Stories from the Spectrum

Please consider some of these accounts written by people who just happen to be, among other things, on the blindness spectrum.

**If you are on the blindness spectrum**

Join us in educating the world! Feel free to share:

• Unexpected things you do.
• An instance when you felt like pretending to be more blind than you are so people wouldn't think you were "faking".
• An experience you had that would have been better if there was more understanding of the blindness spectrum (without shaming anyone of course!).

You can share up to 3 photos and a maximum of 200 words.

• My name is Anthony Parker, host of the Parker/Daniels show. I am totally blind and I produce this show, the premises is to bridge the gap between the blind and cited community. If you are interested, please check out the show on YouTube, especially if you would like to be on the show. #PDS https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-YlNqGj2Mx0vju6aJw-bGg

  

  Anthony Parker
  Friday, August 9, 2019

• four years ago, my 36-year-old son, who had 2020 vision his entire life, was diagnosed with Stargardt’s. It was shocking. I had a hard time believing that his dad and I, who have totally different backgrounds, both carried such a rare mutation together. For the first two years, my son was in total denial and would not talk about it with anyone. Today, although he’s no longer in denial and has explained it many times to his friends and coworkers, he absolutely refuses to be a disabled man. He refuses to use any of the technology that is available to him and the only thing he has changed is that he no longer drives at night. Since he is gifted and since the brain and eyes are connected by 1 million neurons, he is teaching himself how to use his brain to work for his eyes. It’s sort of an amazing thing to watch because I’ve seen him do this. So he continues to drive in the day, surf every weekend and live his life almost exactly as it had been before. Because this is a progressive disease, I don’t know how long he’s going to be able to do it this way. But I do give him a lot of credit For his strength and courage.

  

  cathryn
  Wednesday, January 23, 2019

• I was diagnosed in early adolescence with Stargardt’s Disease, a form of macular degeneration, and was legally blind by mid-teens. My first dive into YouTube came in 2012 . I was hired to create content for a mobile technology channel. While in that position I added a couple videos about phone accessibility apps for people with low vision and received positive feedback from members of the community. This encouraged me to create my own YouTube channel, The Blind Life. I am currently working as an Assistive Technology Program Coordinator at a nonprofit. And guess what – I can bowl!

  

  Sam Seavey
  Tuesday, May 1, 2018

• I have Stargardt's Disease and my vision is 20/400. I have enjoyed sewing for many years. I use magnifying prism glasses, and have my machine up on a high surface so I don't have to lean down to get close enough. I only recently discovered the "accessible" sewing needles that thread through a gap in the side of the eye. Makes my life a lot easier!

  

  Libby Thaw
  Friday, April 27, 2018

• I have had low vision since my teens. I am a professional photographer, specializing in pets.

  

  Steve
  Friday, April 27, 2018

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