From Diagnosis to Advocacy: The Birth of Blindish in Miami

Hi, I’m Samantha Murphy. You may know me as the founder of 305 Hive® Media, but on this platform, I’m here to share something more personal, my life with Usher syndrome.

Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with Usher syndrome Type 2A, a rare genetic condition that affects both vision and hearing. While my brother Michael has been living with this diagnosis for many years, I only recently learned that I have it too.

Like so many in the Usher community, my road to diagnosis was long and filled with questions, missed signs, and misdiagnoses. Finally having answers has been both challenging and empowering, because now I know what I’m facing, and I know I want to use my experience to help others, both within the Usher community and the wider disability community.

Why Blindish?

I believe awareness is the first step toward understanding, acceptance, and eventually a cure. Usher syndrome isn’t widely known, not among the general public, not even among many doctors. By sharing my story and the stories of others, I hope to shine a light on what it’s like to live with vision loss.

One important truth I want to highlight is that blindness is a spectrum — just as many disabilities are. It isn’t always an on-or-off switch of being fully sighted or completely blind. Right now, I’m not fully blind, but I am blind-ish. That’s where the name Blindish in Miami comes from and why this platform exists: to create a space where people can learn, connect, and feel less alone.

Building Community

This isn’t just about me. My vision is to build a community of support and empowerment, not only for those with Usher syndrome, but for anyone navigating life with a disability. Here, I’ll share resources, raise awareness, advocate for accessibility, and contribute in any way I can to research and progress.

Thank You for Being Here

Most importantly, thank you for showing up. Whether you’re a friend, a supporter, or someone who stumbled upon this site because you or a loved one are going through something similar, your presence matters. Together, we can amplify voices, break down barriers, and remind the world that disability doesn’t define us, it’s simply part of our story.

This is just the beginning, and I’m so glad you’re here with me.

With gratitude,

Samantha

How You Can Help

Share

The more people who know about Usher syndrome, the more attention it will receive from the medical and scientific community — which means more research and progress toward a cure.

Learn

Understand that blindness is a spectrum. It isn’t always “fully sighted” or “completely blind.” Many of us live somewhere in between.

Support

Show your support by volunteering with disability organizations or making a donation to groups funding awareness, accessibility, and research.

Be Tolerant

Remember that not all disabilities are visible. Practice patience and compassion — someone’s challenges may not be obvious, but they are real.