A little insight into my life, my eye disease, blindness, vision, and YouTube channel! 

This video was filmed recently in my home where I was being interviewed by one of our local news channels, KGW channel 8 news Portland. In this interview I was asked several great questions I thought my viewers would find educational, eye-opening, and enlightening. If there are any topics mentioned here you would like for me to do a specific video on, please comment below in the comment section. I have learned so much about my blindness, myself, over the past almost 12 years living without eyesight, and I love more than anything opening up my heart and sharing with the world my perspective and point of you. If you yourself are blind/visually impaired, I would love your thoughts on some of these topics. What is blindness like for you? This is my vision, would love for the world to hear how you see. Blindness isn’t the same for everyone, let’s together help open the eyes of the world to see blindness in a different light. 💛 If you are new to my channel, I just want to say hi, and tell you thank you so much for being a part of Joy‘s world! I love every single one of my subscriber so much, you are more than a number, you are a heart I long to get to know. I always read my comments through my voiceover accessibility on my own, I so can’t wait to hear from you 😘

It’s so crazy because I was just talking about you to my friends at college today. We were stood outside & we saw a blind man with a cane & we got scared that he was going to walk Into the road & we just found It amazing how he knew where he was going ect. I was telling them about your Airport video, all the amazing technology & how you see so much by feel & how you even light a candle. We all closed our eyes & I Instantly felt dizzy & disoriented. I think you’re truly AMAZING ❤️

Joy you are so inspiring and such a bright shining light to the world

I may not be blind, but I recently came upon your channel and I’ve been going through a difficult time the last couple years. You bring so much optimism and willingness to learn new things. I feel empowered, hopeful, and faithful to continue to pursue my dreams. I will continue to strive for greatness! Thank you for being YOU. Never Change!

It would be so cool to see how you get ready every morning and how you do your makeup! You look great! And even more importantly you have such a big heart and amazing personality

As someone with rapidly declining vision due to glaucoma, your videos have given me a sense of hope. I’m only 18 right now, and learning that I was going to be blind really has struck fear in me. But knowing that you can live so independently and be so cheerful has helped.

I just found your channel and I’m definitely going through so many videos. I just wanted to tell you I thought at first your angel Antonia was a emotional support dog because you move as if you have sight. Your house is so clean you are so well put together. You are a very classy woman mother and wife. I have broken my back in 2007 and lost everything. The love of my life. I had excellent credit, 3 very large estate homes 9 cars, and I lost everything. I then rebuilt my life and was hit by a drunk driver in 2015 and lost everything I rebuilt. Sometimes I find it soooo hard to start again. The first time I was so motivated this time it is much more if an uphill battle. Your videos are not just motivational for the blind. You are motivating for all of us who have trials and tribulations in life. Thank you fir being you and doing what you do. I also love the love that you have for our savior Jesus Christ. God bless you I wish you all the best on this journey you choose to share with us.

i’ve recently found your channel and i am OBSESSED! i’ve learned so much and feel so much more aware and like i could be helpful if needed for anyone who is blind. you’re so inspiring and amazing. thank you!!

Joy, I wanted to tell you that I am not blind or deaf, but rather was suffering from depression. These past few years I’ve struggled to go outside and talk to others, especially strangers, and thanks to finding you on RU-vid and seeing some of your videos, I have snapped out of it. I mean, I am here thinking life is hard for me and there you are crossing a street while blind. You are the embodiment of perseverance and you have really influenced me to grab the world by the horns and not let go, so I wanted to thank you for that.

Joy! You are so brave. I am addicted to your videos. Thanks for showing everyone that life is beautiful.

I love love love your labs. When your yellow lab died it was so emotional for me I can't even tell you. I cried deeply and profoundly, However I am so glad you have your incredible black lab that brings me great great joy. You have one powerful channel. God bless. Ken

So happy I found you! My 9 year old son was just diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, uveitis and glaucoma. It's been extremely hard on all of us. Cant wait to binge watch your channel!

You have to be the most positive person I've ever meet.

Your dog is so cute! She’s just laying there, so relaxed. 😆

Thank you for sharing this video. It was very insightful. I hope and pray your daughters never have to go through the pain and struggle their mother had to face. God bless this wonderful family. And don’t forget my hugs for Arabella and Lily

Hi Joy! You are really educating the masses, I'm so pleased you got this time on your local news! I would love to see you going to the flower shop for an autumn bouquet or decorating for Thanksgiving or Christmas! Your flower shopping trip was one of my favorite videos you have made. Your house is also so beautiful and stylish, I would love to see how you choose your decor!

I have Juvenal Arthritis and I got it in my eyes first when I was about 3. I came across on one of your videos on my recommendation feed. I didn't think anyone had the same thing I have, however I'm not blind but I was pretty close to coming to that point. Thank you for sharing your story💖

YOU ARE AMAZING. God bless

Joy You are an Angel yourself God Loves you as do we all do God Bless You and thank you for your Inspiring Videos

You are amazing. I love how you are sharing your life and your experiences. You are so positive and inspirational.

I was diagnosed with J.R.A. at 4. It didn't begin to really effect my eyes when I was about 18. Now I can see up close out of my left eye. My right eye has a mostly inactive optic nerve. Your page makes what iam going through a little less scary

Joy you are the Joy to the World!!!! Imagination life is your creation true

Hello Joy, I have just subscribed to your channel. I have been watching your videos over this past week. There is a reason why you are here on earth and why God has blessed you with being blind. Thank you for sharing your journey with us all, I have greatly benefited as a sighted person from your beautiful words and your uplifting spirit. You are correct that Joy is a choice, and I will forever remember you when I am feeling down and thinking to myself that Joy is a choice. You are so blessed with a beautiful family, home, your beauty and grace. I am sending you love and hugs, love, Brandy.

This was wonderful to see and exciting

Amazing, than you for sharing. I'm watching this at 3am, in London. Your videos inspire across the world

Joy, you are so beautiful and so precious, what a great honor it is to have discovered you via your lovely youtube channel; I feel so priviliged and so blessed! I feel it inside to express to you that it is you who have been given a most beautiful and profound gift of sight which allows you to see more than the vast majority of people will ever be able to see or understand in their lifetime, even espescially among those who have their full optical visual ability intact; for your visual acuity is beyond the optical range of frequencies where most people find comfort in their limited perception, but your heart and your mind are open and receptive to so much more. What value it is to be able to see like you do dear friend! Furthermore, in addition to that, indeed you are a bright and brilliant light of hope to so very many people, and also to this darkened world, for those who can not see or perceive, do not see, do not want to see, or choose not to see, - walking in blindness of the heart and mind. May perfect love and light be with you and all of your beloveds, may it surround and envelope, inspire and move through you, and guide you in all of your ways throughout all of your journey through this beautiful life. May guiding spirits assist you and protect you during difficult and perplexing times. You are such an endearing soul, I hope you know just how much you mean to those whom you have touched in only the very special way that you do. Thank you so much for being who you are (and you do it so beautifully and perfectly)! My heart smiles to yours! - A fan from Montana, USA!

I have a vision disease called Dominant Optic Atrophy and I was diagnosed with it when I was only one. My optic nerve is fading and it’s only a matter of time until my vision is completely gone. I only have s little bit of sight. I use a blind cane, but I am getting a guide dog very soon! So I totally know what you go through. Your story is so inspiring and helps me get through everything. Thank you ❤️

Joy, thank you for raising awareness and reminding everyone that no matter one’s struggles, anything is possible. ❤️

Thank you joy! You are so inspiring ❤

I am in a sorority called Alpha Omicron Pi and our philanthropy is Arthritis and we specially focus our philanthropy towards Juvenile Arthritis. Although I know quite a lot about arthritis and how it even can affect children, I had no clue it could affect the eyes and cause blindness. Thank you for this video! I learned so much!

Joy. You are so inspirational to those who are visually impaired.....in fact....you are an inspirational to those who can see too! EVERYONE is learning so much from you.

So since you can remember colors, do you see blackness or is it a different kind of ‘nothing’?

That was a good interview joy your the best hard working woman in the world and keep up the good work ☺your awesome joy and sugar and spice everything nice😃

Love you Joy! You are my inspiration. Thank you for sharing your life with us xx

Hi Joy, great interview. I love you so much. Keep sharing your life. I love our friendship and meeting you and knowing you now personally is a blessing to me beyond words. You mean the world to me. Talk later ♡xx

Wow, your spirit is beautiful.

Thank you Joy, thank you.

You are so lovely and warm, I just absolutely love your outlook and attitude. Thanks for making such awesome videos, they really encourage me to have a more positive attitude also.

This is so interesting! I am a person with sight, but I have no minds eye, really interesting to see the literal opposite explained. Almost feel like you have more vision than me from this explanation! (I am not equating the two, or saying that being blind in your minds eye is anything like being actually blind. I just found it facinating how much you can actually see!)

Great interview !! I always have blind friends and I know about the trust to a guardian angel doggy - I learned many things about the education such a wonderful animal receive !! I love the encouragement you bring to us , Joy , to the blind and to us who can see ... I love the way you see , Joy !!! 🌹Much love from Germany !!

I love how relaxed Arabella is, she’s really sleeping good. She deserves it, she works hard. Joy, I love your videos and your sunny upbeat attitude. You are very encouraging and inspirational. Thank you for sharing you life with us.

This is the first time seeing her and I just knew she is a beautiful woman by hearing her voice. I wish the best for her and the family and have HUGE RU-vid success. ❤️

Portland buddy! This is very touching to hear about this, maybe I'll be able to run into you sometime later(hopefully not literally), Keep up your work! I love hearing and seeing what it's like in your life.

Lol That’s how I found you was the Target and refilling your Diet Coke a few weeks ago. Now I’m following you! I’ve been going through a few journeys. I had a botched surgery 6 years ago. I live in the pain and suffering every day. Now I got #breastcancer I just finished my last #chemo . Now I’m going to start a 20 straight day of radiation. It’s how we choose to live it! We both got this. Thank you for helping me get through my days a little easier.

What a wonderful human your family is blessed to have you and the world is indeed a more wonderful place because you are part of it

Joy... I stumbled across one of your videos in my recommended feed and watched the entire thing through because of your amazing personality. My jaw hit the floor when you said you lost your sight from JRA. In fact, my jaw is still on the floor because I also have JRA. Thank you for spreading light on such a misunderstood autoimmune disease. You even taught me something new because I didn’t realize the magnitude of how it can affect sight. Thank you for sharing your story. I look forward to following you and your journey!

Amazing person your soul is beautiful

Wow! I can just see the holy spirit emanating from you. You have no idea how much I learn from and enjoy your videos. God bless you! Thank you so much. You know what, I will choose joy as well. Thank you.

You are teaching me to look at life differently. Thank you for inspiring me to become a better person, less critical and more loving!

Aw, you are incredible! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Very helpful and insightful. Keep up the great work! 👍🏻

wow, just wow. U are so strong and what u said was so inspiring and powerfull. Love to here that u are happy and I wish u the best of luck. ^^

We love you Joy! Keep sharing your adventures.

Joy you're such a doll !

Absolutely stunning and really smart lady

i just want to say that you are beautiful and you are blessed by god with great family , friends and dogs. you have given me the will keep going no matter the cards we are given there is always hope. thank you and your family. god bless you all.

First! I love u and ur puppies

I'm new to your videos and I think your a remarkable beautiful strong brave woman. I think you inspire other blind people to be strong and courageous just like yourself. Bless you and your family. Mich love to Arabella also 🥰 🐕🐾

Hi Joy! I just started watching this video, but I make very excited to see where it goes, thanks for another awesome video, OK, back to the video! :-) Matt

Hi Joy, this was such a great interview with the news channel and all of the questions that were asked, you answered so well. I think the most fascinating aspect that you discussed is the concepts of, Your minds eye. I have watched your videos for several years and I am always blown away by your visual imagery. I think that is a true gift and I also possess that gift. I was sitting in my living room just two days ago, after putting out many fall decorations. I work so slowly and I sit and think about how the room looks without the decorations and then decide where to put each item. Then when I had completed that room I sat as if I were looking at the room, not able to physically see it, and point by point I painted myself a mental image of what my hands just felt and arranged. I really laughed out loud thinking that, it would be so Easy to have the image instantaneously go through my eyes into my brain without thinking about it. But if you are a blind, you always must use visual imagery which takes a little longer I think, to process.. You are so right when you describe your world as beautiful because visual imagery is truly so beautiful. I also am obsessed with color although I have no colo vision. It seems that my first question about anything or everything is what color is it? I think I need to know the color so that I can put it into perspective in my minds eye. I did a RU-vid video over a year ago called my colorful blind World, attempting to explain how my mind I see’s color and how beautiful it truly is. I think that is exactly what you were saying to this reporter. I am so glad that they interviewed you because you break those seats Dario types about how blind people should act and even look. You did an awesome job and once again, congratulations on exceeding well over 100,000 subscribers. Take care,

This is so beautiful. I am not blind & I do not have that good of taste ! Your house is gorgeous !!! I recently found your channel & I am in shock that not more people have found you! Love love love! All the blessings to you & your family !

love your hair!

Hi joy, I was wondering how you read RU-vid comments! You are an inspiration 🥳❤️

Joy, I hope you get to hear this message. I couldn't find your makeup video to comment there, but I wish you would do a hair video. You have such nice thick dark hair and it always looks so nice. It would make a great video talking about what hair products you like, the texture of your hair, do you dry it, straighten, curl, color it etc.

That was such a great interview video!❤ Happy white cane awarness day!

You are so positive ❤️ loved learning more about you

I am really impressed with your videos....thank you joy

Hi joy. I haven’t been very active but thank you for your videos. So educational. I hope you have been well.

Love you so much Joy 🥰 God bless!

Joy your a beautiful woman. Your my inspiration. Absolutely Stunning. Wish you would do a video how to dress, and do my hair and makeup. Ive been married 21 yrs. Feel I need to find ways to make me feel just as beautiful inside and outside like you. Big hugs

Dear Joy, I have been following you on RU-vid for some time. You love your videos about Antonia and Arabella! I am legally blind to Retinopathy to Prematurity. I hope to have a guide dog one day!

Way to go joy! Well said! :-)

You’re beautiful inside and out.

joy your a shining star for the blind community I lost my viision do to rritna deattachments in both eyes so I half to do things differently Because I am totally blind

I found your channel tonight. I follow a lot of travel and Disney videos also how to and creative makers videos and some nostalgia. Because of the Disney influence the RU-vid algorithm sent me you meeting Donald and goofy with your daughters and I was interested. My adopted grandfather was blind and one of my friends is also. But both of them had /have light perception. My one friend can even use image magnification on a big computer screen. But most of the time aside from the computer he dosent see really. So I was curious how you get your videos edited. I saw the video where you show how you point the camera. But the editing? You are doing good work. Keep it up.

I wish you could be in one of Chris videos from sbsk

Hey Joy, I need some help naming my baby male chocolate Lab, thank you and amazing video! 💙

Oml ur so positive!

Gorgeous !!

I'm new to your channel and have to say hello !... TBH, I subscribed because of the baby doggies :)

New subscribers....🌺already I love you 🌺💁🏻‍♀️

Wow Joy very cool

This is awesome:3 I just got back from a singing concert I was so nervous TwT I legit just like stared at the floor owo. When I was getting off the stage I almost fell on the floor XD cause like I couldn’t see like where the stares were TWT OOF

I'm legally blind (6/65-L, 6/100-R) from ROP

Sadly the Volume was a bit low in this Video.Bigger Room and mic far away. Its harder to understand for someone who don't understand english very well. But i did understand most of it. I believe the Lady was very impressed by you. And Antonia deeply relaxed as always.

I have RA and I have uveitis. Was your vision loss from uveitis?

Can you show us how you edit a video being blind?

Hope being a Visually Impaired person is possible. You just have to believe. I told my mom that it wouldn't kill me going blind, because Science has progressed to the point to where doctors can build a cochlear implant for the retina. At least that is what I definitely hope for one day. You never know, you just have to dream big. 💜💙 💜💙💜💙💜💙💜💙 💙💜💙💜💙💜💙💜 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘 When my brothers Bradley and Brandon were little, I was told to read a book to them. Brandon and I went into his room and he picked out a magic school bus book on how the senses worked. First we came across the brain and I explained about how the brain worked. Then we came across the eye and it talked about how the retina worked. When I was done reading about how the retina worked, I said now when your sister was born her retina had some problems.......... which means I can see but I can lose my vision later in life. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I will never forget that day because my brother Brandon started crying. But I told him that blind people can learn how to read dots. I told Brandon and Bradley that the dots are called Braille and you touch it with your fingers. I also told Brandon and Bradley that dogs can be useful in helping blind people do things like get around work or maybe.......... get across a busy street.

U r awesome. Check out systema ryabko breathing classes. Systema breathing exercise are good for stress relief in difficult day to day situation. It really work.

Ight I take it back , my bad

How has your intimacy changed since becoming blind? If you can do a video describing the challenges if any in that department, so we can get an idea. I’ve never heard how with the blind deal with it.

You don't allow the fears to stop you - that's what makes your videos so informative and interesting. Plus, you are so poised. How do you manage to look so poised and well put together? Good video!

Down votes are from professional camera operators .

I’d marry this woman

Just saw so awesome and I can't imagine a life without no say at all I lost my site in my right eye and I have very very very very little little little little side my left though so it started in the novel see you at all in more and I was thinking about a service dog and I future and then also came so that way we can make that work I have a cane but when I'm like at home I want to go shopping like go for walks or something like that I have a service dog butq because my job I don't need to see it it's all about cat feeling and counting so it looks like a bill like my work calendar that's all that matters and so I'm still going to work you know I'm totally blind what do you do matter meant to do get some song for time or get a king and a service dog? I would think it depends on me I don't really know that's why I am asking you.

you mention it very little, but i would think your husband and children, as well as the rest of your family should think you are the most wonderful person ever. btw, a neutral hazy whitish yellow constantly. weird.

Her name suits her so well

Do you like bagels? Because you're Bae goals.