The Blind Chick

Bill Johnson was walking to the subway station with two colleagues when a lone gunman jumped out of the shadows and shot all three of them. Bill was the lucky one. The bullet that struck him entered one temple and exited the other, destroying his optic nerve. The other two men were killed. Now profoundly blind, Bill had to learn to navigate this new, dark world.

Today on Aftersight, Bill talks with Penn about his experiences… about the shooting and about his realization that his life had changed forever. But Bill also talks about his matter-of-fact acceptance of his new situation and talks about how that let him get back to living. He said he was in a huge hurry before the incident, and he carried that sense of urgency with him as he worked to get back to living his life. He talks about his relationships, learning to get around again, and the adaptive technology that has empowered him.

Authorwilliamjohnson.com

Amazon Book link: https://amzn.to/3FVzBMJ

Bill Johnson was walking to the subway station with two colleagues when a lone gunman jumped out of the shadows and shot all three of them. Bill was the lucky one. The bullet that struck him entered one temple and exited the other, destroying his optic nerve. The other two men were killed. Now profoundly blind, Bill had to learn to navigate this new, dark world.

Today on Aftersight, Bill talks with Penn about his experiences… about the shooting and about his realization that his life had changed forever. But Bill also talks about his matter-of-fact acceptance of his new situation and talks about how that let him get back to living. He said he was in a huge hurry before the incident, and he carried that sense of urgency with him as he worked to get back to living his life. He talks about his relationships, learning to get around again, and the adaptive technology that has empowered him.

Authorwilliamjohnson.com

Amazon Book link: https://amzn.to/3FVzBMJ

Born months too soon, Jose's parents were told he only had 12 hours to live. But, Jose was a fighter. That fighting spirit has helped him persevere in spite of blindness (blindness of prematurity) and cerebral palsy. He is a recent graduate of Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and has dreams of becoming a DJ.

Jose also hosts his own podcast: It is my job. Blind students interview blind adults who discuss how they use adaptive technology and thrive. Search for it on Facebook (https://pages.facebook.com/AskItsMyJob/)

Born months too soon, Jose's parents were told he only had 12 hours to live. But, Jose was a fighter. That fighting spirit has helped him persevere in spite of blindness (blindness of prematurity) and cerebral palsy. He is a recent graduate of Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and has dreams of becoming a DJ.

Jose also hosts his own podcast: It is my job. Blind students interview blind adults who discuss how they use adaptive technology and thrive. Search for it on Facebook (https://pages.facebook.com/AskItsMyJob/)

Bill is a working psychotherapist and an honest, engaging, and entertaining human… who also happens to be blind. Bill has Usher Syndrome, Type 2, a rare genetic disease that causes hearing issues and vision loss due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

On Aftersight Bill talks about “coming out” as someone with a disability - specifically vision loss. Because of his experience, he talks not just about the clinical phases that accompany vision loss, but his journey. He talks about denying his reality all while tripping over fire hydrants, and he talks about the nauseating eye tests he experienced while hungover that led to his diagnosis. Through friends, he learned to accept help and be who he is.

Join Bill and Penn on Aftersight, this week!

Bill is a working psychotherapist and an honest, engaging, and entertaining human… who also happens to be blind. Bill has Usher Syndrome, Type 2, a rare genetic disease that causes hearing issues and vision loss due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

On Aftersight Bill talks about “coming out” as someone with a disability - specifically vision loss. Because of his experience, he talks not just about the clinical phases that accompany vision loss, but his journey. He talks about denying his reality all while tripping over fire hydrants, and he talks about the nauseating eye tests he experienced while hungover that led to his diagnosis. Through friends, he learned to accept help and be who he is.

Join Bill and Penn on Aftersight, this week!

Beth Gustin is a therapist with a specialty in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Beth, who is visually impaired, talks about her work and her and explains this method of therapy which can help people coping with past trauma - even individuals who are blind.

On this episode of Aftersight, Beth talks us through EMDR and therapy techniques that can help us as we work through trauma and anxiety. The human body and mind are fascinating, and they need to work in concert. Learn about Beth and what that repair looks like.

Transitioning Through Change, PLLC

www.transitioningthroughchange.com

303-335-9059

Beth Gustin is a therapist with a specialty in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Beth, who is visually impaired, talks about her work and her and explains this method of therapy which can help people coping with past trauma - even individuals who are blind.

On this episode of Aftersight, Beth talks us through EMDR and therapy techniques that can help us as we work through trauma and anxiety. The human body and mind are fascinating, and they need to work in concert. Learn about Beth and what that repair looks like.

Transitioning Through Change, PLLC

www.transitioningthroughchange.com

303-335-9059

Lorna is a retired teacher. She taught special ed, on reservations, and helped create the structure of Colorado's preschool system. Lorna also taught at Front Range Community College the next generation of Special Education teachers. She enjoys retirement with her dog, Frodo.

Lorna is a retired teacher. She taught special ed, on reservations, and helped create the structure of Colorado's preschool system. Lorna also taught at Front Range Community College the next generation of Special Education teachers. She enjoys retirement with her dog, Frodo.