I’m not very good at being blind but I'm learning

By Jeanne McClellan

I’m not very good at being blind but I'm learning.

I have functioned with low vision all of my adult life. I used a large font phone, a large font computer, a white cane for travel, and public transportation to get to and fro, and door to door transportation for people with disabilities and seniors. I have managed ok.

But in recent months, since early May 2023, I have been having bleeds in my only working eye that has caused me to lose my sight completely. Apparently, my iris has been rubbing against my lens implant, causing abrasions. After each bleed, the blood would slowly recede, and I would eventually get my sight back. I had a surgery to correct the situation, but my eyes still bled after that surgery. Currently I have had no vision for over a month.

Consequently, I have been unable to use my computer or my phone since neither were set up with screen readers or other accessibility apps. I am currently dictating this blog to my beloved niece who will email it for me to PRRF.

The moral of the story became abundantly clear to me early in the summer. I need to plan on being blind.

To that end, I contacted the Bureau of Services Blind Persons. I was connected with a wonderful counselor who came to my home and did an assessment with me. She later provided me with some wonderful gadgets including a Foxy Reader, Loc-Dots, a gadget that can tell the color of my clothes in my closet, and numerous other helpful items.

Then, to my amazement and delight, I was offered a job which I eagerly accepted. As a result, the Bureau transferred my case to the return-to-work counselor with Vocational Rehab. That counselor obtained an IT evaluation with their IT specialist and now I'm going to get a new computer and all the necessary adaptive software that will enable me to do my new job. Additionally, the IT specialist helped me obtain a refurbished iPhone, configured with the accessibility features that I will need. I have started training on that phone with his help.

During these last few months, I have learned to be more patient if nothing else. The doctors believe the blood residue in my eye will disappear and my vision will return, and I am certainly hopeful that this will happen.

But once again, I am marveling at the technology that is available to use these days. It greatly reduces the vicissitudes of being blind. We are so fortunate!

It will take me weeks to get up to speed on my new equipment, which I won't receive for a few months, but I am so excited and relieved to be going through this process. It is a process that will open my world.

About the author:

Jeanne McClellan was born and raised in Royal Oak Michigan, got a master's degree in psychology, and worked for approximately 30 years as a counselor and social worker until she retired in 2009.