Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks Thank goodness the old saying, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks," has been proven wrong by those of us who are past our prime. We need to keep up, or we’ll be left behind. We’d be saying, "Where did everybody go?" On the Go with Smart Glasses … Continued
By this time of year, we’re all longing for sunshine and outdoor activities. My favorite way to spend a sunny morning is to take a long and brisk walk with my dog guide Dora from Seeing Eye. Even better is to have a destination, like a coffee shop, but sometimes just walking a variety of … Continued
Editor’s note: February is Retinitis Pigmentosa Awareness Month. Mary Hiland has written about her experience as a teen finally finding out about her diagnosis and how she coped. Find out more about retinitis pigmentosa. What’s Wrong with My Eyes? by Mary Hiland As a little girl growing up in Cincinnati, I played with my friends … Continued
Retinitis Pigmentosa or Choroideremia? by Mary Hiland When Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) was the diagnosis for me at age 18 in 1963, I had already been through a battery of tests throughout the preceding 10 years. There was one test, however, that was not even suggested. Genetic testing was considered only for the sake of curiosity, … Continued
Most Interesting Thanksgiving Memory No smoking and no football. Those were the ground rules I had laid down for my Thanksgiving dinner in 1992. Everybody has a favorite Thanksgiving memory and a worst Thanksgiving memory, but here’s my most interesting one, and well, maybe the most fun. Newly divorced, I decided to host a Thanksgiving … Continued
Editor’s Note: In honor of Grandparent’s Day (Sunday, September 10th), Mary Hiland, a VisionAware peer advisor with retinitis pigmentosa, has written a delightful post about a recent visit from her grandchildren. Read and enjoy! Grandma’s Glory By Mary Hiland My daughter Kara and her family, husband and three children, were just here for a few … Continued
Editor’s Note: As individuals with vision loss, navigating hazards at home can be tricky, dangerous, and take some time getting used to. Because June is National Home Safety Month, the VisionAware peer advisors are sharing stories about their in-home accidents, reasons why accidents happen to individuals living with visual impairment, and how they can be … Continued
Are the holidays causing unwanted anxiety in your life? Too many trees to decorate, gifts to buy, and people to visit? Take a moment to relax and laugh your stress away with these funny vignettes from peer advisor Mary Hiland. Check out the Laughter Is Often the Best Medicine series to keep the good times … Continued
Editor’s note: This post is part of the Blind Parenting series created to provide visually impaired parents and grandparents with first-hand accounts of how you can raise a child safely and independently. In today’s post, Mary Hiland shares the importance of teaching children how to interact with individuals who have low vision and how to … Continued
Yesterday, I voted, and it gave me a kind of high. I did it. I got it done. No more indecision, although there was none for me, where the presidency is concerned. But now I can skip any newspaper articles suggesting to me which way I should vote. I no longer have to sit through … Continued