Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Crystal Yang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Crystal, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from moments of pure joy I’ve seen in blind kids using Audemy. One time, a child was playing our car-counting game, and every time a new car sound played, he lit up with excitement—laughing, guessing, and celebrating each right answer like it was magic. That joy, that engagement, reminds me of what’s possible. It shows me that with the right tools, learning can be fun, empowering, and inclusive. It’s those little moments that keep me hopeful and driven.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m Crystal Yang, founder of Audemy—a nonprofit creating educational games for blind and visually impaired students.
Our mission is to make learning joyful and accessible for every child, regardless of their ability to see. I started Audemy after realizing how few inclusive, interactive learning tools existed for blind students. Since then, our audio-based games have helped over 5,000 students across 19 schools learn math, coding, and language through sound and play.
What makes Audemy special isn’t just the technology—it’s the community. We’re powered by 60 dedicated volunteers who share our belief that blind children deserve playful, empowering ways to learn. Every time I hear a student laugh while playing one of our games, it reminds me why we do this.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been empathy, resourcefulness, and storytelling.
Empathy has been at the core of Audemy. Designing for blind students means listening deeply—understanding not just what’s missing, but what brings joy, confidence, and agency to their learning. I’ve learned that solutions that truly help often begin with compassion, not code.
Resourcefulness helped me take Audemy from an idea to a platform impacting thousands. When you’re building something from scratch—without much funding or a big team—you learn to adapt quickly, ask for help, and make the most of what you have. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to find them.
Storytelling turned our mission into a movement. Whether I’m pitching to a donor, recruiting volunteers, or encouraging a student, I’ve found that sharing real stories—the laughter of a blind student playing our games, or the determination of a teacher trying something new—creates connection and sparks action.
For those early in their journey, my advice is simple:
Start small, listen closely, and keep going.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one challenge we’re currently facing at Audemy is scaling our impact while maintaining a personalized, high-quality experience for blind learners.
We’ve reached over 5,000 students so far, but every community has different needs—different languages, learning styles, and access to technology. As we grow, we’re working to make our platform more adaptable and customizable so educators and families can tailor the games to fit their learners.
To overcome this, we’re building partnerships with schools for the blind, researchers in accessibility, and volunteers with diverse skill sets. We’re also investing in user testing and feedback loops to ensure our tools remain joyful, effective, and truly inclusive as we expand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yangcrystal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audemyapp/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crustaly
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