Careers for the Blind

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jean Parker—a professor, former radio journalist, and nonprofit leader whose career journey has been shaped by curiosity, service, and a global perspective. She attended the Perkins School for the Blind in her youth, Dr. Parker was inspired early on by the people who traveled there from around the world, sparking a lifelong interest in international travel and cross-cultural connection. She shares how these experiences influenced her to pursue multiple career paths and offers insight into embracing opportunity, adaptability, and purpose throughout one’s professional life.

Marisol Carmona, a Program Specialist at Perkins School for the Blind whose lived experience and professional journey make her an incredibly insightful voice in the blindness community. Marisol became visually impaired as a result of Leber’s congenital amaurosis, and her personal path has shaped how she supports others today.

Throughout her career, Marisol has held several roles serving people with disabilities, and she now works closely with families at Perkins—coaching parents on how to empower their blind or low-vision children to succeed in college, thrive in the workforce, and build independent, fulfilling lives.

Even though she faced her own challenges navigating college, Marisol brings a wealth of wisdom, honesty, and hard-earned life experience. Her perspective is both practical and deeply human, making this a powerful conversation for anyone interested in disability, transition planning, independence, or the realities of growing up with vision loss.

Rebecca Rosenberg was born with albinism, which causes low vision. During her college years, she grew frustrated by the lack of effective assistive technology for people with visual impairments. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, she decided to take action. That drive led her to create ReBokeh, an assistive technology company dedicated to enabling true visual experience inclusion.

www.ReBokeh.com

David Mayne lost his sight as the result of an automobile accident in his 40s. The years that followed were filled with recovery—physically, emotionally, and financially—as he navigated life on disability while raising four children as a single father. But David’s drive to provide for his family and rebuild his independence pushed him forward.

He enrolled in a cybersecurity program at a junior college, and within just a year and a half of starting his first job, he rose to a management position overseeing two different locations. But what’s most inspiring is what came next—David wanted to open the same doors that had been opened for him.

He helped create and now directs the APEX Program at Novacoast, an initiative designed to train and empower people who are blind or have low vision to pursue careers in cybersecurity.

In our conversation, David shares his incredible journey from tragedy to triumph, how he found purpose through technology, and how APEX is transforming accessibility in the cybersecurity industry.

In this episode, we sit down with Tanner Gers, CEO and cofounder of AccessAbility Officer, a company that’s redefining inclusion in the digital age. As a blind entrepreneur, Tanner is leading a mission-driven organization with two powerful goals: training people with disabilities to become skilled in the field of digital accessibility and employing them to serve government organizations in need of accessibility expertise.

With a workforce made up primarily of people with disabilities, Tanner and his team are proving that talent knows no limits — and working toward a future where the unemployment rate for people with disabilities matches that of the general population. Tune in to hear Tanner’s inspiring story, his vision for a more inclusive digital world, and how Accessibility Officer is turning that vision into action.

AccessAbility Officer: Ability is our middle name
Website: accessabilityofficer.comSocial media:

Today’s guest is Dr. JR Rizzo, a physician-scientist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. His journey is nothing short of remarkable—marked by resilience, determination, and an unwavering drive to make an impact. Despite facing the challenges of a rare vision-loss condition called Choroideremia, Dr. Rizzo has forged a path of perseverance, transforming obstacles into opportunities. In this episode, we’ll explore his inspiring story, groundbreaking work, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

Curtis Jackson is a multifaceted professional with a story worth hearing. After many years working in IT, he transitioned into cybersecurity through the Apex Training Program, sponsored by Novacoast. Beyond his role as a cybersecurity analyst, Curtis runs a successful vending machine business through the Randolph-Sheppard program and channels his creativity as a hip-hop artist. His journey is one of resilience, entrepreneurship, and passion—blending technology, business, and music into a truly unique path.

The Apex Program is a specialized training initiative designed to equip blind and low vision individuals with the skills to pursue careers as cybersecurity analysts. Cybersecurity analysts enjoy above-average earning potential, strong job security, and abundant opportunities nationwide—many of which offer the flexibility of remote work.

www.theapexprogram.com

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Chanthen Nene, a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with degrees in Business and Film. Despite living with Nystagmus, a visual impairment, Chanthen remains deeply committed to his passion for filmmaking. He shares his journey through higher education, creative expression, and advocacy, including his current role as Chair of the Virginia State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Join us as we explore how vision is more than just sight — it's about determination, perspective, and purpose.

There is a dedicated community of blind and low-vision professionals at NASA, including Denna Lambert, who currently serves as the Lead for Private-Public Partnerships."