Today we’d like to introduce you to Josselyn Sosa.
Hi Josselyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in El Salvador and raised in Oakcliff, Dallas after moving to the United States as a child. I lost most of my vision around age ten due to congenital glaucoma, and adapting to blindness at such a young age shaped both my experiences and my commitment to redefining what’s possible.
Growing up, I found a powerful sense of belonging through adaptive sports. I’ve participated in goalball, beep baseball, and most recently blind soccer with Metroblaze Blind Athletes of Texas, based here in the DFW area. Sports have allowed me to stay active, tap into my competitive side, and be part of a close-knit community of athletes and families who look like mine. I am much better for it.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University, a field that strengthened my skills in communication and creating meaningful experiences—foundations that continue to guide my work today. Shortly after graduating, I got married and started my family. My husband is also blind, and together we stepped into parenthood at a time when very few resources existed for blind parents. We often found ourselves navigating situations without guidance or representation.
That absence of support is part of what inspired Babies Down, Bottles Up, the media company and podcast I co-host with two fellow blind moms. What began as candid conversations between friends became a platform dedicated to honest storytelling, advocacy, and community-building. Our goal is to challenge misconceptions, amplify the voices of blind parents, and provide the kind of visibility and resources we wish existed when we first became parents.
My journey has been shaped by adaptation, perseverance, and a deep belief in the strength of our community. Through the podcast and beyond, I’m committed to ensuring blind parents are seen, supported, and included in every space where families and stories are told.
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Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to a world that was never designed with blindness in mind. Losing most of my vision around age ten meant learning orientation and mobility skills, building confidence in public spaces, learning how to advocate for myself,and constantly problem-solving in environments that prioritize sight over accessibility. As I grew older, people’s misconceptions became their own barrier—assumptions about what I could or couldn’t do, not just as an independent blind woman, but especially as a blind parent. Blind moms are often under a microscope, expected to prove ourselves in ways sighted parents never have to think about.
In building Babies Down, Bottles Up, we faced a different set of challenges. It took time to find the right team, learn our rhythm on the mic, and decide how to be authentic without compromising our families’ privacy. The storytelling comes naturally to us—after all, the three of us have been blind moms for years, so this isn’t new territory. What’s difficult is the business side: turning a passion project into a meaningful resource and stepping into entrepreneurship as disabled women in a very niche space. We’ve had to learn branding, marketing, production, website design, and monetization while also advocating for accessibility in every step of the process.
Despite the challenges, each struggle has shaped us into stronger creators and leaders. We’re not just sharing our stories—we’re building something we wish had existed for us, and for every blind parent who comes after.
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Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. As a content creator and podcaster, I’ve learned how to build a microphone persona that is authentic to who I am, but still honors the people in my life — my kids, my family, and the stories I share. It’s a balance of vulnerability and responsibility, and it has shaped the way I show up as a creator.
I’m also in business with my favorite people in the world. The two other blind moms I co-host with have been my lifeline for years, long before “Babies Down, Bottles Up” became a brand. Our chemistry, trust, and friendship didn’t have to be created — it already existed. Transitioning into business partners felt natural because we believe in each other just as much as we believe in the mission behind our work. That shows up in every episode we put out: the laughter, the honesty, the teamwork, the energy.
Behind the scenes, I’ve built our website from the ground up on WordPress — using my skills, VoiceOver technology, and a whole lot of trial and error. I’m proud of that. As a blind creator, building a functional, accessible website and producing our own pamphlets and marketing materials feels like proof that limitations don’t define the outcome. Persistence, creativity, and problem-solving do.
Entrepreneurship has taught me that you have to believe in your project — fiercely. That belief is what fuels the late nights, the revisions, the learning curves, and the moments where you’re building something no one else can envision yet. Our business has been sustained not just by passion, but by guidance. Our mentor — a blind CEO in the digital accessibility space — and our blind producer have both been instrumental. We are literally an all-blind-run company, and that representation matters. Their advice and support push us to step bigger, think bigger, and operate at a higher level.
At the end of the day, work feels like joy when you’re doing it with your best friends.
What are your plans for the future?
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Our vision for Babies Down, Bottles Up extends far beyond being a podcast about blind parenting. We’re building a full ecosystem of resources designed specifically for blind parents at every stage of their journey. This includes written materials, digital downloads, guides, and checklists that capture all the adaptive techniques and systems we’ve developed while raising our own children. These tools are meant to make the transition into parenthood less overwhelming and far more accessible.
We also plan to expand into education and training. One of our long-term goals is to develop blind-parent-specific birthing classes, prenatal classes, and baby care courses—taught by instructors who understand the lived experience of blindness. We want to offer webinars, online modules, and eventually in-person workshops that give blind parents practical, hands-on skills using methods that work for them. Accessibility will be at the core of every offering, and parents will be able to choose the format that suits them best.
Looking even further ahead, we hope to play a role in designing accessible baby products and tools—including innovations like an accessible pregnancy test. Our biggest goal is to make Babies Down, Bottles Up a central hub where blind parents can find community, confidence, and every resource they need to thrive. We want blind parents to feel supported, capable, and empowered—to know not just that they can be great parents, but that they already have everything inside them to do so.
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Contact Info:
- Website: https://bdbupod.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/babiesdownbottlesup
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@babiesdownbottlesup4152?si=D8_RHE3d–8blUI-
