Latest / The Eko Lens Podcast / Seeing Beyond Limits: Dana on Blindness, Technology, and Resilience
Transcript
- speaker-0: Hey everyone, welcome to the Echo Lens, the podcast where we view assistive technology through the eyes of lived experience. I'm your host, Kenisha Kuhn, and each episode we explore how dignity, design, and innovation intersect to empower blind and low vision communities. We're not just reviewing tech, we're reframing it. This is a space for truth telling, for honoring the voices that often go unheard, and for challenging the industry to do what better. So whether you're a developer, a user or someone who simply believes in equity, you're in the right place. This is the Echo lens. Let's take a closer look. So hey, everyone, welcome to today's podcast. Today we have Dana Barber and Dana, we connected with with some research on trying to get in contact with folks around different states of the US to see how we can be helpful with the ECHO lens and with the ECHO Vision Foundation. And we connected with State Coordinator of Blind Services of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Dana Barber. So Dana, thank you for coming on our podcast. speaker-1: Thank you for having me. speaker-0: Are you able to tell us a little bit, about your connection to the blind and low vision community, your journey a little bit, and how you ended up at the Alabama Department of State? speaker-1: Yes. So I am connected through my journey. I have retinitis pigmentosa, which is a kind of the retina and I was diagnosed at age five and my parents learned of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services as I was graduating from high school. And so I, you know, got signed up for services through their vocational rehabilitation department. speaker-0: Mm-hmm. speaker-1: and started receiving services. And at that time I was legally blind and well, no, I was low vision at that time. And then at age 24, my vision decreased to legal blindness and over time still deteriorated to ⁓ light perception only, which is still very dim. No functional vision at all, probably by the age of 30. But, you know, being connected with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services gave me the opportunity to do some training. So I went to the adult facility for training at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. And I learned how to use assistive technology. And now this was in 2000, no, 1999. long time ago. So, and I also learned braille and I learned to travel with a white cane at training. And those three things convinced me that I wanted a career, not just a job. So I went to college at that point and I was 40 years old. after receiving my bachelor's degree in management of human resources. I was fortunate enough to be offered a job with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, helping other ⁓ clients with vision loss to become employed. Those who had college degrees but didn't have a job. So I worked closely. speaker-0: Okay. speaker-1: with them and then I went back to school and received a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and I became a vision rehabilitation therapist with the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and five years later I switched over and was a vision rehabilitation therapist for the Department of Rehabilitation Services and then a short while later I applied for the coordinator position and I have been in this position now for 10 years. speaker-0: Congratulations, Dana. That's awesome. speaker-1: In this position, I get to work in a lot of different capacities, but one of the major capacities is with transition services. We developed a program called College Quest, and in that program, we help students who are on a college track in high school attend a university in the summertime for two weeks. So they get to experience life in the two weeks in the life of a college freshman, we'll say, and they change classes. And they all actually take a course for credit while they're there. And the focus is on their daily living skills and technology and social skills and traveling skills. I mean, just everything it takes to make it in college, not so much study skills and that sort of thing. but just what they need to be successful in college. it's different for our students who have vision loss. They're very smart. Most students who attend have a GPA of 3.5 or to over 4.0. And it's not that they can't, ⁓ you know, make the grade and it's that they didn't have the daily skills they need. And assistive technology is one of those. We all know now that you can't get a college degree if you can't use a computer. Yeah. And so assistive technology with using a computer, whether it be with JAWS or with ZoomText, whatever, know, screen enlargement, whatever's needed. We introduce that if they don't already know it. And if they do, then we try to enhance their skills. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: while they're there. Technology is just the great equalizer for us and we have got to be able to use it. speaker-0: So I have a little bit of a question about your changes over time with technology. You said that this journey with learning through the rehabilitation services started in 1999. How has technology for you changed since then compared to now? speaker-1: It's gotten better and better. Yeah. You know, even with the telephones, 1999, it was a flip phone and that I couldn't program myself. It was, you know, still had to memorize telephone numbers even to use it. And unless someone else programmed it for me and then I could somewhat use it. The iPhone came into my life in 2012 and I no longer have to memorize everyone's phone numbers anymore. Of course that's thing to know them, but I don't have to memorize them anymore and I can independently use my iPhone. it. Now JAWS, I am totally blind so JAWS is my software. There have been improvements and updates with JAWS through the years. and have all been good, but the basics of it has stayed with me all of these years. It's just gotten, as I've used it more and more, you you become more familiar with it and learn, learn more of the ways to use it. speaker-0: Yeah, I am starting to use Fusion. Yes. So similar, a little bit different, I know, but it's been definitely a journey of trying to learn this new technology, especially with, if there's folks out there like me who have had the vision loss later in life. So we have had to like learn in a little bit of a different way. Right. But it's definitely been an interesting journey on how to Learn to use it. speaker-1: The learning curve for real. They're real state. speaker-0: What was your first experience with assistive technology that really shaped your perspective on, woo, this is life changing? speaker-1: Well, I do believe it was, you know, just from the beginning, being able to access information through using a computer. really convinced me, you know, the three things that I learned while I was a student at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, you know, being able to travel independently again, being able to read again using Braille and the information that I could receive from. speaker-0: Mm-hmm. speaker-1: you know, using the computer, those are the three things that convinced me to go back to school. And so, you know, that was huge. That was life-changing for me to be able to go to college. I'd never thought I would have any type of further education. And, you know, now I have ⁓ a master's degree from Auburn University, War Eagle, and have been in ⁓ my dream job for 10 years. And that's all because of what I learned many years ago and then have just kept using and kept advancing in it. speaker-0: When it comes to the rehabilitation services that y'all offer at the department, what do you think are some of the most important things that folks should be focusing on? I know you said your top three that were for you, but what should folks be focusing on when they have to start that rehabilitation journey? speaker-1: Acceptance of the blindness is huge. Tell me that you were recently. speaker-0: Yep, I still don't think I'm fully accepted yet. speaker-1: won't be, won't be years and even now, you know, many, many years into the blindness and I still have frustrating times and you know, we have our piece still, but I guess it's what you do with that, that ⁓ pity party, know, do you waller in it or, or do you, you know, move on? My motto is you only have two choices. You either do or you don't. And you know, my choice was to do. And to do means whatever it takes to accomplish that goal you've set for yourself. And so, you know, there's different stages. Of course, you know, a lot of times when you're trying to go through that adjustment period, you need peer support and the counseling and guidance that you can get through the agency. you know, support while you're going through your training, whatever that training may be. It just all fits right in together to help you accomplish that goal. speaker-0: I it. I was thinking a little bit on your journey and how you went to college and you really stepped in as a rehabilitation coach and now you're running a statewide program. And I see in a lot of the Vision Facebook groups that I'm in, there's folks that are like, what kind of job can I do? Because I feel like I am so stuck and I can't do any of these. Like you said, your dream job. And I think I'm doing part of my dream job too right now, right? Like what advice could we give to those folks that are like, hey, I want to know how to, I can be able to do my dream job. I've just stuck on if I can or not. speaker-1: You have to step outside of your comfort zone and be willing to put yourself out there, be willing to fail, but get back up again and do it over and over and over. And with that, you'll build confidence and people will come to know who you are and your determination and what you want to do. And people will Say, I think if you do this, it'll help you get to your, reach your goal. So you've got, you can't hide behind it. You have to reach out. I think that is the key to it. speaker-0: Yeah, asking for help, right? You still have a problem with that. I do, I do. speaker-1: Yeah. very hard to do, but it's something you... And we have to realize that everybody, everybody at some point needs help. speaker-0: It's been interesting. The hardest thing that I'm trying to come to grips with is the driving part. I was driving on September 23rd and then on September 24th, I could not. So it was very sudden. That's like a big transition that I'm trying to come to terms with of, well, that's not what I can do right now. There might be hope in the future. I'm hoping soon with special glasses or things like that, but There's not a lot of folks that are going to get that privilege to be able to have a special pair of glasses or binocular driving. And I'm thinking about that. I'm thinking about what you said about asking for help. And I struggle with, can I get a ride here? Or can I get a ride here from my friends or my people? And then as a mom, my kids are like, I want to go do this. And I'm like, well, we can't do this right now because I can't drive there. and it's negative five outside. Because I'm in Michigan. speaker-1: So, ⁓ speaker-0: That's they want to do. Yeah. So definitely that's an alerting curve. speaker-1: you know, hope and prayer and you know things are coming a long way you know self-driving cars maybe one day. You know my most recent purchase with technology is the Metaglass. speaker-0: Yeah That was my next question. I was going to say some of the assistive technology that you love or use. OK, so meta glasses. I'm looking into them. What do you got for us on those? speaker-1: Well, I'm sure I don't use them to their full capacity at this point yet either. I can, you know, it's made selecting what I might prepare for dinner. speaker-0: easier speaker-1: Not that I cook very often, but if I decide that I want to put something together, it can read the labels to me, read the directions to me. ⁓ They help me use my washer and my dryer and my microwave and ⁓ pick out clothes to match. I can use them to walk to my daughter's houses. Just. speaker-0: Endless opportunities that we're learning about, right? That we can be able to use the Metaglasses for. Is there a device or a tool that you use that you wish was better or worked better? What's like your dream assistive technology device? speaker-1: My dream assistive technology device. I guess it would be a car. speaker-0: I was thinking along the same lines. think for me too, it would be like a self-driving car. Now we have Tesla that does things to an extent, but yeah, that would be amazing. I know that there's some ride shares that are completely self-driving that are being tested. speaker-1: was in San Francisco two summers ago and I saw the, what do they call them? It's like a taxi. speaker-0: Yeah? speaker-1: It's not coming to me right now. those are. But, you know, just driving along the streets and getting in, people getting out, driverless Uber, you know, that's pretty cool. I used to think, well, so what if I had a car that could drive me once it stopped, I wouldn't know where I was at. You know, still wouldn't be able to do anything independently. But now with the meta glasses, I feel like, you know, the car parks itself. speaker-0: Yeah. speaker-1: and you get out and you use Be My Eyes with the meta glasses and it tells you what a person can tell you what your surroundings are and exactly how to walk into the store. speaker-0: That is futuristic at its finest that we're seeing that we can do around here, ⁓ I love it. So in your advocacy work, what does that look like when you're helping, whether it's youth or adults or other blind and low vision folks of all age ranges? Like, how are you staying connected to their needs and their voices when it comes to community work? speaker-1: I think just being transparent with what the journey is really like. it, you know, you don't sugarcoat it. There's nothing easy about it. What takes a normal person or a sighted person may take us much, much longer to do, but you do it anyway. You know, you just stick with it. You're an encourager. You try to inspire. and just be that mentor so that someone can kind of follow your journey and see results theirself. speaker-0: Yeah, yes. So what are some of your favorite parts of the work that you do? speaker-1: Well, I love working with the students for sure. And I love working with our staff. We have wonderful counselors across the state. We have a vision rehabilitation therapist and orientation and mobility specialists across the state. I get to work with them all. And, you know, I just enjoy putting together programs so that they can have training on the cutting edge of the new assistive technology that's coming out. whatever it may be, being able to offer programs where students can be prepared for the next whatever after high school. I guess working within our agency and working with students are my favorite parts of my job. speaker-0: What are some of the things that you do for your mental health? You know, this is a space as being in blind and low vision community. Sometimes we do have those struggles with deeper mental health connections. Might dig deeper on a different level, right? What are some things that you do to ⁓ positively provide to your mental health or your self care? speaker-1: Fortunately, I do not have any of the no loneliness, no sadness, no depression. speaker-0: I love it. speaker-1: And I'm glad about that. always had, I had parental support. I have a wonderful family with a husband and two daughters and son-in-laws and grandchildren. And we all live close. We call our area where we live our compound because we all live close together. speaker-0: Mm-hmm. speaker-1: And so, you know, my life is happy. Does it get frustrating sometimes? Yes, it does. You know, and I'm okay with not being busy at this point in my life. I was younger, you know, it was different. But, you know, I'm content and I like to read. I love, you know, some of the hobbies we do, boating and... You know, I enjoy going to movies now with, you know, using the audio description that's provided. You know, there's just, I'm fortunate. Mental health for me, I guess, is just sitting down with a book and maybe taking a day off to rest. I'm, I'm good. speaker-0: Your journey is so inspiring and thank you for sharing with us. Is there anything that you would love to leave our audience with today? Like a final word of thought? speaker-1: Just decide to do. Just because you can't see well doesn't mean you're significantly disabled. I said I'm secondly annoyed. Just stay positive, stay positive, know that there are people and agencies like ours that are out there to support you and help you work if that's what you want to do. so that you can, you know, live that American dream. We all want to own homes and have families and be successful and you can do it. If I did it. You can do it, I promise. speaker-0: Dana, you're amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Thanks for joining us on the Echo Lens where we view assistive tech through the eyes of lived experience. So if today's conversation sparked something in you, share it, rate it, and keep the dialogue going. To learn more about the beautiful project or to support our work, you can visit echovisionfoundation.org. Until next time, stay curious, stay connected, and keep seeing with love. Thanks, everybody.