by Maribel Steel Editor’s note: June is Cataracts Awareness Month. According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), more than half of all Americans who are 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to remove cataracts. My Story During my teenage years, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). After a time of … Continued
One of the things I enjoy about beginning a new year is the opportunity to think about a personal project, such as a new skill I can learn, or a direction I’d like to step toward with a measure of courage and optimism for the year ahead. If I can find a quote that captures … Continued
Editor’s note: Maribel wrote this post for the International Day of People with Disabilities, which occurs on December 3. According to the organizers, “It is a day for optimism – to look towards the future and the creation of a world where a person is not characterized by their disabilities, but by their abilities.” Creating … Continued
How to Live a Creative Life Again The APH Insights Art Award is an annual celebration of art specifically created to honor artists, children, and adults alike, who are blind or visually impaired. As a VisionAware peer advisor, I was offered an opportunity to attend the annual APH meeting. Since I live in Australia, it … Continued
Editor’s note: October is National Disability Employment Awareness month (NDEAM). According to the Department of Labor, “The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of …workers with disabilities.” In the spirit of this month and what it means to people with disabilities, Maribel Steel, who has retinitis pigmentosa, shares her journey in … Continued
Editor’s Note: February is Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Awareness Month. Be sure to read Retinitis Pigmentosa: Two Stories One Message Part 1 in our series. Denying the Diagnosis As a young teenager, I seemed as normal as my friends; roller skating around the neighborhood, talking to girlfriends over the phone in quiet whispers about boys, badgering my brother … Continued
Did you know that Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited disease of the retina? There is much research being carried out worldwide to find a cure to this condition which affects one in every 4000 people in the United States, and around one in 5000 worldwide. In this 2-part series for RP Awareness Month in February, fellow … Continued
Observed on January 31st, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day is a time to think about how art affects your heart. Lynda McKinney Lambert, VisionAware peer advisor and award-winning artist, poet and author, is just the kind of artist that this day epitomizes. Lynda doesn’t let vision loss hinder her creativity. She has taught classes in writing and art in Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic and … Continued
At the beginning of each year, I like to share a selection of quotations on VisionAware – we are getting quite a healthy collection! I’ve been gathering quotes since my teens by writers, philosophers, artists, world leaders, inspirational speakers –anyone who captures words so beautifully, they inspire me to keep it for a rainy day. … Continued
The year 2020 has certainly been a year of many uncertainties. With this in mind, some of the peers at VisionAware would like to share the one main aspect to living they have particularly enjoyed in staying connected to a wider circle of “friends” during COVID-19 – reading a good book. A good book is … Continued