In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses sit down with Neva Fairchild—a fierce advocate, rehabilitation counselor, and accessibility expert. Neva shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood of partial sight, misdiagnosis, and bullying to embracing blindness at 30 and diving into advocacy and innovation. The trio explores Neva's late introduction to the white cane and Braille, her evolving career in vision rehabilitation, and her pivotal role in supporting accessible technologies like WayAround.
Through emotional honesty and humor, Neva opens up about stigma, independence, and the power of learning to navigate life on your own terms. Don’t miss the inspiring insights, practical tools, and bold truths in this episode.
Also: Be sure to check out Neva’s tech-focused episode on Blind Level Tech, and mark your calendars for Aftersight’s upcoming hike on September 13! Register now at aftersight.org/hike.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome & Reflections from Helen Keller’s Birthplace
02:19 – Dystopian Society Analogy: A Sighted Person’s Insight
03:30 – Introducing Neva Fairchild
04:41 – Accessibility Gaps in the U.S. vs. Abroad
06:55 – Neva’s Early Life and Vision Diagnosis
09:26 – Education, Missed Blindness Skills, and a Military Family Childhood
11:41 – Braille, Cane Travel, and Losing Sight in Her 30s
13:54 – Misconceptions and Delayed Discovery of Blindness Tools
16:10 – College, Social Dynamics, and Career Aspirations
18:25 – How Neva Got Involved with WayAround
20:48 – WayAround vs. PenFriend: Accessible Labeling Then and Now
23:06 – WayAround Tags: How They Work and What They Can Do
25:28 – Using WayAround in Public Spaces & Orientation Features
27:50 – Outro: More to Come + Hike Reminder