Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Legally blind. Learning to cope. Venting, plus a few questions. (self.Blind)
submitted by B-dub31
Long post incoming. Over the past year, I have lost a lot of my vision due to bilateral optic atrophy. I am now legally blind (20/250 in my right eye, 20/500 in left with a constricted visual field). I do have a patch of usable vision in my right eye, but it's not in the central region. I have been learning to cope with my new limitations. I can no longer drive of course, and had to resign from my previous job because they couldn't make reasonable accommodations (I was the public safety director for one of the fastest growing communities in KY). I am 38, married with two children.
I am on the waiting list for O&M training. I don't need a cane to navigate where I'm going, but it would help me avoid bumping into people and things beside me. It would also help signal to others around me that I am visually impaired. Does anyone where dark glasses? My eyes are very light sensitive, but when I wear sunglasses indoors (like in a store), it makes what little vision I have worse. I am considering something like a 10% tint or photochromatic lenses. I would appreciate your input.
I've done some lurking here and I've some redditors have a negative feeling toward government benefits like SSI. I have applied for my social security disability benefits (got denied, called them up and asked why certain records weren't used, they admitted to making an error, so they are voiding that decision and making a new determination) as well as disability retirement through my government employment pension. I am not ready to stop working permanently, but I need to make some changes in my situation to accommodate my disability, so the benefits will help us until we can make changes. I live in a rural area (the nearest town of about 6500 is about 10 miles away) and own my home. I realize my best chance for getting back to work is moving to a larger city where there is accessible transportation or services like Uber. I don't like city life, but I've realized that my life will be much harder living in a rural setting. Lexington and Frankfort are under consideration. I lived in Indianapolis until I was 13, and my brothers live there, so it's a strong option as well.
I have a Master's degree, but it's in the realm of my former career (emergency and disaster management). Most of these jobs require emergency response and are subject to 24/7 on call, so I would say that public safety is out as a career option. Would vocational rehab help with costs of training in a different career path? If not, what services would they provide? If I understand correctly, a person who is legally blind can make $1900 a month and still retain their SS benefits. I want to get out, meet new people, and make a difference in the community.
TL;DR: I am legally blind because of bilateral optic atrophy. I can't drive anymore and had to resign from my job. Waiting on O&M training and would like input on dark glasses options like lightly tinted or photochromatic lenses. I'm looking to move to an urban area to access more services and transportation options, but would need to sell my current home and uproot my family. Have applied for SSDI and disability pension for short term financial stability, but would like to return to work in the future. I probably cannot return to previous career because it requires being on-call and irregular hours. Would vocational rehab help with job training in another career field even though I have a Master's degree?
I am on the waiting list for O&M training. I don't need a cane to navigate where I'm going, but it would help me avoid bumping into people and things beside me. It would also help signal to others around me that I am visually impaired. Does anyone where dark glasses? My eyes are very light sensitive, but when I wear sunglasses indoors (like in a store), it makes what little vision I have worse. I am considering something like a 10% tint or photochromatic lenses. I would appreciate your input.
I've done some lurking here and I've some redditors have a negative feeling toward government benefits like SSI. I have applied for my social security disability benefits (got denied, called them up and asked why certain records weren't used, they admitted to making an error, so they are voiding that decision and making a new determination) as well as disability retirement through my government employment pension. I am not ready to stop working permanently, but I need to make some changes in my situation to accommodate my disability, so the benefits will help us until we can make changes. I live in a rural area (the nearest town of about 6500 is about 10 miles away) and own my home. I realize my best chance for getting back to work is moving to a larger city where there is accessible transportation or services like Uber. I don't like city life, but I've realized that my life will be much harder living in a rural setting. Lexington and Frankfort are under consideration. I lived in Indianapolis until I was 13, and my brothers live there, so it's a strong option as well.
I have a Master's degree, but it's in the realm of my former career (emergency and disaster management). Most of these jobs require emergency response and are subject to 24/7 on call, so I would say that public safety is out as a career option. Would vocational rehab help with costs of training in a different career path? If not, what services would they provide? If I understand correctly, a person who is legally blind can make $1900 a month and still retain their SS benefits. I want to get out, meet new people, and make a difference in the community.
TL;DR: I am legally blind because of bilateral optic atrophy. I can't drive anymore and had to resign from my job. Waiting on O&M training and would like input on dark glasses options like lightly tinted or photochromatic lenses. I'm looking to move to an urban area to access more services and transportation options, but would need to sell my current home and uproot my family. Have applied for SSDI and disability pension for short term financial stability, but would like to return to work in the future. I probably cannot return to previous career because it requires being on-call and irregular hours. Would vocational rehab help with job training in another career field even though I have a Master's degree?
KillerLag 3 points 6y ago
I'm an O&M instructor, and many of my clients do wear sunglasses (and we recommend them for a few eye conditions and glare issues as well).
For many eye conditions, the eye has trouble adjusting to sudden changes in light. So if you are wearing sunglasses outside, and step inside, the relative light has changed to darker, but the eye has trouble adjusting to it immediately (some eye conditions can take a few minutes to adjust, others even longer). Removing your sunglasses then may help, although be mindful of where you are. I had a client who has a tendency to take off their sunglasses half-way up subway stairs. :S
The photochromatic lenses can be good, but it takes time for them to change from clear to dark and vice versa. If you are light sensitive, it may take too long for it to be useful.
For many eye conditions, the eye has trouble adjusting to sudden changes in light. So if you are wearing sunglasses outside, and step inside, the relative light has changed to darker, but the eye has trouble adjusting to it immediately (some eye conditions can take a few minutes to adjust, others even longer). Removing your sunglasses then may help, although be mindful of where you are. I had a client who has a tendency to take off their sunglasses half-way up subway stairs. :S
The photochromatic lenses can be good, but it takes time for them to change from clear to dark and vice versa. If you are light sensitive, it may take too long for it to be useful.
B-dub31 [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thank you for your response. I kind of have a catch-22 situation in which I see better with more light, but my eyes are also becoming more light sensitive. My best bet would be probably two pairs of sunglasses. One lightly tinted for indoor wear and one for outdoor riding in the car. Of course that also means two pairs of glasses to keep up with...lol. Not,to be nosy, but how did you get into O&M training? My low vision services specialist mentioned that there is a shortage of trained professionals in this field.
KillerLag 3 points 6y ago
Yeah, some people do end up with multiple pairs of sunglasses. I have a client who regularly carries three pairs of sunglasses. One for outside, one for inside but still bright, and a yellow one for contrast at night.
I actually ended up learning about the O&M program by a bit of a fluke. About 10 years ago, I wanted to go to Japan to teach English, and some friends were planning the same thing. I applied... and ended up not getting in. I asked them what I could do to improve my chances for next time, and they said get more teaching experience. I looked up volunteering opportunities for teaching, and happened to go to the CNIB (Canada's rehabilitation organization) volunteer page, which mentioned O&M and ILS as a job. I was intrigued, and the year later, I applied to both the O&M program and to teach English in Japan. I ended up being accepted to both.... so I went to Japan to teach English for a year, and decided I would re-apply to the program for when I came back. I applied, got in, and that was it. ;)
Yeah, there is a strange shortage all over. We've been short staffed in Canada as well, and we've tried to recruit people from the US, but no luck. Montreal has started up their O&M program, and they should be producing their first year's graduates very soon (I'm hoping to snag a placement student :D ).
I actually ended up learning about the O&M program by a bit of a fluke. About 10 years ago, I wanted to go to Japan to teach English, and some friends were planning the same thing. I applied... and ended up not getting in. I asked them what I could do to improve my chances for next time, and they said get more teaching experience. I looked up volunteering opportunities for teaching, and happened to go to the CNIB (Canada's rehabilitation organization) volunteer page, which mentioned O&M and ILS as a job. I was intrigued, and the year later, I applied to both the O&M program and to teach English in Japan. I ended up being accepted to both.... so I went to Japan to teach English for a year, and decided I would re-apply to the program for when I came back. I applied, got in, and that was it. ;)
Yeah, there is a strange shortage all over. We've been short staffed in Canada as well, and we've tried to recruit people from the US, but no luck. Montreal has started up their O&M program, and they should be producing their first year's graduates very soon (I'm hoping to snag a placement student :D ).
Namrakk 3 points 6y ago
Your vocational rehab question is probably best answered by a counselor in your state as the amount of help they are able to provide is strongly dependent on funding, which varies from state to state. Your counselor may end up trying to help you find a job in your field first, and then provide training in another field if they don't have any luck.
In regards to SSDI benefits, I would be happy to help with specific questions you may have, as I have some prior experience (pm may be best)
In regards to SSDI benefits, I would be happy to help with specific questions you may have, as I have some prior experience (pm may be best)
-shacklebolt- 2 points 6y ago
I recommend that you don't write off your ability to work in your current field yet. There may be other roles you are well suited for (such as office support, research, analyst, etc) with the proper training.
Many blind people who do need retraining in a different field do receive some kind of financial educational support from vocational rehab, as well as training and necessary devices. It really depends on your state as well as the counselor you are working with. The better you are able to advocate for yourself the better these things often go.
Regarding blindness skills training, you can ask for comprehensive out of state training. The NFB is affiliated with 3 training centers (the [colorado center for the blind]
(http://cocenter.org/), blind, inc, and the louisiana center for the blind.) Each has comprehensive residential training programs known for a positive attitude about blindness, quality instruction, and the use of many blind instructors and staff. If that is something you are interested in, contact them to learn more.
Many blind people who do need retraining in a different field do receive some kind of financial educational support from vocational rehab, as well as training and necessary devices. It really depends on your state as well as the counselor you are working with. The better you are able to advocate for yourself the better these things often go.
Regarding blindness skills training, you can ask for comprehensive out of state training. The NFB is affiliated with 3 training centers (the [colorado center for the blind]
(http://cocenter.org/), blind, inc, and the louisiana center for the blind.) Each has comprehensive residential training programs known for a positive attitude about blindness, quality instruction, and the use of many blind instructors and staff. If that is something you are interested in, contact them to learn more.
B-dub31 [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Wow! Thank you for the great resources!
Annndroid 2 points 6y ago
I'm not blind nor do I wear glasses, but the only advice that I can give on the glasses is to test out all of the your options multiple times, then narrow down to whatever works best for you. Everyone's eyes are different.
VR should help with job training - just apply. Ticket to Work Program $1 I don't see why your master's would get in the way since that training isn't suitable anymore.
In case you're wondering about future employment, here are some ideas: Cook, counselor, financial analyst, software engineer, marketing, politician, journalist, social worker, therapist, rehab teacher. My favorite is engineering because the pay is great, and you can work from home :p
Places to live: Indiana (Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Lawrence, Greenwood, Noblesville, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Westfield).
Michigan (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Okemos, Ann Arbor, Troy, Lansing).
Mississippi (Jackson, Gulfport, Madison, Southhaven, Biloxi, Hattiesburg)
Arkansas (Little Rock, Fayetteville, Springdale, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Rogers, Bentonville)
These are all some of the cheapest states as well as the transportation. If I were to reccomend somewhere to move it would closer to your brothers (or other family? is moving closer to wife's family an option as well?)
" I am not ready to stop working permanently, but I need to make some changes in my situation to accommodate my disability" You're a badass lol. 100% the correct mentality and attitude.
VR should help with job training - just apply. Ticket to Work Program $1 I don't see why your master's would get in the way since that training isn't suitable anymore.
In case you're wondering about future employment, here are some ideas: Cook, counselor, financial analyst, software engineer, marketing, politician, journalist, social worker, therapist, rehab teacher. My favorite is engineering because the pay is great, and you can work from home :p
Places to live: Indiana (Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Lawrence, Greenwood, Noblesville, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Westfield).
Michigan (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Okemos, Ann Arbor, Troy, Lansing).
Mississippi (Jackson, Gulfport, Madison, Southhaven, Biloxi, Hattiesburg)
Arkansas (Little Rock, Fayetteville, Springdale, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Rogers, Bentonville)
These are all some of the cheapest states as well as the transportation. If I were to reccomend somewhere to move it would closer to your brothers (or other family? is moving closer to wife's family an option as well?)
" I am not ready to stop working permanently, but I need to make some changes in my situation to accommodate my disability" You're a badass lol. 100% the correct mentality and attitude.
B-dub31 [OP] 2 points 6y ago
I don't know about being a badass, but I have a new reality to adjust to...lol. I am constantly amazed by the adaptability people show in the face of adversity. My situation isn't what I would choose, but it could be so much worse. I'm realizing how valuable the things I used to take for granted actually were.
I'm middle aged and pretty well educated, but I know that I can't return to the same career I've worked in for the past 13 years. Indianapolis makes a lot of sense except that my wife's family is here where we live now and they are awesome! I'm truly blessed with wonderful in-laws who have helped us keep it together over the past few months. I'm leaning toward Frankfort because it has a lot of state government offices where I might get a job, but it has a bit of a small town vibe to it as well.
I'm middle aged and pretty well educated, but I know that I can't return to the same career I've worked in for the past 13 years. Indianapolis makes a lot of sense except that my wife's family is here where we live now and they are awesome! I'm truly blessed with wonderful in-laws who have helped us keep it together over the past few months. I'm leaning toward Frankfort because it has a lot of state government offices where I might get a job, but it has a bit of a small town vibe to it as well.
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