The Blind Chick is an Aftersight Original hosted by Penn and Moses Street. It’s a raw, real, and often funny conversation space where blindness isn’t a limitation—it’s part of the story. Each episode dives into the lives of blind and low-vision people, exploring resilience, identity, and the messy, beautiful realities of living without sight. With heart, humor, and honesty, The Blind Chick breaks stereotypes, challenges stigma, and reminds us all that blindness is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a new one.
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The Blind Chick is an Aftersight Original hosted by Penn and Moses Street. It’s a raw, real, and often funny conversation space where blindness isn’t a limitation—it’s part of the story. Each episode dives into the lives of blind and low-vision people, exploring resilience, identity, and the messy, beautiful realities of living without sight. With heart, humor, and honesty, The Blind Chick breaks stereotypes, challenges stigma, and reminds us all that blindness is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a new one.
In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, John Romano from Disaster Central joins Penn and Moses to explore emergency preparedness through a lens of accessibility, technology, and community resilience. John shares the heart behind the Be Ready app and how it helps people with disabilities plan ahead for disasters — not only with gear and gadgets but with mindset and connection. The episode features raw stories of past emergencies, including how one blind man refused to leave his guide dog behind during a flood.
Listeners are encouraged to participate in upcoming pilot programs and advocate for inclusive planning in their own cities. The message is clear: preparedness isn’t just about surviving a storm, it’s about building strong community ties before the storm ever hits.
⏱️ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick
00:27 – Jonathan introduces John Romano & previews Code Orange
01:30 – The mindset of preparedness and the role of battery banks
02:30 – Customizing the Be Ready app for your household
04:50 – Real stories: flood evacuations, guide dogs, and being left behind
07:00 – Planning on the community level: Colorado Functional Needs Conferences
09:25 – 70% of first responders are your family and friends
11:40 – How to bring this program to your city
13:55 – Funding models & donor support for Be Ready
15:55 – Future features: AI & GIS integration
18:15 – Predictive tech and where emergency preparedness is heading
20:35 – The real call to action: Get involved!
22:55 – The power of preparation and community kindness
25:15 – Let's not admire the problem — let’s solve it
27:40 – Closing thoughts and thanks
📞 Contact Info & Resources
Disaster Central: https://disastercentral.org
Be Ready App: Included in pilot discussions via Disaster Central
Interested in the pilot program?
Contact Curtis Garrett or Atlantis Community to request local training and preparedness offerings.
🗣️ Key Quotes
“70% of your first responders are your family and friends.”
— John Romano
“Let’s not just admire the problem. Let’s work the problem.”
— John Romano
“This isn’t about doing it for us — it’s with us.”
— Penn Street
📲 Other Shows by Aftersight
Blindsight – Mental health and blindness
Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech reviews and interviews
Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Weekly show coming back this fall with a 16-week safety series
Code Orange – Coming soon! Focused on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness
The Blind Chick
The Blind Chick is an Aftersight Original hosted by Penn and Moses Street. It’s a raw, real, and often funny conversation space where blindness isn’t a limitation—it’s part of the story. Each episode dives into the lives of blind and low-vision people, exploring resilience, identity, and the messy, beautiful realities of living without sight. With heart, humor, and honesty, The Blind Chick breaks stereotypes, challenges stigma, and reminds us all that blindness is not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a new one.
