Safe Toddles’ podcast co-host, Kelvin Crosby aka DeafBlind Potter, has 218,000 Tik Tok Followers and 3.4 million likes on his videos that he shares on that platform. He has several videos on Tik Tok that have gone viral- meaning hundreds of thousands of likes. The number of likes and followers enables Kelvin, Kel, to air live videos of him throwing pots. His handmade pottery business has really taken off as well.
He told us that much of his success comes from telling the truth about the inaccessibility of the Tik Tok platform to people like him. He was born with Usher's Syndrome Type II. He was profoundly deaf at birth. His progressive vision loss began to impact his use of vision in his late teens, early 20s and continues to decrease.
His beef with Tik Tok is that, as tech savvy as he is, there is no fix for in-access. For example, the way the app is currently designed, he cannot independently access his viewer's comments being posted while he is streaming live - as intended by the app. The other day that led to an untenable situation, he had guests throwing pots, a boy with a disability and his mother. The comments were becoming increasingly rude- unbeknownst to Kel.
"If I had the access like all other Tik Tok broadcasters, I could have stopped it". That's why he will continue to pressure Tik Tok app designers to improve accessibility for all.
We know Kel as co-host to our Safe Toddles podcast called-Safe Toddles Belt Cane Safe Mobility for Blind which began airing in December 2020. "Kel is more than a co-host, he is the reason we entered the podcast space at all." Explained his co-host Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken.
If you want to hear more about Kel, from Kel- you can listen to our Safe Toddles' podcast! Click either image to be taken to our Busssprout page. Or go to Podcast page on our Safe Toddles website!
Check out Kel's Deafblind Potter tik tok!! @deafblindpotter