The Blind Chick

Penn and Moses welcome David Redmond from Vision Ireland for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about accessibility in everyday life—from airports and public transit to the awkward magic of speed dating. David shares how he navigates disclosure on dating apps, why voice and character matter more than looks, and how Ireland’s implementation of the European Accessibility Act is already nudging banks, apps, and services toward better design. The trio contrasts EU momentum with current U.S. headwinds around the ADA, then zooms out: universal design lifts everyone, and today’s tech (including AI) is expanding what’s possible for blind and low-vision folks—yes, even flying and autonomous vehicles. Quick updates include Aftersight’s Code Orange launch and details for the Sept 13 Boulder hike.

Contact Info

Guest — David Redmond / Vision Ireland: vi.ie • Podcast: Talking Technology with VI

Aftersight: [email protected]

• (720) 712-8856 • aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Show Credits

A production of Aftersight.

Host: Penn Street • Co-Host: Moses Street

Guest: David Redmond (Vision Ireland)

Producer: Jonathan Price

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Show open & welcome

00:35 — Producer update: Code Orange + Sept 13 hike

02:22 — Travel abroad: airports, transit, and accessibility

04:41 — Dating apps: to disclose or not?

06:58 — Speed dating made accessible

09:25 — When disclosure lands… or doesn’t

11:47 — First impressions, voices, and character

14:07 — What makes a voice attractive

16:31 — Ireland’s European Accessibility Act goes live

18:52 — U.S. ADA worries and cultural whiplash

21:12 — Global ripple effects & corporate compliance

23:21 — “Blind people can do anything” — new frontiers

25:40 — Public-service mindset: why shows like this matter

28:01 — CTAs: hike details, how to connect with Aftersight

Penn and Moses welcome David Redmond from Vision Ireland for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about accessibility in everyday life—from airports and public transit to the awkward magic of speed dating. David shares how he navigates disclosure on dating apps, why voice and character matter more than looks, and how Ireland’s implementation of the European Accessibility Act is already nudging banks, apps, and services toward better design. The trio contrasts EU momentum with current U.S. headwinds around the ADA, then zooms out: universal design lifts everyone, and today’s tech (including AI) is expanding what’s possible for blind and low-vision folks—yes, even flying and autonomous vehicles. Quick updates include Aftersight’s Code Orange launch and details for the Sept 13 Boulder hike.

Contact Info

Guest — David Redmond / Vision Ireland: vi.ie • Podcast: Talking Technology with VI

Aftersight: [email protected]

• (720) 712-8856 • aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Show Credits

A production of Aftersight.

Host: Penn Street • Co-Host: Moses Street

Guest: David Redmond (Vision Ireland)

Producer: Jonathan Price

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Show open & welcome

00:35 — Producer update: Code Orange + Sept 13 hike

02:22 — Travel abroad: airports, transit, and accessibility

04:41 — Dating apps: to disclose or not?

06:58 — Speed dating made accessible

09:25 — When disclosure lands… or doesn’t

11:47 — First impressions, voices, and character

14:07 — What makes a voice attractive

16:31 — Ireland’s European Accessibility Act goes live

18:52 — U.S. ADA worries and cultural whiplash

21:12 — Global ripple effects & corporate compliance

23:21 — “Blind people can do anything” — new frontiers

25:40 — Public-service mindset: why shows like this matter

28:01 — CTAs: hike details, how to connect with Aftersight

In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street welcome special guest David Redmond from Vision Ireland. David shares his personal story growing up with congenital glaucoma and other vision conditions in Cork, Ireland, and how his journey led him into the world of accessible technology and media. He opens up about the challenges of vision loss, the role of assistive technology like JAWS, ZoomText, and VoiceOver, and how his career path shifted from mainstream radio to producing podcasts and tech content for Vision Ireland.

The conversation explores similarities and differences between Ireland and the United States when it comes to employment challenges, accessibility, and available resources for blind and low-vision individuals. David also highlights the mission of Vision Ireland as a one-stop shop for support, advocacy, and technology training, while sharing his own perspective on building community and friendships within the blind community.

Listeners are reminded about Aftersight’s upcoming Accessible Hike in Boulder, Colorado on September 13th, and encouraged to register for a day of inclusion, support, and adventure in the mountains.

Contact Info

Guest: David Redmond, Vision Ireland

Website: https://www.visionireland.ie

Aftersight

Phone: (720) 712-8856

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Guest: David Redmond (Vision Ireland)

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & banter with Penn, Moses, and Jonathan

02:01 — Aftersight Accessible Hike announcement (Sept. 13)

03:00 — Meet David Redmond: growing up in Cork, Ireland

04:15 — Navigating school with glaucoma and assistive tech

06:36 — Facing fears and preparing for possible vision loss

08:53 — Everyday independence vs. acting “more blind” in new settings

10:20 — From media studies to Vision Ireland

13:19 — Talking Technology: podcasts, newsletters, and advocacy

15:43 — Employment struggles and accessibility barriers

18:04 — Vision Ireland’s “one stop shop” of services

20:23 — Building friendships through camps and blind community events

22:42 — Differences between U.S. and Ireland’s blindness services

25:01 — Rebranding from NCBI to Vision Ireland

27:16 — Outro & preview of Part 2 with David Redmond

In this episode of The Blind Chick, hosts Penn and Moses Street welcome special guest David Redmond from Vision Ireland. David shares his personal story growing up with congenital glaucoma and other vision conditions in Cork, Ireland, and how his journey led him into the world of accessible technology and media. He opens up about the challenges of vision loss, the role of assistive technology like JAWS, ZoomText, and VoiceOver, and how his career path shifted from mainstream radio to producing podcasts and tech content for Vision Ireland.

The conversation explores similarities and differences between Ireland and the United States when it comes to employment challenges, accessibility, and available resources for blind and low-vision individuals. David also highlights the mission of Vision Ireland as a one-stop shop for support, advocacy, and technology training, while sharing his own perspective on building community and friendships within the blind community.

Listeners are reminded about Aftersight’s upcoming Accessible Hike in Boulder, Colorado on September 13th, and encouraged to register for a day of inclusion, support, and adventure in the mountains.

Contact Info

Guest: David Redmond, Vision Ireland

Website: https://www.visionireland.ie

Aftersight

Phone: (720) 712-8856

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Guest: David Redmond (Vision Ireland)

Producer: Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & banter with Penn, Moses, and Jonathan

02:01 — Aftersight Accessible Hike announcement (Sept. 13)

03:00 — Meet David Redmond: growing up in Cork, Ireland

04:15 — Navigating school with glaucoma and assistive tech

06:36 — Facing fears and preparing for possible vision loss

08:53 — Everyday independence vs. acting “more blind” in new settings

10:20 — From media studies to Vision Ireland

13:19 — Talking Technology: podcasts, newsletters, and advocacy

15:43 — Employment struggles and accessibility barriers

18:04 — Vision Ireland’s “one stop shop” of services

20:23 — Building friendships through camps and blind community events

22:42 — Differences between U.S. and Ireland’s blindness services

25:01 — Rebranding from NCBI to Vision Ireland

27:16 — Outro & preview of Part 2 with David Redmond

In this third and final part of Shawn Cheshire’s powerful conversation, she takes us deeper into her story of resilience, adventure, and relentless courage. From navigating hostile ignorance at a hotel to recounting her harrowing cross-country bike ride along the Continental Divide, Shawn shares how she transforms personal grief into legacy-building triumphs. She speaks candidly about shattering misconceptions of blindness, training for the Wonderland Trail, and her mission to expand possibilities for the blind and low-vision community. With raw honesty, humor, and fire, Shawn makes it clear—blindness isn’t a limitation, it’s a superpower.

Contact Info

Shawn Cheshire / Choosing to See Foundation: choosingtosee.org

Film Website: blindasfuck.com

Aftersight: [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856 | aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price

Show Credits

Host: Penn & Moses Street

Guest: Shawn Cheshire

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Intro & Content Warning

01:20 – Hotel confrontation & misconceptions of blindness

04:25 – Jonathan shares his biking trauma

06:49 – What kept Shawn on the bike through falls and setbacks

09:13 – Blindness as a superpower

11:34 – Film festivals & Sedona Dave connection

13:54 – Impact screenings & conversational advocacy

16:16 – Crossing the Grand Canyon solo

20:51 – Tour Divide: Canada to Mexico ride

23:09 – Lessons with guides & being called a pioneer

25:30 – Staying out of the black hole of grief

27:34 – Aftersight Hike reminder & closing

In this third and final part of Shawn Cheshire’s powerful conversation, she takes us deeper into her story of resilience, adventure, and relentless courage. From navigating hostile ignorance at a hotel to recounting her harrowing cross-country bike ride along the Continental Divide, Shawn shares how she transforms personal grief into legacy-building triumphs. She speaks candidly about shattering misconceptions of blindness, training for the Wonderland Trail, and her mission to expand possibilities for the blind and low-vision community. With raw honesty, humor, and fire, Shawn makes it clear—blindness isn’t a limitation, it’s a superpower.

Contact Info

Shawn Cheshire / Choosing to See Foundation: choosingtosee.org

Film Website: blindasfuck.com

Aftersight: [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856 | aftersight.org

Producer: Jonathan Price

Show Credits

Host: Penn & Moses Street

Guest: Shawn Cheshire

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Intro & Content Warning

01:20 – Hotel confrontation & misconceptions of blindness

04:25 – Jonathan shares his biking trauma

06:49 – What kept Shawn on the bike through falls and setbacks

09:13 – Blindness as a superpower

11:34 – Film festivals & Sedona Dave connection

13:54 – Impact screenings & conversational advocacy

16:16 – Crossing the Grand Canyon solo

20:51 – Tour Divide: Canada to Mexico ride

23:09 – Lessons with guides & being called a pioneer

25:30 – Staying out of the black hole of grief

27:34 – Aftersight Hike reminder & closing

In part two of this powerful conversation, Penn and Moses continue their interview with Shawn Cheshire. Shawn opens up about the devastating year that changed her life: a traumatic brain injury, sudden vision loss, and the painful custody battle that separated her from her child. She shares how therapy became a lifeline, the moment of brutal honesty she had with herself in a shower, and the resilience that carried her into adaptive sports and eventually the Paralympics.

The discussion digs into stigma—both from the general public and within disability communities—and the surprising challenges Shawn faced as an elite blind athlete. With raw honesty and unfiltered courage, Shawn reflects on the choices that shaped her journey, the discipline forged through trauma, and the deep healing that comes from therapy and community.

This is a conversation about pain, perseverance, and transformation. Shawn’s story reminds us that identity isn’t something we inherit—it’s something we choose and fight for.

Contact Info

Aftersight: aftersight.org

| [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn & Moses Street

Guest: Shawn Cheshire

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & Hike Reminder

02:20 — Injury, Vision Loss & Custody Battle

04:44 — Returning to Work & Identity as a Paramedic

07:09 — Therapy, Night Terrors & Trauma

09:24 — The Shower Aha Moment

11:42 — Choices, Consequences & Growth

14:03 — Therapy as Practice, Not Stigma

16:25 — Trauma Defined & No Comparisons

18:46 — Discovering Cycling & Training Resilience

21:14 — Stigma & Bias in the Paralympics

23:34 — Accusations of “Not Really Blind”

25:26 — Embracing Identity & Handling Judgment

27:00 — Wrap-Up & Teaser for Part 3

In part two of this powerful conversation, Penn and Moses continue their interview with Shawn Cheshire. Shawn opens up about the devastating year that changed her life: a traumatic brain injury, sudden vision loss, and the painful custody battle that separated her from her child. She shares how therapy became a lifeline, the moment of brutal honesty she had with herself in a shower, and the resilience that carried her into adaptive sports and eventually the Paralympics.

The discussion digs into stigma—both from the general public and within disability communities—and the surprising challenges Shawn faced as an elite blind athlete. With raw honesty and unfiltered courage, Shawn reflects on the choices that shaped her journey, the discipline forged through trauma, and the deep healing that comes from therapy and community.

This is a conversation about pain, perseverance, and transformation. Shawn’s story reminds us that identity isn’t something we inherit—it’s something we choose and fight for.

Contact Info

Aftersight: aftersight.org

| [email protected]

| (720) 712-8856

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn & Moses Street

Guest: Shawn Cheshire

Producer: Jonathan Price

An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Intro & Hike Reminder

02:20 — Injury, Vision Loss & Custody Battle

04:44 — Returning to Work & Identity as a Paramedic

07:09 — Therapy, Night Terrors & Trauma

09:24 — The Shower Aha Moment

11:42 — Choices, Consequences & Growth

14:03 — Therapy as Practice, Not Stigma

16:25 — Trauma Defined & No Comparisons

18:46 — Discovering Cycling & Training Resilience

21:14 — Stigma & Bias in the Paralympics

23:34 — Accusations of “Not Really Blind”

25:26 — Embracing Identity & Handling Judgment

27:00 — Wrap-Up & Teaser for Part 3

In Part 1 of our bold and moving conversation with Shawn Cheshire, Penn and Moses explore her remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in South Texas to breaking barriers as one of the first women in her Army specialty, and later serving as an EMT and paramedic. Shawn shares with raw honesty about growing up without love or nurture, surviving abuse, and how the voice of her grandmother’s encouragement shaped her resilience. She recounts her military service as a helicopter armament systems mechanic, the challenges of proving herself in a male-dominated field, and her transition into emergency medical services. The episode builds toward the life-changing on-the-job brain injury that left her blind, as Shawn reflects on the events, traumas, and triumphs that shaped her into the unstoppable athlete and advocate she is today. This is a gripping start to a story you will not forget.

Contact Info

Guest: Shawn Cheshire — https://www.shawncheshire.org/

Aftersight: [email protected] | (720) 712-8856 | aftersight.org/podcast

Producer: Jonathan Price: [email protected]

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Producer: Jonathan Price

Executive Producer: Aftersight

Recorded for: The Blind Chick — An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Introduction & Content Warning

02:14 — Why "Blind AF" and the Power of Shawn’s Story

03:15 — Childhood in South Texas & Early Trauma

06:40 — Joining the Army at 17 to Escape

08:20 — Breaking Barriers as a Female Helicopter Armament Mechanic

11:23 — Injuries, Discharge, and Moving Forward

13:47 — Surviving Abuse & Planning an Escape

16:10 — The Grandmother’s Voice That Saved Her

18:32 — EMT Training and Leaving in the Middle of the Night

20:49 — Life as a Paramedic & Finding Purpose

22:53 — The Accident That Changed Everything

25:19 — Diagnosis, Vision Loss, and the Long Road of Recovery

27:15 — Closing & Preview of Part 2

In Part 1 of our bold and moving conversation with Shawn Cheshire, Penn and Moses explore her remarkable journey from a difficult childhood in South Texas to breaking barriers as one of the first women in her Army specialty, and later serving as an EMT and paramedic. Shawn shares with raw honesty about growing up without love or nurture, surviving abuse, and how the voice of her grandmother’s encouragement shaped her resilience. She recounts her military service as a helicopter armament systems mechanic, the challenges of proving herself in a male-dominated field, and her transition into emergency medical services. The episode builds toward the life-changing on-the-job brain injury that left her blind, as Shawn reflects on the events, traumas, and triumphs that shaped her into the unstoppable athlete and advocate she is today. This is a gripping start to a story you will not forget.

Contact Info

Guest: Shawn Cheshire — https://www.shawncheshire.org/

Aftersight: [email protected] | (720) 712-8856 | aftersight.org/podcast

Producer: Jonathan Price: [email protected]

Show Credits

Hosts: Penn Street & Moses Street

Producer: Jonathan Price

Executive Producer: Aftersight

Recorded for: The Blind Chick — An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers

00:00 — Introduction & Content Warning

02:14 — Why "Blind AF" and the Power of Shawn’s Story

03:15 — Childhood in South Texas & Early Trauma

06:40 — Joining the Army at 17 to Escape

08:20 — Breaking Barriers as a Female Helicopter Armament Mechanic

11:23 — Injuries, Discharge, and Moving Forward

13:47 — Surviving Abuse & Planning an Escape

16:10 — The Grandmother’s Voice That Saved Her

18:32 — EMT Training and Leaving in the Middle of the Night

20:49 — Life as a Paramedic & Finding Purpose

22:53 — The Accident That Changed Everything

25:19 — Diagnosis, Vision Loss, and the Long Road of Recovery

27:15 — Closing & Preview of Part 2