Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Annaliese Knop, mental health professional, and Laura Millar, public health expert—co-founders of the Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)—for a deep, empowering discussion about safe online dating, boundaries, consent, and healthy connections in the blind and low-vision community.
They unpack the “Be Nice and Educate” mindset often taught to blind individuals, showing how it can unintentionally suppress autonomy. Annaliese and Laura explain the FRIES model of consent (Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific) and offer concrete tools to identify red flags, build confidence in saying “no,” and create emotionally and physically safe dating experiences.
The episode also explores reactive independence vs. interdependence, how internalized ableism can affect relationships, and how to reframe blindness as strength rather than limitation. Through humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, this conversation encourages listeners to embrace joy, agency, and dignity in dating—online and offline.
Contact Info
Guests & Organization
Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)
Website & Facebook: Search “Blind Sexuality Access Network”
Aftersight Contact
📞 (720) 712-8856
✉️ feedback@aftersight.org
🌐 aftersight.org
Producer
Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer — Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guests: Annaliese Knop & Laura Millar
Production: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Introduction
00:26 — Safe Online Dating Overview
01:00 — Origins of the Blind Sexuality Access Network
02:45 — Combining Sex Positivity and Blind Positivity
05:00 — Personal Journeys and Motivation
07:35 — The “Be Nice and Educate” Problem
10:00 — Trauma, Boundaries, and Consent Culture
12:15 — The 5C Framework for Responding to Harm
14:40 — The FRIES Model of Consent
17:05 — Empowerment in Online Dating
19:27 — Learning to Say “No” with Support
21:50 — Red and Green Flags in Online Profiles
26:14 — Trusting Gut Feelings (Interoception)
28:39 — Disclosure and Internalized Ableism
31:02 — First Date Safety Strategies
35:19 — Communicating Access Needs
37:39 — Independence vs. Interdependence
41:53 — Reactive Independence and Toxic Perfectionism
43:53 — Closing Advice and BSAN Invitation
All content for Navigating Life with Vision Loss is the property of Aftersight and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Annaliese Knop, mental health professional, and Laura Millar, public health expert—co-founders of the Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)—for a deep, empowering discussion about safe online dating, boundaries, consent, and healthy connections in the blind and low-vision community.
They unpack the “Be Nice and Educate” mindset often taught to blind individuals, showing how it can unintentionally suppress autonomy. Annaliese and Laura explain the FRIES model of consent (Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific) and offer concrete tools to identify red flags, build confidence in saying “no,” and create emotionally and physically safe dating experiences.
The episode also explores reactive independence vs. interdependence, how internalized ableism can affect relationships, and how to reframe blindness as strength rather than limitation. Through humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, this conversation encourages listeners to embrace joy, agency, and dignity in dating—online and offline.
Contact Info
Guests & Organization
Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)
Website & Facebook: Search “Blind Sexuality Access Network”
Aftersight Contact
📞 (720) 712-8856
✉️ feedback@aftersight.org
🌐 aftersight.org
Producer
Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer — Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guests: Annaliese Knop & Laura Millar
Production: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Introduction
00:26 — Safe Online Dating Overview
01:00 — Origins of the Blind Sexuality Access Network
02:45 — Combining Sex Positivity and Blind Positivity
05:00 — Personal Journeys and Motivation
07:35 — The “Be Nice and Educate” Problem
10:00 — Trauma, Boundaries, and Consent Culture
12:15 — The 5C Framework for Responding to Harm
14:40 — The FRIES Model of Consent
17:05 — Empowerment in Online Dating
19:27 — Learning to Say “No” with Support
21:50 — Red and Green Flags in Online Profiles
26:14 — Trusting Gut Feelings (Interoception)
28:39 — Disclosure and Internalized Ableism
31:02 — First Date Safety Strategies
35:19 — Communicating Access Needs
37:39 — Independence vs. Interdependence
41:53 — Reactive Independence and Toxic Perfectionism
43:53 — Closing Advice and BSAN Invitation
In this episode, Kim Wardlow is joined by Evan Starnes to explore how social media can serve as a powerful tool for advocacy, community building, and change—particularly in the blind and low vision community. Evan shares his journey from discovering digital advocacy on Twitter to becoming an influential voice in accessible tech. They dive into platform-by-platform comparisons, discuss the pros and cons of real-time posting, and offer best practices for accessible content creation. From hashtags and alt text to dealing with misinformation and going viral for the right reasons, this episode is packed with practical tips and thoughtful insights for anyone hoping to use social media as a force for good.
⏱️ Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Welcome to NLVL and Introduction to Advocacy & Social Media
01:00 – Evan’s Story: Finding Community on Twitter
03:00 – Discovering Support and Shared Experiences Online
05:00 – How Social Media Transformed Advocacy
08:00 – The Pros and Pitfalls of Real-Time Posting
12:00 – Platform Breakdown: Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram
16:00 – The Power of Facebook for Advocacy
19:00 – Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok’s Roles
23:00 – YouTube and Mastodon Explained
27:30 – Tips for Responsible and Effective Advocacy Online
31:00 – Collaboration, Group Engagement, and Reposts
33:45 – Service Animal Denials: A Case Study in Viral Advocacy
36:00 – Trends: Alt Text, AI, and Decentralized Platforms
38:00 – Best Practices for Accessible Content Creation
41:00 – Organizational Responsibility in Accessibility
43:30 – Social Media Accountability: What Works and What Doesn’t
45:00 – Advocacy Through Podcasting and Personal Stories
48:00 – Responding to Misinformation with Grace and Strategy
50:45 – Tracking Metrics: Views vs. Engagement Quality
53:00 – Final Tips for Using Social Media Effectively
55:00 – Where to Find Evan and Aftersight Online
56:00 – Tease for Next Week: Youth Advocacy with Dr. Charles Powell
Navigating Life with Vision Loss
Host Kim Wardlow welcomes Annaliese Knop, mental health professional, and Laura Millar, public health expert—co-founders of the Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)—for a deep, empowering discussion about safe online dating, boundaries, consent, and healthy connections in the blind and low-vision community.
They unpack the “Be Nice and Educate” mindset often taught to blind individuals, showing how it can unintentionally suppress autonomy. Annaliese and Laura explain the FRIES model of consent (Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific) and offer concrete tools to identify red flags, build confidence in saying “no,” and create emotionally and physically safe dating experiences.
The episode also explores reactive independence vs. interdependence, how internalized ableism can affect relationships, and how to reframe blindness as strength rather than limitation. Through humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, this conversation encourages listeners to embrace joy, agency, and dignity in dating—online and offline.
Contact Info
Guests & Organization
Blind Sexuality Access Network (BSAN)
Website & Facebook: Search “Blind Sexuality Access Network”
Aftersight Contact
📞 (720) 712-8856
✉️ feedback@aftersight.org
🌐 aftersight.org
Producer
Jonathan Price, Podcast & Program Producer — Aftersight
Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guests: Annaliese Knop & Laura Millar
Production: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast
Chapter Markers
00:00 — Introduction
00:26 — Safe Online Dating Overview
01:00 — Origins of the Blind Sexuality Access Network
02:45 — Combining Sex Positivity and Blind Positivity
05:00 — Personal Journeys and Motivation
07:35 — The “Be Nice and Educate” Problem
10:00 — Trauma, Boundaries, and Consent Culture
12:15 — The 5C Framework for Responding to Harm
14:40 — The FRIES Model of Consent
17:05 — Empowerment in Online Dating
19:27 — Learning to Say “No” with Support
21:50 — Red and Green Flags in Online Profiles
26:14 — Trusting Gut Feelings (Interoception)
28:39 — Disclosure and Internalized Ableism
31:02 — First Date Safety Strategies
35:19 — Communicating Access Needs
37:39 — Independence vs. Interdependence
41:53 — Reactive Independence and Toxic Perfectionism
43:53 — Closing Advice and BSAN Invitation
