Episode 311- Seeing Beyond Limitations with Sara Freeman Smith

What happens when your entire life changes in an instant? For Sara Freeman Smith, losing 95% of her vision wasn't the end of her story—it was the beginning of something much greater.

In this profound conversation, Sara shares her remarkable journey as a disability advocate, career navigator, and author of "Turning Stones Into Gems: Learn How to Find Purpose in Your Life and Career." With warmth and wisdom, she reveals how her greatest challenge became her greatest gift, teaching her the power of asking for help and the patience to receive divine guidance.

"God does not call the equipped; He equips the called," Sara explains, describing how her initial resistance transformed into acceptance and eventually purpose. Through her "Six P's" approach beginning with prayer and planning, she demonstrates how detours and challenges actually prepare us for future opportunities we couldn't imagine for ourselves.

The episode showcases remarkable accessibility technology, from smartphone features to the revolutionary Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that allow Sara to read menus, mail, and navigate the world independently. For employers wondering about accommodations, Sara offers practical insights on creating accessible environments and understanding that simple adjustments make all the difference.

Perhaps most powerful is Sara's approach to disclosure and self-advocacy in professional settings. With the mantra "rejection is protection," she demonstrates how confidence in explaining one's needs while highlighting one's abilities creates the right match between talent and opportunity.

Whether you're facing your own challenges, supporting someone with a disability, or simply seeking inspiration to transform obstacles into opportunities, this episode will move you from what Sara calls a "pity party" to a "propel party." Visit urGems.com to discover more resources and connect with Sara's transformative message.

Transcript

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Meeting Sarah Freeman Smith

Speaker 1 0:00

The SJ Childs Show is Backford's 13th season . Join Sarah Bradford and the SJ Childs Show team as they explore the world of autism and share stories of hope and inspiration . This season we're excited to bring you more autism summits featuring experts and advocates from around the world .

Speaker 2 0:30

Go to sjchildsorg hey everyone .

Speaker 3 0:36

just wanted to give you an update . The second annual International Autism Summit was such a success . Thank you to our sponsors and our amazing speakers . If you're interested in seeing any of those sessions , go to my YouTube channel , the SG Child Show the live tab and you can see each day and their sessions are timestamped in the description .

Speaker 4 0:59

Hope to see you guys there there , hi , welcome to the SJ Child Show today . Today I am being met with another Sarah , so you better bet it's going to probably be the best episode yet . Absolutely Number 310 , if we're counting .

Speaker 4 1:20

We are doing some work and we're , you know , just really , like you said , even if we can impact one or two people in the community , in our neighborhood , in our church , anywhere that we can be just a resource to anyone , then let us be . I said just yesterday or just the other day on the summit , if I can be the beacon of light that come to people to help them share their stories , please , please , let me be that and come and let's do it all together .

Speaker 5 1:59

Absolutely , absolutely .

Speaker 4 2:02

Thanks so much for being here today . Absolutely , absolutely Thanks so much for being here today and for my wonderful listeners and audience . Please introduce yourself and let them know a little bit about yourself and what brought you here , sure .

Speaker 5 2:13

I'm Sarah Freeman Smith and I am a first and foremost disability advocate because I am legally blind probably about 95% vision loss at this stage and I also am a career navigator and author and speaker of an inspirational book entitled Turning Stones into Gyms Learn how to Find Purpose in your Life and Career . And my journey has always my career journey has always been on the HR recruiting side , where I would go out , seek and try to attract talent to come to work for my organizations and then when I retired , of course I couldn't retire , I had to get back into the game . And now I am helping others try to figure out what do I want to be . Sometimes , when I grow up after a second or third time and in my instance , I'm totally reinventing myself . So if I can do it , what's the excuse of others so being able to just be able to provide those resources and encouragement ?

Speaker 4 3:17

so I love that . I love that . In fact , a little personal story that you might love as well . My grandfather passed away just a couple years ago at 96 . Oh , wow . But let me tell you , he number one remarried at 85 . Oh , my goodness , he continued his education continually . He was always doing continued education , constantly doing history and all these amazing things . And he also I think it was like he was 92 when he had an unfortunate fall , but that was the last time he did roofing work on his own . Oh , my goodness , no excuses . Like you can do things you know . And and I always say like sometimes even my own mom will be , oh , I don't know what to , like I , I don't think I can reach and I'm like no , no , no , no .

Speaker 5 4:14

Even your own dad , like he restarted his whole life exactly reach down and get that dna that he imparted on you that's right that's the truth , absolutely , absolutely , and it does .

Speaker 5 4:26

And it begins with your mindset that that's the first and foremost , because what , what's in our mind will drive the rest of us . And so if I convince myself what I cannot do , guess what you will achieve every aspect of that . So it's just really positioning and changing that mindset that'll make a world of difference , I love that , and where do people start on this journey with you ?

Speaker 5 4:49

Well , for me , it is about sitting down and really , really , first and foremost , admitting to yourself you need help , because a lot of us just trudge through and push through and you know we may be the person that everyone asks us for advice or help , but sometimes it's about humbling yourself , swallowing that pride and that ego . And in my instance , some 20 years ago , when I began to lose my vision , it was like you mean , I got to ask for help , I'm the helper , I can't be the helpee . But it was about sitting

Finding Purpose Through Adversity

Speaker 5 5:27

down and taking that quiet time , meditation . And for me , I'm a , I'm in grad school , I'm a mother , wife , community advocate , you know , involved in my church . And suddenly you're finally told because there's no reason why you're losing your vision that not only will you not be able to cure it , it is a condition that is genetic and it will lead to your total blindness .

Speaker 5 6:03

And I tell you , I was on a pity party for a good minute because I'm going what in the world am I going to do ? How can I do ? Everything that I did was , you know , so dependent upon my vision ? And I'm crying out angry . I have to admit it's like going through , you know , seven stages of grief . I mean , I'm upset with God and I'm going why me , why me , why me , I'm doing all these things . I'm just checking off all my little boxes , that I've , of course , said to myself that I thought I was doing right . And God clearly spoke and said why not you , sarah ? What makes you any better than others ? Do you realize that there are people that would give their right arm and leg to be in your position ? So let's go take a visit , you know , down the MD Anderson Hospital I'm in the medical center capital of the world in Houston . And do you want to start at the infant side ? So that gives you a little bit of reflection . And so at that point you really really have to start deep and get off that merry-go-round .

Speaker 5 7:00

For me , and that was the prayer and the meditation . And then God said okay , now I can speak to you . Here's what you will do . And the main thing he wanted me to do is I'm saying to myself I can't do this . Write a third edition of the book before I had sight , before I could do , because the book was initially published about 25 years ago and this is my third edition . Now what are you saying ? I can't do that ? That's at least what I'm telling myself . But the one thing I've learned God does not call the equip , he equips the called . And he said you can do this and you will do this , and I'm going to go through you so you can encourage others and let them know , even at this point , even at this season , that there's more that I have for you to do .

Speaker 5 7:47

And so that's the first step is taking that quiet time and , to be honest with you , sarah , a lot of people don't want to give up that . You know , we're on social media , we're doing our own thing and we just kind of squeeze in that little quiet time , but it's so , so important . It's like trying to have a conversation one way . How can you tell me everything you want to do , but then when I go to speak , you get up off those knees . You get up . Okay , I gotta go .

Speaker 4 8:12

So yes , I love that you said that , because I think a big part of and I , you know , I am also on my own spiritual journey .

Speaker 4 8:21

My husband and I are taking a higher self course on the side , together as a couple , and and we're just embracing some of these ideas , that kind of we've known all along , but putting everything together in in its own daily practice is so special , so powerful . And I think one thing that I really resonated with me and what you're saying is that you really , for the next step , you have to be ready to receive . In order to receive , you've got to be quiet , you've got to be settled , you've got to be over wanting to ask or over asking and ready to get answers and ready to receive that . And then you get this powerful , you know inspiration and now , like you said , help others , because there's so much power in people's stories . Everybody's journey is so very unique and nothing will be the same for two people or you know individuals , but the we can all take like learning lessons . You know from everyone and learn a little bit from every person .

Speaker 5 9:41

Right , and that is that that's so , so , so , very true . Every person Right , and that is that that's so , so , so very true . And then when you take that quiet time , that's when you know you , like you said , you get these revelations , you get these inspirations . And in my book I talk there's six P's . So the first one is prayer , and the second one is you're going to get a plan . But then we put ourself in the mix of it .

Speaker 5 10:03

We're trying to figure out now , how am I going to do this ? Now , I don't know anybody like this . Oh , that seems too enormous . I'm so again , we are rattling our mind and our brain and all of these things on . How am I going to do this ? It's because the one thing I know that whatever we can think of , then that's not God's plans . Because guess what , If you could think of something to do , what do you need God for ? It is always going to be something far bigger than you would ever think you could grasp . And again he says I'm going to go through you , but I am also the same God that gives you the vision . I will give you the provisions . I'm going to equip you and put people in front of you . You just need to look up , ask for help , and it's right there .

Speaker 5 10:47

And that's the part of the plan that you go oh , you mean , I got , yeah , but it's step by step . He's not going

The Six P's: Prayer and Planning

Speaker 5 10:55

to play the whole movie out for me . You know which I want ? Okay , can I see the part that you want me to play and determine if I want to play that ? No , you don't get to do that . It's like step by step by step , and then it starts forming a picture and you go oh , my goodness , I never knew Sarah had this background , when all these years I knew her as this and you've been doing , oh , yeah , but you never asked , or it wasn't important that I know that until that moment , at that time . So that's the beauty of when the plan begins to unfold and then you can share that with others and people go oh , I've been . That's the only reason I couldn't do it , because I couldn't figure out how to start that next career or that new business . Well , that's the problem we block our own blessings . We get in our own way , Isn't ?

Speaker 4 11:44

that true , and there can be several plans . You don't have to just have one . I mean , I and there will be detours , yes , right , detours absolutely .

Speaker 5 11:54

But those are good detours , because these are lessons you have to learn now because you're going to face something down the road and if I didn't have that experience from that detour , oh my gosh how that ending would be totally different . So it's being able to not only adjust , to say it's going to change , but remember this whatever that purpose of that plan , it's not going to go away . In my instance , I thought I had completed it some 20 years ago . Okay , I wrote the book , I spoke , I did all those things . Okay , I wrote the book , I spoke , I did all those things . I'm back in corporate America , I'm doing my own thing . Why in the world .

Speaker 2 12:29

I got to do that again .

Speaker 5 12:30

Well , god would send me perfect strangers tracking me down on LinkedIn saying you know , that book you read wrote 20 years ago . We're going through this pandemic . We need that same encouragement now . And I'm going . You've , that's God , and you have no other excuse . And then I still sit and he sends someone else . He says , okay , that burning bush didn't get your attention , let me send a towering inferno or something you know . So eventually , you know that , you know , okay , I got to do this . Now what ? And boom , someone drops into . It was amazing . Oh , I do books and and I publish and I work with , you know , blind and low vision . What ? Okay , I never . So those are the things that that help , but being able to share with people . Yes , I had some detours and yes , I just flat out got out of the line and did my own thing , but God said save that spot , she'll be back here . She's out there in the parking lot . Everybody else is in the stadium .

Speaker 5 13:38

Yeah , I love that In the parking lot thinking , oh , I got this I don't need . Okay , you told me my marching , I didn't tell you to go do it , and so here I come back a year or two late . Excuse me , excuse me .

Speaker 4 14:02

As I tell my friends , that's my spot . Yeah , we've been waiting on you and I get a chance to sit right back and say , okay , I'm paying attention now , but I love that . You know , I'm parenting a teen right now and I think that my husband , you know , when she's like , oh why , why are things going ? My husband always says to her everything is a test . The sooner you overcome this , it will change and you'll be on to the next one . It's so kind of almost lovely to hear it doesn't ever . That's this . Is it Like it is on the change right ?

Speaker 5 14:34

And I , and trust me , I , I , I have empathy for you . I only have one man child and at that time , when he was going through those teen years , when I am losing my vision , of course , why can't ? Why , why , why ? And I would always tell him I said , listen , this is exactly right , this is a test , but guess what ? God does not grade on a pass curve system . Okay , just because someone got an 85 , you don't get to pass . You either pass or you fail . If you fail , guess what ? You're going to stay in the same class until you pass . So the quicker you learn this lesson , you get promoted to the next lesson . So keep asking me why ? Because you keep making the same mistake and guess what ?

Speaker 5 15:17

you're not getting out of this class until you learn it so and at that point he would go oh okay , all right , now we got it , now we go to the next challenge and , of course , yeah , here we go oh , it's such a yeah and you know no parenting .

Speaker 4 15:36

I'll tell you , I have three and there's nothing that works . Once with the end , no , I totally know that .

Speaker 5 15:44

I totally get it Totally .

Speaker 4 15:48

It's the same in the corporate world , though . You can completely understand that , and I have worked in that as well . I completely understand that , and isn't it funny how it can be almost like comparative . You know , I know .

Speaker 3 16:02

And that's the other thing .

Speaker 5 16:03

So often we want to separate some of those life lessons , but they're so to me , when God actually speaks . It is so applicable in everything . It's not just do it here and then leave it there , as my pastor says . Don't be , you know , sitting here and you're the Christian in the church and as soon as you get to the parking lot , you're yelling and doing all those other little snag , nasty things . It doesn't happen like that . It continues , and you can apply this through everything that you do . It's just taking the time to just go . Okay , I don't have to fight this battle . Let me just put this over to the side and things will work itself out . So yeah , absolutely .

Speaker 4 16:42

You know how , what type of tools have you and resources do you use for yourself ? Now , I know that

Learning from Life's Detours

Speaker 4 16:50

some of our disability advocates and listeners would love to hear about that , and you know I had just recently done another episode with a woman who talked a lot about like the screen readers and how important that is , and I still don't have my website fixed yet , because I learned so much on that , I know . And now I'm like , okay , I'm going to fix this , yes , yes , yes , the more we know , right .

Speaker 5 17:18

Absolutely , absolutely , because that's one of the main things . As a career navigator with my HR background , whenever I have an opportunity to talk to companies , I said one of the first steps well , how can we attract people ? I said , well , it's almost like inviting someone to your house , but you know that I'm blind . But you've got all these Tiffany glass and all these little curios and all these things and you've got the slippery Persian rug and I come in either with a service dog or a cane and I'm whacking , going away . And you didn't prepare your house . So , in other words , the companies . If you want to attract someone with a visual impairment , first and foremost , when you say you have an opening , your website has to be accessible and that's a simple fix . If you get a software designer , there's guidelines that they can easily tap in . They go back programs . So those little buttons and dropdowns that , just like your guest talked about , that screen reader , it slides over and it'll read this is the search box type of text . Well , there's some other really cool tools . Uh , one of the basics is I I currently just um started doing some workshops for seniors , uh , that have vision loss and anyone , not necessarily seniors , but specifically targeting seniors for two reasons . One , most of them have no clue about the technology and two , when they do hear about the technology , they quickly say they can't do it . But something as simple . Here's my . I have an iPhone , but even an Android phone .

Speaker 5 18:46

There's a simple feature under general settings or accessibility . It's a built-in , almost by itself , that you turn on something called voiceover , similar to a screen reader . It's a built in almost by itself that you turn on something called voiceover , similar to a screen reader . It's not Siri , because Siri is . Everybody has Siri . That's the AI . We're talking to it , asking the questions , but there's a feature called voiceover and all I do is here's my cell phone , let me see if I can turn it up and I turn it .

Speaker 5 19:12

Anything that I touch , oh yes , I turn it . Anything that I touch , oh yes , show notifications , page one of two . So it's telling me everything . So people say how do you read your text messages ? How do you do ? Because voiceover , I'm doing two things I'm listening and I'm also manipulating it with my fingers . But anything that I touch , it'll read .

Speaker 5 19:36

And if I get to a website or I'm reading you know a lengthy attachment I just swipe my finger and it starts at the top , or I keep swiping if I need to get to the middle , or I can make some adjustments , and I can go to all of these things . It it's right there . And then , on top of that , you have a toll-free number that you can call apple or google who , uh ? Or the the basis of android , and ask questions and say I can't figure out why isn't this working , and they'll walk you through it . So it's something as simple as that that allows me to do that . And then there's free apps , and then the latest and coolest tool are called ray-ban meta smart glasses . They talk , you put them on and basically they seem through blue . Oh my gosh , someone calls and I'm talking to you right now through my glasses . Oh my goodness Can you hear me ?

Speaker 5 20:41

Yes , I can . Then it's a partnership between Ray Ban and Meta , you know Facebook , et cetera . They partnered , they built in an AI feature as well . So it gives you hands free usage . It wasn't created for the blind and visually impaired . Actually , I think it was created for gamers , because it allows you to take videos and photos without using your , your camera on your phone . You can just give the command , say , take a photo and then download it to your social media immediately

Accessibility Tools for the Visually Impaired

Speaker 5 21:15

hands-free . But you get , you're going to go into your little app and then , boom , boom , it's on it's online . Well , guess what ? And also with AI , I can say read what I have in my hand , tell me what's on my computer screen , tell me what's on TV , and it'll read these things . So it is so , so cool . And I can't . It doesn't enhance my vision , but I'm talking to it using the AI functionality as well as the hands-free , where I can send text messages , answer my calls , things of that nature . So it is the latest and greatest tool and it's the price point is so economical under $300 . Oh , my God , yes . And so gamers , sighted people . I love it .

Speaker 5 22:03

I use it every day . I can grab my mail . My husband hands me my . I don't have to , I don't have to go and open up my phone and do . I can just simply glance and say who's the addressee from , and then it'll say you know it's a statement . Okay , then I can say you know Bank of America . Okay , boom Read . And I can even tell it to go to a certain section . Yesterday we were at a restaurant and my husband hadn't been there before and he's reading . Normally he would read the menu to me in advance . I said , hey , just give me the menu . And I went straight , opened up , just put it in front of me and said read the types of salads . And it read me the four types of salad I was already ready to order .

Speaker 4 22:41

Oh , my gosh Amazing . I know I'm so happy for that .

Speaker 5 22:47

These are simple tools , but then there's a wealth of tools for people , from Braille displays to the various types of magnifiers Some people have different levels of sight , so some that provide contrast and CCTVs . I advise people and I have a resource page on my website that go start with your state agencies . Every state has a vocational rehabilitation group . Sometimes they're incorporated through the employment office group , other times they're standalone . So , whatever your state has , but start with them and people can get services and they can purchase these screen readers , purchase , even offer , you know , a discount , or get iPhones or Androids or things of this nature . You just have to find out what services are available , the training that's available , so reaching out and learning the power of asking , as I tell people , that was my two greatest lessons was one , the power of asking for help , and number two , being patient , because God says , sarah , you're not patient enough , you have to be patient .

Speaker 4 24:01

So what's your website ? I want to put it up on the screen .

Speaker 5 24:04

The website is U as in United , R as in Robert GEMS . G-e-m-s dot com stands for you Are GEMS , I couldn't write Y-O-U , so you are G-E-M-S dot com . And there's a disability resource page , a list of how to find your state agency .

Speaker 3 24:26

if you don't know Can I do that correctly .

Speaker 5 24:27

Organizations . Now , you know , I can't see that .

Speaker 4 24:31

Oh no , that's right .

Speaker 5 24:33

There we go . So u r g e m s dot c o m should . And then w w in front of it , w w , that should take .

Speaker 4 24:41

My goodness , what a goofball . But no , it happens all the time I have been married .

Speaker 5 24:47

I've been married almost 45 years and my husband said it's right over there , where's there ? Right there , and I'm looking at him and then he suddenly oh so , trust me , it happens , it happens . But no , you are gemscom , so the resource page would extremely . It has organizations as organizations and I love the fact that I can help people . If you're looking for a job , it gives you some tips and some tools . But what if I'm an employer ? What if I know a company ?

Speaker 5 25:24

And why aren't we hiring more people , not just visually impaired , but people with disabilities ? There's so many misconceptions that people have from a business sector oh , it's going to cost me this . Oh , I can't afford the accommodations . Oh , what if this ? I mean dispelling all of those things that if you just take the time to sit and look at what the benefits are in hiring individuals with a wide array of disabilities and I used to even work with individuals through the state as a personal job coach and from individuals that were autistic to visual impairment , physical impairments , in all the whole gamut , and I just loved being able to share with them , be confident in yourself and sit down and be able to explain what you can do . But you also need to be able to ask for those necessary accommodations and why you need them .

Speaker 4 26:16

Yeah , and you know , disclosure is a very big conversation going on right now and I think it's great . I think it's great that we're talking about it and we're we're really just talking about a lot of things that we should be talking about , and I think that that's good .

Speaker 5 26:32

And disclosure is unique for each person . It's up to individuals because some , as I tell people , some disabilities , if they're invisible , the law does not require you to walk in and just list the things that you need for accommodations . It's up to you . So it's the way you approach it . So it's the way you approach it Now , in my instance , when I , if I were to go and interview , I'm coming in with the cane and I'm going to have to ask somebody where is the such and such office or where is Bill or Bob or Sally or whomever . So it's going to be clear that even though I look like , as most people say , you don't look like you're blind , because you're looking at me and I'm going , well , I'm following where my ears tell me and I'm assuming you're in front of me , you know one of those type things . So and then I kind of go well , how does a blind people do you think we all look like Ray Charles sister or Stevie Wonder ? Well , I mean , but that's okay , I totally get it . So I use that as an opportunity to really educate and inform .

Speaker 5 27:32

And then at that point , but then I know I'm the elephant in the room because , again , they've talked to Sarah , we've emailed , I've done whatever , and now I walk in and they go oh no , now what do we do with her ? Well , then I come in with my cell phone and I say listen , I'm not doing social media , this is my accessibility tool . I have my notes written here . So , if you see me , I'm listening , it's not a distraction to you , but I'm listening to some follow-up notes that I have in order to ask some certain questions . And if you send me something , if you put it in an electronic version , I can read that faster instead of handing it to me with a piece of paper .

Speaker 5 28:07

However , if you do , I can take a photo of that and then it can be read back , but then I need a little bit of time to do it . So , whatever is most convenient for you , and at that point they're going okay , I think she has a grasp of this . So , and the only other thing is , I asked someone identify yourself when you start talking to me . Because , again , if you're in a room and Bob and Sally and all these people , hey , I'm Bob , so I'm listening , so I can begin to recognize the voice . So , just being confident in believing in yourself and you know , if it's meant to be , it's great , but if that

Navigating Disclosure in the Workplace

Speaker 5 28:40

organization does not , you know , want to hire me , hey , I say hey , I'm happy , because I don't want to be somewhere where someone doesn't want me .

Speaker 4 28:48

Isn't that the truth ? Rejection is protection . Rejection is protection . That's what we say in our family .

Speaker 5 28:54

Absolutely , and that is protection and rejection is protection .

Speaker 4 28:55

That's what we say in our family .

Speaker 5 28:55

Absolutely , that's just one check box another , yes , and I just keep it moving .

Speaker 4 28:59

Okay , thank you , love it oh man , I'm so glad that we found each other . This is so fantastic .

Speaker 5 29:05

Well , you found me because you were on and I said oh how cool . And I I immediately checked out your website and I said oh God , thank you so so much .

Speaker 4 29:19

I'm so glad too . I'm really , really glad because I want to be accessible to everyone . Streamyard , which we're using right now , has amazing accessibility .

Speaker 5 29:31

Extremely accessible . This was one of the first , besides Zoom , that I got introduced to and I just absolutely because the host she said , oh , I didn't realize that , well , I'm not sure . I said I can do a quick little , you know , do some research real fast , because I always ask what kind of platform ? And this was eight , nine months ago and sure enough , they had all the check boxes that it was accessible and , like Podmatch , that you found me , that was one of the reasons I connected with them because , again , they had built in and they even had hired someone who was blind to help , you know , consult with them to make sure it was accessible . So I love being able to do those sorts of things . So kudos , kudos .

Speaker 4 30:15

Yeah , definitely , and I'm really glad that you mentioned that , because those are some really great resources for people that are interested in finding guests or being hosts or anything . It's an amazing place it is .

Speaker 4 30:29

It is on both sides of the fence , host or yes , yes absolutely and it was really great when I decided to kind of hone in a little bit more , in that I could narrow down . Well , I'm not really interested in just having like a business marketing guest on , like , I really want to stick to this community and everything , and I love that . I love that .

Speaker 5 30:54

But you can do that deep dive in , in , in , find your own specialty . Yeah absolutely , absolutely , I know .

Speaker 4 31:02

What is go ? What kind of things are you working on now ? What can we look forward to seeing and what are you going to be doing ?

Speaker 5 31:12

Well , one of the things , as I stated , I'm starting to do seminars at my local library that we are going to start filming so that I can upload it , and I'm going to create a YouTube channel so more people can get Sarah and get exposed to the seminars that I'm doing , both from teaching people some of the accessibility tools and making them aware of that . But , more importantly , I'm also going to try to put on a line . I do a workshop on helping people find their career . You know their next step , but it's sitting down and breaking that down , taking the time and the steps . So look forward to getting seeing a YouTube channel that I'll be able to upload that and offer some courses and also some seminars that people can just click and go .

Speaker 5 32:03

Hey , I can do this for my , you know , for my mom or someone that you might know that suddenly is losing their vision , because it doesn't just , you know , affect seniors , even though you know baby boomers will all be over 65 by the year 2029 . And in vision loss , a good 20% of our population each decade will lose a portion of their vision . So it is just being aware of some of the tools that are available . And then I also want to share on like Instagram . I tell people about my glasses and also some of the cool things watching TV using audio description . People realize they're going . How are you watching movies and TVs ? You can go to the movie theater , get a certain particular headset and sit there , enjoy the movie right there with the rest of your family and not have any clue what's on that screen , but you're following the storyline all because of audio description and going to the theater .

Speaker 5 32:59

I went to see Hamilton about a month ago at our theater and had a headset , had a tactile tour , went behind the stage , felt the props , got a feel . And then you come back , put the headset on and they're describing the characters . But I'm telling people who are sighted no , that's not Jefferson , that's George Washington . He's talking to some . Oh , I didn't know , because the audio description person is they've got the whole play , you know they've got , you know the script and they know who's who . So these are things that people call and that's free . I said yes when I purchased my ticket . I just asked will there be an audio description for this particular service ? And they'll tell me . When I never knew that , I said it's all the power of asking .

Speaker 4 33:40

Yeah , amen , it's all in the power of asking yes . I love that , absolutely , I love that and I think that you have to , just like you said , you have to just quiet yourself , be humble , be realized that in asking , those opportunities will come , they will start to provide themselves around you and that's your opportunity to grasp on those and just Exactly , Exactly .

Speaker 5 34:12

And , sarah , the one thing I find that within the disability community we convince ourselves , our own self-talk oh I won't be able to compete , oh , I don't think I'll . But if we stop the negative voices in turn and trust the faith that , hey , I can do this , it may be different and it may take me a little bit longer , but I can achieve it . I believe in myself . If you don't believe in yourself , you certainly can't go out and convince someone else . But it becomes contagious when you believe you know what you're capable of and you continually invest in yourself .

Speaker 5 34:47

I call it my little bully system Believe , understand love and invest in yourself . I call it my little bully system Believe , understand love and invest in yourself . If you don't , it's not going to come out in people , it's contagious . They go . How do you do ? I want to do that ? I'm talking to a lady that's 86 years old and I'm going to sit and tutor her one-on-one because she wants to learn how to use her . She saw me using my phone , 86 years old , and I said I want to be like you when I get to that point , you know that is so cool .

Speaker 5 35:15

But she said I can sense that you are , so I just want to do . I said trust me , you can pass me , I'm just going to give you , I'm going to get you started and then you can be off to the races . So that definitely I hope , if

Sharing Resources and Future Projects

Speaker 5 35:30

nothing else , through either my book or some of my speeches and I love anywhere that I have an opportunity to speak to individuals . I love being able to do that because I know I'll at least grab one person with that positive nugget that they can get off their pity party and on to a propel party .

Speaker 3 35:47

And tell us the name of the book again .

Speaker 5 35:50

The name of the book is Turning Stones Into Gems Learn how to find purpose in your life and career . You can purchase that book on my website or at any of your bookstores . Amazon it's audible version on audiblecom ebook as well as , obviously , the good old-fashioned , you know , not hardback but paperback version as well . So absolutely , absolutely .

Speaker 4 36:15

Congratulations on the successes that you have created for yourself through your own curiosity , openness and , just you know , love and passion for yourself and your community that you're sharing this information with and just changing , helping change lives , and I'm so grateful that we had this time together today .

Speaker 5 36:40

Absolutely , I am as well . I'm so , so thankful , and I just want to pray and wish you continued blessings in all that you're doing it's great , I love listening . I've already got three podcasts down and I've got more to come .

Speaker 3 36:54

Absolutely .

Speaker 4 36:56

I guess you get squared away for the next , while I know , absolutely , absolutely . Oh , thank you so much for your time . It was so lovely to connect with you and I would love to stay in touch .

Speaker 5 37:08

Yes , we will . We will Absolutely .

Speaker 2 37:24

In the heart of the city . She's shining bright , oh yeah , stories of love and courage all throughout the night , her voice resonating an anthem for all . Through the trials and trials , she answers the call . A mother and a fighter , breaking barriers and strife . Love is her guide . She'll never hide . She's changing the world for you with the heart that speaks in strong , empathy's melody . In our journey we all belong . Followers , stars in the night . So bright , 44,000 voices sharing in the light . She stands for family , advocates for more Movement of compassion . Ways we'll soar . Podcast together , symphony of support , creating life changing rapport . She's changing the world for you With a heart that's fierce and strong . Empathies and melody In a journey we all belong . Through her eyes , A vision clear . Together we rise , shedding fears in every heart . She plants the seed of understanding and love for dearly me . She's changing the world for you With a heart that's fierce and strong . Empathies and melodies . Thank you .