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Hi! I’m Molly Burke — a fashion-loving, sushi-obsessed, makeup-wearing millennial who just so happens to be blind. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at 4 years old, I began public speaking at age 5 and haven’t stopped since. From motivational talks to modeling, I’m passionate about creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Even though I can’t see, I believe there’s always a bright side — and I’m here to help you find it. 💕
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Headdress was stunning.
13:30 I’m so glad I’m not crazy for thinking that a cane would be fun to fold and unfold 😂 it’s the same way that tent poles work and I love making the tent whenever we go camping so I guess that tracks haha
5:47 how could you tell? I thought you were totally blind. I only watch your content from time to time so I’m not fully aware of your capabilities.
Do you see impressions of light and colour?
I love your outfit Molly, that hat is so cool.
19:26 i actually go with shoulder. Maybe just because i'm more used to it, but also because the shoulder gives me more information. For narrow passages, usually the people guiding me just bring the shoulder slightly back, exactly how they would do when bringing their harm slightly on their back, and i just don't even think about that.
But this way i get better understanding on steps, turns, and all of that. Just feels more precise to me i guess.
That N24 circadian rhythm disorder is actually something the blind community shares with the autistic community. There's less research into the autistic side of it since it's less clear why it occurs in some of us, but I have it, and man is it the hardest part of my autism+adhd.
21:49 I am so happy to hear you talk about N24. I am a sighted person with N24, so, my experiences with the condition are very different from those who are blind. But, it's such an underrepresented disorder in both sides of the spectrum. It means the world to me to hear it mentioned AT ALL. Like.. I genuinely got chills and had to pause what I was doing out of sheer amazement and excitement to hear someone talking about it. It's such a debilitating and isolating condition, that, any form of recognition is so so so important.
I would love if you possibly made a video about N24, some day. I know you only touched on the blind side of it here, but, it would genuinely mean everything to hear more about it from someone with such a large audience. And hey, if you ever wanted to interview a sighted person with the condition, I would be honored to share my experiences with it!
i really appreciated the mentioning of non-24 sleep-wake disorder! im not blind but i do have it so hearing it casually get talked about made me really happy 🥺
13:44 reminds me a tad of a Jacob's ladder toy
I like to measure things out so I know how much seasoning is going on. Brendan pro tip for finding a phone is just yelling hey Siri until you find it
Yup I do elbow for sighted guide but I’m the same height as you Molly. Yes being blind is so tiring
I think that blind folding sighted people can be beneficial just like you think about it there is definitely lots of nuance
Yeah I have had lots of training and it’s really not a representation of my experience because I’m at 20/400 so I’m blind but I can still see some things
That was interesting, and I agree with you. But the thing in that simulation that got to me, and not in a good way, was when she asked him if he remembered what she looked like. He wanted to know why she'd ask that, and her response shocked me. Maybe it didn't come out the way she intended, but to hear, "Because that's the only thing I really care about." sounded so shallow and self-centered, it made me lose focus for a bit on what came next.
I look forward to your own version of this experiment, and I'm sure it will be a much more well done project. You go, girl!
A doctor at my ophthalmology office gave me cited guide using his shoulder. He said that the low vision specialist taught him that the shoulder is a more effective way. It was very awkward, because my right foot was constantly kicking his left foot, since I am long legged and had my right hand on his left shoulder. I much prefer cited guide using the elbow. I’m a tall female, and I do often find it a little awkward with very short people, but it’s much less awkward than stepping on the heels of the person who is providing you sided guide.
32:36 I absolutely could not agree more with your comment about it’s his job. He’s being paid to do that. I grew up with disabilities and didn’t know I was autistic until 27. I lived with my sister in my adulthood not because I couldn’t live alone but because I like spending time with her and I liked helping her and she liked helping me. There were several people in our family, who would make comments about me essentially being a burden to her and taking away her ability to find somebody to be with. My sister always hated that and obviously it didn’t because she’s now married and her oldest is five and her youngest is five months. The other thing they would do would be to praise her for taking care of me. She also hated that because there would be days that she’d be at work till late and she’d come home and I’d have dinner ready. We very much helped each other out. My sister and brother-in-law also work with adults with disabilities in their own homes and they get a lot of of the same. Oh that’s so wonderful of you to do and both of them feel like no that’s just our job. They actually feel like they’re the lucky ones because they’ve met some really amazing people, and I would have to agree because I’ve gotten to meet some of these people as well and some of them became really good friends to me so no, I don’t agree with people commenting that that guy should be praised and get a raise for just doing his job
16:11 Molly I have a question for you that man just had him grab him on his shoulder, and I have always known it to be that you guide a blind person by having them hold your elbow, which is the correct thing to do or are both of them the correct thing to do? 19:19 never mind you answered my question perfectly thank you
12:05 I’m confused as somebody who just sat here and watched it. She literally stood up, took a few stops and then said is this the bathroom why would the bathroom be that close and on top of things?😂
8:32 I just stopped this video for a second to go over there and leave a comment. I also said something about hoping that they have accessibility on for other videos about people with disabilities and I’m actually gonna check it out after this to see if they do
0:22 my walking cane works pretty much the same way it’s got a stretchy string and he just pulled apart and then it comes back together. I think you could only do so much to get somebody without a condition like being blind or having autism or being deaf. You can only do so much to simulate that for them because it will never be exactly how you feel it is
Oh Molly, I REALLY relate to you being squeamish with meat, I have a very similar background. Vegetarian for about 15 years, i started eating meat again when i was pregnant and aggressively craving bacon, and these days I do eat meat, mainly just chicken and not that frequently. I fully relate to the dissociating thing, I can’t think about it. I’m also very VERY clumsy when it comes to cutting meat properly, as well as navigating meat dishes that have bones. I get made fun of a lot over this, so usually I’ll just avoid bone-in dishes altogether, but I think it makes perfect sense! Like yeah, everyone who grew up eating meat knows their way around a chicken wing with no thought – but I never learned that stuff, so why would I know? How would I know? Nobody’s willing to teach me without acting like I’m stupid and can’t figure out common sense – so mostly I just avoid it!
Sorry, my ADHD brain is commenting. Your arm muscle tone is amazing
I'm a sighted person, but one thing I love about your videos is i can listen to them while doing other work, and can listen knowing that I'm going to be told everything I need to to be able to follow along. Audio descriptions are so important. And the fact that you needed to add in so much description for the video made about blind people is telling.
Any time I see a blind person in public now I feel protective. I throw glances to make sure the person working at the store/restaurant/etc. assisting them is being kind and actually helpful. So far so good, but I'll keep being an ally standing by just in case there comes a day where the blind person isn't getting the care, help, and respect they deserve. This and other channels have taught me how to guide and help them "see" with my verbal instructions. Maybe one day I'll get to use what I've learned. Thank you for the educational content.
It's been so ingrained in me to never touch another person's mobility aid. I never even thought about asking to play around with a blind person's cane. First thing I'd probably do is accidentally smack someone with it, so it's probably for the best that I always assumed it's was a no-go.
Honestly, I just scrolled though the comments on the Cut video and didn't see your reaction anywhere. So that might be the reason why no one has responded to it 😛 (I used cntr+f to search for molly her name)
I'm a former vegetarian too and I agree with you on the raw meat!
20:18 im disabled in multiple ways can confirm it's tiring I'm in constant pain so the fatigue is real
Congratulations on your engagement
I would say this is very similar to “people using wheelchairs for a day.” Do these people understand the struggles of access barriers, the chronic pain, and alllll the struggles we face? No. Does it give them a small peak into the issues we face daily? Yes! I used to HATE seeing people do the “wheelchair for a day” trend, but have heard PTs and OTs say “it gave me a new perspective into what challenges my clients might face in society.” Is it perfect? Heck no. Does it help give empathy though? Yes. Thank you for this dialogue!
Such a great video Molly!! Thanks for being a nuance-advocate, the world needs it! Also, your headpiece is super cute and is giving Taylor Swift <3<3
Does being blind decrease impulse shopping? …I feel like I would still do impulse shopping though. Haha.
Only the Goverment in American is talking about taking away disability act rights, please look into it for us , thanks
GIRL. That head piece! You look like you're wearing a damn crown, queen!
You're so fashionable. Love that hat.
I do elbow 99 percent of the time as an adult. When my mum used to guide me we often had to shoulder because I am a tall woman and she was tiny, but also holding her arm in a position for guiding could hurt her as she was also disabled. I was guided from wheelchair handles and allsorts growing up.
back when I worked at retail I was radioed over to assist a blind customer it was my first time doing so and it made me feel really happy that i got to it do it as someone with a mild intellectual developmental disability.
Sighted sister said "I have the option now to just go by and live my normal life and now you don't, like you don't have the option"
Blind brother replied "this is my normal life."
It's not sad for him because yeah, this is his normal life. I'm sure you grieve your sight every so often as a blind person, but majority of the time you don't think about it because this is just your life. It shouldn't be sad. You're not missing anything, you just have a different experience.
I just started the video but I have to say I love the cap Molly is wearing, and I love how it matches perfectly with the gold of her necklace
Molly is a fashion icon!
I came across something on social media that made me think Be My Eyes costs money? I thought it was free and volunteer-ran.
Ok yeah now that I watched the video . You did slay slay with that comment. That feels totally icky to me.
I am not blind but I am autistic so this subject is very close to my heart. I mean why cant they just say there glad this interaction was positive. Like you said unfortunately that is not always the case. Some people people are not good at their job.
Thank you Molly!
I’m completely blind and you’re one of my inspirations Molly 3:39
I think its interesting that in this particular case, the man was blinded suddenly. So while putting a blindfold on doesnt represent the typical blind experience, it does represent the experience her loved one had at least a little bit more.