The hosts talk to Blind, Not Broken author, Lucy Edwards, a UK based, RTS award-winning presenter, journalist, content creator, speaker, entrepreneur and disability activist.

After losing her sight at 17 due to Incontinentia Pigmenti, Lucy committed to sharing her experiences and raising awareness about disability.

Her engaging personality and open commentary have garnered her a social media following of over 2.8 million, with her content being viewed over one billion times. Lucy's influence makes her a leading voice in the global diversity, equity, and inclusion space.

WEBSITE: https://www.lucyedwards.com/

COMPANY: etia

LINKS

• https://www.instagram.com/lucyedwardsofficial/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@lucyedwards
• https://www.youtube.com/lucyedwards
• https://linktr.ee/ellajonesvsthesunstealer
• https://blindnotbroken.cmpgn.page/LGZ6f6

MENTIONS: Grace Beverley

HOSTS: Katie Corbett & Angie Castro

C0-PRODUCER: Angie Castro

PRODUCER: Akira Nakano

www.innovatinginclusion.org

NICOLE HOMERIN, M.Ed. (she/her) is the Director of CVI Education in The CVI Center at Perkins School for the Blind. She is excited to return to Perkins, where she began her career as a Teaching Assistant in the Deafblind Program. Nicole formerly served as a special education teacher for students with a variety of disabilities, including CVI, in both Boston and Los Angeles. Most recently, she served as the Inclusion Communities Manager at Partners for Youth with Disabilities. In this role, she oversaw the Dinah F.B. Cohen NDMC DREAM Fellowship, a national fellowship for college students and recent graduates with disabilities. She also wrote curriculum and provided trainings to mentoring organizations, non-profits, schools, communities, and corporations on disability inclusion, accessibility, and a variety of other disability-related topics.

Nicole is passionate about disability advocacy and making learning accessible and equitable for students and teachers alike.She was named the 2023 Steve Bartlett Award recipient by RespectAbility for her work in disability advocacy, leadership, and empowerment. She was also named the recipient of the 2023 Trailblazer Award from Boston University Wheelock School of Education and Human Development for her exemplary leadership in the fields of education and disability advocacy. She serves on the Heumann Education Advisory Council for the Just Say Hi! Inclusive Education Curriculum created by the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.Nicole holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Boston College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston University.

Editor's Note: Nicole has also completed six marathons.'

HomerinEducationalServices@gmail.com

https://www.perkins.org/cvi-now/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/homerinn/

Company: Homerin Educational Services

Partners for Youth with Disabilities: https://pyd.org/

HOSTS

KATIE CORBETT iis a marketing professional and entrepreneur who brings passion for accessibility to all she does. Katie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a certificate in human resources from Madison College.

AKIRA NAKANO is the Program Officer for the Fox Family Foundation and the Producer of the "Innovating Inclusion" Podcast. He runs the Los Angeles Inception Orchestra which is currently working to provide music education to people of all abilities. He was the host of the previous Fox Family Podcast and the Inception Podcast.

www.innovatinginclusion.org

www.invisions.org

Beth Ruffin, DEIB and Self Inclusion coach, TEDx speaker, and podcast hosts brings an important conversation to the table on belonging and making space for yourself. Join hosts Steven McCoy and Angie Castro as they speak with Beth about one of the hottest topics of today, DEIB.

BETH RUFFIN BIO

Known as “The Everyday Inclusionist,” Beth Ruffin is a respected DEIB expert, author, podcast host, and TEDx speaker who helps women discover doable, “everyday” steps that add up to realizing potential and belonging at their organizations and within themselves. With 45,000+ views, her TED talk on Self Inclusion has taught a global audience how to flip the script by taking back your own belonging. She shares her insights as the host of the “You Belong Here with Beth Ruffin” podcast and in her two books, Get Up and You Belong Here.

To this work, Beth brings a decade of experience, a 20-year career in Corporate America, an Executive Education Certificate in Diversity Leadership from Harvard University's JFK School of Government, and an MBA from Southern Wesleyan University. She’s proudly invested in her community as the Chair of the Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network (WREN) Board of Directors, Board member of Able SC, and member of the Richland County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated.

When Beth’s not walking alongside women toward greater inclusion, you might find her deep into a book, hanging with her daughter and cat, or enjoying life in her current city of Elgin, South Carolina.

www.bethruffin.com

Social Media Handle: TheBethRuffin

Podcasts: You Belong Here, The Permission Project

Company: The Everyday Inclusionist

HOSTS

STEVEN McCOY is an award-winning advocate, activist, and journalist, celebrated for his groundbreaking work in promoting inclusivity and empowerment. As the founder of Spoken Heroes, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization and with a strong social media reach, MrMcCoy's dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Spangenberg-Chappell Memorial Award, Disney Alumni Association Inductee, and honored as AT&T’s “Black Future Maker,” He was recently named to the Forbes 40 under 40 list. Steven also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Usher Syndrome Coalition and the Leadership Board for Foundation Fighting Blindness, and as a Representative for the State of New Jersey Rehabilitation Council.

Steven's contributions have been further recognized by organizations such as the National Association of Black Journalists and state councils in New Jersey, New York, and Oklahoma. He is also a film consultant, making sure that films are displaying inclusive and equality. Steven's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion has been recognized in various states around the world, including the National Association of Black Journalists.

ANGIE CASTRO wis the host and producer of the podcast, “This Is What Blind Looks Like” which focuses on educating the general public about Blindness.

Angie has also worked as a communications coordinator, for Blind, Inc. as well as providing administrative support for a digital marketing company.

www.innovatinginclusion.org

www.invisions.org