Acceptance is the goal, but it can be a rocky road to get there, especially for those of us with degenerative conditions. Part of acceptance is finding ways to do things well without sight. If you haven't started to use a screen reader, for example, you might start doing some of your reading using that technology. Part of acceptance is also hitting life milestones that show that you're adjusted to the difficulties associated with your low vision or blindness, including holding down a job and being in a relationship, assuming that's what you want. That is, blind and low vision individuals who lack things in their life will blame those things (rightly or unrightly) on their condition, which leads to more dissatisfaction and sometimes depression with the condition. So here's some actionable items for you at your age:

- First and foremost, read up on retinitis. I'll let you do your research and talk to your physician, but investigate taking Vitimin A and possibly also Omega 3. Some studies have suggested the progression of the disease can be slowed significantly so take this seriously. I AM A RANDOM INTERNET PERSON AND NOT A DOCTOR so do your homework.
- Decide what's bothering you most about your reduced vision and take proactive steps to implement fixes and mitigations. If you're at university and can't see the board, get your hands on a good camera and hook it up to your computer. If you're struggling with reading, investigate screen readers, audiobooks, and podcasts. If you're a poor navigator, look into apps for that. Especially at a low vision level, most problems have strong or fully effective mitigations.
- Start coming around to the idea that your life will continue and still be enjoyable when you're low vision and, eventually, blind. This is the truth. Fear of blindness is often largely fear of the unknown, and the reality can be frustrating for a time but many or most adapt to blindness. It's not the end of the road for you and there are, quite literally, far worse things that could happen to you. Blindness is a problem, but being depressed about blindness is three problems.
- Work on yourself. This is good advice for anyone, but as a blind or low vision person you don't really have the option to coast a bit in life like most people do. Blind and low vision people often do well in higher-level or expert careers but have a harder time at "regular jobs" or unskilled labor. So unlike most people you'll tend to either be doing pretty damn well or not well at all, there's not really a "mediocre" option like there is for most people. So aggressively develop your skills, especially force multiplier skills like writing, speaking, and technology.
- Finally, don't go in for the philosophy of sentimentality around sight. Fuck sunsets and your grandchildren's faces were probably going to be pretty boring anyway. Blindness is a problem to deal with, but not because you can't look at pretty pictures anymore...it's because you have to learn to do things differently. So be prepared to do that learning and you'll find you'll probably be ok in the long run. Remember that everyone has their challenges, and this is yours, you're not uniquely cursed. Keep things in perspective.

With that last bit said, I'll leave you with a bit of sentimentality since I've just come across it:

> To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
> To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
> and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
> and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

I'm a 32 year old male with Usher's type 2a. I've got about 5 degrees of vision at the moment and was recently registered as Blind (severely sight impaired) in the UK.
I still struggle a lot with coming to terms with my disability but there are 4 thoughts that I have found to be really helpful to me. YMMV.

Focusing more on what I can do rather than what I can't. I just had to spend a few months focusing on the negatives (to get PIP a UK disability benefit) and it was horrible. It had a noticeable affect on what I was able to do and how blind I felt.

That everything has been easier than I imagined before I got there. I didn't think I'd be able to cope or function at all with this level of sight but it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be (still bloody hard sometimes mind you). I assume that this trend will continue

Realise that this is the best your sight will ever be. (Barring some miracle cure). Sounds depressing but this has been more about doing things I want to do now and avoiding regret. A big example is that I spent years whitewater kayaking, really pushing the edge of what was safe for me, I loved it and some of my best memories are from that time. A smaller example was buying a Vive and getting into VR (I'm a stingy guy) which was expensive but has allowed me to have a lot of fun. The only thing that I've failed to do this with is travel which I am starting to regret, but that just means I know I should make it a focus soon because it'll only get harder.

Realise that sometimes you just can't do something and have to move on. This has been a tricky one for me but very important. As an example of how tricky I'm not going to give any examples because they still feel a bit too raw and private.

I hope that was helpful. I hope it works out for you. Remember to have fun.

Helllllloooooo! I live like 3 miles away from Cal State Fullerton! My husband too is figuring out how to cope. He also has RP, he just now started using a cane. His eyes have gotten worse and it does make him feel isolated, he feels like everyone is watching him when he uses a cane. He likes to try to pass off as visually impaired not legally blind. I'm his caregiver and I am able to be home all day and help him out. His way to cope has been eating a ton of candy he says I just makes him feel better he also keeps busy with projects like rebuilding guns, we have 4 kids and it helps him to get out and socialize, we have just begun telling people about his eyes and almost everyone has been cool, bt they do ask stupid questions like how do you have sex? Uhhhhh.... Just like you do. Haha He also went to cal state Fullerton, engineer and business major. He still has not found how to make it work for him. My suggestion for you would be use the cane get used to it. The Braille institute sent someone to teach him how to cross streets and such. It was free. Look them up, they have a lot of services available. We even go to he blind of America for camping. There are a lot of people with visual issues adults and kids, there are a lot of things you can do to help cope, as for me, I try to be as supportive as I can and we do well, there are days though when I can't get what I need to done because he needs a lot of help sometimes with his projects. But we live happily and just take it a day at a time. I hope any of this helps, I kind rambled sorry, just know you aren't alone. :)

Hi, i just sent you a direct message with some more personal info. But to quickly answer a few of your other questions

Assistive technology and adaptive techniques will become your friends. The more things you know how to do independantly without sight (or with the remaining vision you have), the more comfortable and happy you'll be. Also, orientation and mobility training will become SUPER VALUABLE.

The Braille Institute isnt too far from your school, and they offer voiceover (and general assistive tech) training and O&M training. And if you haven't already, please please please contact DSS so your classes will remain accessible

Today is the best time to be blind people have left great comments for you.

I don’t have any words of wisdom, considering I’m not diagnosed yet, however I assume I have Ushers type two too. I’m also studying biological sciences as well (diff school tho)! This is definitely a super hard thing to hear and I suspect that the only reason I’m still emotionally okay is because I’m in denial lol.

Thank you all so so so so much. This has helped me tremendously beyond words can describe. I struggle here and there emotionally, but I know this shall pass too. Thank you so much, all.

I appreciate you all for the wonderful responses. They're extremely uplifting in many senses and some, tell the cold truth for what it is. I understand we all must have a dose of reality in order to carry onwards with ourselves. That's the tricky part. More so, wondering about the future.

The trickier part is limiting the thoughts about the future and primarily focusing on the NOW, the present. It's kind of hard considering I have a lot of good going for myself, but then I think of "what-ifs" incessantly. Like for example, being in a relationship with the most loving and compassionate woman. How do you men cope with your disabilities when in relationships with girlfriend/fiance/wife? How do they treat you and what are their expectations? To add, I go as far as to my future career paths. It's a challenge and I understand there are resources to turn to manage your jobs. For myself, 1 more year left till I get my bachelor's in science, how would I proceed a specific job I wanted. For example, I want to be in the field of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. I know I've been told to pick jobs that require less eyesight. Myself, I don't want to settle for I have busted my butt through my major and plan on getting my Master's right there on afterwards to beat time against my eyes. There are several questions I can think of. These are prime examples of what I dealt with since my diagnosis as of February 2016.