Episode 1.09: Beyond Expectations

Host David and co-host Paul welcome Daniel Lombardo, Past District Governor of Pennsylvania Lions District 14-K, and David León, Past District Governor of Lions District 14-U. They discuss the history of the Lions' commitment to being "Knights of the Blind," the important role Lions played in founding Sights for Hope in 1928, and the many ways Lions continue to support people with vision loss today. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Erica Vibert and Elizabeth Santiago from Sights for Hope share how individualized support makes a meaningful difference in the everyday lives of people with vision loss. Host David and co-host Paul, who have benefited from different Sights for Hope services, learn more about how caseworkers connect clients with the skills, supports, and solutions they need to move forward with confidence. Erica and Elizabeth also share stories and reflect on what makes their work so rewarding. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.  

In the first part of this two-part interview, host David welcomes Kristin Smedley – the Pennsylvania mother who has become a national advocate, bestselling author, educator, filmmaker, and fundraiser for people with retinal blindness after her two sons were born blind. In this first episode, Kristin shares how raising her sons transformed her perspective on life and inspired her work. She and David also discuss overcoming limiting expectations, recognizing abilities rather than disabilities, and the importance of adapting to life's unexpected challenges. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

In the second part of this two-part interview, host David continues his conversation with Kristin Smedley – the Pennsylvania mother who has become a national advocate, bestselling author, educator, filmmaker, and fundraiser for people with retinal blindness after her two sons were born blind. In this second episode, Kristin shares how her sons achieved success in education, employment, and everyday life while challenging misconceptions about blindness. She and David also discuss her advocacy work and her efforts to bring her family's remarkable baseball story to the screen through a film titled Curveball. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Host David, who lost his sight a few years ago, and co-host Paul, who lost his sight more than a decade ago, meet Sights for Hope Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Dianne Michels – who started with the organization more than 40 years ago and has lived with a visual impairment since birth. The stories and experiences they share demonstrate that, no matter how long someone has lived with vision loss, the process of learning and adapting never ends. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Rita Lang, Sights for Hope’s Client Activities Manager, returns to the podcast and shares personal stories of overcoming assumptions about people with vision loss. Host David learns more about how Rita helps others pursue opportunities through her work and co-host Paul tells of how he overcame prejudice after losing his sight. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Host David and co-host Paul explore efforts to prevent vision loss before it occurs. Sights for Hope Prevention Specialist Colleen Rountree and the organization’s Executive Director and CEO, Dennis Zehner, explain how vision screenings for pre-kindergarten children can equip a child to read in kindergarten and prevent greater vision loss through early detection. They also discuss Sights for Hope’s original C. Well Bunny Goes to School program, including its recently released storybook and newly crafted C. Well Bunny puppet. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Host David and co-host Paul are joined by Jennifer Pandolfo, Associate Director and Director of Services for Sights for Hope. Jennifer discusses the organization’s history, mission, programs, and services. She also explains the importance of helping people who are blind or have visual impairments develop the confidence they need to act, adapt, and succeed. This episode was broadcast on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Host David and co-host Paul welcome Rita Lang, Sights for Hope’s Client Activities Manager. Rita shares how smartphone apps and other assistive technologies help people who are blind or have visual impairments carry out everyday activities with greater capability, confidence, and independence. She draws on her own experiences with vision loss as she discusses tools for reading, shopping, identifying objects, and navigating unfamiliar surroundings. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.

Host David and co-host Paul welcome Vinod Namboodiri, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies at Lehigh University and a Sights for Hope board member. Vinod shares how his experiences with progressive vision loss inspired his research into assistive technologies. He also discusses his work developing MABLE Maps, an innovative app designed to help people with vision loss navigate indoor spaces, and his vision for expanding accessibility through technology. This episode premiered on WDIY Lehigh Valley Public Radio.