self-determination Archives

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 […]

Nursing With Low Vision: Trailblazing a Path

Posted on June 25, 2024 - 8:30 am by Jenn Han

Ask any healthcare professional why they chose their career. It will usually boil down to: “I want to help people.” However, the distinguishing answer lies in each person’s unique story that moved them to action. Perhaps, however, we have grown so used to trying to cure or fix. So much so, we have become indifferent […]

A Sweet Job Teaches This High School Student Valuable Skills

Posted on February 22, 2024 - 10:50 am by Amy Lynn Smith

A young adult smiling outside in front of a red farm truck.

Qiao Angermeier and her mother, Rhonda, admit that Qiao has always enjoyed taking on challenges. “I don’t like just sitting around doing nothing,” says 17-year-old Qiao. Qiao is a talented musician, especially at the piano, and is on the girl’s wrestling team at school. “If there’s something to be done, I want to get it […]

Working with Editors and Publishers to Author Great Books

Posted on February 20, 2024 - 1:23 pm by Ann Chiappetta

Whether you write for personal enjoyment or professionally, becoming a good writer requires practice, talent, education, and perseverance. The career possibilities in writing, editing, and publishing currently open to a person living with blindness or low vision are more attainable today thanks to recent improvements in electronic resources and tools designed for blind and low-vision […]

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