In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael shares personal stories, including a recent hospital experience that highlights gaps in staff understanding of blindness, and offers strategies for educating providers, asserting one’s needs, and ensuring safety in medical environments. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and continuous education—both for blind individuals and for medical professionals.

Michael also discusses accessible technology in healthcare, from Kaiser Permanente’s app and medication labeling systems to tools like Envision labels and Braille organization strategies. He stresses that blindness itself is not the problem—societal attitudes and lack of awareness are. The episode closes with practical advice: ask questions, advocate for confidentiality, and remember that learning blindness skills through organizations like the Colorado Center for the Blind and NFB can empower independence and safety.

Contact Info

Guest: Michael Hingson

Chief Vision Officer, AccessiBe

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.michaelhingson.com

Books: Thunder Dog, Live Like a Guide Dog, Running with Roselle

Aftersight Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (720) 712-8856

Website: www.aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight

Show Credits

Host: Kim Wardlow

Guest: Michael Hingson

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro: Navigating Life with Vision Loss

00:25 — Meet Guest Michael Hingson

02:53 — Understanding Barriers in Healthcare Settings

07:30 — Advocating for Yourself in Medical Situations

09:53 — Dealing with Misunderstanding and Bias

11:57 — The Art of Self-Advocacy Without Conflict

13:32 — Communicating with New Providers

15:54 — Knowing and Defending Your Rights

19:06 — Accessible Health Tech and Kaiser Permanente

21:31 — Labeling Medication and Accessibility Tools

23:24 — Adapting to Vision Loss Later in Life

26:38 — Blindness as Perception, Not Limitation

28:50 — Changing Medical Education on Disability Awareness

31:15 — The Importance of Inclusion and Communication

31:32 — Final Advice: Confidence, Questions, and Community

33:19 — Closing and Resources