In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the Safety Series with a deep dive into home safety and smart tools. Guest Neva Fairchild, a nationally recognized advocate and expert in independent living skills, shares her journey from growing up with low vision to becoming a leader in accessibility at the American Foundation for the Blind and Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind.

Neva highlights practical strategies for adapting the home environment: improving lighting, using color contrast, reducing clutter, and adopting labeling systems like Braille, ScriptTalk, and WayAround. She discusses the value of proactive safety—preventing falls before they happen, leveraging smart home speakers and smartphones for communication, and preparing for emergencies with go bags and labeled medications.

The conversation also explores balancing independence with interdependence: how to ask for help specifically, how friends and family can support without overstepping, and how everyone can benefit from simple safety measures. Neva’s personal anecdotes—like biking as a child with low vision, mishaps with mislabeled medicine, and experiences with chemical safety—bring humor and urgency to the discussion.

Listeners walk away with practical next steps and resources, including APH Connect Center, VisionAware, and 211, to make their homes safer, smarter, and more accessible.

Contact Info

Guest: Neva Fairchild

Website: expertsonblindness.com

(Phone number and contact form available on site)

Aftersight

Website: www.aftersight.org

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (720) 712-8856

Producer: Jonathan Price

Show Credits

Host: Kim Wardlow

Guest: Neva Fairchild

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:02 — Welcome and Series Introduction

01:40 — Neva’s Story: Growing Up with Low Vision

04:50 — First Adaptations: From Cane to Home Safety

06:55 — Lighting, Color Contrast, and Clutter Control

08:15 — The Importance of Proactive Safety

09:40 — Falls and the Hidden Dangers After Age 50

11:20 — Smart Tools for Safety: Speakers, Smartphones, and More

13:45 — Go Bags and Disaster Preparedness

16:40 — Medication Labeling and Avoiding Prescription Errors

20:50 — Safe Storage: Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals

22:40 — Knowing Your Appliances and Fire Safety Basics

25:50 — Setting Up New Tools Safely

28:20 — Interdependence: How to Ask for Help (and Give It)

31:20 — Food Safety and Everyday Oversights

33:00 — Resources: APH Connect Center, VisionAware, and 211

35:40 — Neva’s Current Work and Contact Info

37:50 — Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview