In this podcast session, we highlight the increasing rates ofmisrepresentation of emotional support animals (ESA) by the public and the relative mental health and safety consequences for people with BVI.

Through a combination of empirical and anecdotal evidence, we highlight the effect of the loss of functionality, orientation, and independence for the person with BVI. In addition, we magnify the interconnected effects of loss of physical function (e.g., work/income, social, medical, psychological, etc.) in the lives of people with BVI.

Join us as we unpack this topic!

Guest Speakers:

Tiffany Baylor-owner of "My Pink Cane," a non-profit organization that provides in-service disability training to businesses and agencies. Tiffany travels across the nation with the objective of increasing awareness, promoting equity, and building solutions to enhance the lives of people with blindness as well as other disabling conditions.

Ashley Tavera-licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with many years of experience working with clients living with substance use disorders, addictions, and trauma. Ashley is well-versed in mental health ethics and their association with people with disabilities, particularly within the blind community.

References:

ADA National Network. (2014). Service animals and emotional support animals: Where are they allowed and under what conditions? ADA National Network.

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm

Arkow, P. (2019). Of companion animals: Pets as a catalyst for social networks and support...And a barometer of community violence. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal assisted therapy (5thed., pp. 43–51). Elsevier.

Barba, B. E. (1995). A critical review of research on the human/companion animal relationship: 1988 to 1993. Anthrozoös, 8(1), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279395787156509

Brooks, H. L., Rushton, K., Lovell, K., Bee, P., Walker, L., Grant, L., & Rogers, A. (2018). The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: A systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry,18(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2

Brown, C. M., Hengy, S. M., & McConnell, A. R. (2016). Thinking about cats or dogs provides relief from social rejection. Anthrozoös, 29(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/20414005.2015.1067958

Bueker, C. S. (2013). Leads to expanded social networks, increased civic engagement and divisions within a community: The role of dogs. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 40(4), 211-236. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol40/iss4/12

Craigon, P. J., Hobson-West, P., England, G. C. W., Whelan, C., Lethbridge, E., & Asher, L. (2017). "She's a dog at the end of the day": Guide dog owners' perspectives on the behavior of their guide dog. PLoS ONE, 12(4), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176018

Curl, A. L., Bibbo, J., & Johnson, R. A. (2017). Dog walking, the human–animal bond and older adults’ physical health. The Gerontologist,57(5), 930–939. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw051

Fairman, S. K., & Huebner, R. A. (2001). Service dogs: A compensatory resource to improve function. Occupational therapy in health care, 13(2), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/J003v13n02_03

Ferrell & Crowley (2023) Emotional support animal partnerships: Behavior, welfare, and clinical involvement, Anthrozoös, 36(3), 471-487. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2166711

Fine, A. H., & Beck, A. M. (2019). Understanding our kinship with animals: Input for health care professionals interested in the human–animal bond. In A. H. Fine (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy (5th ed., pp. 3–12). Elsevier.

In this first-ever video episode, we welcome a wide variety of multidimensional guests who have agreed to aid in the meaningful formation of the concept of "blind joy" by sharing their experiences, beliefs, and knowledge as multidimensional people who also have blindness or visual impairment. Blind joy is a concept that postulates people with BVI are more than capable of identifying joy, including feelings of joy, uniqueness, and individuality, within the condition of blindness or visual impairment. The concept further argues that people with BVI are not constantly consumed by the physical limitations pertinent to blindness or visual impairment and highlights the reductionist narratives that are ascribed to people with BVI. Changing perceptions start with educating sighted people, offering differing perspectives, and reenergizing the condition of blindness or visual impairment as evergreen, diverse in both presentation and perception, and always at a crossroads with the social environment. Join us as we unpack this topic!

(1) Judy Matthews is a technology specialist for people with blindness or visual impairment, and vocational rehabilitation professional residing in Colorado. Judy is also Cuban, a music therapist, and emphasizes compassionate advocacy for Guide Dog users. If you would like to hear from Judy, feel free to connect with her via email at [email protected]

(2) Tina Reisner is a vocational rehabilitation professional, dual specialized in mobility and technology for people with blindness or visual impairment. Tina is a dedicated advocate for people with blindness or visual impairment, utilizing her personal experiences as a person with blindness to fuel social change. Tina is adopted and resides in Utah

(3) Ashley Townsend is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice and business owner of Phoenix Therapy LLC. Ashley specializes in trauma-based and relational approaches that emphasize client multiplicity, internal healing, and recovery. If you would like to hear from Ashley, feel free to connect with her via email at [email protected]

(4) Tiffany Baylor

(5) Patrick Leahy is a U.S. election assistance commission specialist, working to ensure the equitable and accessible election processes. Patrick, and his Guide Dog Hogan, are quite a pair, evoking discourse in Washington DC involving the blind community, Guide Dog handling, and social challenges impacting the blind community. Patrick also enjoys comedy and performs stand-up comedy in his free time. If you would like to hear from Patrick, feel free to connect with him via email at [email protected]

(6) Michael Elliot is the business owner of Soar Technology and Consultants and served as bureau chief of the Florida Division of Blind Services. Michael is also a licensed mental health therapist residing in Florida. If you would like to hear from Michael, feel free to connect with him via email at [email protected]

In this episode, we dive into the world of software developer, Zach Tidwell, as he leads us into a renewed understanding of the technological paradigm that the sighted population rarely notice. Zach’s emphasis on digital literacy as a collective accountability measure re-energizes the concept of equity and inclusion within software design. Zach’s narrative of vision loss and adaptation is a story of willful determination and skillful championship, all within personal tragedy. Zach shares his approach to successful entrepreneurship within the software development industry from the lens of total blindness and invests time in exposing his positionality and related growth in a sight dominated world. Zach speaks passionately and with critical emphasis on the healing power of pushing through, trusting the process, and finding purpose. Join us as we unpack this topic!

Trigger warning: This episode contains content that some listeners may find disturbing, or even traumatizing. Content involves themes of suicide and related graphic details. Please listen at your discretion.  

Guest Biography: Zach Tidwell is a software developer, business owner, and Marine Corps veteran specializing in computer programming. Zach is self-taught and practices the development and testing of his unique computer software to emphasize accessibility and other critical, user-friendly components. Zach is totally blind, with no light perception nor functionality; however, Zach sees more than you or I do when it comes to coding design. Zach’s most recent software, Zanagrams, is a puzzle-based gaming program that utilizes memory and context clues to enhance user experience. Zanagrams was named 2023 AppleVis Golden Apple Award winner, specifically for its accessibility design and related features. Zach’s goal is to change the “accessibility-based burden” ideology within computer software design, thereby emphasizing a collective equity within the industry that prioritizes accessibility, rather than incorporating accessibility post-design software.

Dean, D., Pepper, J. V., Schmidt, R., & Stern, S. (2017). The effects of vocational rehabilitation services for people with mental illness. Journal of Human Resources, 52(3), 826–858. https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.52.3.0114-6111r1

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: the new psychology of success. Simmons University Library. Random House LLC

Guerette, A. R., & Smedema, S. M. (2011). The relationship of perceived social support with well-being in adults with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 105(7), 425–439. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482x1110500705 

McDonnall, M. C., Cmar, J. L., & McKnight, Z. (2021). What predicts job quality of vocational rehabilitation consumers who are blind or have low vision? Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 66(2), 100–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552211060012

McDonnall, M. & Lund, E. M. (2019). Employers’ intent to hire people who are blind or visually impaired: A test of the theory of planned behavior. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 63(4), 206–215. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355219893061

McDonnall, Cmar, J. L., & McKnight, Z. S. (2022). Beyond Employment Rates: Self Employment and Other Categories of Work Among People with Visual Impairments. Journal of visual impairment & blindness, 116(5), 729 735. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482x221128831

In this episode, we welcome Marcus Engel as he encourages us to shift our focus from observer to doer; follower to leader; leader to learner all within the context of compassion amidst human suffering. Marcus’ narrative of vision loss and success is not your typical rehabilitative story. Marcus speaks passionately and with critical emphasis on the healing power of meaningful relationships within the provider-patient paradigm, particularly as it relates to concepts of dependence and trauma. Marcus shares his educative approach to reconnecting with health professionals regarding such relationships and redefining vision loss as a non-linear, pervasive experience with other human beings. Join us as we unpack this topic!

Trigger warning: This episode contains content that some listeners may find disturbing, or even traumatizing. Content involves themes of drunk-driving and related graphic details. Please listen at your discretion.

In this episode, join host Clairissa Richardson as she critically examines the concept of self-efficacy as a psychological construct in the lives of people with blindness or visual impairment. Clairissa utilizes self-efficacy and choice theory as a lens by which the expectations of health rehabilitation are deconstructed as limiting perceptions of self-efficacy targets for people with BVI. Clairissa uses a combination of research, narrative storytelling, and audio oral history to re-energize the concept of self-efficacy for people with BVI as a powerful tool to disrupt control based deficits and redistribute power in clinical settings. The use of reality therapy as a treatment modality and self-developed non-empirical scale are also introduced in this episode.

Scholarly References:

In this episode, join host Clairissa Richardson as she critically examines the concept of identity for people with blindness or visual impairment (BVI) through the lens of liberation health and critical disability theory. Clairissa provides research-informed critical education for health rehabilitation professionals, introduces the "blindness equation," and provides practical, discipline-specific tools and approaches to enhance the scope and comprehension of mental health needs for people with BVI.

Scholarly References:

Belkin-Martinez,D. (2014). The liberation health model: Theory and practice. (Eds.), Social justice in clinical practice: A liberation health framework for social work (pp. 9–28). Routledge.

In this episode, we are joined by Ashley Townsend as she takes us on a self-reflexive journey into her blindness as an identity. Ashley speaks candidly and with critical emphasis on the disability related socialization experiences that have orchestrated much of her beliefs about blindness. Ashley shares her liberatory approach to reconnecting and redefining blindness as an adult. Join us as we unpack this topic!

Guest Biography

Adams, M., Castañeda, C., Hackman, H., Peters, M., Zúñiga, X., & Blumenfeld, W. (2010). Readings for diversity and social

In this episode, join host Clairissa Richardson as she deconstructs the mental health issues of people with blindness or visual impairment (BVI) from a critical systems perspective, incorporating health-rehabilitative affairs, disability as a social identity, and professional power dynamics to uncover the limitations and gaps that exist for people with BVI and the presence of mental health symptoms. Join us as we unpack this topic!

Scholarly References

Abrams, L. S., & Moio, J. A. (2009).

Barnes, C. (2000). A working social model? Disability,

Brzuzy, S. (1997). Deconstructing disability. Journal of Poverty, 1(1), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1300/j134v01n01_06

Cosh, S., Carrière, I., Daien, V., Tzourio, C., Delcourt,

Demmin, D. L., & Silverstein, S. M. (2020). Visual

Donoyama, N., & Takeda, F. (2007). Mental health and

Campbell, F.K. (2001). Inciting Legal Fictions: 'Disability's' date with Ontology and the Ableist Body of Law. Griffith law review, 10, 42-62. https://www.griffith.edu.au/

Hiranandani, V. (2019). Towards a critical theory of

Holloway, E. E., Sturrock, B. A., Lamoureux, E. L.,

Lundeen, E. A., Saydah, S., Ehrlich, J. R., &

Mayro, E. L., Murchison, A. P., Hark, L. A., Silverstein,

Nyman, S. R., Gosney, M. A., & Victor, C. R. (2010).

In this episode, we are joined by Tiffany Baylor and Michael Elliot as they highlight the importance of peer networking and education in the lives of people with blindness or visual impairment. In a world that tends to predict the behaviors of people with BVI by way of subjective norms and attitudes, peer support is a critical factor in the presence of mental health issues. Join us as we unpack this topic!

Guest Biography

Scholarly References

Be curious and encouraged to learn more about the purpose of Canes in the Margins! This trailer episode provides a brief glimpse into the critical examination of the underutilization of mental health in the lives of people with blindness or visual impairment.