Vision, Loss, Help, and Hope

When you want help with a technology, product, or service, reaching a real person is often difficult. Luckily, several popular services provide direct phone lines where people with vision loss can get real support from a person.

For many, picking up the cane isn’t easy. Vision loss is a spectrum, and the cane can invite personal uncertainty and public misunderstanding. Yet our members often share how it becomes a source of freedom and connection. Hear their stories in honor of World White Cane Day on October 15.

Preventing falls begins with small choices that make your home safer and your steps steadier. These aren’t complicated changes; they’re practical steps.

Healthy Aging Month is about staying active, connected, and purposeful. For those facing vision loss, volunteering can feel daunting—but it can also bring healing, confidence, and community. Members of the Hadley community share how they’ve found new ways to contribute, stay connected, and rediscover meaning.

Guide dogs win our hearts. Unfortunately, some myths about them can be confusing and even discourage a person from exploring whether a guide dog is right for them. So let’s clear up a few common misconceptions.

Keeping your dry goods organized saves time, reduces frustration, and helps you make the most of every mealtime—and every shopping trip. Whether you live alone or with others, a few smart habits can make a big difference.

More than a loyal companion, a guide dog is a highly trained partner in mobility. Together, you and your dog form a team. You give direction, make decisions, and ensure your dog’s health and safety.

A well-organized refrigerator doesn’t just look nice: It avoids confusion, saves time, and makes life in the kitchen easier. If you have vision loss, knowing exactly where things are is especially helpful. A few simple strategies can make a big difference.

A vision loss diagnosis often brings big questions about how to manage daily life. Your smartphone can be a powerful tool from the start. These five free apps are easy to try and can make a difference right away.

If you’ve given up the car keys due to vision loss, did you know you might qualify for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) services to get around safely and affordably?

If you're new to vision loss—and even if you've been on this journey for a while—you might be wondering where to find the best resources to get the help you need. Hadley is a great place to start. And here are five more resources to put at the top of your list.

Technology can be easier to handle once you understand the lingo. If you’re adjusting to vision loss, here are 7 helpful terms to know, and what they mean in plain language:

Giving up a driver’s license can feel like losing your freedom. Many Hadley members have shared how emotionally difficult it was to give up their car keys. Over time, though, they found practical ways to get around and stay connected.

Expiration dates on food packaging are typically super tiny and often printed with low contrast. So how can you tell if that yogurt in the fridge is still good?

Shopping for groceries can feel more comfortable, no matter your level of vision.

Losing vision is hard enough. But what if you also start seeing things that aren’t there? If so, you’re not alone.

If figuring out a kitchen gadget feels more confusing than exciting, you're not alone. But here’s the good news: with a little creativity, planning, and persistence, your kitchen can be a welcoming, usable space again.

When your vision changes, it’s easy to think you just have to "tough it out." But that’s not the only way forward, and it’s not always the best way, either.

Imagine having a library in your pocket. With BARD, you can. If you find reading regular print difficult, you can download audiobooks and magazines for free right to your smartphone, tablet, or specialized player.

Using the kitchen with vision loss can bring new challenges. But it doesn't need to mean giving up the dishes you love or the joy of cooking.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making shopping with vision loss a little easier, more efficient, and even a little more fun. And you don't need to be a tech whiz to benefit.

Is crocheting something you’ve always done or a new activity you want to try? No matter your level of skill or vision, you can still crochet. This relaxing pastime needs only a crochet hook, some yarn, and your hands.

“Don’t you think if I had a choice, I’d much rather hop in the car and go somewhere and get groceries, pick things up, do what I want to do without having to depend on somebody else?” —Daryl

Whether you have a green thumb or hope to develop one, vision loss doesn’t have to stop you. Here are 6 tips to help you get started or back to working in the garden.

“I think the hardest thing for me was to step out of the world of vision and step into the world of visual impairment, and the shock of it really sent me into a depression.” — Annie

If it’s hard to see the keypad on a telephone, making phone calls can be a hassle. Rather than relying on your sight, try using your touch instead with these handy tips.

“I was parading around like a sighted person when I was actually losing my vision.” —Angela

A magnifier can be a handy tool; you only need to find the right one for the right job. Here are answers to the 3 most common questions we get about this low vision aid.

Hadley's help doesn't require a doctor's note. There are no waiting lists. And no fees whatsoever.

Crocheting is a relaxing pastime that requires just a needle, some yarn, and your hands. No matter your level of skill or vision, you can still crochet.

Whether you’re new to knitting or wanting to pick it back up again, knitting can still be an enjoyable pastime, no matter your level of vision.

You were gifted an Amazon Echo. Or maybe you bought it on sale. Now what? It's time to take it out of the box and have some fun.