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BEST Together Podcast

BEST Together Podcast

By BEST Together (Blind Early Services TN)

BEST, Blind Early Services TN, is a nonprofit organization co-founded by two moms of young boys who are blind. BEST provides family support, early intervention and advocacy services for families and providers of children who are blind or low vision. In each episode we will interview parents, providers and those with lived experiences in the blind/low vision community. We want to educate, empower, encourage and equip you with all the tools you need to ensure the BEST start for your child!
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Episode 31: Christina Clift, "Independent living philosophy does not mean that you have to do everything by yourself without support. It's the exact opposite."

BEST Together PodcastJan 20, 2024

00:00
29:43
Episode 31: Christina Clift, "Independent living philosophy does not mean that you have to do everything by yourself without support. It's the exact opposite."

Episode 31: Christina Clift, "Independent living philosophy does not mean that you have to do everything by yourself without support. It's the exact opposite."

Our podcast guest this month, Christina Clift, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and attended the University of Memphis for graduate school. Christina has worked at the Memphis Center for Independent Living as the Consumer Advocate since 2003. She has served as chair of the State Rehabilitation Council of Tennessee, and the Memphis Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities. Christina is also a founding board member of the TriState Adaptive Sports Association, and is a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind. Christina is a fierce advocate for those living with blindness and knows firsthand that access to assistive technology and other supports opens doors, eliminates barriers, and gives independence to those with disabilities. Listen this month as we discuss what independent living really means.

Jan 20, 202429:43
Episode 30: Caroline Aly, "We're not meant to do things alone."

Episode 30: Caroline Aly, "We're not meant to do things alone."

Caroline Aly is a Nashville-based educator with a background in non-profit leadership, private tutoring, and teaching in the exceptional education space. Caroline says that after continually observing inequity, profound limitations, and a lack of support for parents and/or caregivers of exceptional learners within the education community at large, she decided to launch her business, Carehack, to serve as a safe bridge across major gaps in a system often under-prepared to provide for the needs of exceptional learners. Caroline's experience and expertise leads the team at Carehack, a growing community and safe haven for parents of exceptional children to ask questions, receive resources and advocacy support, consult with experts, and implement personalized behavior systems at home. 

Nov 28, 202342:44
Episode 29: Mae and Katie Lane-Karnas, "Using my vision is always going to be exhausting and tiring, and I'm going to have much less retention than if I learn things auditorily or tactually."

Episode 29: Mae and Katie Lane-Karnas, "Using my vision is always going to be exhausting and tiring, and I'm going to have much less retention than if I learn things auditorily or tactually."

Mae Lane-Karnas is a 14-year-old diagnosed with CVI who loves braille, math, and art. Due to CVI, Mae has a host of visual challenges that cause her to function at the level of legal blindness, even though her visual acuities are typical. In the past year, Mae has co-presented to the Principals of Schools for the Blind and the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind (AER) on use of Nemeth code for middle school students with CVI. Mae co-organizes an ongoing CVI discussion group at Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Institute and serves on the board of the National Federation of the Blind of Vermont. Katie Lane-Karnas is Mae’s mother and the primary homeschooling parent to her two daughters in rural Vermont. When Mae was diagnosed with CVI two years ago, Katie began facilitating Mae’s learning in braille, Nemeth code, AT, O&M, and the ECC. Katie authored a paper, “A Case Study on CVI, Reading, and Braille,” that has been accepted for publication in 2024 by the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness on her family’s learnings from Mae’s experiences. Both Katie and Mae join us on this month’s episode of the BEST Together podcast to share their lived experiences with CVI.

Oct 31, 202350:38
Episode 28: Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, "There are so many kids and adults who are more capable than society believes in them"

Episode 28: Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, "There are so many kids and adults who are more capable than society believes in them"

Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken is the President and CEO of a nonprofit organization called Safe Toddles. She is a recently retired Professor of Special Education at Hunter College in New York where she taught Orientation and Mobility Specialists for over 25 years. And finally, she is the creator of a pediatric belt cane made to provide children who are blind or visually impaired a solution for walking independently and safely.  In this month’s episode of BEST Together we chat with Dr. Ambrose-Zaken about the field of orientation and mobility, research and philosophies around cane use in young children, and challenges facing the field.

Sep 29, 202301:10:31
Episode 27: Stacey Chambers, "the right to be equal and the right to be different...that is what the ECC is all about."

Episode 27: Stacey Chambers, "the right to be equal and the right to be different...that is what the ECC is all about."

Stacey Chambers is a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) living in Texas. She is also the founder of The E.C.C. and me, an LLC and website that offers a monthly newsletter, trainings, optional membership program, and free resources all pertaining to the Expanded Core Curriculum, the additional curriculum of nine areas that are taught to, or explored with, students who have vision impairments or are blind. "​The E.C.C. & Me partners with teachers and families to make assessment and teaching E.C.C. skills collaborative, practical, and fun for all learners with a visual impairment."

Aug 28, 202336:45
Episode 26: Kristin Smedley, "As a mom, that's the success that I dream about...for our children to be so comfortable in their own skin and to not be sitting around and watching life pass them by."

Episode 26: Kristin Smedley, "As a mom, that's the success that I dream about...for our children to be so comfortable in their own skin and to not be sitting around and watching life pass them by."

Kristin Smedley is the best selling author of Thriving Blind: Stories of Real People Succeeding Without Sight and Brilliantly Resilient: Reset, Rise and Reveal Your Brilliance. A recognized expert in the blindness and rare disease communities, Kristin won the highly regarded Champion of Hope Award and was named an Ambassador for the National Organization of Rare Disorders. Kristin is a popular, in demand speaker who has been invited to share her message internationally.

As CEO of a global patient organization, she coordinated legislation (H.R. #625) that became the first in US history to be submitted in Braille. Kristin spoke at the FDA to help achieve the first ever FDA approved gene therapy to treat an inherited retinal disease in the United States. Her TEDx Talk, book and international summit change perceptions of blindness, and sparked a global movement, Thriving Blind Academy, that is solving the unemployment, literacy, and financial crisis in the blind community.

Jul 25, 202349:02
Episode 25: Rachel Bennett, "My child is a gift to this world and I'm going to fight like heck to make sure the world sees him as worthy, and enough and that he lives a life of purpose and joy."

Episode 25: Rachel Bennett, "My child is a gift to this world and I'm going to fight like heck to make sure the world sees him as worthy, and enough and that he lives a life of purpose and joy."

Rachel Bennett is an Assistant Director at the CVI Center at Perkins, where she leads CVINow.org and parent advocacy and support. As parent to Henry, who has CVI and other disabilities, she knows the duality that comes with being a disability parent—feeling overwhelming love and, at the same time, grief and pain. In 2020, Rachel completed UMass Boston’s CVI Certificate program. Before joining Perkins, Rachel was a special educator and secondary instructional specialist in Maryland. Rachel joins us for this month’s podcast conversation to discuss her perspective both as parent of a child with a visual disability and advocate for other families of children diagnosed with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment.

Jun 26, 202356:18
Episode 24: Dr. Cathy Smyth, "Love your baby. Your baby needs to be touched, held, talked to. Just because your baby can't see you does not mean they don't know you're there."

Episode 24: Dr. Cathy Smyth, "Love your baby. Your baby needs to be touched, held, talked to. Just because your baby can't see you does not mean they don't know you're there."

Dr. Catherine Smyth has more than 30 years of experience in the field of early intervention and preschool education for children with vision impairments. She is now the Director of Research at Anchor Center For Blind Children, a private, non-profit agency serving young children with visual impairments in Colorado. Anchor provides exceptional, high-quality early intervention; special education; developmental assessment and therapy (occupational, speech-language among others); and supportive family engagement and coaching for blind children during their most formative years of development: birth to age five. As the director of research, Dr. Smyth has worked on studies around such important topics as mealtime routines in early intervention for infants and toddlers with visual impairment, concept and tactile development for preschoolers, and newborn visual screening. Her most recent project has been a collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children's NICU and Dr. Robert King of Children's Eye Physicians on the NAVEG Project which seeks to establish a reliable, evidence-based Cortical/Cerebral Vision Impairment (CVI) screening protocol for newborns and infants. Dr. Smyth also prepares graduate students in online classes at Lindenwood University and the University of Utah. In this episode we discuss how Dr. Smyth ended up in the field of vision impairment, what her various roles in the field have been and taught her, all about Anchor Center and what she's excited to be working on now.

May 22, 202353:06
Episode 23: Dr. Kirk Adams and Daniel Lubiner, "If you're a kid and you can't read print at the same speed as your sighted peers, you need to learn braille."

Episode 23: Dr. Kirk Adams and Daniel Lubiner, "If you're a kid and you can't read print at the same speed as your sighted peers, you need to learn braille."

Dr. Kirk Adams is the Managing Director of Innovative Impact, LLC, a consulting company aimed at accelerating inclusion of people with disabilities into the workforce. Dr. Adams is also the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and a longtime champion of people who are blind or visually impaired. Dr. Adams frequently serves as a keynote speaker at conferences across the country, spreading his commitment to creating a more inclusive, accessible world for Americans with vision loss. He has consulted with top leadership at Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and other high profile tech-oriented companies to discuss topics ranging from product and digital accessibility to civil and disability rights. Having lost his own vision at age 5, in our latest podcast episode, Dr. Adams shares his personal story and helps to shine a light on the importance of braille.


Our other podcast guest, Daniel Lubiner, is a 25-year veteran teacher of students with disabilities and a teacher of the arts for blind and low-vision students. He founded a nonprofit organization, The TouchPad Pro Foundation, with a mission to distribute The BrailleDoodle, an inexpensive braille learning device and a tactile Science, Math, and Art tool. It allows someone to write and create and feel as they go. In this episode, Daniel describes the BrailleDoodle and how he plans to get one into the hands of braille and tactile learners across the world.

May 02, 202301:06:01
Episode 22: Victoria Watts, "The Touch Tags allow you the freedom to add them to your favorite product at home and make it instantly identifiable."

Episode 22: Victoria Watts, "The Touch Tags allow you the freedom to add them to your favorite product at home and make it instantly identifiable."

Victoria Watts is a disability rights activist, entrepreneur and mother. When her youngest son, Cyrus, was born visually impaired, Victoria had just launched her own product line, VictoriaLand Beauty. After realizing that those with blindness or vision impairments have no way of easily identifying consumer product packaging, she launched the CyR.U.S. System of Raised Universal Symbols, a proprietary tactile recognition system comprised of a set of raised trademarked symbols, making packaging accessible with a simple touch. Recently, Victoria launched her newest invention, Touch Tags, which are categorized by product type and can be placed on any product at home. Victoria is on a mission to make accessible packaging the norm rather than the exception and we could not be more supportive of her mission.

Feb 09, 202326:19
Episode 21: Southeastern Guide Dogs, "As a child grows and learns with their kids companion dog, they are that much more prepared when they are old enough to receive a guide dog."

Episode 21: Southeastern Guide Dogs, "As a child grows and learns with their kids companion dog, they are that much more prepared when they are old enough to receive a guide dog."

In this month's episode of the BEST Together Podcast, we sat down with Kelsey Fernandez, Regional Manager, Puppy Raising Services and Katie Perez, Manager, Children and Teen Programs from Southeastern Guide Dogs. In our conversation we discuss the process of training a guide dog, fostering a guide dog puppy, dog programs for children as young as 5 years old and etiquette for interacting with guide dogs in public among so much more! 

Jan 11, 202351:39
Episode 20: Sam Seavy, "Nobody knows how to be blind or visually impaired. Nobody knows how to raise a child who is visually impaired. You have to be taught. Steel sharpens steel."

Episode 20: Sam Seavy, "Nobody knows how to be blind or visually impaired. Nobody knows how to raise a child who is visually impaired. You have to be taught. Steel sharpens steel."

Sam Seavy is the host of a popular You Tube Channel called the Blind Life that highlights and reviews accessible products, new technologies and apps made for the blind community. Sam is himself legally blind due to a vision impairment diagnosis called Stargardt disease which causes one to progressively lose their central vision. Since he started his You Tube channel in 2013, Sam has gained more than 49,000 subscribers and over 6 million views. Listen to our latest episode of the BEST Together podcast where we talk to Sam about his diagnosis, life growing up, what led him to create the Blind Life and of course, exciting new developments in accessible technology for the blind community. 

Dec 01, 202240:11
Episode 19: Jaimee Kadish, "The teachers who were labeling me instead of being curious were failing me. The last thing I want to tell a student is you won't do x, y or z."

Episode 19: Jaimee Kadish, "The teachers who were labeling me instead of being curious were failing me. The last thing I want to tell a student is you won't do x, y or z."

Jaimee Kadish is a Southern California native from Santa Monica where she spent her youth playing a variety of team sports. She began her journey in movement training by attending Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she studied classical modern dance, ballet, jazz and improvisational techniques. She pursued higher education in dance performance, completing her Bachelors in Fine Arts degree at California State University, Long Beach. After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive eye condition, she pivoted her focus from dance performance to kinesiology and functional movement training. With a passion to deepen her knowledge of supporting young children through movement, she expanded her education, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. While developing her skills and tools as a classroom teacher, she recognized the need for movement-based education in school and program settings. She founded her new nonprofit, In-Sight Outreach to empower the visually impaired and blind community through movement literacy. After understanding the mental and physical challenges of what it means to be visually impaired, she has embraced this new identity with compassion and curiosity and aims to encourage others to continue their journeys alongside her own.

Oct 26, 202252:15
Episode 18: Griffin Pinkow, "When you need help, ask for it - don't shy away from what you're going through."

Episode 18: Griffin Pinkow, "When you need help, ask for it - don't shy away from what you're going through."

Griffin Pinkow is the founder of the Foreseeable Future Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired through sports and recreation. Griffin has run four marathons, created his own non profit organization to help the visually impaired community, and is now attempting to make the Paralympic Team in Tandem Cycling, all by the age of 30. Going from a healthy, active teenager to slowly losing his sight due to a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) at age 11, Griffin has demonstrated what it means to persevere through unexpected change, and has truly made a difference in hundreds of lives others by showing them how to stay active and endure in the face of challenge. Listen as we discuss the work of FFF, tandem cycling, Griffin's entire journey, and how he's turned his own story into major impact and support for others.

Sep 23, 202256:32
Episode 17: James Boehm, “Validate what you are feeling…you are not alone.”

Episode 17: James Boehm, “Validate what you are feeling…you are not alone.”

James Boehm is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and the Accessibility Coordinator at The Refuge Center in Franklin, TN. James is a passionate leader and an advocate who values empowering others to their fullest potential. His specialties within counseling include, but are not limited to, adjustment to disability, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, suicidal ideation, and addiction. Boehm believes strongly in advocacy and equality for all individuals, including people with disabilities. James serves on the Nashville Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, is the former President of the Nashville Chapter and state VP of the National Federation of the Blind, and is Founder and President of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit You Cane Give with his wife, Wendy Boehm. He also founded and served on the TN Association of Guide Dog Users (he has an amazing guide dog named Bogey) and has been a mentor to college students with Learning Ally. In this episode, James shares his story of battling mental illness, becoming blind as an adult and how he’s learned to handle life’s various chapters with honesty and optimism, and through healing, collaboration and empowerment.
Aug 30, 202258:12
Episode 16: Julia Bowman (Coast-to-Coast Series), "Parents aren't always ready to jump in at the beginning...you have to meet them where they are."

Episode 16: Julia Bowman (Coast-to-Coast Series), "Parents aren't always ready to jump in at the beginning...you have to meet them where they are."

Julia Bowman is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and works on the Birth to 3 team at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. Prior to her career as a TVI and in early intervention, Julia was a chemist. When her child was born with severe visual impairments and multiple disabilities, her experience with the Perkins School for the Blind prompted her to switch careers. She chose to focus on birth to 3 because she believes, like BEST, that this is where the greatest impact can be made in the life of a child with blindness and their family. Join us for this conversation with Julia who shares her insights as both parent and teacher.
Jul 28, 202251:39
Episode 15: (Coast to Coast Series) Ashley Emmons, "As soon as you find out a child has a visual impairment, orientation and mobility can be implemented."

Episode 15: (Coast to Coast Series) Ashley Emmons, "As soon as you find out a child has a visual impairment, orientation and mobility can be implemented."

Ashley Emmons has worked at Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) in Louisville, KY since August 2008.  VIPS is a non-profit organization that provides education to young children (birth to age 5) with visual impairments in both Kentucky and Indiana.  She holds many teaching certifications including Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE), Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI), and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). In this episode, we ask Ashley questions about all things O&M and discuss the importance of orientation and mobility services for infants and toddlers with vision impairments.  

Jun 22, 202255:25
Episode 14: (Coast to Coast Series) Kathy Mullen, "The average 2-year-old is awake 85 hours a week...if you give the parent strategies, there are so many opportunities to reinforce development."

Episode 14: (Coast to Coast Series) Kathy Mullen, "The average 2-year-old is awake 85 hours a week...if you give the parent strategies, there are so many opportunities to reinforce development."

Kathy Mullen is Director of Education at Visually Impaired Preschool Services (VIPS) in Louisville, KY. Kathy oversees the agency's education programs, including the full-time VIPS and Kids Town Preschools, toddler and infant classes, Summer Enrichment and statewide outreach services. VIPS serves as the model and inspiration for many of BEST's programs and services, and Kathy has been instrumental in helping guide us every step of the way. In this episode, we learn how VIPS got started, what has led them to the robust program they are today and where they are headed next. 

May 25, 202258:18
Episode 13 (Coast to Coast Series): Terese Pawletko, "The caution needs to be in neither over nor under diagnosing children with vision impairments with autism spectrum disorders..."

Episode 13 (Coast to Coast Series): Terese Pawletko, "The caution needs to be in neither over nor under diagnosing children with vision impairments with autism spectrum disorders..."

Dr. Terese Pawletko has worked with children since 1976, first as a teacher of the visually impaired, then as school and pediatric psychologist. Since 2001, Dr. Pawletko has been in private practice, evaluating children with autism spectrum disorders, visual impairments and other learning and developmental challenges. While at the Maryland School for the Blind, Dr. Pawletko and her colleagues developed the first program in the country for children with visual impairment and autism. She is considered a national expert in this area and has presented at regional, national, and international conferences, conducted evaluations of children suspected of dual diagnosis, and provided consultation to and training of parents and service providers. Listen as we discuss the challenges and history of diagnosing visually impaired children with ASD.

Apr 21, 202201:09:22
Episode 12 (Coast to Coast Series): Paula Landry, "Let your child write their own story without your preconceived ideas of what the next chapter will look like..."

Episode 12 (Coast to Coast Series): Paula Landry, "Let your child write their own story without your preconceived ideas of what the next chapter will look like..."

Paula Landry, EI-TVI, Orientation and Mobility Specialist and certified VIISA and INSITE trainer, co-founded A Shared Vision in Colorado. Today, the nonprofit is the leading provider of Early Intervention vision services in the state. Wearing many leadership hats, Paula provides operational support and mentoring for A Shared Vision's teachers.  She also leads the nonprofit's efforts to provide education and support for the broader community that serves very young children with blindness or visual impairments, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, pediatricians, agencies and hospitals. Prior to A Shared Vision, Paula worked with the Anchor Center for Blind Children as a board member, Teacher of the Visually Impaired and leader of the Infant and Parent Program.  Paula is also the proud mother to a 20-year-old daughter, Maddie, who is blind.

Apr 04, 202259:16
Episode 11 (Coast to Coast Series): Sarah Barnes, "Those precious years from 0-5 are such an opportunity to lay the foundation."

Episode 11 (Coast to Coast Series): Sarah Barnes, "Those precious years from 0-5 are such an opportunity to lay the foundation."

Sarah Barnes is the Senior Director of Youth and Employment Services at Lighthouse Louisiana in New Orleans. Sarah oversees the services and programming provided by the Youth Services Team which include those provided to children and students with visual impairments of all ages as well as transition services for students with disabilities who are in their final year of high school. She works closely with families and assists them in their efforts to advocate for their children to ensure they get the services and tools they need to succeed in school and life.

Mar 07, 202235:26
Episode 10 (Coast to Coast Series): Kate Borg, "Birth to 3 services are about coaching families...that is not just important, it is critical."

Episode 10 (Coast to Coast Series): Kate Borg, "Birth to 3 services are about coaching families...that is not just important, it is critical."

Kate Borg is the Director of Outreach at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). She previously worked for the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB). Kate has been an administrator, instructional coach, classroom teacher, and itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI). This is our first in a series of episodes featuring programs across the country serving children who are blind or low vision, and their families. Join our conversation with Kate as we learn all about the Texas model of services and why early intervention is so critical.
Feb 17, 202227:59
Episode 9: Siblings, Ken Quinn and Alicia Holt: "I didn't treat her any differently because she could see, and she didn't treat me any differently because I couldn't"

Episode 9: Siblings, Ken Quinn and Alicia Holt: "I didn't treat her any differently because she could see, and she didn't treat me any differently because I couldn't"

Ken Quinn is a husband, father of three, advocate, student and accessibility and tactile graphics consultant. He also happens to be blind. Ken's younger sister, Alicia Holt, is a wife, mother of two and Team Lead and Nonprofit Coordinator. She has typical vision. For this month's podcast we invited Ken and Alicia to talk with us and explore sibling dynamics when it comes to disability. Does having a brother or sister with a disability lead to less focus on the child who does not have a disability? Does having a sibling with a disability equate to a feeling of protectiveness? Does having a disability and growing up with a sibling who does not have a disability make things harder or easier? How can parents and caregivers foster a positive and secure relationship between siblings? We dive into these questions and more in our conversation as Ken and Alicia share their lived experience. 

Dec 01, 202137:50
Episode 8: Kim Owens, "Find ways to open doors, instead of close them"

Episode 8: Kim Owens, "Find ways to open doors, instead of close them"

Kim Owens is a mother, blogger, entrepreneur and recent empty-nester who has a website called Navigating Blindness where she has chronicled her journey in raising a son who has a genetic condition causing progressive vision loss. Kim's son, Kai, is now 19 years old, in college and was diagnosed with a vision impairment at the age of 9. Kim joins us this month to share her story -- the story of a mother who knew something was wrong, fought for answers, advocated for her son and went on to advocate and support other families going through similar journeys.

Oct 28, 202101:01:49
Episode 7: Brooke Pernice “Festina Lente”

Episode 7: Brooke Pernice “Festina Lente”

Brooke Pernice is a teacher, singer-songwriter, works in ministry and happens to have been born blind due to Leber Congenital Amaurosis. She joined us in a webinar setting earlier this year to provide her lived experience and advice for both parents and providers. We loved our conversation so much that we decided to share it on our podcast. Listen as she shares her experiences about living and thriving with blindness.
Oct 02, 202154:57
Episode 6: Annie Hughes "The best teacher your child will ever have is you. The best school your child will ever attend is your home."

Episode 6: Annie Hughes "The best teacher your child will ever have is you. The best school your child will ever attend is your home."

Annie Hughes has been a Teacher of the Visually Impaired for over 40 years. She joined us in a webinar setting earlier this year to provide her lived experience and advice for both parents and providers. We loved our conversation so much that we decided to share it on our podcast. Listen as she shares her experiences and best tips for caring for a young child with blindness or vision loss.

Sep 03, 202151:34
Episode 5: Abby Sweet "We are all miracles"

Episode 5: Abby Sweet "We are all miracles"

Born a micro premie at just 23 weeks, Abby Sweet is now a thriving and joyous 14-year-old student at the Tennessee School for the Blind - her  true appreciation for life and the future ahead are infectious. In this interview, Abby offers up advice and wisdom well beyond her years, and reminds us that we truly are BEST together and that we are all miracles.

Aug 09, 202128:49
Episode 4: Kate Kelly "Using music to achieve nonmusical goals"

Episode 4: Kate Kelly "Using music to achieve nonmusical goals"

Kate is a board-certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), singer-songwriter, and registered yoga instructor in Nashville, TN. Kate attended Belmont University, was a founding member of its Music Therapy program, and was among the first graduating class of Music Therapy students in 2016. Alongside her passion for Music Therapy, Kate received 4 years of training in voice, rhythm guitar, performing, and songwriting through Belmont’s School of Music. Kate has used her unique skill set to help both children and adults with behavioral challenges, disabilities, autism, mental illness and chronic illness. Listen as Kate explains how music therapy can be a helpful tool in empowering both children and adults.

Jul 14, 202133:51
Episode 3: JP Williams "Name it, claim it, change it"

Episode 3: JP Williams "Name it, claim it, change it"

JP Williams is songwriter, singer, and public speaker. Blind since the age of 10, JP brings a unique perspective to his work as a life coach and musician. He has performed on the stage of the Grande Ole Opry, written a no. 1 hit single and has his own publishing company. Recently he has turned his focus to his work as a life coach. Listen as JP discusses the trauma of losing his vision and his philosophy of name it, claim it, change it.

Jun 25, 202156:17
Episode 2: Heather Field "When you begin to expect that the child can do it, then they begin to expect they can do it as well."

Episode 2: Heather Field "When you begin to expect that the child can do it, then they begin to expect they can do it as well."

Heather Field is a Special Education Teacher, Parent Coach/Advocate and owns a tutoring center in Franklin, TN. She grew up on a farm in Australia as one of 8 children and has been blind since the age of 2. In this episode, Heather shares her lived experience and tips for both parents and teachers working with young children who are blind or visually disabled.

Jun 07, 202101:02:47
Episode 1: Welcome to the BEST Together Podcast!

Episode 1: Welcome to the BEST Together Podcast!

In this inaugural episode of the BEST Together Podcast, Alison and Stacy tell their own stories, share how they met and what united them to become two moms on a mission! They talk about why they created their nonprofit, Blind Early Services TN (BEST), and what they hope this podcast to be for other families and providers working to give young children with blindness or low vision their BEST start. Join us no matter where you are in your journey or where you are in the world. We are here to lift you up and propel you forward!

May 28, 202117:19
A Quick Hello From the BEST Together Podcast!

A Quick Hello From the BEST Together Podcast!

Meet Alison Clougherty and Stacy Cornwall, the co-hosts of the BEST Together Podcast!

As parents of young boys who are blind, Alison and Stacy experienced first hand the importance of specialized services and support in the early years of raising a child with a vision disability. The goal of this podcast is to bring inspiring stories, informational resources and uplifting support to parents, caregivers and providers of children who are blind or low vision. 

In this short intro, we share what to expect from our new podcast series. We're excited to have you with us!

May 21, 202101:19