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Basically Blind

Avery Berschauer

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A glimpse into visually impaired life in a visual world. Host Avery Berschauer shares her personal experience and explores other topics around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
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show series
 
During the pandemic, life was turned upside down for many. We had to find new ways to do everyday tasks like shopping, working, teaching, etc. Recently, there have been a number of shifts than nudge us closer to how things were in 2019, but many don't want some changes to go away. Avery shares why she hopes working from home, virtual events, and fl…
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No, we're not talking about the iconic scene from Friends where Ross yells, "Pivot!" repeatedly in an effort to navigate moving a couch upstairs (watch here). Right now, many people are leaving their current jobs for new ones. Some are staying on the same career path, while others are taking the opportunity to set off on a new course. Avery shares …
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Quitting can feel like a failure. It is hard to separate the fact that your current situation is no longer serving you vs. you just not being able to cut it. Avery talks through the mental process she works through when deciding if she should quit a job, relationship, or community group, and the intense internal struggle of knowing she has to let s…
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The experience of going to the movies is hard to beat. From the film itself to the popcorn and snacks, it just hits different. Streaming platforms often have audio descriptions available, but not all theaters offer this accommodation. Avery recently tried out using audio description technology at a movie theater for the first time and shares her ex…
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The Academy Award-winning movie CODA follows Ruby, a high school senior who is the only hearing member of her immediate family. The film explores isolation, fear of the unknown, and the need we all have to be understood. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss how each of them could relate and the biggest takeaways.…
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People with disabilities can live independently, but like anyone else, every once in a while they may need help. But when should you help and how should you offer it? No one wants to risk offending others, but it can be so hard to watch someone struggle with a task. Avery provides guidance and personal examples on how to best navigate this.…
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Belonging is a term commonly used alongside Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Brene Brown has said, "The opposite of belong, from the research, is fitting in. Fitting in is assessing and acclimating: 'Here's what I should say, or be, here's what I shouldn't say and avoid talking about. That's fitting in. Belonging is belonging to yourself first." Aver…
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Society is taking diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) more seriously than ever before. We've made huge strides, but there is a long way to go. There are still so many instances when people can feel like they don't belong. Avery reflects on how isolating it can feel to exist in spaces where you're the only person with a certain id…
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The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, a black teenager who leads two separate lives. There is the version of herself for Garden Heights, the predominantly black neighborhood she calls home, and another version of herself that exists at the mostly white prep school she attends in an affluent suburb. After witnessing her childhood friend being killed…
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It is always important to educate yourself on the experiences of others and the privileges you have that others may not. This applies to any group that society presses. In honor of Black History Month, Avery shares some of her picks for books, movies, and TV shows. There are so many great resources out there, and this is just a sampler. Books Betwe…
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Sure, dating can be fun, but as Olivia Rodrigo would say, "God, it's brutal out here." Add on a historically marginalized identity like having a disability, and the dating world can be an even trickier space to navigate. Avery opens up and reflects on her dating life and how being legally blind impacted it. She reminds people that even if society o…
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Setting boundaries can be difficult for everyone, but it gets even trickier when you move through life with an identity that society views as having less power. The need to be liked and seen as capable seems even more important when you're in that position. Avery talks about how she's struggled with this and how leveraging the word "no" has changed…
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Job hunting is exhausting. In a perfect world, all companies would value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). Unfortunately, that's not the case, and the burden of evaluating how inclusive a company is falls on the job seeker. Avery goes over tips on how to find a company and manager that values DEIA.…
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It is one thing to include a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) statement on your website, but for a company to truly be inclusive, they need to walk the walk. One of the first ways to show people your values is in the recruiting and interview process. Avery breaks down what improvements can be made in each step of the process. DE…
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Happy Holidays! This time of year offers so many holiday movies to get you in a festive mood. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss The Family Stone. The marketing for this movie made you think this was lighthearted when it is actually dealing with some heavy subjects. Avery and Cam reset the expectation and dive into some of the more cringe-…
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It's the holiday season, and that means gift-giving g. Avery is joined once again by Andrea and they offer up great gift ideas for really anyone on your list but highlight good and bad gifts for someone with a visual or hearing impairment. Keep in mind, everyone is different, and the key to giving a great gift is choosing something that specific pe…
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It is easy to recognize and condemn overt acts of racism, but subtle and persistent racism is just as damaging. In Such a Fun Age, the author shows the variety of ways people can experience and display racist behavior. Having read the book twice, Avery shares her main takeaways. The book demonstrates how intent doesn't matter as much as impact, how…
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brands that put a priority on diversity and inclusion stand out from the pack. More and more consumers are looking for companies that stand for something. Avery shares some of her favorite inclusive brands and why they resonate with her. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to brands that stand for something and don't alienate others. …
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Some people chose to have kids, and others don't. It is a very personal decision, and it can be an even more complicated decision if you have a disability. Avery has her husband and partner, Cameron, on the podcast to discuss having kids. They talk through the pressures of society, the pros, the cons, and the personal guilt you can battle if you ha…
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In honor of Spooky Season, this month's installment of The More You Know Series takes a look at the movie Hush. In the film, a deaf and mute woman living in a secluded area falls prey to a serial killer. Avery invites Cam on the podcast to discuss reactions to the movie overall as well critiques on the depiction of disability and representation in …
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Avery breaks down what Inspiration Porn is, her personal experience with it, and what you can do to avoid it. The term was coined by disability advocate Stella Young and refers to the objectification of people with disabilities to inspire people without disabilities. Resources: Stella Young's TEDx Talk How to Avoid "Inspiration Porn" - Forbes…
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Watching movies and TV is a huge part of pop culture. Meeting someone and finding out you have the same favorite show immediately helps you build rapport. However, “watching” something is a visual act. How does someone who is blind or visually impaired watch movies or television shows? Avery goes into utilizing audio descriptions on streaming platf…
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People with disabilities are used to being questioned about potential cures or treatments that could improve their current condition. While the mindset of needing to "fix" someone is a key part of ableism, medical discoveries are made every day. Choosing to lessen a disability is a personal one. Avery shares her feelings on if she would want to no …
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Avery reflects on the frustration of people not seeing her being "blind enough". Many people have an image of what someone with a disability looks and acts like, and if you don't fit in that box, you aren't really a disabled person. In a world full of shades of grey, why do people still try to put others in such black and white categories?…
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The first installment of The More You Know series focuses on the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. Currently a psychology professor at Stanford University, Dweck’s book lays out how a person’s mindset can stand in the way of reaching their full potential. Avery summarizes the main points of the book, offers her critiques, and connects how mindset relate…
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Anyone can fall victim to imposter syndrome, but studies show that minorities and people with disabilities are even more prone to it. On top of this, people in historically marginalized groups often fight against stereotype threat. Avery defines each of these terms and gives examples of how both of these concepts are detrimental.…
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Knowing how you should address a person with a disability can be tricky. Is it better to say a blind person or a person who is blind? The answer: It depends. Some communities have preferences on identity-first vs. person-first language, and it can differ from person to person. Avery discusses this topic and gives her personal preference.…
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