When Pat Lyons found out she had macular degeneration, she was determined not to lose her independence or joy in life.
However, when her husband became ill, she was faced with a whole new set of challenges as both a caregiver and a person with vision loss. "We all know our sight is valuable but when someone else’s life is at stake, it’s even more valuable," she shares.
Fortunately, her very first workshop with Hadley was on how to use the accessibility features on an iPhone. She recalls, "It probably saved my husband’s life. If something went wrong during dialysis, I could use Siri to call for help so much faster."
Learning to use a smartphone was just one of many ways Hadley helped Pat cope with her deteriorating vision. "We aren’t born with this knowledge," she remarks. "The adaptations I have learned with Hadley have made life so much more 'normal.'" Things like putting bump dots on her washing machine and dryer make doing laundry easier. Tips from the Guided Walking workshops help her feel more confident in public places. "Before that series, I was becoming more fearful and insecure about getting out," Pat recalls.
"I tell everyone about Hadley because for me that was the breakthrough. It’s specific and educational, a real time practical application." In fact, Pat has been such a wonderful ambassador for Hadley that she was named a Hadley HERO.
There is no vision rehabilitation center in the small rural town where Pat lives, so it's ideal that Hadley's help comes to her. She has taken more than 100 Hadley workshops on topics related to technology, daily living and adjusting to vision loss. When she has a question, she doesn’t hesitate to reach out to a Hadley learning expert. "I feel like I have a best friend, and they’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week."