Entries by Halden Ingwersen

Thriving With Rare Disease and Flair With Cassandra Mendez and Casey Greer

In this episode of Heard & Empowered, Dean Thompson chats with Cassandra Mendez and Casey Greer, Co-hosts of the Rare with Flair podcast, about thriving with rare disease, disability, and vision loss. Cassandra and Casey talk about adapting to challenges, building resilience, and creating community through shared experiences. They also share advice on self-advocacy, game-changing accessibility tools, and embracing independence.

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Creating Art Beyond Sight: Adapting to Vision Loss With Paul Castle

In this episode of Heard & Empowered, Dean Thompson talks with Paul Castle, Owner of Paul Castle Studio, about creating art while adapting to progressive vision loss. Paul shares how he reshaped his creative process, used technology to stay independent, and built a career around art and storytelling. He also discusses community, accessible resources, and the value of continuing to create at any level of vision.

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Assistive Tech Breakthroughs for the Blind With Sam Seavey 

Discover how assistive technology for the blind is evolving through AI smart glasses, smarter mobility tools, and task-focused solutions. Sam Seavey shares how people with blindness and low vision can choose practical technology, build effective systems, and use emerging accessibility tools to increase confidence and independence.

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Building a Meaningful Career After Sight Loss With Israel Bolivar

In this episode, Israel shares his powerful story of losing his sight and both hands at a young age after an accident in Colombia, immigrating to the United States, and learning to navigate life with confidence and purpose. He reflects on the challenges he faced after earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, including repeated job denials, and how those setbacks ultimately led him to San Antonio, where he found meaningful employment and a supportive work environment.

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Building a Life Without Limits With Jennifer Parrish of The Lighthouse of Houston 

In this episode of Heard & Empowered, Dean Thompson talks with Jennifer Parrish, manager of Business Services at The Lighthouse of Houston, about meaningful work, leadership, and resilience in the blind community. Jennifer shares why accessible employment matters, how technology and training create independence, and what helped her step into management. She also touches on podcasting, advocacy, and navigating breast cancer.

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[Mission Driven Series] Transforming Federal Procurement for Broader Access and Impact With Larry Allen

Throughout the conversation, Larry emphasizes the importance of trust, education, and leadership — particularly the need for senior leaders to support acquisition professionals as they take informed risks and embrace new approaches. Together, Larry and Soraya reflect on how thoughtful policy, collaboration with industry, and a focus on service and solutions can reshape federal procurement into a more accessible and impactful system for agencies, nonprofits, and the people they serve.

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Building Accessible Career Pathways for People With Disabilities With Kevin Webb

In this episode, Kevin shares his journey into sustainability and social impact leadership at Mitsubishi Electric in the Americas and as Executive Director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. He explains how the foundation focuses on empowering young people with disabilities through access to technology, workforce training, and employer readiness, particularly in high-demand IT and technical careers.

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Navigating Career Transitions and Resilience in the Face of Vision Loss With Joannah Harris

In this episode, Joannah shares her inspiring story of resilience and career reinvention. She highlights the importance of mentorship and vocational coaching, which helped her navigate the job market and refine her skills. Joannah also discusses how her professional journey shifted from teaching to pursuing a master’s degree in applied and computational mathematics, and ultimately embracing opportunities in digital accessibility.

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