What’s it like to parent when you can’t see your kid? Nas Campanella, the ABC’s National Disability Affairs reporter, knows there’s many ways to be a great mum. As a blind woman, she’s navigated internalised ableism, and copped BS from strangers. Through it all, she’s given the middle finger to expectations and come out the other side stronger.

She talks to Yumi Stynes about the quiet strength that comes from trusting her own instincts and the deep bond she’s formed with her son.  

This episode will answer questions like: 

• What’s it like to be a mother while vision impaired? 
• How do blind parents use sound, touch and voice to care for their babies?
• What are the biggest challenges of parenting with a disability? 
• How do you keep children safe without relying on sight? 
• How do people use sound, touch and instinct to read their baby’s needs? 
• What public scrutiny do disabled parents receive? 
• How do you raise an empathetic child? 

What to listen to next: 

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You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  

What to read next:  

Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went

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Why genital herpes does not mean the end of your sex life

This episode contains references to disability, vision impaired, blind, mother, parent, National Disability Affairs reporter, ABC, work-life-balance, working mum, child, baby, parenting, teaching, attachment.