Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of blindness and low vision in adults aged 20-65. Retinopathy is a term that describes damage to the retina of the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the result of high blood sugar due to diabetes. Some of the symptoms of this condition are: Blurry vision or double visionFlashing lights, which … Continued
by Amy Lynn Smith Editor’s note: Kayla Ludlow is a proud Latina who has low vision due to albinism. Having fair skin and hair, Kayla shares that those she meets don’t initially believe she is Hispanic. Kayla utilizes social media to educate the public on diversity. Kayla Ludlow loves being a Latina. She’s proud of … Continued
by Alexis Read Editor’s note: Alexis Read shares the importance of selecting a dog guide school that will tailor training and tools to your specific abilities. I was born with a visual impairment and other disabilities that affected me physically and neurologically. My visual impairment hinders both my central and peripheral vision, which causes complications … Continued
Social isolation and loneliness are major concerns for older people in general but have particular significance for older people who are blind or low vision, as detailed in a recent article on VisionAware. What Do We Mean by Social Isolation and Loneliness? Social isolation has two components: physical and social. It occurs when people are … Continued
It may be hard to imagine, but Helen Keller – who was born June 27, 1880 – and her beloved teacher and friend, Annie Sullivan, were their era’s equivalent of TikTok stars. Annie famously taught the deafblind Helen to learn language by forming letters in her hand, after which Helen learned to write, read braille, speak, and give public speeches. When Helen was an … Continued
Staying Healthy and Fit Can Be Easier Than You Think By Amy Lynn Smith Editor’s note: Are you looking to better your health and fitness as a person who is blind or low vision? Gather counsel from Anisio Correia, a semi-retired vision rehabilitation therapist who is blind. Learn how he stays healthy and fit … Continued
By Penny Melville–Brown Just in time for the holidays, Penny Melville-Brown, featured on VisionAware in Maribel Steel’s post Two Blind Cooks in My Kitchen, is excited to announce her Baking Blind cookbook is scheduled for release in the spring of 2022. In her forward she writes: “During the months of the pandemic, I’ve been posting recipes for my “Covid cookbook” and, with the support of Open Sight Hampshire, … Continued
By Hannah Fairbairn, Author of When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes Editor’s note: A version of this post appears on Hannah’s blog and is published on VisionAware. Links to Hannah Fairbairn’s book, When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes, and the webinar she did for VisionAware are at the end of this post. She hopes this post will be helpful in choosing gifts for the holidays and other occasions. … Continued
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), along with the Clearing House for Older Road User Safety, has designated the week of December 6-10, 2021, as Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. According to the NHTSA, “Between 2010 and 2019, the U.S. population of people 65 and older increased by 34%, with the number of people … Continued
Compiled by Katie Frederick, VisionAware Digital Content Manager Editor’s Note: For more ideas about gifting to your friends and family with vision loss, listen to our gift giving webinar in which VisionAware Peer Advisors and special guest presenters shared their favorite holiday gift giving ideas. Also read their suggested list of gifts. The Holidays Are … Continued