Will Reeve is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont and holds a B.A with honors in English and American Literature. He is known as a journalist, sports broadcaster, actor, media personality, philanthropist, and as the son of Christopher and Dana Reeves. Will is a multi-platform commentator for ESPN, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, for which he has the role of multi-generational ambassador and community advocate.  At ESPN, Will appears on platforms including, but not limited to, SportsCenter, E: 60, and ESPN Radio. He also hosts the weekly MSG Hockey Show on the MSG Network in New York City. Will’s role with both ESPN and MSG Networks is to bring his perspective to potential stories and present them in his unique style, appealing to younger sports fans yet resonating with all viewers.

Will speaks nationwide on behalf of his family and the Reeve Foundation to harness support and mobilize community involvement around critical advances in the field of spinal cord research, and to honor the legacy of his late parents, Christopher and Dana Reeve. Will is also the captain of and board liaison for Team Reeve, the Foundation’s athletic events-related fundraising arm.  He has dedicated much of his life's work to preserving his parents' legacy through their foundation, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. 

Interviewed by our Different & Able President and Founder, Alexandra Nicklas, Will discusses overcoming such tremendous grief at a young age, pursuing a career in sports journalism, and continuing his parents' work to cure paralysis. He also talks about how he is carrying forward the significant journey in the search to find a cure for paralysis. Will’s passion can be summed up in a quote by his late father, “What you do is based on powers we all have inside us; the ability to endure; the ability to love, to carry on, to make the best of what we have — and you don’t have to be a ‘Superman’ to do it.” 

Tylia Flores is a multi-published author, advocate, activist, podcast creator and host. She was born with spastic cerebral palsy and as a child, Tylia noticed that there was little to no disability representation in her favorite television shows. Tylia used this realization to become the successful writer she is today. 

After publishing her first book at sixteen, Tylia continues to write in the hopes that her work can help bring awareness to those with cerebral palsy. She creates books and media that represent people with disabilities to combat the stigma of differences in society. Tylia published her autobiography and a five-part series called, Handi-capable Stomping on the Barriers that Come My Way. She is currently working on a children’s book called, Larry the Differently Abled Bear. 

As a Radio Disney fan, Tylia strove to be in broadcasting. Today, she is the host of her own radio show, Stomping on CP Radio, where she talks about her life journey behind the microphone. Tylia also co-hosts a podcast, Stompers in Love, with Joey Odum. In this podcast, Tylia and Joey talk about dating with a disability and how they conquer all stigmas surrounding relationships. Radio and music have always been a part of Tylia’s life. She is a huge fan of Blake Shelton and his song, Austin.

In the interview with our President & Founder, Alexandra Nicolas, Tylia discusses how she tackles stigmas and gives her take on life as a young woman with cerebral palsy. She also discusses her passion for creating books and being an integral part of the media community that represents people with disabilities. With her tenacious attitude, Tylia states, “When life gets tough you just got to keep on stomping.” 

“Perkins School for the Blind, founded in 1829, was the first school for the blind in the United States. Even 175 years ago, our founders were committed to opening the doors to education, literacy and independence for people who are blind, visually impaired and deafblind.” Perkins School For the Blind

In this interview, our President & Founder, Alexandra Nicklas talks with Kate Katulak and Brian Switzer, of the Perkins School of the Blind. Kate and Brian discuss the school's mission to unlock the tools and skills children and young adults need to realize their potential. Through the use of an Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) students are introduced to a more inclusive world. The ECC pairs academics with a focus on independence, assistive technology, work skills, socializing and more to prepare students to lead their fullest life. Kate and Brain explain how the ECC prepares students for college and career readiness. Through transitional programming, such as Career Launch and Compass, students are able to reach their post-secondary goals and choose career programs that are effective and equitable. 

Kate Katulak

Kate Katulak is the Associate Director of College Success at Perkins School for the Blind, the Lead Coach for Perkins’ virtual transition program, and a certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. She has worked in the field of blindness education and rehabilitation for a decade. Her career started as a Research Assistant at Yale University, where she contributed to the development of a social-emotional learning curriculum, and where she discovered her passion for teaching and curriculum development. She then worked as an itinerant TVI in Connecticut, before coming to Perkins as a classroom teacher and later, an administrator. Kate became blind unexpectedly as a teenager. Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping individuals adjust to vision loss and enabling people with disabilities to create paths towards their best lives. She is living her best life in Massachusetts with her partner, guide dog, and vivacious black cat. She enjoys spending time outdoors, and has completed several triathlons, one full marathon, and many other road races of varying distances. Kate has a master’s in education with a concentration in blindness and visual impairment from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a B.A. in Psychology from Wright State University.

Brian Switzer

Brian Switzer is an Access Technology Instructor in Career Launch, a career readiness program at Perkins School for the Blind. Brian started out his teaching career as a paraprofessional in a special education classroom, ultimately becoming a high school math teacher. As someone with a visual impairment, he brings to the classroom a lifetime’s worth of experience being visually impaired. He holds a master’s degree in Public Policy, focusing on disability policy and Brian holds teaching licenses in secondary and middle school Mathematics, Biology, and English with SEI endorsement. Outside of the classroom Brian is an avid athlete and consulted on the accessibility of fitness apps such as RunKeeper and Strava. He is a published author on a book about living with deaf blindness called, “Walk in My Shoes: An Anthology on Usher Syndrome” and a second book about service dogs called “Walk in My Paws: An Anthology on Service Dogs.” 

Social Media Links

Kate Katulak LinkedIn

Brian Switzer LinkedIn

Brian Switzer-DeafBlind Athlete Facebook page