Visually Impaired: Now What? Archives

Why I Wear Prosthetic Eyes: Life with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada

Posted on May 15, 2024 - 11:05 am by Empish J. Thomas

person looking at camera prosthetic ocular lens

Editor’s note: Empish Thomas shares her decision about using ocular lenses and her experience obtaining, wearing, and caring for them. The blog has been updated as of May 2024. Why I Wear Prosthetic Eyes When I interact with sighted people, it never dawns on them that I wear ocular lenses, also known as “fake” or […]

From Carnival Owner to Blind Entrepreneur: Navigating Accessibility

Posted on May 7, 2024 - 2:09 pm by Max Ivey

I never saw this happening. I never saw myself as an accessibility expert. I never realized I had anything special to offer the disability community. It all started when the APH VisionAware Peer Advisor program invited me to share my story of going from a carnival owner to an online entrepreneur who happens to be […]

Equipping People With Canes—Providing Independence Around the World

Posted on February 23, 2024 - 2:53 pm by James Boehm

individual approaching stairs with a white cane

Imagine trying to cross the street as a person who is blind without a cane! Think of the places you have recently traveled. Maybe you went to school, work, church, or visited family or friends. None of these examples of independent travel would be possible for most of us who are blind or low vision […]

RP Awareness Comes to Supermarket Chain: No Shopping Required! 

Posted on February 16, 2024 - 12:58 pm by Amy Bovaird

Amy Bovaird standing beside a large sheet cake she made

For two and a half years, I have worked as a cashier at Giant Eagle, the supermarket chain in my hometown, Girard, Pennsylvania. I am legally blind and hard of hearing. I have retinitis pigmentosa (RP for short), a rare progressive genetic eye condition resulting in the loss of sight. On top of that, I […]

Seven Embarrassing Moments as a Blind and Hard-of-Hearing Cashier 

Posted on February 1, 2024 - 12:56 pm by Amy Bovaird

grocery store checkout aisle with a line of customers

Who knew working as a grocery store cashier could be challenging, rewarding, fun, and — upon occasion — funny? As an advocate for people who are blind, it took time to find my footing, but now that I have, I cannot imagine working anywhere else. Interacting with the Public Working with the public has transformed […]

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