Vision Insights

A holiday album recorded by the Miami Lighthouse United Voices Choir. Happy holidays!Track ListingIntroductionWhite ChristmasHava NagilaJingle BellsSilent NightO Holy NightO Come, All Ye FaithfulJoy to the WorldCreditsGeneral Production: Miami Lighthouse For The BlindVirginia JackoCarlos CamachoMusical Production: Oman PedreiraVigarie KendricksGerardo UbiedaAntonio CoboRecording by Antonio Cobo, Victor Castillo & Gerardo UbiedaMixing by Victor Castillo & Gerardo UbiedaMastering by Oman Pedreira & Victor CastilloGuitar, voices, all instruments, arrangements and production of the track “Hava Nagila” by Antonio Cobo Introduction voice by Cameron SisserMusicians:Vigarie Kendricks..........Piano and keyboards.Victor Castillo..........Hammond Organ, keyboards and electronics.Miguela Angel Echevarreneta..........BassOman Pedreira..........Violin y PianoCarlos Camacho..........TromboneDavid Amador..........HarmonicaGerardo Ubieda.........Drums, percussion and loops.United Voices Are: Alesia Smith..........Lead vocalRobert Ferron..........Lead VocalGeneral Voices:Vigarie KendricksJoannie M HolmesGladys BrownLorraine ClementMichelle LastraDavid AmadorBeatriz LastraRaymond BlackwoodHoward HugginsAjaye Crane

We interview three guests who have a unique viewpoint on making ride-sharing more accessible and inclusive for the blind and visually impaired. Briana Gilmore is a trailblazer in the realm of accessibility and public policy. As the Head of Public Policy, Accessibility & Marginalized Communities at Uber, Briana has been instrumental in shaping the policies that drive equitable and inclusive transportation options for all. She's a driving force behind the initiatives that ensure ridesharing is a viable, safe, and convenient option for the blind and visually impaired community.Chris Yoon is a passionate advocate for accessibility in transportation. Chris is Product Manager on Uber's Product Equity team, where he's dedicated to creating innovative solutions that empower riders and drivers alike, regardless of their abilities. Chris's expertise lies in bridging the gap between technology and accessibility, and we're thrilled to have him share his insights today.Oseas De Leon has been a computer and braille instructor at Miami Lighthouse for over 15 years. He is blind and travels independently using a variety of transportation methods including ride sharing. Uber has been a great help to Oseas when other methods of transportation do not work, and we are excited to hear his perspective on ridesharing.

We interview three guests whose experiences have informed their viewpoints on training and employing the disabled.Jonathan Villalobos is a visually impaired resident of Kendall, Florida, who lost his eye sight seven years ago and is now gainfully employed after completing life skills and job readiness training at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind.David Wagner is South Florida Market President of Florida Blue, overseeing operations in eight counties from the Treasure Coast to the Keys. David has been involved in his company’s hiring and job retention practices for persons with disabilities.And Carol Brady-Simmons is Miami Lighthouse’s Chief Program Officer, overseeing our organization’s various employment training programs with more than 30 years of experience in educating persons with visual challenges.Job Readiness and Job Placement classes at Miami Lighthouse can be found here https://www.miamilighthouse.org/Adult_Services.asp

David Paterson was the first legally blind person to be sworn in as governor of a U.S. state and the first African American governor of New York.Follow Miami Lighthouse on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIN

Shawn Cheshire is a blind Paralympian who has competed on the national and international levels in tandem cycling, biathlon, rowing, and other sports. Kaiya Armstrong, a visually impaired pilot who recently fulfilled a personal dream by flying a small airplane cross country from Arizona to Washington, D.C. Follow Miami Lighthouse on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIN @MiamiLighthouse

Christine Stiefel, a prominent South Florida philanthropist, art connoisseur and Founder & President of the Wildflower Foundation. Aaron Hill, Senior Group Health & Activities Instructor and arts specialist at Miami Lighthouse. To donate to Miami Lighthouse's Arts Programs visit https://secure.miamilighthouse.org/Donations.asp

Lili Crook, Chief Operating Officer of Crook & Crook, a family owned full service marine and fishing tackle retailer located in Miami but also doing business globally through the Crook and Crook website. Robert Fine, a shareholder with the law firm of Greenberg Traurig who specializes in issues involving the Americans with Disabilities Act and Jorge Hernandez, manager of technology at Miami LighthouseTo learn more about Website Accessibility and the services Miami Lighthouse has to offer visit https://www.miamilighthouse.org/ADACompliance.asp.

This week's episode features a conversation about cortical visual impairment with Dr. Luxme Hariharan, a pediatric ophthalmologist within the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Caterina Sastri a parent with a child with CVI and Board Director at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, and Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald, Director of the Virginia A. Jacko Cortical Visual Impairment Collaborative Center at Miami Lighthouse. To learn more about The Virginia A. Jacko Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Collaborative Center visit: https://www.miamilighthouse.org/CVICenter.aspWe welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions by emailing CSisser@miamilighthouse.org.

Gus Alexiou, Diversity and Inclusion Contributor for Forbes Magazine, and John Garcia, Manager of Miami Lighthouse’s Low Vision Solutions Center and LighthouseShop.org .To read Gus Alexiou's Forbes Magazine articles visit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/?sh=8bb16355eabb We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions by emailing CSisser@miamilighthouse.org.

On the first episode of Vision Insights, we introduce you to Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, its mission and two key people instrumental in growing the organization to new heights. Thank you for listening to Vision Insights! If you liked the show, please subscribe and leave a review. You can find out more about the work being down at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired by visiting miamilighthouse.org.We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions by emailing CSisser@miamilighthouse.org.

This is Vision Insights, a podcast produced by Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Join us each episode as we examine new developments in health, education and technology that benefit the blind. A stay tuned as we welcome some very special people who teach us everyday that it's possible to see without sight! Thank you for subscribing and leaving a review! You can find out more about Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired by going to miamilighthouse.org.We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions by emailing CSisser@miamilighthouse.org.