Going Blind

Instrument 41 · 11-03-2013, 01:59 PM

Long story short, I am going blind. So I have some questions.
Do you know what type of jobs are out there for the blind?
Anyone have experience with dealing with the blind? any other info about going blind is appreciated. Not enthusiastic about this issue that is now accelerating faster that I thought it would.

jwgn777 · jwgn777's Garage

I don't know to much about this however I remember seeing a sign here in NY about an organization named Light house for the blind (jobs). Lighthouse For the Blind Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com Maybe this might help. Maybe this organization can answer you questions.

afterburn 549 · 11-03-2013, 02:08 PM

Sorry to know.......Hope the best!

widgeon13 · 11-03-2013, 02:23 PM

Certainly not trying to pry but it might help if we knew what your age, educational level and background are. Can't imagine the anxiety associated with this experience. Wish you the best.

Rick V · 11-03-2013, 02:29 PM

That is not good news and I am going to make it worse. Luby may be able to help you out since his wife has gone through this.

Don Ro · 11-03-2013, 03:07 PM

God Bless You!!!

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

You have my sympathy. I hope you have a supportive spouse so she can be your eyes. My mother had glaucoma and being alone she went into a blind home although she still had some good sight left. Being proactive can help....

Instrument 41 · 11-03-2013, 03:20 PM

Turn 50 in a few days. Diabetic complications, been in Instrumentation and Fluid Power sales for about 25 years. Just bought a house and did the restoration. Financials aren't good because of this project. Divorce 5 years ago wiped out retirement. So it goes...

herr_oberst · 11-03-2013, 03:23 PM

My sympathies, and I wish you all the best.

Oh Haha · 11-03-2013, 03:23 PM

No advice but I wish you the best. I can't imagine.....

billybek · billybek's Garage

How about instructing at a technical college or polytechnic? Someone with your skill set could be very employable in post secondary education.

Not meaning to pry, but will you maintain some vision?

I can't imagine what that would be like, but I wish you the best too....

Jim Bremner · 11-03-2013, 04:46 PM

Phone sales in your field?

flyenby · 11-03-2013, 04:56 PM

I do not know you....but I am sorry for what you are going thru....Good Luck

M.D. Holloway · 05:31 PM

My wife went blind about 4 years ago. There are two ways you can do this, get depressed and sport a whoa is me attitude or do what your doing which is preparation and acceptance. I don't mean to come off harsh - your gonna get all sorts of sympathy which is all well and good but your also gonna get the cold shoulder as well. It sucks but some people just don't handle others with disabilities very well. Screw them. Your real friends will be there for you.

One thing I have learned is that there are plenty of groups out there that will provide help. What you should do is contact your local Lighthouse for the Blind. They will provide you some great info concenring programs to train you when you lose your sight. They will also provide you with your state agency. when the day comes and your sight is gone, get in contact with the state to open a file for you and get some training on going in public with a cane and how to do various things around your home. After your get the training you can get a guide dog. There are about 12 different places that you can apply to. You will have to go to the location - stay from 2 to 4 weeks and in that time you get your dog. The only thing you pay for is transportation. These dogs are worth between 10 to 15K but grants and support provide them to anyone who qualifies and if your blind you qualify regardless of income or age.

As for a job. You can prolly do alot more than you think. Driving is out as is flying a plane but short of that, you would be surprised. technology now allows you to speak and your words are written. It also allows for your emails and texts to be read out loud. If you don't go 100% blind there are many devices that enhance your limited vision.

Send me an email I can help you.

Mike

id10t · 11-03-2013, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybek

How about instructing at a technical college or polytechnic? Someone with your skill set could be very employable in post secondary education.

Not meaning to pry, but will you maintain some vision?

I can't imagine what that would be like, but I wish you the best too....

This. Adjunct pay isn't too bad, or you can even form a LLC and create course materials and license it for use....

M.D. Holloway · 11-03-2013, 05:24 PM

Let me know if you need a writer

LeeH · 11-03-2013, 06:23 PM

My nephew is legally blind. He has received great help from the state of Tennessee. Quick search uncovered this for LA:

Blind Services

Baz · Baz's Garage

Some great replies so far - I just wanted to say sorry to hear about this and agree to research and prepare as much as possible now.

I remember a Val Kilmer movie a while back called At First Sight that was pretty good about blindness. Co-star was beautiful Mira Sorvino and it was based on a true story.

There's so much technology now to assist those with disabilities - especially in communications.

I wish you the best going forward and hope you will keep us updated down the road.

LWJ · 11-03-2013, 06:58 PM

The above answers are correct. You can do a number of jobs without sight. Perhaps the best example I know is a former chem professor who lost his sight. He now has a medium sized law firm. There are limits (driving) and then self-imposed limits. Why can't you stay in your current field?

Let us know what we can do? I have had a career in sales. If I lost sight, I could change a couple of things and continue.

I applaud your proactive efforts,
Larry

tweezers74 · 11-03-2013, 08:35 PM

This thread is so interesting to me and I find the information so helpful. I am so sorry to hear about your situation. It is so scary. I went through the same feelings about three years ago. I was legally blind in my right eye and I was scared I would lose sight in my left. I was a clinical consultant (post sales support), so similar to you, it FREAKED me out. I was only 36 at the time so I was reeling at how I was going to continue to work. I traveled a lot so I wasn't going to be able to rent a car. Not only career wise but it starts making you think about something you take for granted every day. That you are going to wake up in the morning, open your eyes and be able to see the sun shine through the windows. Like you, my loss of eyesight wasn't abrupt. I slowly lost vision in my right eye over a year and was legally blind for another year. My other eye had the same "troubling cells" as the right so my doctor and I thought it would be just a matter of time before I was legally blind in both eyes. So, I started to do everything I wanted to do and see. Everybody thought I was going through a mid-life crisis but its just because I wanted to do the stuff I never thought I would be able to do later. And Lubey is right. Not all people will sympathize. I had to change the way I did everything. My perception was so off... for the normal vision people reading this, walk around with one eye closed and imagine the other like you were looking through a cloudy glass of water. That was me. And since people couldn't "see" that I couldn't see, and I adapted pretty well and wasn't OFFICIALLY blind, people thought I was flighty or clumsy. Working on something on the computer took me twice as long because I had to enlarge the screen up to 150%. At the beginning it was horrible but its true. You start to get good at it and adapt. I tripped all the time at the beginning but I got good at feeling for curbs with the front of my foot.

I feel for you. After a procedure, the vision in my right eye has returned to about 75% and I am not complaining. My left eye is hanging in there. No guarantees though. I see my cornea specialist often. Take all the advice you are getting here and I am going to be paying special attention since I might find myself in the same situation one day. And the guys are right. Don't throw in the towel just yet. I met a blind judge this past summer. He showed me his iPhone and it was amazing. He could do everything we do with it except take pictures with it. And he brings a seeing eye dog with him into court. If I was ever to lose my sight, I would be so grateful that I was alive during this time and not 30 years ago. With the technology we have today, there are so many things we can do despite our shortcomings. Start researching now. And start getting out there and LOOKING at everything you have wanted to see in your entire life. Make sure you see it. To know that you aren't going to be able to in the future, you would be surprised how you could sit for hours looking at the same thing. When I thought I was going to lose my sight, I used to sit and stare at my boy's faces while they slept. I tried to remember every curve, every nuance in their face so that when I did lose my sight, I could feel it and close my eyes and remember. I did that with the things I sought out to "see" and do. I learned to surf. So I closed my eyes and listened to the ocean. And then I would open my eyes and look. Then I closed my eyes again and listened. I think I did that over 100 times for about an hour. I think everybody on the beach thought I was nuts.

Don't take the little things for granted...and be appreciative of the little things you still have.