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thriving blind academy's 5th Annual

SUCCEED WITHOUT SIGHT SUMMIT SAVE THE DATE: 1/25/25

The Ultimate Game Changer for the Blind and Low Vision Community,

Igniting Success Driven Mindsets like No Other Event!

black background with white text Succeed without sightsummit


  • Imagine a world where vision knows no bounds, where limitless potential thrives in the absence of sight.

    This groundbreaking summit is your ticket to an inspiring convergence of resilience, innovation, and practical startegies for success.

    Join us as we unlock the elements of the THRIVER Formula for Success, featuring incredible stories, expert insights, and a foundation for building extraordinary relationships on this journey!

    Don't miss your chance to be a part of this transformative event.

    Enter your info below to grab your FREE ticket! (Note: Only TBA Yearly Members get access to the recordings of the event)

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    Speakers Succeeding Without Sight in Lives of Their Dreams

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    Learn about Parenting, Education, Workforce Success & More!

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    See the Latest and Greatest in Assistive Technology!

  • THRIVING BEGINS WITH YOU!

    REGISTER NOW to see experience the only event for the blind community that inspires & empowers attendees to take the next right steps to thrive... and have a heck of a lot of fun!

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    Thriving Blind Academy Yearly Membership includes the ALL ACCESS PASS to recordings of every Succeed Without SIght Summit PLUS speical events PLUS webinars PLUS weekly coaching/mentorship community calls.

    DONATE!

    What Can You Expect at This Summit?

    Get a glimpse of the THRIVERS that join us all day long at the only event of it's kind!

    Sam of "The Blind Life": Assistive Tech Talk

    Campbell Rutherford: Homeschool to Harvard

    "Microsoft Matt": Employment 

    What Is the Succeed Without Sight Summit?

    The Succeed Without Sight Summit is a virtual event hosted by Thriving Blind Academy to connect you to people that are living, working, and succeeding with vision loss. The summit has inspired and motivated thousands of individuals and families from all over the world to take the next steps to thrive.

    In a world not built for blindness, it is challenging to find others that know the feelings you feel in adjusting to vision loss. In this community, we understand. Summit speakers and attendees know the fears, doubts, anger, etc involved in this journey. We also know the joy, relief, and energy that comes from being inspired and empowered to take control of your life.

    During the event, you'll be able to learn from those thriving with blindness and low vision and will be empowered by resources and knowledge to succeed in YOUR life. 

    ATTEND! 1/25/25

    Grab your ticket and prepare to THRIVE!

    REGISTER

    DONATE!

    Support the work of Thriving Blind Academy!


    DONATE!

    BECOME A MEMBER

    Get access to the Summit replay AND Events and Mentoring all year long!

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    JOIN TBA!

    VIP All Access Pass!

    Gain access to the live event AND the recordings of every session by joining TBA!

    JOIN TBA!
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    Kaleigh Brendle, Sudent, VIllanova University
    2021 Summit Speaker

    Succeed Without Sight Topics

    These are the pressing topics our community wants to know more about! Stay tuned for updates of specific hour by hour schedule, speakers, and more!

    • A few of the Key Topics that will be covered:

    • Summit Day is Packed with Inspiring Folks That Give Real Life Strategies for Success

      and we have a heck of a lot of fun all day long!

      This is not your typical conference about blindness and low vision! Check back for the session topics and timing of each!

    • Parenting children that are blind/low vision

    • Assistive Technology Talk

    • Thriving Blind in Business: Getting Back Into the Workforce

    • Thriving with Sports for the Blind/VI


    • The Brain's Role in Thriving

    • K-12 + College Success Stories

    • Thriving Blind in the Early Years

    • Blindness: The Competitive Edge


    Want Access to the first FOUR years of

    Succeed Without Sight Summit Replays?

    All Thriving Blind Academy Yearly Members have access to the 30+ hours of previous summit sessions.

    Become a Member Now!

    2025 Speaker LineUp COMING SOON!

    Take a look at some of the THRIVERS from last year's event!

    Check back often as we update this page with this year's speakers! 

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      Sam Seavey

      Assistive Tech Talk

      Sam is Founder of the YouTube channel, The Blind Life (49,000+ subscribers), deicated to sharing his experiences with vision loss. Sam was diagnosed in early adolescence with Stargardt’s Disease, a form of macular degeneration, and was legally blind by his mid-teens.

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      Charlie Collins

      Assistive Tech Talk

      Charlie is Co-Founder of Thriving Blind Academy and the SuccessAbility channel on YouTube, a certified Success Principles speaker/coach, and author of the book Tripping Into the Light. Charlie has been featured in two of Jack Canfield's The Success Principles books. Charlie was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease in his teens and is legally blind.

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      Kristin Smedley

      Raising Thriving Children

      Kristin Smedley is author of the best selling book Thriving Blind:Stories of Real People Succeeding Without Sight and NEW children's book, What I Can Be Is Up To Me. Kristin is Co-Founder of Thriving Blind Academy and the SUccessAbility You Tube channel. She has two sons that are blind due to CRB1-LCA and a sighted daughter. All three of her children are thriving - and out of the house at college and the workforce!

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      Suzette May

      Speaker/Accessibility Consultant

      Suzette May is a passionate advocate and workshop speaker dedicated to making workplaces, clinical trials, and pedestrian areas accessible for the blind. As an entrepreneur and student at Arizona State University, she's pursuing undergraduate studies in Disability Studies and a graduate degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Legally blind herself, Suzette has a Seeing Eye Dog and advocates for disability and pedestrian accessibility, braille literacy, and early vision screening. 

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      Campbell Rutherford

      Student, Harvard 

      Campbell Rutherford is a sophomore at Harvard pursuing an applied mathematics concentration on the biological sciences track. She's hoping to work in medical research after graduate school, which was inspired by the many rabbit holes of biology that she fell into during sciences classes as a homeschooler. Campbell is also a classic pianist and is currently a member of the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum mixed voice choir. She describes herself as a "standard nerd" and she's probably not wrong, though there's nothing standard about her.

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      Liza Rutherford

      Homeschool Mom/Choreographer/Dance Instructor

      Liza Rutherford is the homeschool mom of two girls and a choreographer/dance instructor by trade. She has been homeschooling for 11 years, from preschool to grade 9 for her 14 year old sighted daughter Harris, and grades 5-12 for her blind daughter, Campbell, who is now a sophomore at Harvard. That's 3 bouts of Algebra now, including her own attempt the first time through, if anyone's counting!

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      Leon the Jokester

      Comedian

      Hailed as “The funniest blind Comedian in stand-up”, by Voyage San Antonio Magazine. Comedian Leon the Jokester has one focus in comedy and that is to spread: Love, Hope, and Laughter. Widely known for his clean and relatable comedy for all age groups, Comedian Leon the Jokester brings a style of humor the entire family can enjoy. He addresses life issues, finding hope in tough times, and how to walk by faith and not by sight in every season of life. In 2016, he became the co-founder of the non-profit organization “Oklahoma Comedy Zone, LLC. In which he teaches “tweens” and “teens” how to write clean jokes and become comedians. 

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      Matt Philipenko

      Customer Solutions Architect, Microsoft

      First and foremost, Matt is a believer in Jesus Christ. He is  a Husband, Father, Son, and Brother. He feels blessed to work for Microsoft as a Customer Solutions Architect aka M365 Apps Ranger. Matt was diagnosed with Stargardts when he was 19. Matt says: In life we have a choice we can either ROLL OVER or RISE UP...it's your choice.

    Succeed Without Sight Summit is brought to you by Thriving Blind Academy

    the only community that gives you the success strategies, community and coaching to thrive no matter your level of vision loss.  Take the next step on your thriving journey and join us today!

    **Thriving Blind Academy Membership includes a FREE VIP ticket to the Summit!

    JOIN NOW!

    Succeed Without Sight Summit Access Options:



    FREE

    Standard

  • Membership in the private Thriving Blind Academy Facebook group


  • Access to all Summit Sessions 

  • Access to all Summit day Q&A Sessions



  • $97

    TBA Membership

  • Membership in the private Thriving Blind Academy Facebook group

  • Access to all Summit Sessions 

  • Access to all Summit day Q&A Sessions

  • Access to the entire online portal of recordings, masterclasses, webinars, trainings of success principles for thriving with blindness/low vision

  • Weekly LIVE group mentorship calls (and recordings)

  • Recordings of all Summit speakers

  • Become a TBA Member


    Questions or technical issues? Contact: [email protected]