Now There's a Magazine Website Specifically for You
Dorrie Rush, OE's Chief Content Officer, joins us for a chat about this wonderful online resource chock full of tips for living well with vision loss. You'll find great articles on using tech tools, tips for health and well-being, stories from others living with vision loss, a terrific podcast, and more.
Hadley Presents
Ophthalmic Edge Patients
Presented by Ricky Enger
Ricky Enger: Welcome to Hadley Presents. I'm your host, Ricky Enger, inviting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a conversation with the experts. In this episode, we discuss OE Patients, a resource providing practical tips and encouraging advice for living with vision loss. And our guest is OE Patient's chief content officer Dorrie Rush. Welcome to the show, Dorrie.
Dorrie Rush: Thank you so much, Ricky. I am delighted to be here.
Ricky Enger: I am really glad to have you as well. I have seen OE Patients on social media and often Hadley and OE Patients sort of retweet each other's stuff and share those resources back and forth. It's wonderful to actually get a chance to collaborate on this podcast. You're a fellow podcaster and you do lots of other things as well. So really happy to have you on. Why don't we just start by talking about who you are and a little about what is OE Patients?
Dorrie Rush: I am Dorrie Rush, and I have been in the field of vision loss for 20 years and living with progressive vision loss for 30. At the age of 33, which was 30 years ago, I was diagnosed quite unexpectedly with Stargardt disease. Never heard of it. Had no idea. I noticed while I was driving that my eyes were not reflexing from light to dark, so I went to an ophthalmologist. Of course, at that moment, that was like a totally unknown scenario to me. Over the next 10 years, I continued in my work.
I was a sales executive in the apparel industry. Hoped that my vision loss would be very minimal. The progress was slow, as I say, especially for people with forms of macular disease. It's usually very slow and merciful. It gives you time to make the adjustments, but it did continue to progress. 10 years later, I had the great opportunity to move into a new field, and I joined the Lighthouse. I joined the Lighthouse in a position of fundraising, which was a natural progression for me in terms of same skillset.
I was with the Lighthouse for 15 years. I was director of major gifts. I was in fundraising. I ran the information and resource service, which was incredibly interesting. I had many roles in technology. One of the reasons I got involved in technology was because I really felt... It was the early 2000s and I really felt that... I felt I was being left behind by technology. I so wanted the same technology everyone else was using.
And although there were many options in assistive technology, I just always felt like I want what the other kids have. I was very vocal about that. The CEO at the time gave me the opportunity to move into technology and express my voice and my thoughts to see where we could go. So that's what I did. In 2016, I decided that after 15 years of Lighthouse, lots have been changing, certainly lots have been changing in fields of technology, I decided that I would move out and do something a little bit more independent.
So, I did do that. I left the Lighthouse, and I became an independent consultant. My very first job opportunity came, of course, from an organization very close to me. I have been on the board of the Association for Macular Diseases, which is an organization that was started in 1978, believe it or not, and has been going ever since. It's housed at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital in New York City.
We were about to embark on a partnership with Ophthalmic Edge, an organization website which is a website geared to physicians in training, free courses available on a number of ophthalmology topics from very prominent presenters. Dr. Yale Fisher, who is the founder of Ophthalmic Edge and a long, long friend of the association and a retina specialist. He wanted to develop a site for patient information and patient education. Perfect timing. Perfect timing.
They offered me the opportunity to steer this project and to help create it. That was in 2017. In 2017, we partnered with Ophthalmic Edge to create Ophthalmic Edge Patients. Now, the interesting thing is, as you said, Ricky, it is now referred to and our URL is also OE Patients because we shortened it.
Ricky Enger: And because nobody could say ophthalmic or spell it.
Dorrie Rush: Right, unless you were an ophthalmologist or in the field of ophthalmology, right? And somebody said that very early on and I really kind of just ignored it, but it was true. It's kind of fun though now, because we have developed ourselves as OE and I think some people know what that stands for and meet people know that we're connected with Ophthalmic Edge. But other people just... It's okay. It's an easy thing to remember and to say. So that worked out beautifully.
We began to develop a website and content for the patient population. And what we hoped also was, of course, we were developing content to help patients get information about living with vision loss and dealing medically and with medical developments, but really, we also hoped that we would have an opportunity to also connect with and educate physicians.
Ricky Enger: Talk a little more about those two things, because first of all, there are a lot of vision loss resources out there. There are certainly some things that make OE Patients unique, and I think one of them is this idea that you can educate healthcare professionals and that you can educate patients. Why don't we start with healthcare professionals and what do you think that OE Patients can really do well in that sense, because so many people talk about, "I went to the doctor, I got my diagnosis and the doctor couldn't tell me anything other than, well, people learn to live with it?"
Dorrie Rush: That is a very, very common experience. I do think that we have and hopes to, and we are continuing to work to develop the audience of professionals. Because as you say, Ricky, in some regard, everyone dealing with vision loss is a patient, right, of someone and in some way. It's natural for patients to look to their physicians and the professionals that's around them for guidance and advice about what to do next, right, even when it doesn't involve treatment.
And as we know, so much of the causes of visual impairment and vision loss are not treatable. We have to follow the advice of our physicians, and there are some good advice that doesn't have to do with treatment. But then there's more, there's more to it, and patients do expect that, and they don't really always get it. This is what we want to do. We want to keep this information going, and we do want physicians to know it, and we do want healthcare providers to know it.
We want them to be able to even if it's just give the advice of, "Take a look at OE Patients or Hadley."
Ricky Enger: Right. You have this ability to tell the physicians or the healthcare professionals, even if you don't know all of these tips on the site, you can still at least know where the site is and point your patients to that. What kinds of things then are people going to find? Let's say that they are a patient. They've gotten this information and they want to go check out the site. What are they going to find?
Dorrie Rush: We kind of cover the gamut, and I think that our website is structured a little bit differently from others. It's more of a magazine, news kind of a site. On our website, it's broken into four sections. But I should start by saying, obviously our website is also designed for people who are experiencing issues with their vision. We do have a lot of accessibility settings. The website is very cleanly designed. That was one of the most important things.
It's a simple article on each page, and there's not a lot of columns. It's very, very clean. I love that part. It's very clean. We have a feature that I'm so glad so many people have found. You and I might use a lot of the speech features and have an ability to use speech options in computers and tablets and mobile devices, but some people don't do that. We have a button at the top of our website that was so important to us to include it. It's called Listen. It's a read speaker technology.
You just click on the button at the top of the page, and it reads you the entire article, and it's fantastic. The website is broken into four sections, and all four of these sections are really they're all part of what we have to do to move forward and to do the things we want to do and to continue to lead our life as normally as possible.
The first section is called making adjustments. And in this section, of course, we're talking about things like how to adjust your home for vision loss, how to keep yourself organized. One of the most important things in adjusting is a willingness to make changes, because everybody has resistance. I don't want to do it that way. I want to do it the way I did it before. If you do something enough times, it becomes the new natural way you do it. It's so important. In this section, I'm just going to mention two of our big titles. One of our most popular articles on the website is the “Hottest Low Vision Gift.”
This was started one holiday season and every year we update it, and it remains always... I think it's in our top 10 on a monthly basis. It's very funny. I always say to people, if you have a gift, you want or you have a gift that you've received, that's great. Please let us know and we'll consider adding it to the list. The list, of course, has a lot of technology, but, but a lot of also very simple low-key kinds of things. Another article is “Try a New Approach to Menu Reading.”
People ask over and over again, "How do you need a menu?" A menu is one of those things that right away, it's really difficult. I still can't read a menu. Even with technology, I find it a rather cumbersome experience, but there are ways to focus in and get what you need and there are so many methods.
Ricky Enger: Yeah. I think that's such an important thing to recognize is that there is no right way to do things. There's always a number of ways that you can look at and find the one that works well for you, whether it's reading that menu and taking as long as you need to do that so that you've done it yourself or having speech read it to you or whatever. Love that there are articles with so many tips. Let's talk about then the other three sections.
Adjustment, I think, is absolutely one of the most important ones and it's something that people who are very new to vision loss or even people that may have been living with it for a while need to take a look at and just explore that portion of it before maybe they even feel ready to take a look at anything else. What are the other three then?
Dorrie Rush: The other three, accessibility and technology is the next one and this is really where the bulk of our information is I noticed this morning. It is the place near and dear to my heart, and I also think that it is a key factor in our independence and in our ability to go on and keep working and living and doing what we want to do and also being part of this whole social experience. In this area, one of the most popular is accessibility support phone lines.
I have found these incredibly, incredibly helpful. Because when you're stuck and you're a user of accessibility features, you can't always turn to your husband or your child and say, "What do I do with this?" You need some specialized tab and there are a number. We know Apple, we know Microsoft, Comcast, Verizon Wireless, they all have their own accessibility support lines and that's fantastic. You can get help at any time, but live support is something we still need and want.
It can all be done digitally. Another one is your smartphone is a comprehensive low vision device. I remember we used to walk around with a tape recorder and a magnifier and all kinds of different devices. And now it's all in this beautiful little phone. A lot of people do not know that. And once you know it, really it opens up a whole new world. Another article here that's very popular is five ways to make your computer at work easier to use.
A lot of people don't know how much is built into a Windows computer today, particularly when it's the early stages of vision loss and all the things that you can do to compensate so that you can still keep working. You and I both know that you can keep working through every stage of vision loss, right? As long as you are making the changes and you're aware. I love that article. My biggest advice is always make a friend with the guy in IT or the women, because they'll really help you.
The next section is health and well-being, and here we actually have a number of great contributors because, of course, we do have physicians writing for the site and some other nutritional and wellness experts. The article that really stands out here month after month in our analytics is written by Dr. Fisher. The title of it is “Doctor, Am I Going Blind?” This is the question for everyone at almost every stage, am I going blind? What does that mean to you? To what degree will I lose my sight?
Dr. Fisher goes through all the main causes of vision loss. Many, of course, we know are age related and the reality, what is the reality of really losing your sight completely. You're going to follow the care of a physician. You're going to keep a healthy lifestyle, and you are going to be okay, but still your vision is probably going to change, but not to the degree that... When you hear you're going to lose your sight, of course, people immediately think they'll have no sight.
It's all in a degree and it's good to know, it's really good to know where you're going and how you can have some control over that. That's what that article is about. It's very popular and I completely understand why. Another very popular article in this section of health and well-being is written for us by Michelle Milgrim, who is our nutrition and wellness contributor, and this article is titled “The Anti-AMD Diet.” Of course, the genesis of our organization is age-related macular degeneration, although now we've branched out into everything.
This is the leading cause of vision loss among people over 65. There's a component, of course, of lifestyle and nutrition that are very important here. And people really want to take action if they can. So, improving your diet, this is based on the AREDS study, which is a study from the NEI, from the National Eye Institute, on supplements, but Michelle took it and turned it into real food. That's what the supplements supplement.
The last one I'll say in this section is we have recently published two articles on treatments and development, one for AMD and one for diabetic eye diseases, and they both have a printable PDF that you can take to your doctor and talk to your doctor to talk about if any of these are something that you can look forward to or what the progress is on that today, because that's also something people want to know, what's in development? What are the treatments? What's coming that will help me?
The last section is Voices of Experience, and this is where the podcast is housed, and this is also where we write articles about people's experience people living with vision loss. I have to say, Ricky, and this one always in our top 20, for sure, every month. I wrote the article. The title of it is “The Frankness of Bruni.” I'm a New Yorker and a New York Times reader, and so Frank Bruni is someone I know. I feel like I know personally, of course. He's been writing a column at The New York Times for 25 years.
One day when I was reading his column on my iPhone in the morning, as I do, I couldn't believe the title, which was, “Am I Going Blind?” And then I read the article and there you learn that someone you would never expect to be having the same experience is, right? So you got the interview for your podcast with Frank Bruni, and I thought it was really an incredibly, really beautifully done.
I also really appreciated what he had to say, because he spoke about the experience of losing sight, going through the whole healthcare and medical and physicians experience, and how that felt for him and how he was dealing with it and the fears and also the revelations, I guess, and how he sort of came through that.
Ricky Enger: Right. His story was so powerful because what he experienced sadly is pretty common. Having not just people who are prominent like Frank Bruni, New York Times columnist, share what he's going through, but other people that maybe feel like that could be my next-door neighbor and they're going through this as well. I think it helps people so much to read about those things or to hear about those things on a podcast.
Dorrie Rush: Yeah, and the most important thing to me was it's very rare that we hear from someone prominent who is willing to talk about this so openly.
Anyway, and to move on to another star in his own right, one of the podcasts in our podcast section is “A Conversation with Hadley's Douglas Walker,” who is one of my favorites. And really the way I came to had like honestly was through Douglas Walker's video tutorials, which I discovered way back at the beginning of the iPhone tutorials when I was still at the Lighthouse, and I started to share those with our clients way back when and I still follow all of them. That was a great podcast, and it is also one of the favorites.
Ricky Enger: Absolutely. That is so awesome. What I love about OE Patients is that there is so much information there and more is being added every day. If I'm a person who is curious about, hey, I wonder what's going on that website, what's being added? What's the best way that I can find out what's going on other than just checking in on the site every day? Are there other ways that people can stay in touch and stay up to date?
Dorrie Rush: For sure. It's interesting because people don't really check in on the site every day. They basically check in once a month, so we make it easy. I think that the favorite way to follow us, of course, you can follow us on social media, on Facebook or on Twitter. But the favorite way is to sign up for our monthly roundup email, which brings together all of the content that we've published newly and that we've updated and some that we just think is timely for the month or whatever's happening.
Once a month, we send out a very easy to navigate email with everything on it that you can link back and read at your convenience. You can sign up for that on our website. It's at the bottom of every single page. There is a place that says stay posted and you could just put in your name and your email address, or you can go to oepatients.org/signup and sign up there, or you can always send us an email to info@oepatients.org, and we'll sign you up or answer your questions or love to hear your feedback.
Ricky Enger: Thank you so much for that. We're going to have all of those links plus links to every article that we've mentioned here. There have been quite a few. They're definitely going to be of interest to the audience, so we'll have all of that information in the show notes. I want to thank you, Dorrie, for taking a little time to come and join and just chat about what you're doing. I think it's so important, and I love hearing your passion. It's clear that you love your job, that you really thrive on sharing information with people. So, love it.
Dorrie Rush: Thank you so much, Ricky. I do.
Ricky Enger: Got something to say? Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents or make suggestions for future episodes. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at podcast@hadley.edu. That's P-O-D-C-A-S-T@hadley.edu, or leave us a message at 847-784-2870. Thanks for listening.
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Organizations
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Podcasts
All Episodes
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Episode 105
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Episode 104
The National Library Service has a free talking book program for anyone in the US with vision loss. Tonia Bickford, an advisor from Michigan's talking books program, joins us to discuss how to get the most out of this free service.
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Episode 103
This week we learn more about visual hallucinations that sometimes accompany vision loss, a condition called Charles Bonnet syndrome.
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Episode 102
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Episode 101
For many living with vision loss, watching TV is less enjoyable as they can't see what's happening on the screen very well anymore.
Audio description fills the void by narrating key visual elements. Listen in as Ricky chats with Hadley member and avid audio description user, Judy Davis. -
Episode 100
Listen in to our conversation with Dr. Mondal, a low vision optometrist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. We chat about what to expect from a visit to a low vision specialist and the kind of help they can offer.
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Episode 99
Have you listened to Hadley's community-generated audio podcast yet? In this episode, Ricky and Marc Arneson, Hadley's Director of Community, share a few stories from Insights & Sound Bites and discuss how to contribute your own story. Insights & Sound Bites | Hadley
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Episode 98
Listen in as artist Chloe Duplessis explains how a degenerative eye disease changed, and didn't change, her life and love of art. "I thought art required sight. I was wrong."
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Episode 97
Dr. Judy Box, a Hadley member living with macular degeneration, shares her tips for managing those important conversations with your eye doctor.
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Episode 96
In this episode, the Hadley team talks all things gifts. Giving them, getting them, what's on their wish lists, and how vision loss may, or may not, impact these activities.
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Episode 95
Friendships often change when one has vision loss. Whether it's adaptations to the activities you enjoy together, asking for help, or turning that help down … there are conversations to be had. Let's tune in as two Hadley members, Eugenia DeReu and Tara Perry, share their experiences with what's changed for them — and what's stayed the same.
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Episode 94
Losing some vision can make for shopping challenges. Here are a few mishaps that Hadley members have run into. Have your own to share? Email us at podcast@HadleyHelps.org
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Episode 93
This week we chat with the chief technology officer from Envision as he shares how their free mobile app or camera-enabled glasses can help those with vision loss. It speaks aloud written information, describes surroundings and objects, and even tells you who's nearby.
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Episode 92
Lots of questions, concerns, and stereotypes connected to use of the white cane. In this episode, we address several of them from past discussions on the topic.
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Episode 91
Listen in as Hadley's Director of Community, Marc Arneson, chats with Hadley members Bill Massey and Gregory Peterson about their participation in Hadley's new Peer-to-Peer program.
To learn if getting a peer connection is for you, call us at 1-800-323-4238. -
Episode 90
Listen in as we chat with Ed Haines about getting the most out of our magnifiers.
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Episode 89
Listen in as we chat with animal lovers Debbie Worman and Sheri Robinson about the joys and challenges of caring for a pet when you have vision loss.
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Episode 88
Listen in as Hadley member, Wendy Spencer Davis, shares why she decided to learn some braille and how it's helping her in everyday life.
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Episode 87
Ed McDaniel, a psychologist with low vision, joins us to talk about common emotional triggers people with vision loss face and how to recognize and manage them.
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Episode 86
Jessica Grogan from the American Diabetes Association joins us to talk about managing your blood sugar with vision loss.
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Episode 85
Tune into our chat with Sarah Clark, a visually impaired marriage and family therapist, as she offers her unique insight into some common family dynamics that often make adjustment more challenging and how to navigate through them successfully.
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Episode 84
Join us as we chat with Hadley member, Kris, about her experience living with vision loss in a senior community.
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Episode 83
Listen in as Hadley staff share their real-life bloopers—times when things didn’t quite go as planned.
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Episode 82
Join us as we take a dive into the features of the BlindShell cell phone.
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Episode 81
Listen in as Pastor Scott Himel shares his advice for participating in religious services no matter your level of vision.
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Episode 80
Join us to learn about how ScripTalk technology translates medication labels into speech and where you can find a participating pharmacy.
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Episode 79
Join occupational therapist from Duke Eye Center, Fay Tripp, in a conversation about bioptic glasses—what they are and who can benefit from them.
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Episode 78
Listen in as we chat with birding expert Freya McGregor who shares her tips on how you can enjoy this hobby, no matter your level of vision.
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Episode 77
Listen in as Hadley's Doug Walker and Ricky Enger chat about how they use GPS in their daily lives. From walking directions to finding items or assisting a driver by navigating a trip, GPS can be a very handy tool.
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Episode 76
Listen in as we chat with Dave Steele about his life, poetry, and vision loss.
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Episode 75
Listen in as we discuss some common situations that can make us feel unsafe and share ideas on how to address them. We're joined today by Christy Ray and Ricky Jones of STRIVE4You.Org
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Episode 74
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for feelings of shame to creep in when we've lost some vision. Join social worker Jeff Flodin and psychologist Ed McDaniel, both visually impaired themselves, as they explore where these feelings come from and how they have worked through these emotions in their own lives.
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Episode 73
Listen in as Dorrie Rush of OE Magazine shares how she resisted using a white cane for years, the stigma she feared, and the confidence and security she found once it was in her hand.
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Episode 72
Learn how CVS pharmacy customers throughout the US can access a free service that reads aloud prescription medication information.
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Episode 70
Join siblings Jack, Cathie, and Paula as they discuss the impact of their mother's vision loss on the family. Hear how they've come together as a team, learned how to find services, and continue to help their mom maintain her confidence and sense of well being.
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Episode 71
Join us as we chat with author Hannah Fairbairn about the tips and tricks she has learned to take some of the stress out of holiday get-togethers, no matter your vision.
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Episode 68
We're joined by the creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, Sam Seavey. Sam shares his personal journey with vision loss and advice he has for people who are newer to vision loss.
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Episode 67
Whether you like to read for enjoyment or need to check your mail, reading is an essential part of your day. We're sharing tips and tricks for how to continue reading, the best low-tech and high-tech gadgets, and the benefits of learning braille.
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Episode 69
Chief Innovation Officer Doug Walker chats with us about the launch of Hadley's newest podcast, Insights & Sound Bites. This new podcast will offer short stories shared by listeners. By tapping into the power of our community, we hope to share ideas, discoveries, and moments of inspiration along the journey through vision loss.
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Episode 66
Jim Hoxie and Joanna Jones join us to discuss their children’s book, "Grandpa's White Cane." Jim shares how vision loss shaped his life and how he and Joanna, a retired teacher, began instructing children about the importance of white cane awareness and the do's and don'ts for helping people with visual impairment.
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Episode 65
Blogger and social worker Jeff Flodin talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for helping people led him to blog about his experiences.
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Episode 64
Hadley has partnered with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to offer a Spanish-language version of our popular cooking workshop series. Devina Fan, director of the National Eye Health Education Program at NEI, joins the podcast to talk more about this new initiative, NEI’s expanding Spanish content, and the importance of connecting Hispanic and Latino communities to important vision resources.
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Episode 63
A change in your vision may make some parts of your job more challenging. But with a bit of help and some new skills, you may be able to stay in your job. Hadley Chief Program Officer Ed Haines and Learning Expert Steve Kelley join the podcast to talk about our new Working with Vision Loss workshops and to share tips for where to find support and how to ask for what you need.
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Episode 62
Certified accessible travel advocate Melvin Reynolds joins the podcast to share tips for getting the most out of traveling, no matter your level of vision. Melvin gives advice on what to research ahead of a trip, considerations for traveling with a guide dog, and how a certified accessible travel advocate can help.
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Episode 61
Karen and Dan Leonetti share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
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Episode 60
Rabbi Lenny Sarko joins us to talk about how his vision loss journey led him to create a first-of-its-kind braille Sefer Torah that people around the country can access.
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Episode 59
Actor and artist Bruce Horak talks about his personal journey with vision loss, how he got interested in painting, and his role in the new television series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
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Episode 58
CEO of Eschenbach Optik of America Ken Bradley joins the podcast to discuss how Eschenbach has adapted through the pandemic to help people with visual impairment access low vision devices remotely. Through their "Telelowvision" program, you can try out magnification devices from the comfort of your home to find what works best for you before you buy.
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Episode 57
Scottish radio broadcaster and podcaster Steven Scott loves finding and talking about tech stuff. He's especially fond of apps and gadgets that make life easier for him and others with vision loss.
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Episode 56
NYT Columnist Frank Bruni returns to the podcast to talk about his new book. Frank describes his personal experiences with vision loss and how, with time, his perspective has grown.
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Episode 55
IT professional and stand-up comedian Todd Blenkhorn talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for stand-up helped him find and share the humor in daily interactions.
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Episode 54
In this episode, we're sharing highlights from previous interviews with a glaucoma specialist, retina specialist, and a low vision doctor. Listen in to learn more about common eye conditions, treatments, and what to expect at these specialist appointments.
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Episode 53
Master Gardener Sue Brasel and Hadley's Chief Program Officer and gardener Ed Haines join us for a chat about gardening, no matter your level of vision or gardening experience. They share tips for how to get started, common challenges, and the many benefits of gardening.
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Episode 52
We're joined by Carol Mackey, an avid discussion group participant, and co-host Debbie Worman to chat about what Hadley groups are, how to join, and what you can get out of them. With 10 groups on a variety of topics, there's something for everyone. Listen in or chime in – it’s up to you.
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Episode 51
Bold Blind Beauty blogger Stephanae McCoy joins us for a chat on beauty, style and confidence. Stephanae talks about how vision loss shaped her life, and then shares some of her favorite fashion and beauty tips.
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Episode 50
Hadley staff share their favorite kitchen gadgets and tips. Whether you're an experienced home chef or a total novice, you're bound to pick up a few ideas that fit your vision needs and make your time in the kitchen more productive (and fun).
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Episode 49
We sat down with Kim Walker, co-director of research and development at Hadley, and Mark Andrews, one of the Hadley advisors who reviewed our exciting new approach for adults with vision loss to learn braille. From labeling items in your home to identifying buttons on an elevator, braille can be a wonderful tool for everyday use.
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Episode 48
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Gretchen Rubin, chats about her research on how tapping into different senses can enrich our lives and connect us to each other in surprising ways.
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Episode 47
Twin sisters Jenelle and Joy join the podcast to share their personal experiences with vision loss and adjusting to it emotionally. While they look identical, their perspectives and journeys differ, highlighting their mission to show that "there is no right way to go blind."
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Episode 46
Hadley learner Sharon Noseworthy shares tips and tricks for hosting get-togethers of any type or size, no matter your vision. Sharon has always loved the role of hostess and has learned to adjust her approach now that her own vision has declined.
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Episode 45
We're joined by Teepa Snow, occupational therapist and founder of Positive Approach to Care, to learn more about the challenges of having both vision loss and dementia. Teepa addresses common misconceptions about dementia and shares practical tips for supporting someone with both conditions.
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Episode 44
We sat down with several Hadley staff members and asked them about their favorite tech tips, apps, and gadgets. Whether you consider yourself a tech expert or novice, the group recommends a variety of high-tech and low-tech options that fit your comfort level and interests.
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Episode 43
Judge David Tatel has served on the second most powerful court in the country since 1994. He also happens to be blind. Judge Tatel joins us to share his story on building a law career and family while dealing with changing vision, the technology and resources he's found useful, and what made him consider getting a guide dog in recent years.
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Episode 42
In honor of White Cane Safety Day today, we're joined by Hadley learner Larry Carlson and Orientation and Mobility Specialist Elijah Haines for a conversation about this important tool. Larry shares what made him decide to use a white cane, and Elijah shares tips for what to consider and how to adjust to using a white cane.
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Episode 41
Supriya Raman, manager of the Disability and Multicultural branches of the TSA, shares tips on traveling among shifting COVID restrictions. Supriya covers what to expect at the airport and what resources are available for people with visual impairment.
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Episode 40
Photographer Michael Nye chats with us about his latest art exhibit, "My Heart is Not Blind," a collection of photos and audio interviews of people with visual impairment. Through these stories, Michael provides a look into what he calls "our shared humanity and shared fragility," as well as common misunderstandings about blindness.
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Episode 39
Champion blind golfer Chad NeSmith talks about how vision loss shaped his life, and how he shares his passion for golf with others with vision loss.
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Episode 38
Doug Walker, Hadley co-director of R&D, and Ed Haines, Hadley Chief Program Officer, chat about the making of Hadley's "Adjusting to Vision Loss" workshop series. The series guides people through the emotional aspects of vision loss. Doug serves as the series' personal storyteller and narrator.
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Episode 37
In this episode we chat with ophthalmologist Dr. Angela Elam from the University of Michigan. Dr. Elam addresses common questions and concerns, and shares her advice for returning to the eye doctor among shifting COVID restrictions.
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Episode 35
Learn about a new service that’s just launched in 2020 called Accessible Pharmacy. Accessible packaging and labeling and personalized customer support all free of charge to the end consumer, and specifically designed for those with vision impairment.
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Episode 34
Audio Describe the World! That’s the mantra of UniDescription: a free smartphone app that provides audio descriptions and navigation tips for US National Parks and other public places.
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Episode 33
In this episode, we chat with low vision optometrist Dr. Mark Wilkinson from the University of Iowa. Dr. Wilkinson answers common questions and shares his advice for getting the most out of low vision optometry appointments.
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Episode 32
Jan and Elgie Dow share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
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Episode 31
Join Hadley advisor Eddie Becerra as he shares about losing his sight from diabetic retinopathy, and how he gained a new perspective on life.
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Episode 30
Classically trained chef Regina Mitchell shares how vision loss shaped her life. Regina worked her way back into the kitchen and is now helping others cook with confidence, no matter their vision.
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Episode 29
In this episode we sit down with the director of Well Connected, an organization that offers free, call-in groups for adults over 60 on a wide variety of interest areas: games, music, meditation and more.
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Episode 28
Support groups can be a great way to connect with others who "get it." Listen in as as low vision support group leaders Lynndah Lahey and Judy Davis describe how their groups are run and what their members get out of them.
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Episode 27
World-renowned artist John Bramblitt describes how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.
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Episode 26
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Tim Murray of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Murray treats eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He answers common questions and shares his insights into the future of treatments.
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Episode 25
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl, a glaucoma specialist from the Duke Eye Center, and ask her some of the many questions we’ve heard about glaucoma, its risk factors, and how to treat the disease.
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Episode 24
Hadley learning expert Jessica Smith shares her experience raising a puppy that may eventually become a guide dog. She covers what she’s learned and things to consider if you’d like to volunteer to help out a guide dog school.
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Episode 23
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a day to recognize this important tool that empowers people with visual impairment to travel safely and independently. It also brings attention to the general public to be mindful of visually impaired neighbors, giving them additional consideration and right-of-way when needed. We sat down with Kellee Sanchez, an orientation and mobility specialist, to talk about the history of White Cane Safety Day, and how a white cane can help those with vision loss.
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Episode 22
Be My Eyes is a free smartphone app that connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers for help with visual tasks. We sat down with Will Butler from Be My Eyes to hear how the app started, tips for using it, and exciting new features that provide specialized assistance, including with Hadley.
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Episode 21
Tracy Simon from Eye2Eye peer support program shares her story of vision loss, how her program works, and the benefits of connecting with and supporting each other.
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Episode 20
Ophthalmologist Dr. Lori Provencher chats with us about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed doctor's visits. She shares tips for staying safe, questions to ask, and what to expect before, during and after your next office visit.
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Episode 19
Mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske returns to the podcast to share tips and insights on how to cope with life's challenges, such as vision loss or an illness, building resilience and focusing on self-compassion instead of judgment.
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Episode 18
Author of "When You Can't Believe Your Eyes," Hannah Fairbairn, chats with us about how to communicate in everyday situations when you can't rely on visual cues. Hear Hannah's own story about losing vision, her practical tips on adjusting to vision loss, and advice she has on regaining confidence in social situations.
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Episode 17
In this episode, we continue the conversation on living during the COVID-19 pandemic with a visual impairment. Listen in as we share some experiences, tips, and strategies for coping during these difficult times.
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Episode 16
The COVID-19 crisis has brought a wave of change and uncertainty to our everyday lives. Listen in as we share personal experiences, resources and some helpful tips...all from a blind or low vision perspective.
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Episode 15
Assistive technology experts Ricky Enger and Steve Kelley review BlindShell, a mobile phone built for those with visual impairment. They discuss the basic features, how it differs from a traditional smartphone, and how to decide if it's right for you.
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Episode 14
This week we sit down with Dan Roberts, author of "The First Year-Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" and founder of MDSupport website and support group. Hear Dan's own story about being diagnosed with macular degeneration and what prompted him to reach out to others facing similar circumstances.
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Episode 13
Listen in as we explore the basics of using hand tools with a visual impairment. Gil Johnson, a visually impaired home repair expert, shares tips on everything from measuring, to leveling to hammering.
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Episode 11
Elections are right around the corner. So we gathered a panel to talk about options for voting no matter your level of vision. Listen in as we explore everything you need to know, from registering to vote to the many ways you can cast your ballot.
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Episode 12
Ricky sits down with Android Accessibility Product Manager Brian Kemler to discuss what is available on Android phones for those with visual impairment. From adjusting font size and color, or opting to listen with TalkBack instead, the commitment to making these powerful tools more useful to a wider audience is clear.
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Episode 1
In this episode, we chat with Gil Johnson, an experienced home repair and woodworking enthusiast about things to consider when undertaking home repair with blindness or low vision.
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Episode 2
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down to continue a conversation with author and visually impaired world traveler Dr. Wendy David. Together they explore a wide variety of helpful hints covering train, plane, and cruise travel as well as practical information on traveling internationally and navigating hotels.
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Episode 3
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Joe Strechay, associate producer on the Apple TV+ series SEE. The show takes place in a future where, after a viral apocalypse, all humans are blind. Joe takes us behind the scenes of the show and his work to help build an inclusive set for the cast and crew, including those with low to no vision. From casting to costumes, scripting to scenery, hear how Joe helped create a science fiction world that strives to be authentic to life with vision loss.
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Episode 4
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down with travel author Dr. Wendy David in this latest episode. In part one of this two-part interview, Debbie and Wendy discuss tips for traveling with confidence as a blind or low vision person, advice on picking destinations, considerations for traveling alone and in a group, and more!
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Episode 5
Ricky Enger is joined by Hadley's Debbie Worman and mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske in this latest episode. Debbie and Tiffany talk about what mindfulness is and the specific benefits that mindfulness can offer for those living with vision loss. Tiffany then walks listeners through a short mindfulness exercise.
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Episode 6
In this episode, Ricky Enger speaks with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, who shares the story of his sudden vision loss from NAION. Bruni speaks candidly on his adjustment to the change, maintaining a realistic attitude towards his vision loss, and the failure of medical professionals to provide resources after diagnosis.
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Episode 7
Listen in as we share practical tips on how to keep your handwriting readable. This resource-packed episode includes many useful techniques and solutions to common handwriting challenges. Hadley Learning Expert Jennifer Ottowitz chats with Sue Dalton, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.
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Episode 8
In this episode, Hadley's Steve Kelley speaks with Kendra Farrow, from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, located at Mississippi State. The episode serves as a guide for those new to vision rehabilitation, including determining who is eligible for services, key differences between the medical and social services models, and how to locate services in each state.
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Episode 9
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Microsoft's Jeremy Curry, a Senior Program Manager with the Windows Accessibility team. New vision accessibility features are now available in Windows 10 for low vision and screen reader users.
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Episode 10
In the inaugural episode of Hadley Presents, Ricky Enger and Jonathan Mosen of Aira chat about the ways in which a visual interpreter service, such as Aira, can be used to gain valuable visual information and enhance travel and leisure activities for blind and low vision users.