Posted on

Shawn’s Journey: Resilience Beyond Sight Loss

A Portrait-style photograph of Shawn sitting at a table in what looks like a cafe or coffee shop setting. He is wearing a beige or tan-colored jacket and a dark-colored hat. He has a friendly, relaxed expression on his face as he holds a mug, likely containing a hot beverage such as coffee or tea. The background behind him suggests a cozy, indoor environment with brick walls and what appears to be some decorative elements or artwork. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Shawn AKA @Mindful Cyclops'. The cover is dated August 2025.

“My main message to every visually impaired person is that it’s not worth giving up the fight. It’s so difficult in the beginning, like a grieving process with steps that can come in any order. You may reach acceptance and then struggle again, but those moods fade away.”

~Shawn

Editor’s Note

Earlier this year, when I joined TikTok, Shawn was one of the very first creators I discovered—and from the start, his account stood out to me for its sharp humor and unflinching honesty about living with sight loss. His story resonates deeply, not only because he ended up in the Pittsburgh area, but also through the parallels in our experiences: the vitrectomies, the doctor who kept giving false hope, and the waves of grief that come with vision loss—yet the persistence to keep moving forward.

In this month’s Man In Motion feature, we’re honored to share Shawn’s candid journey. As he reminds us: “My main message to every visually impaired person is that it’s not worth giving up the fight. It’s so difficult in the beginning, like a grieving process with steps that can come in any order. You may reach acceptance and then struggle again, but those moods fade away.”

Shawn’s blend of humor, advocacy, and creative spirit brings light to our community and reminds us all that, even through struggles, connection and hope are possible. I invite you to watch Shawn’s video or read the transcript below as we celebrate his resilience and impact.

Stephanae McCoy
Editor-in-Chief, Bold Blind Beauty

Beyond Sight Magazine Cover

a Portrait-style photograph of Shawn sitting at a table in what looks like a cafe or coffee shop setting. He is wearing a beige or tan-colored jacket and a dark-colored hat. He has a friendly, relaxed expression on his face as he holds a mug, likely containing a hot beverage such as coffee or tea. The background behind him suggests a cozy, indoor environment with brick walls and what appears to be some decorative elements or artwork. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled 'BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project' and features 'Shawn AKA @Mindful Cyclops'. The cover is dated August 2025.
Beyond Sight Magazine | Shawn AKA @Mindful Cyclops

YouTube Video

Shawn AKA Mindful Cyclops | August Man In Motion

Introduction: Shawn’s Early Life and Love for Art

Hey, I’m Shawn, and I’m here to tell the story about my vision loss. So even since I was five years old, I loved art just my entire life. I knew that’s what I wanted to do, I just wanted to be creative. And from a young age, I found any way to create art that I could.

The Onset of Health Issues

When I was eight years old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after my body went into shock. After that, that led to rationing insulin, doing things like that, and my diabetes wasn’t under great control. Throughout the teenage years, I noticed that my vision was getting slightly worse, but I just thought that’s what happened when you had to wear glasses. You had to get a new strength every year.

Pursuing Dreams Amidst Challenges

When I turned 27 years old, I started attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh online for Graphic Design. I was excited about it. It’s what I had always wanted to do and didn’t even know. At the same time, I was working for a security company. I was up for a promotion to a field supervisor position with a company car. Everything was going great.

The Turning Point: Vision Loss

And one day, I started to notice a swirl, like a whirlpool, in my vision. I wasn’t sure what was happening, so I just went to an optometrist and asked them, you know, what could this be? When she looked into my eyes, she almost yelled and said that I needed to go see an ophthalmologist. So of course I did. 

That led down a very long road. When I went to see him, he wanted to do surgery right away. So he started with my right eye and did a vitrectomy. The next day, it became infected with a staph infection, and I went back to him weekly to have the eye checked. I could tell that it wasn’t gonna get better, but he kept saying, “It’s gonna be fine, it’s going to be fine.” Then one day he told me, “I’m sorry, I can’t save that eye.” He was finally honest with me. 

So after that, the eye was removed, and I got a prosthetic, and he was doing laser treatments on my left eye. The equipment was very outdated, and I ended up with a lot of peripheral loss and damage to my left eye.

So I finally went to a university hospital. They did everything they could, and I still have some remaining vision around 25%. 

Coping with Vision Loss

A black and white photograph of Shawn wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored short-sleeved button-up with dark pants. He is seated in a chair with his hands resting on both arms and his white cane in his right hand. The background suggests an indoor or enclosed setting, with what appears to be wooden or metal paneling or structures visible behind him. The black and white format adds to the vintage or classic feel of the photograph.

When I was told I was going to get the vision back in my eye, I was excited I could go back to school, and that’s when things got dark for me because they told me that my vision wasn’t going to get any better. 

My favorite thing was oil painting, and when I looked at my paintings, I could make out the details. But when I tried to paint again, I couldn’t create detail. I had a friend and his wife asked me to paint them some cherry blossoms for their living room. So I agreed, but I told them it’s gonna be kind of expressionist because I can’t see anymore. When I gave it to them, they looked like I’m not even sure what the look was on their face, but they looked disappointed and kind of sad. And at that moment, I realized I didn’t need to pick up a brush again.

So when dealing with the grief of losing my vision, I had an emotional breakdown, like I think a lot of the visually impaired and blind community does. I destroyed every painting that I had ever made that was in my possession. I threw away almost all of my paintbrushes except the ones that I couldn’t part with ’cause they were my favorites. Then, when they told me that my vision wasn’t going to get any better as far as me being able to read an actual physical book, I had over 400 books, and I donated all of them, and it was rough.

For the next 10 years, I basically just sat in my parents’ house because it was a small town and no one thought that the visually impaired or blind could do anything. So that’s what I was told. 

A New Beginning: Advocacy and Creativity

This image depicts a romantic moment between newlyweds. The scene appears to be taking place indoors, with a brick wall serving as the backdrop. Shawn and his wife are embracing and sharing a kiss. His wife is wearing a white dress with her wavy green hair draped over her shoulders. Shawn is wearing a blue dress shirt with white suspenders.
Newlyweds

Finally, in 2019, I moved to Pennsylvania and got orientation and mobility training. I got everything I needed. During that time, I got diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and got a transplant, and it sounds cheesy, but I told myself, if I get this transplant, I’m going to help people. Right now, I have just volunteered to go to Washington, DC, for the American Association of People with Disabilities to go with them to a disability summit in DC in September.

This image shows Shawn with a beard, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with the text 'Transplant Tough' printed on it. The sweatshirt has a green ribbon graphic, which is a symbol associated with organ transplant awareness and support. He has a serious expression on his face and is wearing a gray beanie hat. The background appears to be an indoor setting, possibly a room or office space, with blinds or curtains visible in the window behind him. The overall tone of the image conveys a sense of determination and resilience.
Transplant Tough

I wanted to keep my promise, because I want to help people and I’m hoping to turn this into a career. But until I can do that, I’m creating TikToks to be an advocate or create humor or something relatable to the visually impaired, because it’s so hard to find the rest of our community. And that’s my way of giving back. 

A black and white photograph of Shawn and his wife, posing together. Shawn is wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored jacket, while his wife is wearing a wide-brimmed hat and her long wavy hair is cascading over both shoulders. They both have serious expressions on their faces, suggesting a formal or posed photograph.

And I look back, yeah, I miss painting, I miss all of that. But one thing that vision loss taught me was that I’m stronger than I ever thought I was. So I’ve just taken to different creative styles, like making my TikTok videos for people. Or trying to paint again, but with puff paint to make it texturized. I’m trying to get creative. I learn instruments, and honestly, I think this is a great way for my life to have turned out. 

My life’s more peaceful. I am enjoying life more, and honestly, if I hadn’t lost the vision that I lost, I don’t think I would’ve met my wife, who’s my best friend and the reason that I’m here. 

My main message to every visually impaired person, though, is that it’s not worth giving up the fight. It’s not worth it at all. It is so difficult in the beginning, so difficult. It’s a grieving process like any other one, same steps. The only thing is that no one tells you that the grieving steps can go in different orders, and as far as vision loss and blindness, you can be at acceptance, but then months later, be back at depression. But the thing is, those moods fade away.

Connecting With Shawn

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 Portrait-style photograph of Shawn sitting at a table in what looks like a cafe or coffee shop setting. He is wearing a beige or tan-colored jacket and a dark-colored hat. He has a friendly, relaxed expression on his face as he holds a mug, likely containing a hot beverage such as coffee or tea. The background behind him suggests a cozy, indoor environment with brick walls and what appears to be some decorative elements or artwork. The image is styled as a magazine cover titled ‘BEYOND SIGHT | A Bold Blind Beauty Project’ and features ‘Shawn AKA @Mindful Cyclops’. The cover is dated August 2025.
  • YouTube Video Description: The video features Shawn sitting on a brown couch, with a striped blanket and a window with striped blinds behind him. He is wearing glasses, a black t-shirt with a white circular graphic and a yellow sun in the middle, a necklace, and a red bracelet. He speaks directly to the camera about his vision loss and his journey through it.
  • A black and white photograph of Shawn wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored short-sleeved button-up with dark pants. He is seated in a chair with his hands resting on both arms and his white cane in his right hand. The background suggests an indoor or enclosed setting, with what appears to be wooden or metal paneling or structures visible behind him. The black and white format adds to the vintage or classic feel of the photograph.
  • A romantic moment between newlyweds. The scene appears to be taking place indoors, with a brick wall serving as the backdrop. Shawn and his wife are embracing and sharing a kiss. His wife is wearing a white dress with her wavy green hair draped over her shoulders. Shawn is wearing a blue dress shirt with white suspenders.
  • This image shows Shawn with a beard, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with the text ‘Transplant Tough’ printed on it. The sweatshirt has a green ribbon graphic, which is a symbol associated with organ transplant awareness and support. He has a serious expression on his face and is wearing a gray beanie hat. The background appears to be an indoor setting, possibly a room or office space, with blinds or curtains visible in the window behind him. The overall tone of the image conveys a sense of determination and resilience.
  • A black and white photograph of Shawn and his wife, posing together. Shawn is wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored jacket, while his wife is wearing a wide-brimmed hat, and her long, wavy hair cascading over both shoulders. They both have serious expressions on their faces, suggesting a formal or posed photograph. The background is blurred, indicating the focus is on the two individuals in the foreground. The lighting and contrast in the image create a moody, vintage-like atmosphere, giving the photograph an artistic and timeless quality.

Posted on

 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

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.