Access in Focus: Blind Perspectives on Entertainment Accessibility

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025

Time: 5:30 PM – 8 PM

Location: Online & In-Person: Lighthouse Guild Technology Center, 250 West 64^th Street, Third Floor, New York, NY 10023

Join Us In-Person or Online

Get ready for an entertaining and eye-opening conversation that puts accessibility in the spotlight!

Join us at Lighthouse Guild for Access in Focus! — a dynamic panel discussion featuring blind professionals working across the entertainment industry.

From stage to screen (and everything in between), our panelists will share personal experiences navigating the world of entertainment as performers, creators, and consumers. You’ll hear candid insights on the progress that’s been made, the barriers that still exist, and the power of authentic representation and inclusive design in film, TV, theater, and beyond.

Join us after the panel for an up-lifting social hour in our Technology Center where you will have the opportunity to connect with other people in the community. The night will include:

• Q&A with our panelists
• Raflle Prizes
• Giveaways
• Light Bites and Wine

This discussion will take place in person and online via Zoom. Please select your preferred attendance option when you register.

For any questions, please contact Kiana Glanton at glantonk@lighthouseguild.org.

Lights, camera, access!

Meet the Panelists

Annalee Bowen-Smith is a Barbados-born plus-size model and event planner who brings her passion for celebration and diversity to her role as President and CEO of Not My Eyes. After experiencing the lack of inclusivity in the fashion world, she launched the annual Spring Fling Fashion Show—featuring world-renowned designers and an all-blind model lineup. The show has been featured in major media and raises funds annually for schools for the blind across the Caribbean, including in Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Vincent.

Lance Johnson, based in New York City, is a content creator, podcaster, and professional video editor living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a condition that typically leads to legal blindness by age 40. At 34, Lance uses his platform SEE-THROUGH to document his vision loss journey and foster connection within the blind and visually impaired communities.

Petr Kucheryavyy is the Senior Manager of Outreach, Communications, Learning & Development, and product owner of the Spectrum Access app on Spectrum’s Accessibility team. His work focuses on advancing accessibility for both customers and employees. Petr’s career spans hospice care, wellness coaching, and rehabilitation training, including roles at the Colorado Center for the Blind and as cofounder of Socially Accessible. His own experience with vision loss led him to corporate accessibility work at Charter, where he’s influenced accessible product design, inclusive employee experiences, and the development of the award-winning Spectrum Access app. Petr holds a CPACC certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals and was named a 2023 WICT Rising Star (Rocky Mountain chapter).

In Partnership with Spectrum

Notice: Photography and Filming in Progress
Please note that photography and video recording are taking place at this event. By attending, you consent to being photographed and filmed, and to the use of these images and recordings on social media, websites, and other marketing platforms. If you prefer not to be captured, kindly notify a staff member at check-in. Thank you for your understanding.