Living with a Disability (Part 17) - Blindness

Welcome to Hot Topics! In this powerful and insightful episode, host Gabrielle Crichlow reconnects with her college friend and guest, Stacie Leap, to explore her courageous journey from sightedness to blindness as a result of domestic violence. This episode kicks off 2025 with a deep dive into themes of resilience, empowerment, and the realities of living with a disability.Stacie shares her personal story of becoming blind in 2016 and how she has adapted to her new life. She offers a glimpse into her daily experiences as a blind person, detailing the unique methods she uses to navigate everyday tasks and raise her daughter, Alana. Throughout the conversation, Stacie emphasizes the critical role of support, community, and faith in overcoming life's challenges.As the president of the Pennsylvania Organization of Blind Parents, Stacie highlights her advocacy work, supporting others who face similar experiences. She also shares her future plans to establish a nonprofit organization aimed at providing resources and support for blind parents.Tune in to hear about Stacie's inspiring journey, the adaptations she has made to live independently, and her dedication to helping others. This episode is a testament to the strength and courage required to pursue a fulfilling life despite obstacles. Join us for a conversation that seeks to raise awareness about domestic violence, living with blindness, and the importance of support networks in navigating life's challenges.Who is Stacie Leap?Stacie Leap has worked in the behavioral health field since 2008. She has worked with different populations including addiction recovery, mental health wellness, co-occurring disorders, dementia/Alzheimer’s care, psychiatric rehab, and homeless adults/youth.  She went through training to become a peer specialist and recovery specialist. She is an instructor for Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Mental Health First Aid.  She lost her eyesight in 2016 as a result of domestic violence/intimate partner violence. She advocates for accommodations for blind children and blind parents within the Philadelphia public and charter school systems. Even though she lost eyesight, she never lost her vision to empower herself and those around her. As a survivor of domestic violence, she discusses her road to recovery on various podcasts, conferences, workshops, and conventions throughout the country. She currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Organization of Blind Parents (PABP) within the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. There, she leads peer support groups, book discussions, and health seminars for blind parents and grandparents monthly via Zoom. Stacie hopes that through her interactions with people, stigma about blindness is minimized and barriers to accessibility are diminished. She wants people to understand that blindness does not hold her back and she can live the life she wants. She is currently working on developing a nonprofit for blind parents where resources, advocacy, support and networking opportunities are provided for blind parents and their families. Her biggest motivators for her advocacy and drive are God and her daughter Alana.You can find Stacie:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacieleapOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacie.leap/On Threads: https://www.threads.net/@stacie.leapOn X: https://x.com/stacieleapBy email: [email protected] more about the National Federation of the Blind in Pennsylvania: https://nfbofpa.org/Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/IiBiZu-vYVk?si=LGAyTKv_G08vbj9fRate this episode on IMDB: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt35322605/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk********************************************Follow Gabrielle Crichlow: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle.crichlowOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-crichlow-92587a360Follow A Step Ahead Tutoring Services:On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astepaheadtutoringservicesOn X: https://www.twitter.com/ASATS2013 On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-step-ahead-tutoring-services/On YouTube: https://youtube.com/@astepaheadtutoringservicesOn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asats2013On Eventbrite: https://astepaheadtutoringservices.eventbrite.com Visit us on the web: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com   Sign up for our email list: https://squareup.com/outreach/a41DaE/subscribe Sign up for our text list: https://tapit.us/cipPJO Check out our entire "Hot Topics!" podcast: https://www.astepaheadtutoringservices.com/hottopicspodcastSupport us:Cash App: https://cash.app/$ASATS2013PayPal: https://paypal.me/ASATS2013Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/ASATS2013Zelle: [email protected] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/hot-topics--5600971/supportOriginal date of episode: January 3, 2025