Aaron’s Opinion

as you know my name is Audriana i have rp i was diagnosed at 5 my sight stayed stable untill i was 28 i ended up loosing all my sight now i am 33 i actually just started my you tube channel last month so i am just getting started i also am a recovering addict i have been clean for 5 years i am trying to motivate people to be there best self i want to show people just because i am blind that dont mean i dont have something of value to give i havent done any out reach i am hoping thru doing this if there is someone out there feeling alone lost and like there the only one suffering with vision loss that life is still worth living i love animals the bearded dragon is my favorite i have a husband and step son and 2 sisters i thought for the longest time i was the only person with rp i did not go to the school for the blind and i am self taught with my cane thanks for considering me i will send the links in another email

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My name is J.B. Lawrence. At the end of 2017, my vision suddenly failed due to undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy—no prior symptoms. In 2018, I got married and became a stepdad to two awesome daughters. I worked full-time through the pandemic, and starting in January 2022, I lost my sister, then my dad, and by January 2023, my mom. During this time, I also began in-home dialysis after kidney failure. In 2024, just days before my kidney transplant, I was let go from my longtime job. And just a couple of months ago, my wife has decided she wants a divorce. I am dealing with this currently. This is the story I want to share.

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Hi Aaron,

Here’s a short bio with my links included. I had a little help putting it together just to make sure it reads clean, but please feel free to edit, shorten, or adjust it however you’d like to fit your format or style.

Jeff Skoglund, known as The Blind Outdoorsman, is a Minnesota-based content creator sharing real-life experiences with blindness alongside his guide dog, Natty. Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Jeff creates content that bridges the gap between sighted and blind communities by showing everyday life, outdoor connection, and practical independence in an honest and relatable way. His mission is simple: to help people see life a little differently, whether that means raising awareness, encouraging accessibility, or reminding others that blindness doesn’t mean life stops — it just looks a little different.

You can follow Jeff here:

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@BlindOutdoorsman

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@blindoutdoorsman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blin...

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/blind...

Let me know if you need anything else from me.

Thanks,
Jeff Sent from my iPad

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Meet Scott Joffre from New Hampshire. Scott was born extremely premature at just 26 weeks and weighed only 1 pound, 8 ounces — truly a miracle baby. He has retinopathy of prematurity, which affected his vision from the start. Growing up, Scott needed glasses and assistive tech like CCTVs just to see clearly, but he still enjoyed playing sports, hanging out with friends, and video games.

When Scott was around 18, his mom, who does commercial cleaning for Dr. Dorothy Hitchmoth, a private eye doctor, mentioned to Dorothy that something seemed off with Scott’s eyes. Dorothy spent hours examining him and diagnosed him with cataracts that had severely limited his vision. Seeing Scott’s potential, Dorothy offered him a chance to do accessibility testing in her office. Scott’s mom thought this was a great opportunity for him, and shortly after, Scott took the initiative to email companies like Envision and eleVIVO, asking to help test their technology as well.

Today, Scott works as an accessibility tester for technology designed for blind and low vision users, and he runs a YouTube channel called The Blind Stryker, where he shares tech reviews and insights from his own experience. Inspired by creators like Sam from The Blind Life, Scott uses his platform to raise awareness and provide practical support for the blind community.
Social media links
YouTube link
https://youtube.com/@theblindstriker?si=7Qri3LhiyN1ULz6U
Instagram link
https://www.instagram.com/theb...
TikTok link
https://www.tiktok.com/@theblindstriker?_r=1&_t=ZP-93N42IiRKVb
Scott Joffre
Accessibility tester, Blind YouTuber and promoter of light sword canes
Email
Scottyjoffre@gmail.com
Phone number
+1-603-630-0870
YouTube channel
https://youtube.com/@theblindstriker?si=_sOQ2KMXlvk19lDk
Light sword canes

https://www.sidewaysinnovation...

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Hello Aaron,



as requested, please see bio and social media handles below:



Ben Akuoko is a Ghanaian-Canadian multidisciplinary thought leader, digital creator, entertainer, and advocate living with Retinitis Pigmentosa. His work lives at the intersection of music, storytelling, culture, identity, and social impact, shaped by his lived experience as a Black man navigating disability and creativity.



He is the founder of Brightside Scope, a platform dedicated to empowering racialize individuals and people with disabilities while amplifying marginalized voices through public speaking, digital creation, consulting, workshops and media appearances. A registered social worker with a Social Service Worker diploma, a Bachelor of Social Work, and a Master of Social Work, Ben brings both professional insight and lived experience into his work.



As a professional side questor, Ben embraces curiosity and creativity beyond traditional paths — from storytelling and music to media and movement. He is also a former host of the podcast The Lens: Living Diverse, which highlights stories and perspectives from individuals and communities living with blindness or low vision. Ben believes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility must be embedded within culture, media, and society, and continues to use his voice to inspire others to be seen, valued, and heard.



website: www.brightsidescope.com



Linked in: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/ben...



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brig...



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peopl...



Thanks a bunch and look forward to join you on your podcast.

Sincerely,

Ben

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