Eyes Closed, Mind Open

What happens when an accounting job turns into leading a statewide nonprofit? In this episode, Hannah is joined by Lauren Branch, the CEO of NewView Oklahoma, for a relaxed and engaging conversation about her journey to leadership, the growth of NewView and her passion for advocacy. They share stories, laugh a little and reflect on what makes this work so meaningful.

With the holiday season in full swing, the kitchen becomes the heart of the home–but for people who are blind or visually impaired, cooking and baking can feel intimidating. In this episode, we're joined by two guests who are blind and two Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants as we talk about building confidence in the kitchen. From practical tips and adaptive tools to holiday traditions and a few laughs along the way, this conversation is all about showing that cooking is possible, empowering, and even fun–no vision required.

In this episode, we sit down with the Oklahoma Dance Foundation to explore how their partnership with NewView Oklahoma began and how they adapted their teaching to include students who are blind or have low vision. We talk about the learning curve, the unexpected joys of inclusive dance, and the importance of representation in the arts. They also share details about the upcoming Fall Dance Bash happening at NewView, an event you don’t want to miss!

For more information about the Oklahoma Dance Foundation visit their website: oklahomadancefoundation.org

In this episode, Hannah sits down with parents of blind and low vision children to talk about the early days of diagnosis, navigating support systems, and finding confidence along the journey. From daily routines to advocacy, to unexpected moments of joy, these parents share honest experiences and encouragement for anyone raising or supporting a blind child.

Cheryl Rayburn shares her story of coping with vision loss—the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the hope she found along the way.

Keys to Work attendees talk about their experiences throughout the two-week camp. They discussed the independent living skills, orientation & mobility (O&M) training, job shadowing, cooking, and all the fun they had along the way.

George Paterson shares how his company helps provide transportation and delivery services to blind and low-vision Oklahomans.

Liam Ervin talks about how he became an audio game developer and the importance of audio games for the blind and low vision community.

Kenyatta Washington and Shawn Alterazi share their respective journeys to becoming business owners and how NewView Oklahoma helped them along the way.

Joe Hamilton 2016 Paralympian shares his journey to the Paralympic Games. We also cover other adaptive sports played here at NewView and how to get involved.