In this inspiring and deeply informative episode, Dr. Charles Powell returns to Navigating Life with Vision Loss to tackle a powerful topic: Youth Advocacy. He and Kim discuss the urgent need to equip blind and low-vision youth—and their families—with the tools to advocate for themselves. From navigating inaccessible classroom materials to asserting their rights in higher education and the workforce, Dr. Powell brings clarity, urgency, and hope to the conversation. He shares real-world experiences, practical strategies for families and educators, and the importance of knowing laws like the ADA and IDEA. Dr. Powell also emphasizes that advocacy is a learned skill, best taught early and modeled by parents, mentors, and communities. Listeners will walk away encouraged to build bold futures, educate others, and create real change—not just for one child, but for the community at large. ⏱️ Chapter Markers: 00:02 – Welcome and Episode Introduction 00:26 – Meet Dr. Charles Powell: Advocate, Mentor, Visionary 02:53 – What’s Holding Our Youth Back? Education, Employment, and Rights 05:16 – Knowing the ADA and IDEA: Advocacy through Law, Not Just Emotion 07:40 – Teaching Youth to Use Their Voice Without Fear 09:52 – Start Early: The Importance of Modeling Advocacy 12:18 – What to Do in Schools That Say “We Don’t Have the Budget” 14:42 – Advocacy is Also Education: Teach the System 17:07 – Roleplaying Advocacy at Home + Understanding IEPs and 504s 19:03 – The Bigger Picture: Policy Reform and Affordable Tech 21:30 – Transitioning from High School to College: Prepare Early 23:56 – Don’t Assume Disability Offices Know Everything 26:21 – A Real Example: Mentoring His Nephew Through College 28:42 – Accessibility Should Be Expected, Not Optional 31:07 – Unemployment and Breaking the Stereotype 33:26 – Advocacy in the Workplace: Proving You Can Do It 35:52 – From Chick-fil-A to Corporate: Don’t Wait to Show What You Can Do 38:14 – The Power of Mentorship and Networking 40:43 – Blind Workers Bring Hidden Strengths to the Table 43:07 – If Employers Knew the Truth, They’d Seek Out Blind Workers 45:32 – Advocacy Creates Market Standards (e.g., Audio Description) 47:30 – Don’t Wait for Someone Else to Speak Up—It Starts With You 49:48 – The Blind But Not Broken Movement 52:16 – Build Your Own Table—Then Invite Others 📲 Connect with Dr. Charles Powell: Follow Blind But Not Broken on social media. Connect with Divine Visions Consultant and Paralegal Services, LLC. His contact info is in the episode show notes. 🔁 Listen to More Aftersight Podcasts: Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech for independence Blindsight – Mental health and the blind community The Blind Chick – Vibrant stories from blind and low-vision guests