is blind, there can be a lot of wrong assumptions made on why they do things the way they do. Avery shares a list of things that she does or doesn't do because of low vision that could be seen as rude. She also goes into how other invisible disabilities can compile to make some things even harder.

Experiences vary a lot when it comes to living with a disability. Avery sits down with her long-time friend Andrea to learn about life with a hearing impairment. Andrea shares how it has impacted her personally and professionally, and she explains how it took a long time for her to identify as having a disability.

Avery shares the importance of wellness in the diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility space and how feeling alienated can have both mental and physical consequences. She goes over her personal struggles with taking care of herself and tips anyone can use to boost wellness.

An unprecedented amount of people are planning to quit their jobs and/or pivot their careers, and it has been dubbed The Great Resignation.  Avery touches on reasons why this is happening and DEIA principles that may be contributing.

Knowing how you should address a person with a disability can be tricky. Is it better to say a blind person or a person who is blind? The answer: It depends. Some communities have preferences on identity-first vs. person-first language, and it can differ from person to person. Avery discusses this topic and gives her personal preference.

People with disabilities statistically have a much harder time finding and maintaining full-time employment.  Ableism in the workplace is one of the biggest reasons for this. Avery opens up about her own experiences and challenges in building a career.

Being able to move around the world independently can be tricky when you're blind or visually impaired. Avery shares how she is able to navigate Seattle and the extra steps involved in getting around and being able to live a full life.