Dottie, a native of Mobile Alabama, has lived her entire 82 years in what she warmly refers to as "the deep south." A 41-year resident of Texas, she has always had a strong desire to participate in her community and help others. Her volunteer work started when she was just a teenage candy striper at a local hospital and has continued throughout her life, volunteering at schools and hospitals, and serving on several charitable boards. "I have followed my beloved mother's example of helping others and believe God has put me on this earth to serve," Dottie is quick to say.
While she had been living with glaucoma for many years, it was only in the past few that Dottie's eyesight started deteriorating significantly. In the spring of 2019, she went completely blind.
Thinking back, one thing Dottie appreciated having done for herself as soon as she started to lose some vision was to get organized and seek out resources from places like her local vision rehab organization. She came up with a system for organizing her closet, her bathroom, her kitchen, and refrigerator that cut down tremendously on frustration as well as the time and effort needed to locate an item. "Safety pins, rubber bands, and plastic bags marked with stickers I can feel … these are my best friends. That along with lots and lots of paper towels," Dottie joked.
One day in May of 2021, her daughter-in-law, Taylor, did some research for Dottie and landed upon the Hadley website. "Learning about all that Hadley has to offer…I was like a kid with a new toy! I can't thank Taylor enough for introducing me to Hadley," Dottie reflected.
So far, Dottie has enrolled in our audio-delivered workshop series on how to use Siri for her iPhone and another on how to navigate unfamiliar places and spaces. She is also eager to join in on our call-in discussion groups.
Dottie's advice to someone new to vision loss is to continue to learn new ways to do things, try to keep your sense of humor and stay connected to friends and family and other sources of support. "Every day can be a challenge since I lost my sight. But I try not to say, 'I can’t do this.' Instead, I try saying 'how could I do this?' And when I am having a bad day, I get on the phone and connect with a friend. I may be supported and inspired by them; and I might just support and inspire them along the way, too."
What really sets Dottie apart, however, is her desire to spread the word about Hadley with everyone she thinks may benefit. She has spoken with her glaucoma specialist and the staff in their office and has even dropped off brochures so they can distribute them to their patients.
"Networking is what it’s all about," says Dottie. "Getting Hadley's information out there is a way for me to continue to give back to others. Something that has been important to me all my life."
It is because of this effort in spreading the word, that Dottie was recently named a Hadley Hero. "With Dottie's help, Hadley will reach and help many others. As we all know, when a friend, neighbor, or client takes the time to make a recommendation, that advice is likely to be very well received," said Julie Tye, Hadley's President and CEO. "Dottie's efforts will help Hadley be the best that we can be, and we can’t thank her enough."