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Mariagrazia Buttitta talks about her work with blindness and low vision non-profit Eye2Eye, her life as a legally blind person, her mental health, and provides hope and resources for others experiencing blindness and low vision. 1:28 Guest Mariagrazia Buttitta introduces herself. 2:55 At Eye2Eye the peer support experience involves blind or low/impaired vision peers serving and helping those who are blind or who have low/impaired vision with services and emotional and moral support to help them live productive and fulfilling lives. 5:02 Eye2Eye also works with family members of blind or low/impaired vision people. 5:36 People often want someone to listen for support and to tell them everything is going to be okay. 6:06 Eye2Eye’s number is 833.932.3931 8:30 There is a significant percentage of adults in the U.S. who are visually impaired, have low vision, or are blind. There isn’t one kind of blindness. 9:30 Maria experiences ignorance and stigma from others because she’s legally blind and can see some shapes and shadows, and some people unfairly feel the need to question her visual abilities. 11:38 Maria finds that paying attention to her mental health is important as a person and as a legally blind person. 12:20 A support system is huge when coping with mental health struggles, and at times, blindness. 13:30 Blind/low vision/visually impaired people are not always aware of the emotional and physical repercussions and tools to assist them (which is why peer support is so important in this space). 14:30 Eye professionals often diagnose and discuss the physical and scientific side of vision impairment and blindness, but often do not provide a bedside manner around the emotional side of the diagnosis.  16:30 Stigma is prevalent in and against the blind community, and storytelling is a big way that we can fight against that stigma. 20:30 Don’t assume anything about anyone. Ask questions. 21:00 It’s great if/when you want to learn about something you don’t know, but we have to reframe some of the questions we ask. Maybe introduce yourself first before you start asking questions (or find a way to establish a rapport). 21:50 Read the room, timing is everything, and when asking someone about something that’s different from you (e.g., a disability) try not to “other” them (aka refer to the difference as weird or exotic—after all, it’s normal to them). 25:30 Ask permission from someone before you start asking questions about their life, disability, or eyesight. If it’s a no, then stop. If a yes, then go. Treat other people the way THEY want to be treated (the platinum rule). 26:30 There are numerous national organizations that advocate for blind people in the United States, but as far as service are concerned it depends on the state and area or city you live in. Eye2Eye is a nationwide organization that provides services to people who are blind and of low or impaired vision. 27:25 Eye2Eye is working on putting together virtual peer to peer support groups. 27:45 Blindness is not a curse and you can overcome the challenges that come with it and live a normal life. 30:00 The more we share our stories, the more impactful we can be. --- A native Sicilian-Italian speaker, Mariagrazia Buttitta is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), an author, a motivational speaker, a wellness and health enthusiast, and a passionate mental health and disability advocate. Mariagrazia holds a Master’s Degree of Arts in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The College of New Jersey. The author of “Now I See: How I Battled Blindness, Mental Illness, an Espresso Habit and Lived to Tell the Tale,” Mariagrazia also been featured on the Huffington Post, Medium, Writers Digest, Counseling Today (a publication of the American Counseling Association), and many other outlets.  In 2020, Mariagrazia joined Rutgers Eye2Eye Peer Support Program for Vision Loss as a program promotion, outreach, and peer support specialist. Mariagrazia is a tireless advocate who regularly educates and speaks to college students and organizations about her blindness and her long-term battle with depression and anxiety. When not working, Mariagrazia loves spending quality time with her mother, family, and friends, writing, riding her bike, exercising, shopping, hanging out with her Shih Tzu furry friend, Happy, and embarking on life’s adventures. Her one true weakness—espresso … and lots of it. If you want to book, collaborate, or get in touch with Mariagrazia, visit her website at wwww.embracingyourdifferences.com, follow her on social media. Or email her at: embracingdifferences01@gmail.com Follow Mariagrazia on Twitter: @eyeonacure Instagram: @embracingdifferenceseyeonacure or @mariagrazia.buttitta Facebook: facebook.com/embracingyourdifferences YouTube: Mariagrazia Buttitta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariagraziabuttitta

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