"It's all about empathy"

Jo shares her extraordinary story of living with Usher syndrome, a progressive condition causing both hearing and sight loss. Born deaf and later diagnosed with a condition that would gradually take her vision, Jo opens up about identity, isolation, empathy, and learning to navigate a world not designed for invisible disabilities.

After her cochlear implant activation went viral in 2014, millions watched Jo hear sound in a completely new way for the first time. But beyond the viral moment is a much deeper story about resilience, positivity, accessibility, and the power of human connection.

Jo speaks openly about disability awareness, raising children, losing independence, slowing down in life, and why empathy matters more than ever.

Her message is slow down, be kind, understand that everybody is carrying something you cannot see, and to inform more people that a red stripe on a cane means a hearing impairment as well as visual.