One of the stranger things about being blind is the feeling that other senses are somehow stronger. I don’t believe they are, but I certainly use them more – and it is highly rewarding at times. Over the years I have heard many people say things such as, “I’d rather be dead than blind.” It sounds dramatic, and a little harsh, and stupid – but I somehow get it: our world is visual, and I hate to not be part of it. Having said that, I must tell you how much more I appreciate my other senses because I am blind. And I know there are disabilities for all our senses, but I just wanted to remind you about how wonderful the other senses really are for me.

The taste and smell of a good meal or a hot cup of coffee are still wonderful. And because I am not distracted by the million beautiful things I used to see, I can truly enjoy these indulgences for what they are. I am sure a piece of red licorice is still presented to the world they way it was when I was a little girl at the convenience store – but the strawberry chewy taste isa piece of heaven for me now – more than I ever remember it, anyway.

When my guide dog and I walk into a gathering of people, I know they are staring at me. Of course, I can’t see it, but I feel it. There is his weird feeling that I can somehow almost hear people turning their faces toward me, feel them tilting their heads in my direction to motion to others that I am there. Conversations stop abruptly. It usually lasts a few seconds, then someone clears their throat and the moment passes. People go back to what they were doing. I can hear their bodies shift and the tension in the air release, it is a wonderful thing, hearing.

Do I need to tell you how wonderful it is to hold someone’s hand? I often need to grab someone’s arm to let them guide me in a situation. It is functional and not very personal; but when I hold my husband’s hand, or one of my kids – it almost negates my blindness. It is that feeling of knowing that even though I can’t see I am connected to the space around me. Feeling the warmth of a loved one’s hand is the best of all senses for me. It is sometimes just while we are crossing a street, or even just a quick squeeze to let me know they are beside me – but it is like looking at a painting so real that I feel like I am in it.

Touch and sound help me feel like I am in a space that does not exist for my eyes. It is knowing that my body is displacing sound and space and giving me my share of a room or an elevator or my piece of the sidewalk. They do not replace the beauty of eyesight I once enjoyed, but they have become so much stronger for me that I must share my love and appreciation for their role in my life. In our lives!

Blindess

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy Preferences

What I Bring
  • Inclusive Leadership & DEI – practical strategies to build equity and accessibility into culture and operations.
  • Resilience & High Performance – lessons from elite sport to help teams adapt, focus, and excel under pressure.
  • Strategy & Change – proven success leading national initiatives, digital transformation, and organizational growth
  • Accessibility & Design Thinking – advisory support to create environments and services where everyone can succeed. I partner with corporations, nonprofits, and teams who want more than inspiration—organizations ready to embed resilience, inclusion, and performance into how they work every day.

Keynote Title and Description

Have you ever felt nervous or unsure about your environment? Have you ever felt like things were happening around you that you had no control over? How often do you feel like you are missing important information to make a sound decision? Uncertainty, insecurity and lack of control are all at the root of fear. They are also a direct result of change, And they are part of life every single day for someone who is blind. With organizations facing more intense change than ever before, It’s no wonder that job dissatisfaction, disengagement and burn out are on the rise. Together we will redefine what is possible when facing the unknown

Biography

Victoria Nolan is a world champion rower, author, tv personality and advocate for people living with blindness and other disabilities. Vicky went blind when her daughter was born and has since faced the world in the dark. She chooses hope over fear, and embraces uncertainty as a challenge to overcome. Vicky is determined to push limits: she has won 8 medals for Team Canada and competed in four Olympic games. Now pursuing her MBA at Queens University, she also serves as national manager for one of Canada’s largest non -profit organizations. Victoria's story is one of resilience, tough choices and inspiring others to overcome life’s challenges.