Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Mok

Hi Anne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

Imagine waking up every day in a world that looks increasingly unfamiliar. Street signs blur, faces become indistinct, and the vibrant colors of life slowly fade into shadows. This was my reality growing up—a reality I couldn’t quite put into words but felt deeply with every step I took.

Growing up, I always struggled with my vision and had a sense that something wasn’t quite right. School was a challenge, sports were a disaster, and my shyness kept me from speaking out. It wasn’t just that I was clumsy or introverted – I simply couldn’t see the world as others did. As a child, I wore thick glasses and struggled with tasks like reading a clock or learning long division because I couldn’t see the board or projector clearly.

As I got older, my vision difficulties became more pronounced. I could no longer see street signs, license plates, or pedestrians in my peripheral vision. The changes in lighting conditions, especially at dusk, made everything more difficult. I became very anxious and on my own decided to give up driving.

For eight years, I continually advocated for myself, visiting my optometrist and repeating, “I can’t see what I know I’m supposed to see.” Despite my efforts, my optometrist couldn’t find the problem and suggested increasing my eyeglass prescription, which didn’t help. In the eighth year, I tried contact lenses, hoping they might improve my vision. Instead, it worsened, leading to a referral to a retinal specialist.

Sitting in the retinal specialist’s office, I finally heard the words, “I believe you.” These three words validated everything I had been experiencing. After two more years of testing, I was diagnosed with cone rod dystrophy, a rare inherited retinal disease that slowly erases the light-sensing cells of the retina. This diagnosis brought both sadness and relief, as it finally made sense of my struggles.

There was a grieving process, a time where I didn’t want to use my white cane and felt isolated. However, reaching out to find community changed everything. Using social media, I connected with others with sight loss, empowering and increasing self-confidence in each other. This supportive community taught me so much every day.

I also took proactive steps to cope with my vision loss. I took orientation and mobility training, basic kitchen skills workshops, and started the process for workplace accommodations. At home, we incorporated universal design principles during a renovation to support my vision loss and create an age-friendly environment.

My family immigrated to Canada when I was just two years old. Growing up, I struggled to fit in, feeling torn between my Asian heritage and the need to fit into a different cultural mold. These early experiences shaped who I am today and the work I do to bring representation and open-mindedness.

Understanding different perspectives, feeling compassion and empathy towards others, and struggling between two different cultures without fitting into either, defined my journey. We all search for a sense of belonging and identity, and my circumstances and reactions to them have shaped who I am.

Then, suddenly, on January 1, 2019, I woke up with a migraine-like headache that I actually still have to this day. I was diagnosed with NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headache), I struggled with severe depression and was bedridden for the first eight months. There is no cure, and it is rare and debilitating.

I had to focus on the quality of my life, accepting myself for where I was at that moment. I started to see blindness as a gift, reflecting on what I could do. I realized I could rewrite my story, building community through connectedness and inclusion.

Today, I’m proud to be a blind content creator, advocate, speaker and author, using my platform to bring education and awareness to the blind and visually impaired community. Through my Instagram account @purposeinview, I share image descriptions, alt text, audio, and video descriptions, striving to make beauty and content accessible to all. My goal is to create a space for dialogue and change, empowering individuals with knowledge and fostering a more inclusive society.

By sharing my story of resilience and connection, I turned challenges into opportunities. Opportunities to inspire and advocate for others who might feel the same way. I discovered that my experiences, both struggles and triumphs, could help build a sense of belonging and community for visually impaired individuals.

My goal is to inspire others to embrace their unique identity, carve a new path, and contribute to a more inclusive society. By empowering ourselves, we can inspire not only our community but also our allies, driving societal change for a more inclusive and understanding world.

Looking ahead, I aspire to continue advocating for inclusivity, particularly in digital spaces. I believe that by sharing our stories authentically, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

The road to where I am today has certainly not been smooth. It has been filled with numerous obstacles and challenges, each shaping my journey in profound ways.

My husband suffered a stroke at the age of 40. I am an advocate and caregiver for him. Today he is doing well but it was a very difficult time. We were raising 3 children in the busiest season of their lives. I was mostly a stay-at-home mom at that time but headed back to work full-time. Financially it was very difficult. I worked upward of three jobs at one time.

It was during that time of driving to work that I was noticing the vision struggles. I was noticing that I could no longer see street signs that were all too familiar to me, the license plate right in front of me, or pedestrians in my peripheral vision. Changes in lighting conditions, especially at dusk, were especially difficult. I started to leave earlier and earlier for work to beat the rush hour and stay later and later at work to miss the rush hour.

These challenges led to a lot of anxiety so that on my own I decided to give up driving.

As I was going through this I kept advocating and going to the optometrist’s office saying, “I can’t see what I know I’m supposed to see”. Everytime they couldn’t see the problem. The suggestion was to increase my eyeglass prescription but none of that helped. Finally in the eighth year, I thought by getting contact lenses as “they were closer to my eyeballs” I might use that reasoning that I may be able to see better. In fact, it actually made it worse. That’s when I was finally referred to a retinal specialist. She was the first person that said to me, “I believe you”. I honestly was beginning to think that I was having psychological problems.

Two more years of testing, I finally got the diagnosis of cone rod dystrophy. This diagnosis brought sadness but also relief as I finally understood my struggles.

On the day of my diagnosis was also the same day that I had received an incredible job offer and had to sign the contract.

I was able to work for the next 5 years but lived a double life. My friends and family knew about my diagnosis but no one at work knew. I could see but yet I couldn’t.

Then, suddenly on Jan 1, 2019 I woke up with this migraine-like headache that I actually still have to this day. I was diagnosed wth NDPH (new daily persistent headache). It’s a “primary headache disorder, which means it does not occur due to another health condition. It is rare but can be debilitating. A unique characteristic of the disorder is that the person usually recalls the specific date or onset of the first headache.”

From the severe pain, I was bedridden for the first eight months of my diagnosis. I could no longer work, I struggled with my vision and I fell into a deep depression. I lost my sense of self. I didn’t know who I was, what I liked or even wanted anymore.

My family’s immigration to Canada when I was two years old added another layer to my journey. Growing up, I felt torn between my Asian heritage and the need to fit into a different cultural mold.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am a blind content creator, advocate, speaker and author dedicated to bridging the gap between the sighted and visually impaired communities. Through my platform, I strive to bring education and awareness to the experiences and challenges faced by those with vision loss. My work focuses on creating accessible content and fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.

I specialize in producing content that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their visual ability. This includes image descriptions, alt text, audio descriptions, and video descriptions. I believe that beauty and information should be accessible to all, and I use my Instagram account @purposeinview to share these descriptions and advocate for better accessibility practices.

I actively use my voice to advocate for the rights and inclusion of the visually impaired community. This includes public speaking engagements, such as my TEDx talk, where I share my journey and emphasize the importance of inclusivity. I also collaborate with organizations like CNIB and Fighting Blindness Canada to promote awareness and support for individuals with sight loss.

I am known for my compelling storytelling that brings to life the experiences of living with vision loss. My stories not only highlight the challenges but also the resilience and strength of the visually impaired community. Through my series “Through My Lens,” I use vision loss simulators to show what everyday situations look like from my perspective.

I have built a supportive and engaged community on social media, where people with and without vision loss can connect, share their experiences, and support one another. This community is a source of empowerment and education, helping to break down barriers and foster understanding.

One of my proudest achievements is inspiring others to embrace their unique identities and overcome their challenges. Whether it’s through my social media content, public speaking, or community engagement, I strive to be a beacon of hope and resilience for others.

I am proud of the tangible changes I have helped bring about in the realm of accessibility. By advocating for accessible content and sharing my experiences, I have influenced individuals and organizations to adopt more inclusive practices.

My unique perspective as a blind content creator and advocate allows me to offer insights and experiences that are often underrepresented in the media. I bring a firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs of living with vision loss, which adds authenticity and depth to my work.

Growing up as an Asian immigrant in Canada and navigating between different cultural expectations has given me a nuanced understanding of diversity and inclusion. This background helps me connect with a wide range of audiences and advocate for inclusivity on multiple fronts.

My ability to empathize and connect with others, both within and outside the visually impaired community, is a cornerstone of my work. I strive to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued, fostering a sense of belonging and support.

I am also a huge supporter of small businesses, particularly women-owned and female entrepreuners. By leveraging my presence on social media I support them and network with them to build and foster connections.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?

There are no specific books, podcasts or blogs that I read or listen too. However, I do follow a lot of different niches on social media that I learn a lot from – they include small businesses, entrepreneurs, social media marketing, blind content creators, and local content creators that I learn a lot from and love building community and connectons with.

In terms of content creation resources, I use the app – CapCut for editing and I also use Kapwing for ensuring that I add captions to my content.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://purposeinview.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purposeinview/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071325735929
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-mok-purposeinview/
• Other: TikTok @purposeinview