The non-profit world of entrepreneurship with Kristin Smedley, Rare Eye Disease Champion and Master of Resilience

<p>Kristin Smedley is seeing through the darkness and changing perceptions of blindness.</p> <h3><strong>About Kristin</strong></h3> <p>When Kristin Smedley’s two sons were born blind, she had to give up her dream career teaching 3^rd grade and figure out how to survive and unknown world.</p> <p>After figuring out how to raise her own unsighted children, Kristin dedicated her life to making sure no other mom has to sit isolated in devastation over a rare eye disease diagnosis.  She is on a mission to change the perception of what it means to be blind.</p> <p>In 2011 Kristin launched a non-profit to fund research for children living with the rare eye disease her sons have, CRB1 LCA/RP. <a href="http://crb1.org/">CRB1.org</a> is not only providing support for parents of blind children but raising awareness and funds for rare eye disease research.</p> <p>She has done a TEDx talk in New York City to change perceptions of blindness and recently published her first book in 2019; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/173206640X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=robyngraham5-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=173206640X&linkId=77634ba3ccdb7b3cf0f33405533a4c11"> Thriving Blind: Stories of Real People Surviving without Sight</a>.</p> <p>Kristin is a popular keynote speaker with her message “I’ll Teach You to See: Set Extraordinary Expectations”.</p> <h3><strong>First Phase</strong></h3> <p>During her first phase Kristin was a 3^rd grade teacher.   She had it all.  The husband, the big house, a great job!  And then came the baby!   Life was perfect until it wasn’t.</p> <h3><strong>Second Phase</strong></h3> <p>Kristin’s first child was born blind.   At the time, there were limited resources available for parents with non-sighted children.  The perception of blindness was so negative.  Kristin lost hope in the future for her son.</p> <p>Then along came her second son.  Also, blind.  A double whammy to some, but extraordinary blessings to Kristin, especially once she accepted their blindness