The Bitter and Sweet of Vision Loss

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

Attaining Vocational Trainer Certification as a Blind Person

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

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Two Stories One Message Part 2

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

Retinitis Pigmentosa: Two Stories One Message Part 1

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

Inspire Your Heart with Art Interview with Lynda McKinney Lambert

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

21 Quotes to Inspire in 2021

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

set of books encased in headset