Episode Summary
Chris Peterson hosts solo (Liz Bottner is out for this episode) and interviews Sylvia Stinson Perez, a lifelong member of the blind community who was born legally blind and later learned she has retinitis pigmentosa, with vision declining over time to mostly light perception. Sylvia shares how she “discovered” the blindness field through training at a lighthouse agency, how that led to decades of leadership (including serving as a CEO), and why she believes the field can be both impactful and rewarding for blind and low-vision professionals.
The conversation centers on defining impact (as meaningful difference aligned with what you care about), building self-advocacy and comfort with accommodations, and the role of lifelong learning—Sylvia describes earning an MSW, later a degree in vision rehab therapy (as a certified vision rehab therapist), and then an MBA to better lead organizations. Sylvia also introduces her book Treading the Waters of Life: A Guide to Self-Reflection and Action, explaining its reflection + action framework, and where to find the free download and companion resources. The episode closes with practical encouragement on self-acceptance, interdependence, persistence, and hope (“sometimes hope is the only plan you have left”).
Contact Info
Guest / Total Impact Partners
Website (free book download + contact form): totalimpactpartners.com
LinkedIn: Sylvia Stinson Perez
Podcast: Treading the Waters of Life
Book: Treading the Waters of Life: A Guide to Self-Reflection and Action (free via website; also on Kindle for $0.99)
Penny Forward
Website: pennyforward.com
Programs mentioned: self-paced financial education courses, weekly workshops, and one-on-one financial counseling
Aftersight (distribution partner)
Website: aftersight.org
Producer credit
Audio editing & post-production: Jonathan Price
Show Credits
Produced by: Chris Peterson and Liz Bottner
Audio editing and post-production: Jonathan Price
Music: composed and performed by Andre Louis
Distributed in partnership with: Aftersight
Penny Forward: a nonprofit providing accessible financial education programs by and for people who are blind
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Show intro; Liz is out; Sylvia introduced
02:18 — Sylvia’s entry into the blindness field and agency leadership
04:40 — Education path: MSW, vision rehab therapy, MBA; lifelong learning
07:01 — Early school years; not knowing about accommodations; night blindness story
09:27 — College/work accommodations and self-advocacy growth
13:48 — Defining “impact” and success beyond titles
16:12 — Book origin: self-reflection + action; writing with vulnerability
18:34 — TotalImpactPartners.com resources; workbook; blog; services
20:50 — Advice: self-belief, pride, interdependence, lifelong learning, hope
23:11 — Message to students: difference, bullying, confidence, social development
25:33 — Why social skills come up in the blind community; self-acceptance
27:58 — Real-world example: volunteering, cane use, learning spaces, educating others
30:21 — Leadership approach: championing people; willingness to do the work
32:40 — Persistence, optimism, and “hope as the plan”
35:03 — Where to find Sylvia; Penny Forward courses and closing credits
