S202 Head Up, Cane Out: Staying Safe in Your World

In this week’s episode of Navigating Life with Vision Loss, host Kim Wardlow continues the Fall safety series with a conversation on personal and community safety. Guest Jim Pilkington, longtime accessibility advocate and One Touch Self-Defense instructor, shares his journey with retinitis pigmentosa and how he turned his lived experience into action by teaching self-defense for individuals with blindness and low vision.

Jim explores the power of situational awareness, practical self-defense training, and how body language can deter threats in public spaces. He also highlights the importance of advocacy within local communities—from contacting traffic engineers about crosswalk signals to serving on volunteer boards—to influence safer design. Practical tech tools like compass apps and bone-conduction headphones are discussed as everyday safety aids.

The episode closes with encouragement for listeners to take one small step this week—whether that’s reaching out to a local group, joining a class, or introducing themselves to neighbors—as each step contributes to personal confidence and a safer community.

Contact Info
Guest: Jim Pilkington — Assistive Technology Specialist & One Touch Self-Defense Instructor (Thornton, CO)
For self-defense classes in Thornton: Contact Becky Post, City of Thornton Parks & Recreation
Aftersight Contact: (720) 712-8856 | [email protected]
Produced by Jonathan Price, Aftersight

Show Credits
Host: Kim Wardlow
Guest: Jim Pilkington
Producer: Jonathan Price
An Aftersight Original Podcast

Chapter Markers
00:00 — Welcome & Series Intro
02:25 — One Touch Self-Defense in Thornton
05:07 — Jim’s Journey with RP & Self-Defense
09:30 — Building Community Safety Connections
13:58 — Advocating with City Officials & Engineers
16:21 — Situational Awareness & Body Language
19:58 — Apps, Compass, and Bone-Conduction Tech
23:35 — Using Compass for Complex Travel
25:56 — RTD Stop Announcements & Advocacy Wins
28:22 — Actions to Take This Week
30:48 — Contact Info & Next Week’s Guest