Sensory Mindfulness Elevates Perception and Understanding

Speaker: Cynthia Bryant

Research suggest that 85% of sensory input – how we perceive the world -- is through sight. Yet sight allows us to judge our world from afar without a full perspective. As a blind person, I will challenge these perceptions and interactions, suggesting the critical need today to move in close using all senses to master our stories as a catalyst for understanding and change. Practicing empathy becomes essential. We will explore empathy; sensory mindfulness and the joy of being blind through a mental walk with me and my guide dog, and solutions on how we move beyond our visual 85%.

Cynthia Bryant is a certified mediator/negotiator from the Harvard Negotiation Institute, and a certified CliftonStrengths Coach and DEI practitioner. She presently conducts workshops on the art of practicing empathy and keynotes on sensory mindfulness leading to elevated perception and understanding. With over 20 years at the Federal Communications Commission, Cynthia served as Special Counsel for alternative dispute resolution in the Office of Workplace Diversity as well as handled foreign ownership licenses and telecom mergers, investigated/adjudicated anti-fraud and anti-competitive telecom carrier behavior impacting consumers, and tackled telecom barriers affecting Tribal communities through directed outreach and regulatory initiatives.

Cynthia is presently Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Seeing Eye, Inc., a guide dog school, and a board member of National Industries for the Blind. She is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, the State of Missouri and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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