In this heartfelt episode, Kim Wardlow is joined by longtime advocate and educator Melissa Green, who shares her deeply personal healthcare journey as a blind individual navigating a system often unprepared for true accessibility. Melissa talks candidly about a life-threatening overdose due to a pharmacist’s error, fighting stigma in hospitals, and how she advocates for herself and others in medical spaces. From Script Talk and accessible pharmacy tools to setting expectations with caregivers and doctors, Melissa’s wisdom is practical, passionate, and born from experience.

Listeners will walk away with strategies for advocating in healthcare settings, understanding their rights, building a support team, and utilizing assistive technology. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned pro, this conversation will inspire courage and reinforce the value of persistence, education, and self-worth.

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Welcome to Navigating Life with Vision Loss

00:25 – Intro to Melissa Green & Today’s Topic

01:35 – Melissa’s Background and NFB Involvement

02:48 – A Life-Threatening Overdose & Systemic Failures

07:17 – What is Script Talk and How It Can Help

09:19 – Advocating for Yourself in Medical Settings

11:47 – Navigating Medical Assumptions & Caregiver Support

16:29 – The Role of Caregivers and Communication

18:36 – Educating Doctors and Dealing with Multiple Providers

21:00 – Building “Team You” – Creating a Support System

23:07 – Legal Complaints, Litigation, and ADA Questions

25:31 – Innovations: Script Talk, Accessible Pharmacy, & Health Fairs

28:34 – Assistive Tech Tools: Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, and More

30:56 – In-Home Care Support and Local Programs

33:22 – Final Advice for Healthcare Advocacy