Why Work With Rusty Perez
Your Blind Ally
Rusty Perez is not just a consultant; he lives the challenges of blindness every day – and is deeply experienced in helping others to do the same.
Rusty's approach is practical, positive, and focused on the possible – for people experiencing blindness and sight loss, for those who love them, for their colleagues and employers , and for the clinicians and other professionals who support them.
Rusty’s Journey
Rusty learned early on that most things are possible with creative problem-solving and determination. From childhood through adulthood, he navigated the educational system, taught in classrooms, interpreted in professional settings, built a career in music, mastered assistive technologies, advocated for accessibility, and found ways to live independently and fully. Indeed, his discovery that adaptive techniques and inclusive design benefit far more than just blind people has shaped Rusty's entire approach to consulting and coaching.
"Being blind has taught me resilience, creativity, and how to find solutions where others see dead ends. I want to share those lessons with everyone who needs them."
– Rusty Perez, Your Blind Ally
Every step on Rusty's career path has added to his unusual combination of expertise and perspective. Through his work teaching high school and college students at multiple levels, he developed creative approaches to literature, writing, and critical thinking—all while navigating the unique challenges of being a blind teacher in a sighted classroom.
As a Spanish Language Interpreter, Rusty bridges communication gaps in professional and community settings. As a public speaker, he engages, informs, and inspires diverse audiences—from elementary school students to corporate teams—with practicality and humor. His work as a musician, singer and songwriter further unites people across generational, cultural, and situational boundaries.
Rusty’s work evaluating and mastering a variety of assistive technologies keeps him up to date on the latest tools and innovations. He knows what works, what doesn't, and how to help others navigate the often overwhelming world of assistive tech.
After years of responding to requests for advice and guidance by blind individuals, their families, and professionals working with blind clients, Rusty recognized a significant need for help and advice about blindness from someone who is thriving with it and can offer practical, positive guidance.
Get to Know Rusty
Rusty’s blindness since birth is only one characteristic among many that make him who he is. He is a successful professional musician, singer, and songwriter. He taught high school and college English for many years. He is bilingual and has worked as a Spanish language interpreter in a variety of professional settings. As a public speaker, Rusty inspires and educates groups of all ages and backgrounds about resilience, possibility, and overcoming limitations. And, as a trusted consultant, he helps a wide range of people and organizations to navigate blindness with confidence, independence, and success. A loving husband and guide dog handler, he lives his ethos of actively seeking and creating ways to do things differently rather than settle for doing less.