Esther Smith
Esther Smith is a graduate of Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, Missouri, and was a 2006 recipient of an honorary degree from the University of North Texas. In addition, she was head of the circulation department at the Fondren Library at Southern Methodist University for 11 years. She has three daughters and seven grandchildren.
Esther has been involved in numerous volunteer activities in Dallas over the years. Over 15 years ago she developed age-related macular degeneration and began getting involved in volunteer work related to vision problems. She is currently a member of the American Foundation for the Blind Center on Vision Loss Board and started and managed the Center’s first docent program for several years. The independent living model apartment, Esther’s Place, at the Dallas Center on Vision Loss is named for her, in honor her efforts to help the Center and others with vision loss.
For more about her experiences with macular degeneration, read Esther’s Insight’s. She also shared a number of her insights in the AFB Press book, Out of the Corner of My Eye. She and her daughter are featured in the VisionAware video Esther and Gwen: A Mother and Daughter Story.