Today we’d like to introduce you to Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC.
Hi, Catarina; we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have Usher Syndrome, the most common genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness. I’ve been hard of hearing since preschool and wear hearing aids. This was easy to accept because I never knew anything different. I grew up this way. I didn’t encounter a lot of bullying growing up. I think I was lucky in that regard. I remember being teased for having hairy arms (a Latina trait). I will never forget that, but I don’t have any memories of being teased or bullied because of my disability. I remember wanting to get smaller hearing aids, but I had to wait until my ears stopped growing. In elementary and middle school, I wore behind-the-ear hearing aids. They have a mold inside the ear, and the hearing aid sits behind it. As a teenager, I got small hearing aids that fit inside the ear canal and were much less visible to others. I was self-conscious about being different, so these smaller hearing aids made me feel better. Looking back, I wish I could tell younger Catarina, “It’s okay to be different. You don’t have to hide your disability for others to accept you. You can just be you.”
My vision disability was diagnosed at 17. It was challenging for a long time to adapt. In college, I would cry every time I talked about my blindness and say, “I’m going blind.” My doctors didn’t connect me and my family to resources about blindness, we had to find them on our own. I didn’t know about accessible technology and tools I could use in my future until I moved to NYC and got services. I didn’t have role models of thriving blind adults until I found some through a blindness organization. I didn’t want to use a white cane for years, but I finally learned to use one in 2016 and never looked back. I found my self-advocacy voice strengthened when using a cane and getting used to being publicly disabled. I spoke up and was consequently better included. It became easier to ask for what I needed. This changed me and made me want to become a public advocate to help others, as I knew how much I had struggled when I was younger. Now that I have found disability pride and a powerful voice, I want to make a difference for others who are still working on their disability identity journey.
My family is Cuban and Puerto Rican, and I grew up loving to read. I have two graduate degrees, one in education and one in public health. I moved to NYC after college and started my career as a bilingual educator in the Bronx. I left the classroom to start a community health program and learned a lot of lessons about social entrepreneurship. I returned to work full-time at a nonprofit and pursued my MPH at night. After earning my MPH, I worked in food security and food justice. I founded a nonprofit called the Washington Heights/Inwood Food Council in partnership with community members. In 2020, I started an Instagram page called @BlindishLatina. At first, it was just for fun. Soon, I saw that I had a real passion for it and could turn it into a business. I launched my business in 2021 and was able to leave my full time role in 2022. I’m primarily a virtual public speaker and consultant now, which means I can work from anywhere, and I do! I travel full-time and love getting to experience different parts of the world.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As previously shared, my disability identity journey was difficult. Accepting my disability and feeling confident took me a long time. Currently, my biggest challenges are often due to the inaccessibility of our world. For example, I have trouble hearing my dining companions when restaurants are loud and noisy. I experience microaggressions when traveling, such as when an airline flight attendant assumed I couldn’t exit a plane independently due to my blindness instead of asking me. I’ve also dealt with my voice not being taken seriously or supported in the workforce due to being a passionate disabled Latiné woman and the intersectionality of how those identities are viewed. In public, I’m still often touched without my consent by people who automatically assume I need help and who then invade my personal space. As an entrepreneur who travels full-time, I also experience stress related to running my business, managing a team, managing travel transitions, and maintaining self-care. I also manage anxiety that can arise in different situations, including flight anxiety. Overall, I love my life and the work that I do. I seek support in the areas where I need support, and I consistently advocate against the microaggressions I experience by sharing my story online and in my speaking engagements.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Blindish Latina LLC?
I’m a public speaker, DEIA consultant, and content creator. I work with companies to improve disability awareness, inclusion, and accessibility. I offer keynotes, training, and fireside chats. I’ve worked with 115+ clients to date. I’m also a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy. As a content creator, I share content about inclusive and accessible travel on Instagram and YouTube (@BlindishLatina). The disability travel market is vast, but we are often not represented or thought about. As a deafblind traveler, I love showcasing my adventures and partnering with travel destinations to highlight accessible trips. I was honored to work with Visit Utah on a campaign to show my Southern Utah road trip to Kanab, a wonderful place. One of the campaign videos has reached over 1.5+ million views! My Instagram page was named a 2024 Webby Awards Nominee, an award for the best of the internet. I also received a Bessie Award in the Trailblazer category this year. I’m also very proud to have been invited to be part of Delta Air Lines’ Faces of Travel initiative last year. What makes me unique is my approachability and my experience as an educator. I tell stories and make disability understandable. As a disabled Latiné woman, I’m passionate about sharing my own unique story to help build a more inclusive world.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I loved the infrastructure of Salt Lake City. Most of the sidewalks I used were well-maintained, and I felt safe crossing the street. There were many crosswalks with lights. My favorite park was Liberty Park! Another highlight for me was the culinary scene, as there were so many good restaurants and many options for Mexican food. I enjoyed eating at Red Iguana, Tulie Bakery, Doki Doki, Finca, The Tea Grotto, Bricks Corner, and Cafe Shambala. Seeing the mountains in the distance all the time was extraordinary. The thing I liked least about the city was how long the blocks were! Things looked closer on the map than they were in walking distance. Also, it was challenging how early most restaurants closed. I lived in NYC for a long time and was able to eat late, so 9 p.m. feels very early.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.catarinarivera.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blindishlatina/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catarinarivera/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClnwaXhxCzC7cRuIHMgS58w
- Other: https://www.catarinarivera.com/freeebook
Image Credits
Nikki Rumph of Shots by Nik, Yulia Soloveva
