Maria Snow was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 16. Retinitis pigmentosa causes the light-sensitive cells in the retina to fail, resulting in the loss of peripheral vision and, in some cases, total blindness. A genetic condition, it would later impact two of her siblings as well.
The doctors in Venezuela, where Maria lived, didn’t provide her with much information about the disease. She remembers being scared and unable to participate in activities with her peers due to the loss of vision. She also recalls that school became more challenging as her sight deteriorated. However, she continued to work hard and went on to study to become a teacher.
Vision rehabilitation resources were scarce in Venezuela, but Maria was determined to find assistance. Her search ultimately led her to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was granted a one-year visa for vision rehab services.
In Puerto Rico, she learned orientation and mobility skills and began braille. Once back in Venezuela, she put her passion for helping others, skills and knowledge to use by working at a boarding school for blind children in Caracas.
Over the following years, Maria stayed in touch with her friend Chuck, a vision rehabilitation counselor whom she had met in Puerto Rico. Eventually, their friendship turned to romance. In 1987, they married, and Maria gained a daughter, Marta Elena; they moved to Boston where Chuck, who was also visually impaired, worked for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.
A few years later, the couple moved to Florida with their young daughter, María Geraldine. Maria became active with the local Lighthouse for the Blind and, when she sought to improve her keyboarding skills for her job with Publix grocery stores, the Lighthouse recommended Hadley.
Maria went on to learn more through Hadley, including how to improve her computer skills. She also continued with braille.
In 2014, Maria had to stop everything to fight cancer. She was also devoted to caring for Chuck, who had Parkinson’s Disease and dementia, until he died in 2016. Today, Maria stays active in the community and her church. She also feels fortunate to have her daughters’ support every step of the way.
Maria resumed learning through Hadley in 2019. She was especially eager to improve her braille skills. "It is a beautiful feeling to be able to read," she explains. "I love to be able to read at night and to write notes." She also wanted to be able to do readings at church—which she now does monthly.
A Hadley highlight for Maria is the Hadley Presents podcast. "I love this. It encourages me to do things," she shares. After listening to an episode about Well Connected, an organization that connects older adult volunteers over the telephone around a central interest, Maria knew she wanted to get involved. She immediately contacted them and became active with their Spanish-language program, Well Connected Español.
As all of Well Connected participants are over the age of 55, many have age-related vision loss. There was interest in forming a Well Connected Español group for braille, and the director tapped Maria to assist. For Maria, who is dedicated to learning and helping others, facilitating this braille group is an ideal role. "It is never too late to learn. We need it in our life to keep alive," she recognizes.
After the sessions got underway, Maria shared what she was doing with a Hadley learning expert. Upon hearing that the group did not have a formal braille curriculum, the expert suggested that Hadley’s new Braille for Everyday Use workshops would be a great framework that would also translate across language barriers.
Since then, Maria has worked with Hadley to provide these materials to members of the Well Connected Español braille groups. This has been a wonderful solution. The beginning group that Maria helps facilitate is now on the fourth workbook of the series, and the advanced group has completed the eighth. Maria reports, "The materials have been so good. It is a beautiful experience."
Through her efforts, Maria has introduced many new people to Hadley and expanded the reach of the Braille for Everyday Use series. As a result of this and her unwavering dedication to helping others, Maria has been named one of Hadley’s HEROES. She is proud of this recognition and grateful to Hadley for helping her, and others, discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss. "Life is not easy; it is hard to ask for help," she explains. "There are so many people who need help but are unable to go someplace to get it. Hadley helps a lot of people who need support."