In this episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow welcomes Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer at AccessiBe, National Ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind’s Braille Literacy Campaign, and author of Thunder Dog and Live Like a Guide Dog. The conversation explores safety and self-advocacy in healthcare settings for people who are blind or have low vision. Michael shares personal stories, including a recent hospital experience that highlights gaps in staff understanding of blindness, and offers strategies for educating providers, asserting one’s needs, and ensuring safety in medical environments. He emphasizes the importance of confidence, self-advocacy, and continuous education—both for blind individuals and for medical professionals. Michael also discusses accessible technology in healthcare, from Kaiser Permanente’s app and medication labeling systems to tools like Envision labels and Braille organization strategies. He stresses that blindness itself is not the problem—societal attitudes and lack of awareness are. The episode closes with practical advice: ask questions, advocate for confidentiality, and remember that learning blindness skills through organizations like the Colorado Center for the Blind and NFB can empower independence and safety. Contact Info Guest: Michael Hingson Chief Vision Officer, AccessiBe Email: speaker@michaelhingson.com Website: www.michaelhingson.com Books: Thunder Dog, Live Like a Guide Dog, Running with Roselle Aftersight Contact: Email: feedback@aftersight.org Phone: (720) 712-8856 Website: www.aftersight.org Producer: Jonathan Price, Podcast and Program Producer, Aftersight Show Credits Host: Kim Wardlow Guest: Michael Hingson Producer: Jonathan Price An Aftersight Original Podcast Chapter Markers 00:00 — Intro: Navigating Life with Vision Loss 00:25 — Meet Guest Michael Hingson 02:53 — Understanding Barriers in Healthcare Settings 07:30 — Advocating for Yourself in Medical Situations 09:53 — Dealing with Misunderstanding and Bias 11:57 — The Art of Self-Advocacy Without Conflict 13:32 — Communicating with New Providers 15:54 — Knowing and Defending Your Rights 19:06 — Accessible Health Tech and Kaiser Permanente 21:31 — Labeling Medication and Accessibility Tools 23:24 — Adapting to Vision Loss Later in Life 26:38 — Blindness as Perception, Not Limitation 28:50 — Changing Medical Education on Disability Awareness 31:15 — The Importance of Inclusion and Communication 31:32 — Final Advice: Confidence, Questions, and Community 33:19 — Closing and Resources