personal stories Archives

A Lifetime of Learning Independence Through Cane Travel

Posted on February 11, 2026 - 11:36 am by Lori Miller

Top-down view of gray sneakers at a curb with a white cane with a red tip touching the edge of the step.

I want to share my experiences and milestones with cane use throughout my life. For many years, I did not see my cane as a tool for independence. I was embarrassed to be seen carrying it and often resisted using it. As a child, I didn’t understand why I was encouraged to carry a stick […]

February Proclaimed Low Vision Awareness Month

Posted on February 11, 2026 - 8:55 am by Pris Rogers

woman look at pill bottle through a magnifier

Every year the National Eye Institute (NEI) designates February as Low Vision Awareness Month. APHVisionAware is partnering with NEI to promote this important event. Why? The numbers of older people with low vision are increasing and are projected to grow dramatically over the next several years. As noted by the National Eye Institute, “A visual impairment […]

How Can Self-Compassion Save the Day?

Posted on February 3, 2026 - 11:01 am by lauralynnbrodie

illustration of a person with long dark hair holding a large red heart close to their chest on a white background.

Some days are just harder than others. Not because anything dramatic happens, but because you’re tired of explaining, adjusting, advocating, or holding it all together. For families living with low vision or blindness, these moments are part of everyday life, and this is exactly where self-compassion can heroically save the day. Self-love is about appreciation […]

After an AMD Diagnosis: Steps That Helped My Mom Adjust

Posted on February 2, 2026 - 8:30 am by edhenkler

Jane Henkler is smiling and sitting inside a plane while her son, Ed, is also smiling and leaning on the wing.

When the phone rang in the mid-1990s, I didn’t realize it was the start of a chapter that would redefine my life’s work. My mother, Jane Henkler, was on the other end, telling me she had been diagnosed with macular degeneration. At the time, I had no idea what that meant. I just knew that […]

My Biggest Fear Was Going Blind – and Yours May Be Too

Posted on January 23, 2026 - 12:37 pm by Steve Kelley

Editor’s note: The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is conducting a research study seeking U.S.-based adults 55 and older who are experiencing changes in their vision. The aim of the study is to understand what it’s like for older adults to adjust to vision changes and what services can help them. To support this […]

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