Feeling This Life

Feeling This Life - December Book Club Little Bear Sees: How Children with Cortical Visual Impairment Can Learn to See 

This month we discuss Little Bear Sees, a book written by a family who shares their journey in having a young child with a visual impairment. Aubri and Andrei Tallent, and Lukas’ grandmother Fredy Bush, walk us through Little Bear’s early medical and educational interventions as they learn to support his visual development. We will hear from other families of young children and their experiences and we hope that this read will inspire you to “Never give up” in creating a responsive learning environment for your child.  

Find the book and related resources at https://littlebearsees.org/

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

The early intervention vision staff of Anchor Center for Blind Children have created a collection of one page “Idea Sheets” that can be shared with families of young children with blindness or low vision. These Family Focused Vision Development Idea Sheets provide:  

We hope that the Idea Sheets will be used in collaboration with a teacher of visual impairment in the home. Each Idea Sheet is available in English and Spanish. Find the Family Focused Vision Development Idea Sheets at this link:  

https://anchorcenter.org/programs-services/family-support/family-focused-vision-development/ 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

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Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

In this episode of Feeling This Life, Cathy sits down with Paul Frazier, a graduate of VIPS who has albinism. Paul shares his journey of overcoming challenges and how he’s forged a path in diverse careers—from working with airplanes to serving as an athletic director. 

Paul opens up about the importance of community, starting with his early life and his mother’s proactive role in finding support. Her example shaped his own approach to building connections and finding his community. Paul’s story is an inspiring reminder that resilience and the right support system can make all the difference. 

A memorable takeaway from this episode is Jenny’s advice on finding and nurturing your own community—an insight that resonates for anyone looking to build a supportive network. 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org 

Jenny interviews Carol Dahmke. Carol is the HR Manager and IT Coordinator at VIPS. She is the mother of three and grandmother of five. Carol has a unique perspective to share as she has raised two sons with a visual impairment, has a grandson with a visual impairment and grew up with a father having a visual impairment. Paige, Cathy and Jenny reflect on the ways the Carol felt during different times in her life and how early intervention changed the experience throughout the years.  

More information about the PICCOLO:

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org 

Rachel Bennett travelled a path that many mothers with a child with Cortical/cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) encountered. The diagnosis was a long time coming and when it was discovered new world opened up for her son, Henry. Now Rachel helps to support and advocate for other families like hers through CVI Now at the Perkins School for the Blind. Listen as Dr. Cathy encourages Rachel to tell her story as the first episode of Season Four on Feeling This Life.  

Want to learn more about CVI Now and their resources?  

CVI Now Website: CVINow.org 

CVI Now on Instagram: @cvinow  

Subscribe to the monthly CVI Now newsletter 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast

and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org 

The theme of season 4 is "Stories Beyond Sight: The Power of Perspective". We have a host of guests whose stories we can't wait for you to hear!

This season's book club: Little Bear Sees by

https://littlebearsees.org/little-bear-sees-how-children-with-cortical-visual-impairment-can-learn-to-see/

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495  

Anchor Center: https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on

Facebook: @Feelingthislifepodcast

Instagram: @Feelingthislife  

Email: [email protected]  

www.anchorcenter.org  

www.vips.org  

Cathy engages in a heartfelt conversation with Tammy Miller, dedicated teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) and mother to Nicole, who received early intervention TVI services. Tammy shares her journey of navigating her daughter's visual impairment and how the support of TVIs like Cathy inspired her to pursue a career in the field.  In this episode, we explore the pressing need for teachers of the visually impaired and we invite you to consider becoming a TVI!  

Jenny and Paige further delve into the theme of caring for your mind, sharing practical insights for families. From pursuing higher education to integrating mindful practices into daily routines, they emphasize the importance of nurturing mental well-being. We hope this conversation inspires you to consider ways to care for your brain! 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495  

Anchor Center: https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast  

Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email [email protected]  

www.anchorcenter.org  

www.vips.org

This episode is a follow up to Lola’s Story with Meredith Howell that was released on September 4th. If you have not listened to Lola’s story we recommend you listen to that episode before listening to this episode. Jenny interviews Rita DeVore. Rita is mother to Meredith and grandmother to Lola. Rita is also the Special Projects & Volunteer Coordinator at VIPS.  Rita tells us about her relationship with Lola, how she supports her family and encourages other grandparents to get involved in the lives of their grandchildren no matter how difficult the situation. Dr. Cathy, Jenny & Paige reflect on the need families have for this special kind of support. Paige includes some great ideas on how to be involved with your grandchildren whether you live next door or across the country.  

In Lola’s story Meredith discusses creating the NR2F1 Foundation with a group of other mothers. For more information on the NR2F1 Foundation visit their website: https://nr2f1.org/  

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495  

Anchor Center: https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: [email protected]  

Jenny: [email protected]  

Paige: [email protected]  

Dr. Cathy: [email protected]  

www.anchorcenter.org  

www.vips.org  

Cathy interviews Catarina Rivera, public speaker and disability and education inclusion advocate. Catarina, who has retinitis pigmentosa, has worn hearing aids from a young age and was diagnosed with a progressive vision disability at 17 years old.  Paige, Jenny, and Cathy consider how knowing what is available and having a choice about it is both inclusion and self-care.  They consider the positive impact of considering your strengths and how accidental accessibility makes life easier. 

Catarina’s Socials:  

Instagram: http://instagram.com/blindishlatina 

X: http://twitter.com/catarinarivera 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blindishlatina 

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/catarinarivera 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CatarinaRivera 

Website: www.catarinarivera.com 

Mentioned in today’s episode:  

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, by Haben Girma, with a forward by Stephen Curry: https://habengirma.com/book/  

Navigating Blindness: https://www.instagram.com/navigatingblindness?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 

Prevail and Braille Mama: https://www.instagram.com/prevailandbraillemama?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== 

Crip Camp documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFS8SpwioZ4&pp=ygUJY3JpcCBjYW1w 

Book: Demystifying Disability, by Emily Ladau: https://www.amazon.com/Demystifying-Disability-What-Know-Ally/dp/1984858971/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=676936614912&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9014255&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12604771403547326959&hvtargid=kwd-1990405576204&hydadcr=22167_13517494&keywords=demystify+disability&qid=1707748629&sr=8-1 

Book: Disability Visability, by Alice Wong: https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/book/dv/ 

Bret Dahmke Memorial Scholarship, a $500 scholarship that assists a Kentucky family of a child with a visual impairment to attend a local or national conference that is related to blindness/low vision.: https://vips.org/bret-dahmke-scholarship/ 

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org⁠ 

Paige speaks with Sarah, Mom to Max, about caring for herself, for Max, and for her relationship with her husband, Garrett. Max is a young adult who has CHARGE syndrome and is deafblind. Over the years, Sarah and Garrett have grown closer together in their love for one another, and Sarah shares her advice for healthy relationships, including when to say "yes", and when to say "no".

Cathy, Paige, and Jenny discuss the encouraging statistics surrounding marriages of parents of children with disabilities, and Jenny shares her own relationship successes.

**Intimacy is briefly discussed from 30:00-32:00**

Article by Robert Naseef, Ph.D. and Brian Freeman, Ph.D.:

Sarah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahcawthon7511

Please give us your feedback using this survey link: ⁠https://educationutah.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39OmBvMih6MlgNw⁠  

Make a Donation to-  

VIPS: ⁠https://secure.vips.org/np/clients/vips/donation.jsp?forwardedFromSecureDomain=1&campaign=495⁠  

Anchor Center: ⁠https://www.anchorcenter.org/get-involved/donate/⁠  

Get in touch with us!  

Follow us on Facebook @Feelingthislifepodcast and Instagram @Feelingthislife  

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

Jenny: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

Paige: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

Cathy: ⁠[email protected]⁠  

⁠www.anchorcenter.org⁠  

⁠www.vips.org⁠