Sightless Voices: Unleashing Potential

Jennifer welcomes Soraya Correa, President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind, to explore meaningful employment for blind and low vision professionals. Correa explains NIB’s nationwide network, the AbilityOne program, policy priorities, and practical strategies that help employers build inclusive workplaces and advance careers beyond entry level roles.​

Learn more about NIB here.

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Jennifer Parrish welcomes Marcela San Miguel back to the show. Marcela discusses her father's passing, leadership in the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and her pageant win. Tandem biking and duathlon participation mark another milestone. She emphasizes grief counseling, finding purpose, and community involvement. Marcela plans to focus her efforts for the coming year.

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Losing sight changes everything.

Shante Hines joins Jennifer Parrish to share her story of vision loss, medical complications, and adapting to new challenges. She discusses accessing resources at the Lighthouse of Houston, connecting with community groups, and finding support through music and group activities. Steps forward come through community, technology, and persistence.

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How does a chance encounter reshape a career and a life?

Pat Glines went from a banking job to becoming a leader in guide dog mobility, inspired by supporting a friend through vision loss. Witnessing the impact of guide dogs fueled a passion that’s spanned over three decades. Today, she dedicates herself to matching people with life-changing canine partners at Guide Dogs of Texas.

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She rebounded after losing their sight not once, but twice.

Lauren Jones’s story is one of boldness and self-advocacy, navigating total blindness after diabetic retinopathy. With support from Kris Cole Rehabilitation Center and the Lighthouse of Houston, she found new purpose in community and career readiness. Through determination and a fierce spirit, she continues to inspire others to get out of the house and embrace life&r...

A truck driver’s world changed in an instant when blindness altered every familiar road.

For Mo Frank, the shift from long highways to the welcoming halls of the Lighthouse of Houston marked the beginning of renewal. Losing his sight meant relearning daily routines and rediscovering confidence step by step. Through training in orientation, mobility, and independent living, he found strength in adaptability and community. Surr...

What began as a challenge in the kitchen became Christine Ha’s defining creation.

After losing her vision in her twenties, she learned to move by instinct, relying on sound, touch, and memory to guide her craft. Cooking transformed from a test of endurance into an art of adaptation. When she stepped onto the national stage and captured the title of MasterChef, her talent proved that vision takes many forms. Today, Christine H...

A dedicated Army medic’s transformation into a leading advocate for blinded veterans reflects the power of resilience and purpose.

Dr. Thomas Zampieri’s journey began with a military calling inspired by family heroes and evolved into a distinguished medical career. When retinitis pigmentosa ended his surgical work, he redirected his expertise toward advancing policy and support for veterans with vision loss. Through adv...

Vivecca Hartman, board member at The Lighthouse of Houston and parent of an adult son who is deafblind, shares practical insights on building community resources and advocacy for families affected by dual sensory loss. The episode details her experience with educational advocacy, navigating life beyond school years, and the development of programs like TouchBase Center for the Deaf-Blind. Hartman explains how Lighthouse programming...

Reaching the first anniversary of Sightless Voices: Unleashing Potential marks more than a milestone.

During this episode, Jennifer Parrish is joined by The Lighthouse's president Jenna Dhayer, as they share the stories, connections, and community that have grown around every episode. Behind each conversation lies thoughtful feedback and heartfelt messages from listeners, along with inspiring journeys from guests who have experienc...

Charlie Hardwick discusses accessible technology for vision loss, adaptive strategies for daily living, and career transitions as a visually impaired journalist, musician, and graphic designer.

He and Jennifer cover assistive devices like Be My Eyes and VoiceVista, digital tools for creative work, and best practices for visually impaired travel. Charlie shares experience running with Achilles International, building independence, a...

Ruby Cabral joins the show to talk about orientation and mobility (O&M) and activities of daily living (ADL) services for blind and visually impaired people at The Lighthouse of Houston.

This episode highlights how O&M and ADL support independence, explains practical training and technologies, covers career pathways, describes resource access, and identifies challenges related to specialist availability. The conversation ad...

What does it take to push forward when it feels like life keeps throwing challenges your way? 

Danelle Chaplain knows what it means to confront vision loss, fight cancer, and juggle parenting while building a new life through the Lighthouse of Houston. 

In this episode:

• Danelle talks about finding the strength to move forward each day.
• She shares what it’s like to rebuild independence after losing her vision.
• A...

What happens when your life changes after a single spot in your eyesight turns out to be something bigger? 

Jason Garza faced vision loss, got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and faced the reality of family falling apart because of it. 

In this powerful conversation, he talks about:

• Learning he was legally blind after ignoring that first warning sign
• Losing his independence and finding new ways to move forward
• How...

What does it mean to lose your sight and keep moving forward? 

Reverend Michael Garrett has spent his life as a leader and advocate in the blind and low vision community. He’s faced changes in vision, learned new ways to adapt, and built up others…both on and off the field. 

On today’s episode:

• Michael shares what it’s like to grow up with retinitis pigmentosa and adapt over time
• He explains ...

What does it mean to create a lasting impact in your city? We often think about the ways people connect, raise funds, and volunteer—sometimes never knowing the full reach of their actions.

Karen Craig has spent decades working within the Houston Delta Gamma Foundation. Her journey shows how simple service projects can bring people together and fill real needs in the blind and low vision community.

Today, she’s sharing h...

What happens when you build a career on helping others find their potential, and then your own path changes in a way you never expected? 

Sara Freeman-Smith found out when she faced vision loss in the middle of her professional life. She worked in recruiting, went to grad school, and then had to learn how to navigate the world in a new way. 

Today, Sara shares:

• What it means to become an advocate for yourself and for...

What inspires a mother of five to redefine herself as a pillar of strength in the blind community?

Victoria Hillard's story is one of resilience and empowerment after losing her vision at the age of 30. Faced with the challenge of raising children while adjusting to blindness, she emerged as a leader at The Lighthouse of Houston. Her dedication now uplifts others, proving that obstacles can become stepping stones to greatness.

Key ...

What propels a young woman to embark on a journey of healing and empowerment despite vision loss?

Alissa Jennings, a skilled massage therapist and accomplished singer in the Houston Lighthouse Choir, has turned challenges into triumphs with undeniable resilience. Her initial struggles with accepting Braille transformed into a career fueled by passion and determination. 

Through unwavering support from her family and programs a...