Topic: Work & Career

Bradford and Bryan Manning, brothers born with Stargardt’s Disease, are the founders of Two Blind Brothers, a clothing line which donates 100% of its profits to medical research into curing blindness. In this video, D&A President and Founder Alexandra Nicklas talks to Bradford and Bryan about their brand’s mission, the advocacy work they do, and the experience of growing up with Stargardt’s. Enjoy!

Mindy Scheier is a mom of three, an entrepreneur, and an authority on accessible fashion. She is also the founder and CEO of the Runway of Dreams Foundation, which she started in 2014 with the help of her son Oliver, who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Oliver wanted to wear jeans to school like his peers; so Mindy took on the request and modified a pair of jeans for her son to wear the next day. Being in the fashion industry and inspired by Oliver’s new jeans, Mindy began her journey designing adaptive clothing that enthuses people with disabilities.

As a renowned leader in adaptive clothing and advocate for inclusion, Mindy collaborates with mainstream brands to make modifications for their present and future apparel lines. These adaptive pieces are wearer friendly, stylish, and encourage conviction, autonomy, and self-expression for people with difference. Her design work has also earned her the award for Ark Catalyst Marketing Influencer of the Year; Mindy also kicked off New York Fashion Week in the fall of 2019 with a runway show, featuring models of all abilities.

Recently, Mindy chronicled her fashion vision and the Runway of Dreams Foundation mission, of “working toward a future of inclusion, acceptance and opportunity in the fashion industry for people with disabilities,” with our Different & Able President and Founder, Alexandra Nicklas. Mindy’s design modifications enable people with difference, by giving them the power to choose their own fashion. With a flaunt forward fashion mentality and her contagious exuberance, Mindy’s philosophy on accessible fashion shines, “Where there is a will, there is a runway.”

Café Joyeux opened in New York City a few months ago at 599 Lexington Avenue. This cafe is unlike other cafes in that most of the staff of all of the Cafés Joyeux are individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It is the first cafe opened in the United States by a not-for-profit foundation that has already opened 26 cafes in France, Belgium and Portugal. The foundation promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities into the workforce.

On Wednesday, August 28th, D&A Executive Director Helene Connelly, Board Member Rose Lynn Sherr, Ph.D. and I visited the cafe. It was a wonderful experience. The decor of the cafe was very upbeat, bright yellow walls and a very modern decor. On the walls were placards displaying messages of inclusion and joy: “Served from the heart” and “Inclusion has no borders” These messages make the cafe welcoming as well as inclusive.

I should mention the delicious food! The menu included homemade quiches and pastries and the menu changes with the seasons. We ordered paninis and quiches and beverages and also bought their ground coffee to bring home. The wait staff were friendly and very efficient. Their smiles and pleasant personalities suggested that they enjoyed their work and they made us feel very welcome.

We were also fortunate to have had an unplanned meeting with the CEO of the foundation, Silvie Giret, and the General Manager of the cafe, Shray Campbell, who both happened to be there that day. Shray and Silvie shared more about the cafe and the background and the inspiration to start the foundation. The foundation’s goal is to raise awareness of the capabilities of people with disabilities, drawing on and developing their strengths as well as to provide work opportunities globally. Their message has already made an impact; the owner of their building has generously provided the NYC location of the Café Joyeux rent-free for the next 10 years!

We are also so excited to hear that they are planning to grow and expand their locations in the U.S. Keep a lookout for them and visit as soon as you can!

Visit Café Joyeux

On June 9th, 2019, Different & Able contributor Ali Stroker made history as the first performer in a wheelchair to receive a Tony Award for her role as Ado Annie in the 2019 Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

At the young age of two Ali was involved in a car accident and as a result was left paralyzed from the chest down. As a child, Ali felt frustrated that her identity revolved around her disability. Becoming a performer offered her a new identity of which she was in control. She started performing professionally at age eleven. Stroker attended Ridgewood High School, where she was senior class president and starred in a number of school musicals. She trained with the Summer Musical Theater Conservatory program at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. In 2009 she graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the New York University Tisch Drama Department.

This is not the first time the actress has made history. In 2015, she was the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway when she originated the role of Ana in Deaf West’s acclaimed revival of Spring Awakening. Ali is also a humanitarian and tireless advocate for making Broadway more accessible. She is the co-chair of Women Who Care, an organization that supports United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, as well as a founding member of Be More Heroic, an anti-bullying campaign which tours the country connecting with thousands of students each year.

Learn more about this incredible woman’s philosophy by reading Ali’s essay “Hosting Your Own Party,” or following Ali’s adventures on Twitter and Instagram at @alistroker.

Lily Moore is a professional actor and model with Down Syndrome. Cognizant of the challenges in the entertainment industry, Lily has never let rejection stand in her way; she has starred in multiple films, national commercials, and television shows. She is an actor on the Netflix series, “Never Have I Ever,” where she plays Paxton’s sassy sister, Rebecca. In her career as a model, Lily has been photographed coast to coast and was the youngest model to be photographed for London’s Radical Beauty Project – a collaborative collective featuring only models with Down Syndrome. As a model, Lily displays her inner and outer pure beauty.

Lily’s vivaciousness and her benevolent nature shine, as a Special Olympics Champion Ambassador and a passionate philanthropist. Through her creatorship of “H.E.L.P.- Helping Everyone with Love and Passion,” the initiative provides bags of food and toiletries for the homeless population. Her motto, “Everyone is Unique, Beautiful, and Brave,” inspires others to chase their dreams with hard work and dedication.

When Lily is not in the limelight, she takes on her real-life roles as a cheerleader, pet lover, social media phenom, and home cook. Determination, confidence, and captivating personality traits are evident in the multitude of talents that Lily exemplifies. In the future, Lily hopes to be able to create her own film work and be the first actor with Down Syndrome to win an Oscar. We are waiting with bated breath for that moment, for now we will just be Lily’s biggest fans.

Interviewed by our Founder and President, Alexandra Nicklas, Lily discusses her two worlds: the high-schooler who makes lasagna, shares videos on YouTube, and plays “Riptide” by Vance Joy on her ukulele; and then there is the rising star making waves through roles in the Netflix series, Never Have I Ever and in movies such as, The Lift (2018). It is quite the balancing act, but one in which Lily thrives. Lily’s positive outlook shines in this interview, as viewers see the world through the eyes of a flourishing teen. Lily states, “My strength is being kind, being smart, being respectful to each other, being a great friend, and being a really good leader.”

John Bramblitt is a visual artist, a song writer, author, and a motivational speaker. He studied at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, where he graduated with honors. John is ranked as the #1 blind painter in the world and is currently the only blind muralist in the world. His works have been sold in over twenty different countries. John has worked with countless charities and non-profits helping them to raise funds in positive, fun and creative ways. He has appeared internationally in print, TV and radio. He has appeared on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, ABC, and BBC Radio, and he’s been featured in The New York Times and Psychology Today.

John only started painting in 2001, when he was 30, after losing his sight to an epilepsy-related condition. He is ‘functionally blind’. This means his eyes can only differentiate between light and darkness. John taught himself how to paint using raised lines to help him find his way around the canvas, and through haptic visualization, which enables him to “see” his subjects through touch. His work is colorful and bold. John also has painted two large scale murals – one in Brooklyn, New York specifically in the Bushwick neighborhood, which is the world’s first mural painted by a blind artist, and one in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, Texas. John has never seen his wife Jacqui, his son Jack, or his dog Echo, but he has painted incredible portraits of them.

Shouting in the Dark describes John’s journey navigating through this new territory of blindness, and how he ultimately rekindles his joy, passion, and relationships through art. He is also the subject of the award winning documentary shorts, “Line of Sight” and “Bramblitt.” John’s work has received much recognition including the ‘Most Inspirational Video of 2008’ from YouTube. In addition, John has received three Presidential Service Awards for his inclusive art workshops for children. He currently works as a consultant for museums in developing programs that are designed to include everyone.

In the interview with our Different & Able President and Founder, Alexandra Nicklas, John shares how he acquired his vision loss, how he adjusted to his life with blindness, and how art helps him cope with all the ups and downs in life. John’s ultimate goal is to express himself more everyday, and to help others do the same. According to John, “Many of the most interesting parts of a person are invisible and hidden from view anyway. I think my blindness might be just the lens that is needed to see into that world.”

Jay Blake is the founder and president of Follow A Dream. Established in 1999, Follow A Dream is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of demonstrating the “Power of Positive Thinking, Self-Determination, and Teamwork.” He is also the only totally blind crew chief in the worldwide sport of auto racing. Jay has more than 15 years experience as a professional auto mechanic and more than 25 years in drag racing.

While working as the head mechanic of a transportation company in 1997, Jay was involved in an industrial accident that caused him to lose complete vision, smell and taste. At the age of 31, he was faced with relearning how to live as a completely blind person.

Refusing to give up on life, Jay aggressively participated in rehabilitation. After being released from Massachusetts General Hospital, he enrolled in an intensive program at The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts. With renewed self-determination, Jay began to follow his dream: owning a professional auto-racing team.

He soon learned that even without his sight, he was still able to do what he loved most – work on racing engines. Turning his dream into a reality, Jay combined his renewed participation in drag racing with his desire to spread his true-life success by inspiring others, both with and without disabilities, to accomplish their goals through the power of positive thinking and self-determination.

Today, Jay is responsible for Follow A Dream organization’s management, operations and community outreach programs, as well as performing mechanical work on the race car. He leads his team of racing professionals in NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car competition, where they won the 2012 East Region championship and finished the season ranked 11th in national points. When Jay is not racing, Jay spends time at vocational schools all across the country, speaking to students, and spreading his message of inspiration.

Interviewed by our Different & Able President and Founder, Alexandra Nicklas, Jay shares his personal experience of overcoming adversity, the story of how he achieved his dream of auto racing, and how he motivates others through his speaking engagements. He also discusses his “5 Tools for Life Success,” which are meant to encourage individuals to pursue their life goals with passion, self-determination and a positive attitude. Jay’s mantra is full of zeal and purpose. He states, “I actually had a choice to live or die, and it was an amazing experience. And I chose to live, and the rest is history.”

Chris Downey is an architect, planner and consultant, who lost his sight in 2008 at the age of forty-five, after undergoing an operation to remove a benign tumor on his optic nerve. Chris continues to practice his profession and is dedicated to creating helpful and enhancing environments for the blind and visually impaired. One of his first projects as an architect after he lost his sight was to help design a facility for veterans with sight loss at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chris’ work also includes renovations of housing for the blind in New York City, a clinic for the Duke University Eye Center, and the new Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco. He also teaches accessibility and universal design at University of California, Berkeley.

Chris Downey sits on the board of Directors for the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco and was appointed President of the California Commission on Disability Access. He is an avid rower and starts each day rowing on the Oakland Estuary with the East Bay Rowing Club. Chris has been featured throughout the mainstream media and speaks frequently about issues relative to visual impairments and architectural design. In 2013, Chris’ TED talk, Design with the Blind in Mind, spoke about accessibility and what a city designed for the blind would be like.

Interviewed by our Different & Able Executive Director, Kristina Spiropoulos, Chris details how he specializes in designing infrastructure before and after his loss of sight. Chris talks about his role at Lighthouse for the Blind and his recent projects. Now through architectural modifications and the allowance of exceptional accessibility, Chris makes everyone’s life better, sighted or not. “Too often, it is our inability to see past the surface of disability to reveal the surprising ability hidden beyond the casual gaze,” says Chris.

Information for the biography provided by: Chris Downey | Speaker | TED

“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 for 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 Brian 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