In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Maxwell Ivey—better known online as The Blind Blogger—to explore what true adaptability looks like when you’re navigating life without sight and without excuses.

Max shares:

• Growing up on a Texas carnival lot and how makeshift kick-ball rules, “find-the-positive” scavenger hunts, and a family ethos of just get open laid the foundation for a can-do mindset.
• The surprising DNA test that upended his original diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa and revealed Bardet–Biedl Syndrome—and why the label ultimately matters less than his outlook.
• Practical hacks for cultivating optimism (think “find the TV remote” but for daily wins) and why packing a positive attitude is the first thing he does before boarding any flight.
• The quote every parent of a complex kid needs to tape on the fridge:

• “When you refuse to ask, you rob the other person of the joy they would have received from helping you.”

• Lessons from decades of teaching companies (and podcasters!) to build accessibility in from the start—and how that same mindset can help moms design environments that truly fit their kids.

Whether you’re wrestling with a new diagnosis, battling “label fatigue,” or just need a shot of courage to ask for support, Max’s humor and hard-won wisdom will remind you that everyone’s blind about something—he just carries the white cane.

👤 About Maxwell Ivey

A serial entrepreneur, speaker, and award-winning accessibility advocate, Max has been demystifying digital inclusion since hand-coding his first website in 2007. He writes on accessibility for AudioEye, PHP Architect, and the USA TODAY network, and serves as Accessibility Advisor to PodMatch.

🔗 Connect with Max

Website & booking: theblindblogger.net
Twitter / X: @theblindblogger

Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions

🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group

💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]

🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf