Advocacy Archives

Peter’s Tale of Triumph and Batten Disease

Posted on June 11, 2024 - 10:46 am by Melissa Schenkel

Peter holding the book, "Marshmallow and Peter"

Beth’s world shifted dramatically when her son, Peter, at just six years old, was diagnosed with Batten disease. “Honestly, I was overwhelmed learning that there was no treatment or cure. My sweet boy would slowly lose all of his abilities,” Beth recounts. The diagnosis was much to digest. However, instead of succumbing to despair, Beth […]

Reframing Aging and Blindness/ Low Vision

Posted on March 27, 2024 - 12:14 pm by Pris Rogers

older person smiling and a younger person embracing them

As we approach Older Americans Month and Healthy Vision Month in May, let’s reflect on the progress in achieving the desired long-term outcomes in the Theory of Change (TOC), adopted by the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) in 2019. When first established through VisionServe Alliance (VSA), the Coalition sought to lay out the […]

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 […]

Using Her Voice in a Rewarding Career

Posted on February 5, 2024 - 9:01 am by Amy Lynn Smith

It’s impressive enough to be the first person who is blind to provide live audio description for the Oscars. But knowing that Nefertiti Matos Olivares has only been doing voice acting for a little more than two years is almost hard to believe. But it’s true. Nefertiti had other work in her career trajectory (more […]

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