ABOUT

A proud person with a disability and a passionate storyteller, Sylvia shares her wisdom to inspire others to live fully, embrace change, and  live lives of impact, no matter the challenges.

Sylvia is standing on the deck of a boat, she has long dark hair and is wearing a purple dress.

Born with a severe visual impairment Sylvia grew up in a loving, determined family who refused to place limits on her potential. Her journey has been proof that “normal” is what you make it — filled with education, career success, travel, friendships, motherhood, and joy.

Throughout her life, Sylvia has experienced every stage along the spectrum of visual impairment, from functional vision to only light perception. She navigated school without being able to see well, learned to adapt in a world not built for her needs, and overcame social and professional obstacles with persistence, humor, and grit. Those experiences shaped not only her resilience, but her ability to connect deeply with others facing challenges.

Professionally, Sylvia is a respected leader and mentor in the blindness rehabilitation field, with more than 30 years of experience. She has served as CEO of two nonprofit agencies, held executive leadership roles in multiple organizations, served on numerous boards, and earned three master’s degrees — in Social Work, Visual Disabilities, and Business Administration —two while working full-time.

Known for her hands-on leadership and impact, she has helped countless individuals identify their strengths, pursue their goals, and redefine what is possible after vision loss. She loves helping people find their own potential.

This book grew out of years of encouragement from those she has mentored and worked alongside — people who insisted she share her insights, humor, and hard-earned wisdom more broadly. In these pages, she blends personal stories with practical strategies to inspire readers to take a deep dive into their own experiences and develop real action strategies to learn to fully tread the waters of their life.

When she’s not writing or working, Sylvia enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, crocheting, cooking, and relaxing on her porch in her beloved small hometown in North Florida.