Blind Visionaries & Technology

About this Author

Foreword Writer, Eugene Stickland

Eugene Stickland lives with prosopagnosia (face blindness), a visual impairment that makes recognizing even familiar faces challenging, though other aspects of his vision remain intact. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Eugene earned an MFA in Theatre, specializing in playwriting and dramaturgy, from York University. In 1994, he relocated to Calgary for Alberta Theatre Projects' premiere of his acclaimed play, Some Assembly Required, which subsequently enjoyed over 100 productions worldwide. During his ten-year residency at ATP, Eugene authored nine additional plays, and he is also the author of No Harm Done: Three Plays About Medical Conditions, demonstrating his ongoing exploration of unique and impactful themes.

Dagmar Jamieson, Author

Dagmar Jamieson is an artist, designer, and water skier whose passion for creativity persists despite losing her sight due to cone-rod dystrophy diagnosed at age 13. Her determination and imagination drive her innovative home designs and expressive watercolour paintings. Dagmar views blindness not as a limitation but as a gateway to extraordinary experiences. She describes water skiing as a sensory journey, guided by the rhythm of the wake, where intuition and precision replace sight. Her research and artwork have been featured in the book Ascenti: Humans Opening to AI.

Mark Rawleigh, Author

Mark Rawleigh, diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of nine, is a dedicated lifelong learner who holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Sociology, and is currently pursuing a post-bachelor's certificate in Human Resource Management. Mark has never let vision loss define his limits; instead, he passionately explores the world through travel, education, and photography, studying at universities globally and immersing himself in diverse cultures, histories, and ways of life. Photography, a passion from childhood, enables Mark to capture and preserve his unique perspective, allowing him to share his adventures and inspire others to embrace life's boundless possibilities.

Ashley King

Ashley King is a Mexican-Canadian, legally blind actor, playwright, writer and accessibility consultant. She is a graduate of Company of Rogues Actors' Studio in Calgary, Alberta, having completed the Master Class actor training program. She obtained a bachelors degree in Communications majoring in Journalism and a certificate of International Communications from Mount Royal University. Throughout her artistic practice, she strives to advocate and to centre her work around equal representation, accessibility and inclusion. Through the use of technology, she is passionate about exploring the many ways we can share authentic experiences. Her writing--both past and present--focuses on personal lived experiences, striving to bridge divides and foster understanding across diverse perspective

Jonathan Sieswerda 

Jonathan Sieswerda was born with a visual impairment, shaping a life devoted to accessibility, technology, and inclusion. A competitive water skier with the Canadian adaptive team, he's training for the Adaptive Worlds in Australia. At The King's University, Jonathan pursues a Psychology degree with a Computer Science minor, serves as VP Internal for the Students' Association, assists the IT department, and conducts senior research on gender issues. As a Technical Specialist at Apple, he empowers diverse clients to master their technology. Jonathan also collaborates with organizations like Eviance, advocating passionately for disability rights, climate justice, and a more equitable world.

John-Ross Rizzo MD, MSCI, FACRM

John-Ross (JR) Rizzo was diagnosed in childhood with Choroideremia, a congenital retinal disease shaping his vision and professional path. A renowned physician-scientist, he holds the Ilse Melamid Professorship in Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, serving as its first Health System Director of Disability Inclusion and Vice Chair of Innovation and Equity at Rusk Institute. With over 150 publications, he directs the VMIL and REACTIV Laboratories, which includes pioneering assistive wearable technologies for persons with visual impairments. In 2023, Dr. Rizzo was appointed to the MTA Board by Governor Kathy Hochul, continuing his advocacy for more accessible ways to persons with disabilities to commute and traverse NYC.

Giles Hamilton-Fletcher PhD

Giles Hamilton-Fletcher is a fully sighted post-doctoral research fellow at NYU Langone Health, working with Dr. JR Rizzo. His research uses multisensory psychology to improve visual assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision. He explores sensory interactions, including synaesthesia, cross-modal correspondences, and learning sensory substitution. Giles holds a Master's in Functional Neuroimaging (Brunel) and a PhD in Psychology (Sussex). He was an Invited Speaker at the 2021 re:MAKING SENSE symposium and named an Emerging Vision Scientist by the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research in 2018, contributing significantly to accessibility and innovation in sensory technologies.

Maria Ramirez-Emmott

Maria Ramirez-Emmott is a partially sighted Venezuelan-born SmartLife Coach at CNIB in Calgary, dedicated to empowering individuals through assistive technology. With an Honours degree in Psychology, she specializes in mental health, data analysis, and accessible technology solutions. Her personal experience with vision loss sparked a passion for both established and emerging assistive tools, including AI, as well as accessibility features on devices such as the Surface Pro, Pixel 9, and iPad. Maria's solutions-driven approach combines practical strategies with technology to ensure accessibility, independence, and improved quality of life for herself and others navigating the challenges of vision impairment.

Meaghan Hargrave 

Meaghan, who lives with sight loss, relies daily on mainstream technology to maintain her independence. Her personal journey inspired her to become Program Lead for the Accessible Technology Program at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) in Southern Alberta. In this role, Meaghan trains individuals with sight loss on leveraging mobile devices, tablets, and computers to enhance accessibility and independence. Passionate about inclusive design, she volunteers on the Access Subdesign Committee for the City of Calgary, consulting on community projects to ensure accessibility, equity, and inclusion for everyone, regardless of their ability or disability.

Julian Hobson 

Julian Hobson has colour vision deficiency, affecting his ability to distinguish certain colours due to cone-cell impairment. Equally skilled in mainstream medicine, art, and metaphysics, Julian studied medical physics and cardiological science during his extensive career with the Royal Army Medical Corps in the British Army. A talented artist, he designed the cover background for Blind Visionaries, blending creative prompts with innovative AI technology. Julian is also editor of Embrace Your Divine Flow and co-editor of *Secrets of the Forsaken*. Born in Sheffield, UK, he now lives in the Kootenays of British Columbia, exploring intersections of health, creativity, and technology.

Lorene Shyba PhD

Afterword writer Lorene Shyba, is publisher and creative director at Durvile & UpRoute Books and is fully sighted. Her research interests include exploring the integration of artificial intelligence within the creative industries, especially publishing and digital accessibility. In the Afterword for Blind Visionaries, Lorene reflects on the relationship between AI-generated image prompts and descriptive alt-text, and the innovations in semantic web design and navigation for low vision experience.