Tag: blindness

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 Defying Norms: Jessica Gonzalez’ Triumphs In Education & Blind Tennis

The header photo is in the Beyond Sight Magazine cover template and shows an image of Jessica with long, curly hair that extends down past her shoulders. The hair is voluminous and tightly curled. She is wearing a dark-colored top. The background appears to be an indoor setting with shelves and various items, but the details are not discernible. The image is styled as a magazine cover with the title ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Jessica Gonzalez'. The cover is dated July 2025.

I would like to make sure that the people out there hear me when I say, go out there and try something new. Even if it’s baby steps to get out there and try little stuff. Don’t be afraid, ’cause if I were afraid, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

~Jessica Gonzalez

Editor’s Note

We are so excited to introduce you to our Woman On The Move for July: Jessica Gonzalez!

Jessica’s story begins with heartfelt gratitude, as she expresses her thanks to Bold Blind Beauty for this feature and gives a special shout-out to her friend Melody. Get ready to be empowered by Jessica’s incredible journey of perseverance and self-advocacy. She faced significant vision challenges from an early age, navigating a world that wasn’t always understanding.

Through it all, Jessica found her path to independence, embracing her unique perspective and bravely stepping outside of societal expectations. Her experiences led her to remarkable achievements, from surprising career choices to discovering a passion that’s taking her across the globe.

Jessica’s message is a powerful reminder of the impact of encouragement and the importance of supporting one another, no matter how big or small the stride. She truly embodies what it means to be “on the move.”

Join us in celebrating Jessica Gonzalez, a remarkable woman whose journey lights the way for others to embrace their challenges and pursue their dreams.

Stephanae McCoy
Editor-in-Chief, Bold Blind Beauty

Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

A magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT' featuring a sepia-toned portrait of Jessica Gonzalez with curly hair. She is smiling, and the cover highlights 'Women On The Move' and 'A Bold Blind Beauty Project'.
Beyond Sight Magazine |  Jessica Gonzalez

YouTube Video

Introduction and Gratitude

Hi guys. My name is Jessica Gonzalez, and I would like to start off by saying thank you to Bold Blind Beauty for featuring me in this month’s magazine. Thank you. I like to give a shout-out to my friend Melody for telling me all about this. Thank you, girl. Love you.

Early Life and Vision Challenges

So let’s get started. My name is Jessica Gonzalez, and I was born four months early as a premature. I was diagnosed with the eye disease, retinopathy of prematurity, which is short for ROP. And in my state, my vision, I don’t know how others’ ROP is, but my vision may be a little different from others. I am totally blind in my left eye, and in my right eye, I have no peripheral vision, and I have very cloudy vision in my right eye, which is like looking through the fog, and it’s like being nearsighted and farsighted, kind of, at once.

And so with that, as a child, I hid that from the world, I mean obviously you can see that one eye is straight and one eye is crooked. And so that always brought a lot of stares, a lot of teasing. But I still walked with no cane, and I had no guide dog, and I had no help. And oh boy, falling down was a thing to do.

And I still got teased a lot by a lot of peers growing up. But as I’ve gotten older and a lot more confident in my life, a lot of that stuff stopped. I don’t know if people became more mature, but I definitely became more confident, and I learned to embrace my vision and roll with the punches.

Gaining Independence and Confidence

The image shows a person wearing a dark quilted vest and a short-sleeved shirt, positioned closely next to a large dog. The dog has light fur and is wearing a collar with a leash attached. The dog is panting, with its tongue visible. In the background, there are several trees with green foliage and a building with a brick facade. The building has a distinct architectural feature, an archway, and is situated at a distance behind the person and the dog. The scene appears to be outdoors, with a clear sky visible above.

So, how I did that was I started off by going to the Orientation Center for the Blind in Albany, California. That is where I first learned how to read and write braille. I learned my orientation skills. I learned how to use the computer as well as my living skills, which pretty much kind of highlights, you know, how to get around the house, how to organize your stuff, and how to cook and clean.

After I finished that program, I went and got my very first guide dog, Fender. And I learned from there how to be severely independent. I started feeling more confident in my life. I started feeling safer knowing that I have a guide dog next to me. I. And learning that my independence can now be strided off and a little bit more smoothly, and I was less afraid now that I had a cutie pie next to me. So once I got him and finished the school for Guide Dogs, I moved down to Sacramento, and then I ended up going to school.

Pursuing a Career in Film

And this was another portion of my visual journey that really, really tested my faith in my own self and my vision. It was definitely, it was a major that I went into called digital film and video production, which a lot of people told me not to do. It was very visual, and that is something that I should just leave to the sighted people, and I was told to go and do something that’s more for you. And I would tell people, okay, well, what is that?

Filling out paperwork, typing people’s papers, working at a front desk, like, you know, what do you suggest? And of course, that was what they thought that we all blind people should be doing. But I did not wanna do that. I wanted to do something outside the norm. I didn’t wanna do the stereotypical, what blind people are supposed to do.

So I went to school anyway, and I graduated with a 3.9 GPA and did a killer speech at the end, and it was a struggle. I did struggle a little. I could not see through the camera lens. I can see it once it was done, and it was on a big, big, big screen. But I had a lot of help. And thank you for all my filmmakers out there who guided me along the way and helped me be who I am today. Thank you. And so instead of looking through the camera, I would direct someone else to look through the camera because I know what I wanted it to look like, but I just needed a little assistance to help make that happen. So that’s how I was able to get through film school and graduate with honors.

Working at Apple

The image shows a person with long, wavy hair that extends past the shoulders. The hair appears to be dark in color. The individual is wearing a zippered garment, possibly a jacket or sweater, with the zipper partially visible at the neckline. In the background, there is a shelving unit with various items, including rolled-up materials or objects that resemble yarn or fabric. The shelves are positioned to the right side of the image. On the left side, there are horizontal lines that suggest the presence of blinds or a window covering.

And so after I was done with that, I went to apply for a job at Apple, and I started off as a technician, and I was kind of skeptical at first ’cause I was like, oh my God, they’re not gonna hire me. I’ve been down this route before, where they were like, Why would we wanna hire you? What can you do for us? What would make you, what would make us wanna hire you before we hire anyone else? And I just pushed through it, and I was like, look, don’t not hire me because I’m blind. You need to see what I can do first. And I let that just flow with it, and I said, you know what, I’m gonna just hope for the best.

And sure enough, I was able to land the job. And four years later, I got hired on with Apple Inc. And I was hired on as a logistics warehouse trainer, and that is where I reside today in my work field. And as I started working that job, that job was a little, it was, it was perfect for me, but I didn’t realize how much eyesight I would need or how much sight I would use.

And with me using the little bit of sight that I had left, I was stretching my limits. I was having to read a lot of papers, read a lot of instructions, and use the computer a lot. And I had to have the font big, and I had to have the brightness up really high. But overall, I was telling them, look guys, I think I need to go back and get a refresher on my braille and my computers and everything else because I feel now I am in a part of my life that will allow me to use these skills and I can actually put them to use.

So I was granted the time to go and learn these skills at the Society for the Blind, and I was able to relearn how to use braille and use my computer and how to get through my job nice and nice and successfully. So that is where I am in my job.

Discovering Blind Tennis

The image shows two individuals standing side by side on a brick pavement. The person on the left is holding a tennis racket with a red frame and white strings in their right hand. They are wearing a gray zip-up jacket with the word "FLEXDAY" printed on the left side of the chest, a black skirt, and white athletic shoes. Their left hand is giving a thumbs-up gesture. The person on the right is wearing a black zip-up jacket, also with "FLEXDAY" printed on the left side of the chest, gray pants, and black sneakers with white soles. Their right hand is also giving a thumbs-up gesture. Behind them is a banner advertising a tennis championship, with text indicating the event will take place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, from September 23 to 29, 2024. The background includes a green fence and trees.
The image depicts a group of six individuals positioned in front of a red curtain. Two individuals are kneeling in the front row, while four are standing behind them. The person on the left in the front row is wearing a dark tracksuit with light blue and white accents, along with a lanyard and badge around their neck. The individual on the right in the front row is dressed in a dark blue blazer over a light-colored shirt and jeans. In the back row, the person on the far left is wearing a black jacket with "USTA" written on it, holding a white cane. Next to them, another individual is holding an American flag, wearing a dark jacket with a white collar. The third person in the back row is wearing a red jacket with "JACK FISHER" written on it, also with a lanyard and badge. The person on the far right is partially visible, standing next to a white flag with red markings. The flags being held are positioned vertically, with the American flag on the left and another flag on the right. The individuals are arranged closely together, with the flags prominently displayed behind them.
The image depicts a person playing tennis on an indoor court. The individual is positioned centrally in the frame, standing on a blue tennis court surface with white boundary lines visible. The person is wearing a black sleeveless tennis dress with white trim and white athletic shoes. On their left wrist, they have a black wristband. The person is holding a tennis racket in their right hand, which is raised above their head, and a yellow tennis ball in their left hand, also raised above their head, suggesting they are about to serve. Behind the player, there is a black banner with white text and logos, including "Comune di Lignano Sabbiadoro," "VISPORT," and "EUROSPORT." The background also features a green structure, possibly part of the indoor facility.

While I was at the Society for the Blind, I was introduced to blind tennis, and that is where my passion lies today. So I was introduced to blind tennis and I didn’t wanna do it, I didn’t wanna do typical blind sports, which is track and field, beep baseball, goal ball like that, just, I don’t know, it just wasn’t for me.

So when tennis came along, I was like, wow, how do I do this? And I get that question asked every day. How do you do this? And I said, you know, guys, I had the same question that you guys have. I also wanted to know how. So with my extremely happiness to learn and my willing to get out there and try something new, I got out there and I tried it and oh my God, I fell in love and that landed me a wild card spot to fly to Italy in 2024 to play in my very first World Championship tournament. Yay. Thank you.

And to this day, I have the support of the Gold River Sports Club, and I also have the help of some amazing tennis players and my coaches, and friends to get out there, and they’re supporting me. And we are building a blind tennis team. So if there’s anyone else out there in the United States who would love to learn how to play blind tennis, but you don’t have blind tennis in your area. This hit me up on Instagram or Facebook and or my contact information will probably be down in my information, and feel free to give me a call, and we’ll work something out.

Encouragement and Final Thoughts

And so, yeah, my life has revolved around my blindness my whole life. But I didn’t let it stop me. I may have started off letting it stop me, but in the end, I didn’t let it stop me. And I would like to make sure that the people out there hear me when I say, go out there and try something new. Even if it’s baby steps to get out there and try little stuff. Get out there and try. Don’t be afraid, ’cause if I were afraid, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

So I wanted to just say thank you, everyone, for supporting us, wonderful blind people out here, and encouraging us to get out there and try new stuff, and just being here to support us and being proud of us, because your little bit of encouragement really goes a long way. So I just wanted to tell everyone thank you, thank you, thank you, and have a wonderful, wonderful day. Thank you guys.

Connecting With Jessica Gonzalez

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Like what you’ve read and want to chat about it? Join us in the Bold Blind Beauty Facebook group.

Image descriptions:

  • The header photo is in the Beyond Sight Magazine cover template and shows an image of Jessica with long, curly hair that extends down past her shoulders. The hair is voluminous and tightly curled. She is wearing a dark-colored top. The background appears to be an indoor setting with shelves and various items, but the details are not discernible. The image is styled as a magazine cover with the title ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Jessica Gonzalez.’ The cover is dated May 2025.
  • YouTube thumbnail and video description: The thumbnail features a sepia-toned image of Jessica with long, curly hair, set against a softly blurred indoor background. The photo is framed with a gold border on the left, while the right side displays bold white text on a black background, highlighting “JULY WOMEN ON THE MOVE” and the name “Jessica Gonzalez.” A large gold circle adds a modern touch to the design, emphasizing the celebratory focus on Jessica as the featured individual.
    • In the video, Jessica has long braids cascading over her left shoulder. She is wearing a dark graphic tee with dark pants while seated on a stylish red and cream sofa surrounded by complementary sofa pillows. Behind her are several large windows accessorized with cream colored Venetian blinds.
  • The image shows a person wearing a dark quilted vest and a short-sleeved shirt, positioned closely next to a large dog. The dog has light fur and is wearing a collar with a leash attached. The dog is panting, with its tongue visible. In the background, there are several trees with green foliage and a building with a brick facade. The building has a distinct architectural feature, an archway, and is situated at a distance behind the person and the dog. The scene appears to be outdoors, with a clear sky visible above.
  • The image shows a person with long, wavy hair that extends past the shoulders. The hair appears to be dark in color. The individual is wearing a zippered garment, possibly a jacket or sweater, with the zipper partially visible at the neckline. In the background, there is a shelving unit with various items, including rolled-up materials or objects that resemble yarn or fabric. The shelves are positioned to the right side of the image. On the left side, there are horizontal lines that suggest the presence of blinds or a window covering.
  • A tri-panel of tennis images
    • The image shows two individuals standing side by side on a brick pavement. The person on the left is holding a tennis racket with a red frame and white strings in their right hand. They are wearing a gray zip-up jacket with the word “FLEXDAY” printed on the left side of the chest, a black skirt, and white athletic shoes. Their left hand is giving a thumbs-up gesture. The person on the right is wearing a black zip-up jacket, also with “FLEXDAY” printed on the left side of the chest, gray pants, and black sneakers with white soles. Their right hand is also giving a thumbs-up gesture. Behind them is a banner advertising a tennis championship, with text indicating the event will take place in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, from September 23 to 29, 2024. The background includes a green fence and trees.
    • The image depicts a group of six individuals positioned in front of a red curtain. Two individuals are kneeling in the front row, while four are standing behind them. The person on the left in the front row is wearing a dark tracksuit with light blue and white accents, along with a lanyard and badge around their neck. The individual on the right in the front row is dressed in a dark blue blazer over a light-colored shirt and jeans.
      • In the back row, the person on the far left is wearing a black jacket with “USTA” written on it, holding a white cane. Next to them, another individual is holding an American flag, wearing a dark jacket with a white collar. The third person in the back row is wearing a red jacket with “JACK FISHER” written on it, also with a lanyard and badge. The person on the far right is partially visible, standing next to a white flag with red markings.
      • The flags being held are positioned vertically, with the American flag on the left and another flag on the right. The individuals are arranged closely together, with the flags prominently displayed behind them.
    • The image depicts a person playing tennis on an indoor court. The individual is positioned centrally in the frame, standing on a blue tennis court surface with white boundary lines visible. The person is wearing a black sleeveless tennis dress with white trim and white athletic shoes. On their left wrist, they have a black wristband. The person is holding a tennis racket in their right hand, which is raised above their head, and a yellow tennis ball in their left hand, also raised above their head, suggesting they are about to serve. Behind the player, there is a black banner with white text and logos, including “Comune di Lignano Sabbiadoro,” “VISPORT,” and “EUROSPORT.” The background also features a green structure, possibly part of the indoor facility.
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Beyond Her Blur: Marie Elise’s Empowering Perspective

I believe that no matter how much more my vision will degenerate, I now have the trust in myself and the trust in my surroundings that I will be able to thrive in the future.

~Marie Elise | @beyondmyblur

Editor’s Note

With great pride, we spotlight Marie Elise as Bold Blind Beauty’s May Woman On The Move. Previously featured as our April Monthly Beauty, Marie Elise’s story is proof of the transformative power of advocacy, leadership, and lived experience in the disability community.

Through her immersive travel stories, Marie Elise invites us to experience the world beyond sight-capturing the sounds, scents, textures, and flavors of natural destinations. Her unique perspective inspires us to connect deeply with our surroundings and discover the richness of every place through all our senses.

Building on this, Marie Elise’s work demonstrates that advancing equity isn’t just about breaking down barriers, it’s about expanding what’s possible when we center diverse perspectives and lived experiences. Her dedication to authentic representation and her ability to inspire meaningful change shine as a guiding light for all striving to create a more inclusive world.

We are honored to share Marie Elise’s story and celebrate her impactful contributions to disability advocacy and beyond.

Stephanae McCoy
Editor-in-Chief, Bold Blind Beauty

Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

The photo is in the Beyond Sight Magazine cover template and shows a portrait of Marie Elise. She has wavy, shoulder-length brown hair and is smiling brightly while sitting among tall green grass. She is wearing a vibrant red lace top with thin straps and a delicate gold necklace featuring a small charm. The sunlight casts a warm, golden glow on her face, highlighting her skin, red lipstick, and cheerful expression. Some blades of grass are in the foreground, slightly blurred, adding a natural and intimate atmosphere to the image. The image is styled as a magazine cover with the title ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Marie Elise | @beyondmyblur.’ The cover is dated May 2025.
Beyond Sight Magazine | Marie Elise | @beyondmyblur

YouTube Video

Marie Elise | May 2025 Woman On The Move

Introduction and Gratitude

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for tuning in to this video. I am just beyond grateful and excited to be featured in this month’s segment of Women on the Move from Bold Blind Beauty, and will be sharing a bit more about my vision loss journey in this video. My name is Maria Elise. I’m 32 years old and I was born and raised in the Netherlands, which is also where I currently live.

I was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, which is a subtype of juvenile macular degeneration, the genetic form of macular degeneration, when I was about 16 years old. This is, I think, about the average age to be diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease. The onset of the disease can vary a lot; some are diagnosed younger, already in their childhood, some, like me, uh, in puberty, and others, even in early adulthood.

Living with Stargardt’s Disease

Marie Elise is riding a white horse along a sandy beach with gentle waves rolling in behind her. She is smiling and wearing a riding helmet, dark sunglasses, and a patterned black-and-white long-sleeve top with dark riding pants. The sky is a vibrant mix of blue and white, filled with soft, wispy clouds. The overall scene is bright, open, and joyful, capturing a serene moment by the sea.
Marie Elise riding a white horse

Because of this condition, I am losing the central portion of my vision. So in the central part of my vision, I basically see a constantly moving blur with sort of like, I think it’s called visual noise in it. This kind of blur in the middle can get gray or black in the future, but I do not know when or how fast that is going to happen.

For me, my sight loss was quite rapid in the beginning. I think that I already started losing vision when I was maybe around 12 or 13, I just didn’t notice it. It’s because when I was diagnosed, I saw about 50% in my left eye and 30% in my right eye. Even though probably many of you with visual impairment will know that it is very difficult to sort of express what you see in percentages because my vision really varies depending on the lighting conditions, on how much color contrast there is, et cetera, et cetera.

Now I see between 10% to 15%, more or less, again, depending on the day. But I’ve had the luck that for at least the past couple of years, my vision has been relatively stable. So right now, I find myself in a phase where it’s stagnated.

My current vision allows me to navigate the streets without a white cane, as I still have enough functional vision left. But I do use an ID cane or symbol cane, especially when I’m traveling, to communicate to those around me that I have a visual impairment.

Coping with Anxiety and Building Trust

In the beginning, when I first got diagnosed, of course, I was still quite young that my brain took, as I like to call it, the dirtiest yet quickest escape route for me, which was flight.

I think that I suppressed my emotions concerning my visual condition for many years. I think that subconsciously, I was deeply anxious and truly afraid of what was going to happen to me in the future. And part of me still is, except now I have acknowledged that I have this anxiety. I have worked with it, and I have also grown a very steady and high level of trust for the future. As I really believe that no matter how much my vision will degenerate, I now have the trust in myself and the trust in my surroundings that I will be able to thrive in the future. And this doesn’t mean that the anxiety has gone away completely, but it just means that it is something that I can control and no longer overtake my life.

Because, unfortunately, when I was about 24 years old, having suppressed emotions for so many years, I suffered an anxiety disorder, and was in a really bad, bad place for the second half of my twenties. And I think this was my body’s way of saying, like, Hey, you know, I think that you’ve been suppressing a lot of emotions concerning your insecure future. And it’s time to, well, kind of look at it in the mirror, and that’s what I did. And here I am, in a place of more trust and love towards myself. So that was also really important for me to share with you in this video.

Creating a Travel Platform

Marie Elise, wearing a black polka dot dress and holding her symbol cane in her left hand, is smiling in front of the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre. The only thing separating her and the painting is an oval-shaped wooden bar. She is standing in the designated disability space in front of the Mona Lisa.
The Mona Lisa

I think part of where the trust comes from is also that I now have my own platform. I am a very passionate traveler. I have always been, since I was a young child, I watched a lot of Steve Irwin, and I loved Planet Earth and listening to David  Attenborough, and all the nature documentaries. I’ve always been crazy about exploring. But of course, when you get told that you’re losing a very important part of your vision, I think there was also a part of me that was, that was really afraid that I could no longer do something that I was so passionate about.

So, being a passionate traveler, I actually started a travel platform for visually impaired travelers that is specifically, but not exclusively, as I like to say, for visually impaired travelers. And I share stories there about everything that I experience on my travels non visually. So I write about sounds and smells and textures and flavors. And I also report on accessibility insights from the destinations that I visit, as unfortunately, accessibility still varies from destination to destination.

So I just hope that this is a very inclusive travel media source for all of you watching that also like traveling like me, but are not really sure where to find the right information. With this platform, of course, I hope to motivate visually impaired travelers to keep on exploring. I hope to push for a more inclusive travel industry. But I also really hope that it will just inspire people, regardless of visual ability, to consciously connect with their senses and to just be with their environment in a richer way. As many of us depend so much on our vision that I think we forget just how powerful our smell is and how powerful our ears are, et cetera, et cetera. So that is really something that I hope my stories can do.

Passions Beyond Vision

Marie Elise, sitting down with her symbol cane in her hand, and standing on the ground, is touching a series of tactile photos at the ‘The World Unseen’ exposition by CANON. She looks concentrated as her fingers are resting on the images that show hands of elderly people, made tactically by textured prints of the photos.
‘The World Unseen’

Another part of I think, where my newly developed self-trust comes from is that I have really learned that my visual disability is just a tiny part of who I am. For example, I also really love makeup. I’m wearing red lipstick right now, which I almost wear every day.
I really love animals, I’m crazy about dogs. I’ve had two already in my life, and hopefully next year, I’ll get my third dog. I love horse riding, I just love the feeling of being in the saddle. You know, as competent horse riding is very much about becoming in sync with the movement and the feeling with the horse.

I love teaching. Aside from riding and creating for my platform, I also earn my money as a teacher. I am a private tutor for children. Uh, so I’m very passionate about educating people, which is something that I do on my platform, too, of course. I love baking. I love the feeling of kneading dough. I’m a very smell and touch-oriented person, partly due to my visual disability, of course, but just also because I find that really relaxing.

What I would also like to add is that I am very passionate about South American culture. I have lived in both Spain and Argentina, so Dám Español. I love the warmth of the people there. I love their passion for dance and food. It’s quite different from the country where I’m from, which is in the north of Europe. So it’s a continent that I love traveling to. Also, because I feel safer traveling to countries where I can speak the local language, so that if I need any help, well that I can ask for help from the locals in their language.

Connecting with Me

So if you have any questions for me, of course, feel free to drop them in the comments. You can also send me a DM via my Instagram @beyondmyblur. You can write me an email, which is beyondmyblur@gmail.com. And of course, you can visit my travel website and maybe sign up for the newsletter so you can stay tuned for updates, which is www.beyondmyblur.com.
And then I want to thank you for watching, and I want to wish you a great rest of your day.

Marie Elise’s Bio

Marie Elise (32) is a travel writer, speaker, and content creator from the
Netherlands. At the age of 16, she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a
condition that causes progressive loss of central vision. A passionate explorer,
she founded Beyond My Blur, a platform for visually impaired travelers. On her
website and social media, Marie Elise shares non-visual travel stories – rich in
sounds, scents, textures, and flavors – alongside accessibility insights for each
destination. Through her work, she aims to inspire people of all visual abilities
to consciously connect with their senses and push for a more inclusive travel
industry.

Connecting With Marie Elise

Connecting With Bold Blind Beauty

Like what you’ve read and want to chat about it? Join us in the Bold Blind Beauty Facebook group.

Image descriptions:

  • The header photo is in the Beyond Sight Magazine cover template and shows a portrait of Marie Elise. She has wavy, shoulder-length brown hair and is
    smiling brightly while sitting among tall green grass. She is wearing a vibrant
    red lace top with thin straps and a delicate gold necklace featuring a small
    charm. The sunlight casts a warm, golden glow on her face, highlighting her
    skin, red lipstick, and cheerful expression. Some blades of grass are in the
    foreground, slightly blurred, adding a natural and intimate atmosphere to the
    image. The image is styled as a magazine cover with the title ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Marie Elise | @beyondmyblur.’ The cover is dated May 2025.
  • Piccybot YouTube Video description: Marie Elise is smiling and engaging directly with us. Her skin is pale, with her cheeks lightly flushed, and she’s wearing striking red lipstick. Her eye makeup is subtle but enhances her almond-shaped eyes.
    • Her brown hair, with some lighter highlights, is parted slightly off-center and is styled in a neat side braid that cascades over her left shoulder. On the left side of her hair, near her forehead, she sports a vibrant red flower. She’s wearing a dark, button-down shirt adorned with a floral print; the flowers seem to be pink, red, and possibly a touch of white. A delicate silver necklace is visible around her neck.
    • She seems to be in what looks like a cozy living room. Behind her, we see a large, rectangular window with a split frame, suggesting it might open in two halves. The window is covered with a white curtain bearing a floral pattern that includes birds, leaves, and flowers. To the right, there’s a tall, dark wood cabinet with ornate carvings, and to the left, we catch a glimpse of what seems to be the back of a pink armchair. On the table just underneath the window, there is a beautiful sculpture of an egret. To the left on the same table is a decorative vase. There is a dark green pillow with a leaf print pattern placed beside the sculpture.
  • Marie Elise riding a white horse: Marie Elise is riding a white horse along a sandy beach with gentle waves rolling in behind her. She is smiling and wearing a riding helmet, dark
    sunglasses, and a patterned black-and-white long-sleeve top with dark riding
    pants. The sky is a vibrant mix of blue and white, filled with soft, wispy clouds.
    The overall scene is bright, open, and joyful, capturing a serene moment by the
    sea.
  • The Mona Lisa: Marie Elise, wearing a black polka dot dress and holding her symbol cane in her left hand, is smiling in front of the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre. The only
    thing separating her and the painting is an oval-shaped wooden bar. She is
    standing in the designated disability space in front of the Mona Lisa.
  • ‘The World Unseen’: Marie Elise, sitting down with her symbol cane in her hand, and standing on the ground, is touching a series of tactile photos at ‘The World Unseen’
    exposition by CANON. She looks concentrated as her fingers are resting on the
    images that show hands of elderly people, made tactically by textured prints of
    the photos.
    Posted on by

    Rethinking Blindness: Bill Porter’s Perspective

    The header, Beyond Sight Magazine cover, includes a headshot of Bill standing in front of one of his paintings. He is wearing a dark cap featuring a bear logo on the front. He has a light-colored beard and is dressed in a checkered shirt layered under a black vest. Behind him is a rustic wall decoration made from wooden planks, which features a painted bird. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Bill Porter'. The cover is dated May 2025.

    I have some visual acuity so I don’t act like what people perceive as blind or visually impaired, and with a dominant perception of blindness being absolute, it makes sense that people are skeptical when they witness me navigating crowded spaces with my white cane in hand.

    ~Bill Porter

    Editor’s Note

    It is my pleasure to introduce Bill Porter as Bold Blind Beauty’s May Man In Motion. I had the privilege of meeting Bill during our ASPECT advocacy cohort last fall, where his candor, creativity, and commitment to challenging perceptions of blindness left a lasting impression on me and our peers.

    Bill’s story, “Rethinking Blindness: Bill Porter’s Perspective,” is a powerful reflection on navigating life with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited retinal disorder that causes progressive vision loss. From his early experiences with night blindness in childhood to the pivotal moment when a medical expert told him to give up on his dreams, Bill’s journey is marked by resilience, self-discovery, and a refusal to let others define his potential.

    What stands out most about Bill is his willingness to confront internalized ableism and societal misconceptions head-on. Through his work as a professional artist, educator, and advocate, he not only reclaims his narrative but also sparks important conversations about disability identity, authenticity, and the diversity of lived experiences within the blindness community.

    Meeting Bill through the ASPECT Program’s Prevent Blindness initiative, designed to empower advocates through storytelling, support, and training-underscored the importance of amplifying voices like his. Bill’s journey reminds us that true inclusion requires questioning outdated narratives and making space for every individual to define their path.

    We are honored to share Bill’s perspective, celebrate his ongoing impact as a Man In Motion, and invite you to watch his video or read the transcript below.

    Stephanae McCoy
    Editor-in-Chief, Bold Blind Beauty

    Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

    The Beyond Sight Magazine cover, includes a headshot of Bill standing in front of one of his paintings. He is wearing a dark cap featuring a bear logo on the front. He has a light-colored beard and is dressed in a checkered shirt layered under a black vest. Behind him is a rustic wall decoration made from wooden planks, which features a painted bird. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Bill Porter'. The cover is dated May 2025.
    Beyond Sight Magazine | Bill Porter

    YouTube Video

    Bill Porter | May Man In Motion

    Introduction: Embracing the Unexpected Path

    Hello. It is an honor and a privilege to be speaking with you today. My name is Bill Porter. I have an inherited retinal disorder called retinitis pigmentosa, which causes progressive vision loss.

    When I was in elementary school, I discovered I couldn’t see in low light, and I immediately knew I had the same blindness causing disease as my mother. It was terrifying and it was embarrassing. My childhood activities were strenuous, like being in movie theaters or any outdoor activities after sunset. I would bump into things and crash into objects or people, and balls I was catching earlier in the day were all of a sudden bouncing off my face.

    I tried to explain to people I had a rare eye condition that caused night blindness, but nobody really understood. I got questions like, well, if you’re really visually impaired, why don’t you wear glasses? The feedback I received, even from my own mother, was that it was just best to hide it, play the clown, and endure the laughter and the shame.

    A Pivotal Diagnosis and Defiant Ambition

    Bill is sitting on a couch in his art studio, holding a white cane, with his light brown dog Theo sitting next to him. He's wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans, holding a white cane with a red tip. The dog's fur is soft, and it sits patiently, looking at the camera. A bright, colorful wall art piece is visible in the background, adding vibrancy to the scene.
    Bill on a couch with his dog.

    When I was 18, I saw an optometrist who was a leading expert in my retinal disease. I naively went to the appointment expecting to receive empathy and support, and encouragement, but it was quite the opposite. The doctor told me to give up on my dreams of being an artist. He told me not to waste my time with a college education, and he told me that my only chance for a meaningful life was to support his research and hope for a cure.

    I was driven to pursue my passions, and I used the doctor’s words as motivation. I went on to earn a BFA and an MFA and have had a successful career as a professional artist and educator.

    Despite my determination for most of my life, I avoided coming to terms with my disability, though. This includes staying away from vision specialists, avoiding any thoughts or discussions about visual impairments. I was afraid to face how my progressive vision loss would impair my future, that is, until it became unavoidable. Awkward moments in public began to mount. I was considered rude for not shaking someone’s hand that I didn’t see, and I would bump into people who cut me off in crowded public spaces. It was clear that trying to hide my disability was creating problematic misunderstandings, and it was time to be open about my low vision.

    Acceptance and Advocacy: A Turning Point

    Bill’s painting titled Oblivious-sided. It includes red comic text “SPLAT!”. Below the text is a white splatter that looks like a snowball with action lines implying it was thrown. There is also a gray fedora hat, a white cane, and curved black action lines. 
    Bill’s painting titled Oblivious-sided.

    I stopped driving. I sought medical care from a low vision optometrist who respected me as a human. And in 2018, I was diagnosed as legally blind.

    These events were difficult to face, but it was a blessing as it forced me to come to terms with my narrowing sight, which led to a broadening perspective about my disabled self-concept. My long-held, I don’t want to know attitude turned into an ever-growing curiosity about disability, identity, culture, and how I could be an advocate. I learned about ableism and how deeply embedded it is in all aspects of society. I began to unpack the discourse I had heard about vision loss throughout my life and how I internalized all those ableist views. I started using a white cane in public spaces because of the potential to help me both navigate, more importantly, its ability to help serve as a visual cue to others that I was visually disabled.

    But unfortunately, my magic wand is no match for the kryptonite that is our unaware and ableist culture. The misguided perception of blindness is absolute, and many people are skeptical of individuals who identify as disabled, as they think they could be faking it, which is one of the many symptoms of our culture’s misrepresentation of blindness.

    As a result, I’m constantly at odds with myself about when I should use my cane. It both helps me avoid conflict and gets me into it. I’ve been grabbed without warning and dragged away from where I need to go. People have showered me with pity and offered to pray for me to be cured. If I hold my cane, I feel like I have to act blind, by not reading signs, looking at my phone, or making eye contact with people. ‘Cause if I do, I run the risk of someone shouting “he’s a faker,” and yes, that’s happened to me. I’m in a difficult spot, just like other people I’ve spoken to from the low vision community.

    How do I identify myself? How do I engage in a world that doesn’t believe someone like me exists? As I’ve covered, not disclosing and leaving my mobility aids at home as an effort to avoid attention doesn’t work. Going to the other extreme and acting the part of being blind doesn’t work either. It’s just really uncomfortable.

    Choosing Authenticity Over Expectation

    A pair of Bill’s paintings on a wall. The title of the dyptich is Unforeseen Impact 001. One painting is at eye level with splattered paint in the background and text that reads “WHAM!”. The second painting is a yellow folding CAUTION Wet Floor sign, which is located directly below the other painting, close to the floor.
    Unforeseen Impact 001

    So, you know, I decided I just need to be true to myself and do what’s best for me, regardless of the situation and how uncomfortable it is, or how much undesirable attention it’ll provoke. I came to this conclusion when I realized how much I was internalizing ableism. I worried way too much about what other people thought to the point of projecting judgment.

    Under the circumstances, it makes sense why it’s uncomfortable navigating the world, and my fear of judgment is based on decades of experiencing it. I call it out, but I also understand why it happens. I have some visual acuity so I don’t act like what people perceive as blind or visually impaired, and with a dominant perception of blindness being absolute, it makes sense that people are skeptical when they witness me navigating crowded spaces with my white cane in hand, and then I’ll fold it up and walk without it. That is confusing.

    Being a visual artist and a studio art professor who is legally blind is also a foreign concept to most people. The fact is that’s my reality. I choose not to let judgment fueled by antiquated or inaccurate social definitions of blindness alter who I am or how I present myself. It is definitely not easy, but I now know that when I do what I feel is best for me without any consideration of how it’ll be perceived, is the right way to go.

    Conclusion: Living Boldly with Vision Loss

    This means using my white cane when I feel it’s necessary and putting it away when it’s not. It means participating in activities that my limited vision allows me to, even when I’m in spaces where I’ve disclosed, I’m visually impaired. This also means using my platform as an artist and educator to be able to tell my story and hopefully change people’s perceptions on what blindness is and serve as a role model to others. In doing so, though I don’t want pity, I don’t wanna be considered exceptional, and I definitely don’t wanna be labeled as inspirational from my life’s achievements just because I have a disability.

    What I do hope is to inspire a collective questioning about the narrative around visual disabilities, which includes a narrowing viewpoint about what blindness is and how the barriers our community faces are a construct fostered by a long history of systemic marginalization.

    Bill Porter’s Bio

    Bill Porter is a Boston-based visual artist and educator. He holds an MFA in Visual Arts, a BFA in Animation, and a Certificate in Film Studies. Bill teaches as an adjunct professor in the Integrated Studies and Animation departments at Lesley Art + Design in Cambridge, MA. His paintings, illustrations, and multimedia works have been exhibited and published throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. Through his practice, teaching, and public speaking, Bill shares his personal story and advocates for the disabled community.

    Connecting With Bill

    Join Our Community

    Like what you’ve read and want to chat about it? Join us in the Bold Blind Beauty Facebook group.

    Image Descriptions:

    • The header, the Beyond Sight Magazine cover, and the YouTube Thumbnail include a headshot of Bill standing in front of one of his paintings. He is wearing a dark cap featuring a bear logo on the front. He has a light-colored beard and is dressed in a checkered shirt layered under a black vest. Behind him is a rustic wall decoration made from wooden planks, which features a painted bird. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Bill Porter’. The cover is dated May 2025.
    • YouTube Video Description: Bill is speaking directly to the camera; it’s a medium shot, framed from his chest up, in a brightly lit room that gives off a comfortable, lived-in vibe. He’s got a friendly face, a neatly trimmed reddish beard, and clear eyes. He’s wearing a colorful, multi-toned plaid flannel shirt, which adds a bit of a rustic touch. Topping off his look is a gray baseball cap with an emblem that appears to depict a bear.
    • Behind him, we can see that he’s in a room with high ceilings and exposed wooden beams. To his left is a bookcase overflowing with books of various colors and sizes. There are also several framed artworks of different dimensions on the wall around the bookcase. Over to his right, we see two more pieces of artwork and a vibrant blue loveseat that looks inviting. There’s a desk in front of the bookcase, visible in the lower-left corner, with a lamp, tablet, and some other items on it. The overall impression is of a warm, creative, and organized space.
    • Bill is sitting on a couch in his art studio, holding a white cane, with his light brown dog Theo sitting next to him. He’s wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans, holding a white cane with a red tip. The dog’s fur is soft, and it sits patiently, looking at the camera. A bright, colorful wall art piece is visible in the background, adding vibrancy to the scene.
    • Bill’s painting titled Oblivious-sided. It includes red comic text “SPLAT!”. Below the text is a white splatter that looks like a snowball with action lines implying it was thrown. There is also a gray fedora hat, a white cane, and curved black action lines. 
    • A pair of Bill’s paintings on a wall. The title of the dyptich is Unforeseen Impact 001. One painting is at eye level with splattered paint in the background and text that reads “WHAM!”. The second painting is a yellow folding CAUTION Wet Floor sign, which is located directly below the other painting, close to the floor.
    Posted on by

    Empowered Expressions: Jonathan Rubinov in Focus

    The header, Beyond Sight Magazine cover includes a photograph of Jonathan at his cousin’s wedding on March 12, 2020, wearing eyeglasses and standing dressed formally in a deep blue suit with a white shirt underneath. He sports a coordinating blue bow tie and a small blue flower pinned on his lapel, adding a touch of elegance. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Jonathan Rubinov' The cover is dated April 2025.

    Now I have, the platform of Bold Blind Beauty to advocate, for me to tell other people to stand up for themselves, to not let their visual impairment stop them.

    ~Jonathan Rubinov

    Editor’s Note

    This month, Bold Blind Beauty is proud to shine a spotlight on our April Man In Motion, Jonathan Rubinov, who also happens to be one of our talented Virtual Work Experience Program interns. Jonathan’s story is one of resilience, courage, and advocacy—a journey that motivates and empowers us all.

    Jonathan’s ambition is to be a content writer, using his unique perspective to illuminate music industry topics and advocate for inclusion. His Bold Blind Beauty internship offers invaluable hands-on experience to amplify his voice and realize his aspirations.

    At Bold Blind Beauty, Jonathan is using this platform to share his story and educate others about misconceptions surrounding visual impairment. He’s passionate about breaking barriers of inaccessibility and empowering the visually impaired community to stand up for themselves. His powerful message underscores that disability is a characteristic, not a constraint on one’s possibilities.

    The Virtual Work Experience Program is thrilled to offer Jonathan this opportunity for real-world learning. His commitment to impact through writing and advocacy is clear, and we’re excited to witness his growth and achievements here.

    Welcome to the Bold Blind Beauty family, Jonathan! We are honored to be part of this exciting new chapter in your life.

    I invite you to watch Jonathan’s video or read the transcript below.

    Stephanae McCoy
    Editor-in-Chief, Bold Blind Beauty

    Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

    Beyond Sight Magazine cover includes a photograph of Jonathan at his cousin’s wedding on March 12, 2020, wearing eyeglasses and standing dressed formally in a deep blue suit with a white shirt underneath. He sports a coordinating blue bow tie and a small blue flower pinned on his lapel, adding a touch of elegance. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Jonathan Rubinov' The cover is dated April 2025.
    Beyond Sight Magazine | Jonathan Rubinov

    YouTube Video

    April Man In Motion | Jonathan Rubinov

    Introduction and Background

    Hi all, my name is Jonathan Rubinov and I’m currently an intern at Bold Blind Beauty. So I recently graduated from Queens College with my BA in English and a minor in writing. I’m currently pursuing an MFA and Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing and Literary Translation at Queens College.

    My internship at Bold Blind Beauty will help me gain the experience I need to become a successful content and media writer in the future. I want to specifically write about critical issues in the music industry, such as artists being exploited by record labels and being paid very little royalties by streaming services.

    Adapting To Visual Impairment

    Just to tell you a little bit about my visual impairment, I was born with congenital glaucoma when I was eight months old, and I was visually impaired for the majority of my life. My vision significantly started worsening when I was 13 years old. 

    By the time I was in high school, I already started using a white cane. I did have a paraprofessional following me. I had to work with a TVI, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired, and also a mobility instructor, for me to gain independence around the school building, to have my class resources accessible to me, and for my visual impairment not to hinder me academically. 

    Academic Journey and Challenges

    Jonathan is standing confidently on vibrant green grass, wearing a black graduation gown with a bright red stole draped around his neck. He has on a black graduation cap and gray pants with blue dress shoes. Behind him is a modern building with large windows and a light-colored stone facade, while leafy trees provide a natural backdrop. 
    Jonathan in his cap and gown

    Through perseverance and hard work, I managed to graduate high school with a 4. 0 GPA in my senior year. I got accepted by multiple colleges, including Hunter and Queens College. Initially, when I went to Queens College, I wanted to major in finance, but then I decided to change my degree to English because many professors I had recognized my talent for writing and they really encouraged me to be in this field, so that’s where I am today. 

    I did encounter many challenges due to my visual impairment. It was not easy emotionally, to be honest, I was mentally and physically bullied by many students in my high school I felt like an outsider. I did not know how to emotionally handle myself back then. 

    Emotional Growth and Resilience

    But now I have the emotional maturity and strength to reflect upon my experiences and to write about what I learned throughout the whole process.

    I am more mentally stronger now than I ever have been before. Instead of calling my visual impairment a challenge now, I just say it’s a feature of my life that I kind of have to battle and just kind of strive against and succeed despite the odds being against me. I have learned multiple coping strategies that I developed from seeing therapists.

    I would like to inform and educate the public about misconceptions that come with being visually impaired and just my overall experience, having disability for such a long time. And why being blind or visually impaired is not the end of the world despite many people ignorantly thinking so. So, that’s my ultimate plan. 

    Advocacy and Future Goals

     Jonathan and his father.

    Also as a writer, not only writing about the music industry but writing about my personal life and my struggles. How I succeeded during challenging moments, even how I failed during intense moments, and how that failure made me the person that I am today and just taught me important lessons that I will never forget.

    So I think writing is just such a big opportunity for me to express how I felt about my visual impairment and the feelings that I just reserved internally for so long that I was afraid to, reveal during my childhood. Now I have, the platform of Bold Blind Beauty to advocate, for me to tell other people to stand up for themselves, to not let their visual impairment stop them. For them to obtain the internal strength to succeed despite having this disability. 

    I finally have the platform to voice my opinions on issues that matter to me, being visually impaired. To voice my frustrations about, barriers of inaccessibility that I keep facing every day, in and outside the technology field, and just some changes I want to see, in my local visually impaired community around me. So I’m really excited for this internship, for me to be surrounded by the right people that will encourage me to use my voice wisely to change the perception of being visually impaired to a whole wide demographic of people that are interested in hearing what I have to say. And that want to work with me to make a difference in this community. 

    So I will do everything in my power and strength to work with everyone that I can to make a difference and to make the voices of the silenced visually impaired community heard very, very loudly. I’m very excited to be here. And this is just the beginning of a new chapter in my life that I’m proud to call home.

    Jonathan Rubinov’s Bio

    Jonathan is seated at a table wearing a kippah and dark t-shirt, having a drink at a fancy restaurant to celebrate his father’s 51st birthday.
    Author Photo

    I am currently a 22-year-old graduate student at CUNY Queens College who is completing the MFA program in Creative Writing. I was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma when I was 8 months old and my vision began to significantly worsen when I was 13 years old. I have adopted several technologies that have given me the possibility to graduate high school in 2020 and obtain a bachelor’s degree in English in 2024. Most importantly, I have demonstrated courage, strength, and resilience during moments of difficulty and uncertainty which inspired me to become a content writer in the future who will share my experiences and unique perspective of being visually impaired my entire life. 

    Connecting With Jonathan

    Join Our Community

    Like what you’ve read and want to chat about it? Join us in the Bold Blind Beauty Facebook group.

    Image Descriptions: Provided by PiccyBot and Jonathan

    • The header, Beyond Sight Magazine cover includes a photograph of Jonathan at his cousin’s wedding on March 12, 2020, wearing eyeglasses and standing dressed formally in a deep blue suit with a white shirt underneath. He sports a coordinating blue bow tie and a small blue flower pinned on his lapel, adding a touch of elegance. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Jonathan Rubinov’ The cover is dated April 2025.
    • YouTube Thumbnail & Video Description: The 100th annual Commencement ceremony at Queens College. Jonathan’s family attended this event to celebrate his obtaining his BA in English on May 30th, 2024. Jonathan is standing confidently on vibrant green grass, wearing a black graduation gown with a bright red stole draped around his neck. He has on a black graduation cap and gray pants with blue dress shoes. Behind him is a modern building with large windows and a light-colored stone facade, while leafy trees provide a natural backdrop. In the video, Jonathan is indoors, seated against a plain tan wall. He is in his early twenties, with a dark beard and dark hair, and wears black-rimmed glasses. He’s dressed in a white button-down shirt under a well-fitting navy blue blazer. On his head, he wears a traditional Jewish head covering, called a kippah.
    • Jonathan in his cap and gown (same image as on the YouTube Thumbnail)
    • Jonathan and his father: Jonathan and his father are sitting closely together on a boat. His father, whose arm is draped around Jonathan is wearing a white polo shirt with black accents, while Jonathan is in a white t-shirt featuring a bold black graphic. They are on a sunlit deck, with shimmering water in the background and greenery lining the shore.
    • Author photo: Jonathan is seated at a table wearing a kippah and dark t-shirt, having a drink at a fancy restaurant to celebrate his father’s 51st birthday.