Great question! I'm legally blind and decided to re-skill before I lost all my vision. I went into a tech career (after decades away), and I had to start off on the ground floor, since i didn't have specific work experience with this tech.

What I did bring to the the table where years of consulting skills, business/marketing strategy, Business Analyst work, teaching and course creation, sales and customer service, etc. These skills are invaluable to an employer once I also had the tech skill in place.

Take a leap! Look at things that are some how related to skills you have and love (soft or hard skills). Take the pay cut. It won't take long to get the experience you need.

Good luck to you!

Yes, I lost my printing job of 8 years in February. Currently unemployed, but working with Vocational rehab to find another job. I would highly recommend getting in touch with your department of children and families to see if they can help you get another job.

As things stand now, they are footing the bill for everything and may include going back to college at their expense. Not entirely certain which direction I'm headed since I've only started with them.

Yes. I was an engineer and machinist. Sticking my fingers anywhere near a moving blade is a no no since going blind.

We were lucky - our home is paid off and we had about 30k in savings when I lost my job. My wife lost hers shortly after I lost mine and we burned through our savings faster than expected.

She's working again and we're doing okay. I'm still waiting on Social Security to make a decision on my case. It's been almost nine months since I applied.

It happened to me. I worked in public safety management and have a graduate degree and two graduate certificates in the field. Because of my vision loss, I am unable to drive. I couldn't fulfill the basic duties of my job, so I took disability retirement from my pension and SSDI.

I want to get back to work, but I'm stuck in a place where I feel like I'm too old to go back to school because I don't want any student loan debt at my age and I'd have to make pretty good money to replace my benefits and make it worth it. I've thought about vocational rehab or the Ticket to Work, but since I already have a Master's degree, I doubt they'd pay for any retraining.

It’s an adjustment but I am sure you can do it and can find a job with good pay or something you do love. I guess your savings will be important.