NYT Columnist Frank Bruni on Vision Loss and Life in Perspective
In this episode, Ricky Enger speaks with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, who shares the story of his sudden vision loss from NAION. Bruni speaks candidly on his adjustment to the change, maintaining a realistic attitude towards his vision loss, and the failure of medical professionals to provide resources after diagnosis.
Hadley
NYT Columnist Frank Bruni on Vision Loss and Life in Perspective
Presented by Ricky Enger
Ricky Enger: Welcome to Hadley Presents. I'm your host Ricky Enger, inviting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a conversation with the experts.
In this episode, we're joined by New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, sharing his experience with vision loss. Welcome to the show Frank.
Frank Bruni: Hi, thanks for having me.
Ricky Enger: Hey, thanks so much for being here. So you've had actually quite the interesting career, but for those who don't yet follow you, why don't you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
Frank Bruni: Well, I'm a New York Times writer. Right now, I write an op-ed column that appears twice a week plus a weekly newsletter, but I've been with the Times for, it's getting close to a quarter century, 25 years, and I've had one of the more sort of eclectic careers at the Times. I was a religion reporter in the beginning for a while. I did a lot of politics and covered George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign for the Times. I was this sort of main reporter on his plane. I was the Rome bureau chief, I was the chief restaurant critic for five and a half years, and I've been doing the op-ed column I think for about eight years now. I've also done a whole bunch of arts and culture reporting and long profiles of celebrities, so it's been, as I said, very, very eclectic.
Ricky Enger: For sure. And you're a foodie as well. I think you've actually written a couple of books related to food. Yeah?
Frank Bruni: I wrote a memoir that was basically about my eating life, it is called Born Round. That came out in 2009. More recently, I wrote an all meatloaf cookbook. And in between those things, just to show you how all over the map I am, I wrote a book on the college admissions mania and why you shouldn't be so obsessed about getting into a school with an acceptance rate below 10%. And a years ago I wrote a kind of portrait of George W. Bush's campaign called Ambling into History.
Ricky Enger: Nice. So there's a lot out there for people to read in terms of your writing.
Frank Bruni: If they want to, they can get very sick of me, yeah.
Ricky Enger: I've got to read your meatloaf book just to see if you're part of the ketchup contingent or not. I'm looking forward to finding out.
Frank Bruni: Depends on the loaf. There are 50 loaves in there. So you know, a lot of different condiments.
Ricky Enger: So you have been fully sighted all your life I believe, and then quite suddenly, you were not. Why don't you tell us kind of how that came about?
Frank Bruni: In October of 2017 I guess it was, I woke up one Saturday morning, it was a Saturday morning of Columbus Day weekend. As the morning went on, my vision felt weird. It was weird, but not disastrously so. As the morning went on, I thought something's wrong, and I kept on thinking that I had some gunk in my eye or maybe my glasses were dirty or maybe I didn't have enough caffeine in my system or whatever. Only as the day went along and I began opening and closing one eye, the other eye did I realize that the vision in my right eye was profoundly blurry in a way that was not remedied by running cold water, running warm water over it in the shower, cleaning it out or anything like that. And over the next couple of days I went to see my normal ophthalmologist.
He kind of had a sense that it might be some sort of optic neuropathy and he sent me to a neuro ophthalmologist who diagnosed me with something called an NAION, that's the shorthand for it, which, and I may get this wrong, I think it stands for Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy. And what it basically means is that I've had what physicians kind of colloquially referred to as a stroke of the optic nerve. And for reasons that are not entirely clear, at some point overnight that night, and this most frequently happens to people to whom it happens. At night, there had been a significant blood pressure change or drop that ended up depriving the optic nerve of adequate blood and thus adequate oxygen for a long enough period of time that the nerve partially died, and that's what this condition is.
In some cases, in the first two weeks, the situation gets a little bit worse and then it stabilizes. That's kind of how it was for me. In some cases, it gets a teeny bit better before it stabilizes. In most cases, in aggregate, the damage is permanent. And there is no treatment for it. There was a clinical trial going on when I was diagnosed that I was a part of that has already been ended because the results were so poor, they didn't even finish it. And then the capper is, the literature suggests that if this happens to you in one eye, there's a one in five chance that it will happen in the coming years in the other eye. And that's of course a huge thing because you can get through the world quite well. A lot of people do sometimes from birth with vision in just one eye.
So my left eye is still with, when I wear glasses, my left eye is still 20/20 and it does all the work now. But if it were affected to the extent that my right eye is, I would quite likely fit the definition of legally blind.
Ricky Enger: And so before this happened, was vision loss on your radar in any way at all? Like did you know someone who had lost vision? No?
Frank Bruni: No, no. I mean, you know, it's funny you worry about whatever you worry about. I don't know that I had that many specific worries, but it's hard to remember now. But I mean if I had kind of health worries, health paranoias, health nightmare scenarios, I never thought, "Oh, what if I lost my vision?" For that matter, I never thought, "Oh, what if I lost my hearing?" Those just weren't things that I thought about. I've not met many... Although I have subsequently learned that most people who are legally blind become so over the course of their lives and are not born that way. I have not met many of those people and the ones I have tended, and this is the case, to kind of lose their vision at an earlier age than mine, which when this happened, I was 52.
Nothing in my experience suggested, "Oh, I'm aging, I'm in my 50s, I better worry about my vision." Now, if I were a smarter man, I probably would have because there are a lot of things that do come on as you get older, as you all know. I mean glaucoma, macular degeneration, a lot of that stuff. But I think I was more familiar with stuff like retinitis pigmentosa and blindness agents that happen more between the age of like the late teens and the mid-30s.
Ricky Enger: And of course for people, whether they've thought about vision loss or not, there's usually not like a plan in their back pocket of, "Oh, this is what I'll do when that happens.” And so I suspect you didn't necessarily have an idea of what would happen. So what were you thinking in those very early days when you're told this is what has happened, it's not going to get better and there's a chance that the other I could be affected as well?
Frank Bruni: Well, you know, I think adrenaline is our friend. I remember sort of operating on a wave of adrenaline for several weeks. My mind was just pinging and juiced with the kind of wonder of what had happened to me. And I think that prevented any kind of emotional crash, that prevented any kind of obsessive worry about what happens next. And I think that sort of subsided. I feel like we're given all of these, I don't know if they're evolutionary tools or whatever, that work out quite well. I think that subsided gradually enough. It wasn't like there was ever a crash. That I kind of was able to ease into the realization of what my situation was. And my attitude about it actually changed over time. I remember just as a kind of metaphor and example, I've never liked listening to books, audio, never at all.
I immediately... It's just my mind wanders. I have trouble concentrating. I like the act of visual reading. And I remember fairly quickly after this happened thinking, well, you know what? I should be listening to more audiobooks because I should be listening to them instead of music when I run or when I'm on the treadmill. And now there's another reason, because it could be the case that there will be a day when that's my only way to read books. And so I remember getting an audio, whatever that ... What is it called? Audible. I remember getting an Audible subscription. I have so many unused credits, I can't tell you.
I remember downloading, I think it was Jennifer Egan's new book, which I think is it Manhattan Beach? Or I don't know. I remember downloading that. I remember downloading Sapiens by Yuval Harari. I'm saying his name wrong, I'm sure. And starting both of those and finishing neither of those because I was listening to them. But I kept on thinking I am going to train myself to do this. Because my attitude was I need to develop some new habits so it is not so jarring if the other eye goes.
And then my attitude changed entirely, and I thought, you know what? I'm actually doing the wrong thing because I love reading-reading. So what I'm going to do is do more of that and kind of ring every last drop I can from that for as long as I have it even if I lose it. Because I said to myself, you know, I will be able to make the adjustment and it will be tough. So I kind of didn't know how to cope and I felt my way through it in terms of what I should brace for and what I should just not, what I should put out of mind. And I have mostly gone the route and it may be the wrong one. I think there's no right or wrong route. I think it's different for everyone. I've mostly gone the route of putting this out of mind.
Now, it's never far from mind because right now the trial I'm in, I stick a needle in myself and pump myself full of a serum twice a week. And every day when I turn on the computer, I mean my vision is not what it once was because my right eye still tries to participate, and my brain hasn't succeeded in editing it all the way out. There are times when I go into a sort of double vision. There's times when what I'm reading almost seems to tilt diagonally. There's times when whatever the effect on my vision is, it makes me feel like I'm sort of woozy and drunk and I'm not, and I have trouble concentrating.
So I'm always aware of this. But I have found what works best for me is rather than thinking a lot about what will I do, life adjustment wise, if the left eye quits on me, I have found that I am saner and more productive and I move forward better to just put that out of mind knowing I'll deal with it if and when it comes. So I'm not really in denial, but I'm in some little baby version of that, that I think is a gift.
Ricky Enger: I think it's a very healthy approach to think of it that way because there are things that you can't change, but you know what your present is and you've decided that whatever comes, you can deal with that, you know that. And in the meantime, you do what you want to do.
Frank Bruni: There are ways in which my behavior has changed that are absolutely cognizant of this and that are meant to be kind of responsible and maximize my odds.
There's more that's unknown about NAION than that's known about it. It is believed that if you have an optic nerve structure, which I have now learned that I have, that renders you susceptible to this, if the conditions align in a certain way. Because there are many more people who would be susceptible than who end up having the stroke of the optic nerve. It is believed that sudden changes in blood pressure might be a trigger.
There is some belief among some physicians, this is very, very debated, that you might want to steer away from being at very high altitudes if you're trying to minimize the possibility of this stroke hitting the other eye. I stopped going to the Aspen Ideas Festival. Now I may go back after a couple of years, I don't know. I take a baby aspirin every single day to promote blood flow. Like I do those few things that maybe, maybe, not superstition, but 70% superstition, 30% science. I do those things that would fall within the realm of responsible and I remain cognizant that way. But in those instances where denial is helpful, I allow myself to deny.
Ricky Enger: Do you feel like vision loss has impacted your writing in any way, whether it's kind of the mechanics of how you do it and of course just the style or the things that you write about?
Frank Bruni: In regard to the former, I'm lucky as I've always been a very, very fleet writer. In fact, I often, for the Times, write analyses of political debates that are up on our website 90 minutes after the debate ends. I am slower. Luckily, I started from a baseline of fast, but I'm a slower writer because I have to circle back more frequently because I make more mistakes.
I'm very lucky. This is something, this isn't what you asked, but I'm so much more conscious of the ways in which I'm lucky here than unlucky, of the ways in which, because of various aspects of what I do and who I am, this is not impacting me the way it would someone else. People have said to me, "Oh my God, this is so horrible. You're a writer, how do you write without good vision?" Well, you know what? You actually can. You can't be a truck driver without good vision. You can't be a surgeon. I mean, I could probably list 50 careers where you'd be over without good vision, and writing is not one of them. It really isn't.
I learned to type properly when I was a teenager. In fact, I wrote a whole column about this and I know where home row is. And once my finger's run home row on the keyboard, I'm not looking at the letters. However, because we always make mistakes, it takes me longer to see the mistakes because I'm not seeing the screen as sharply. Something happens in my brain, confusion wise, where I really have to go back and read every paragraph more times than I would otherwise to catch typos. And so it has slowed me down and frustrated me in that way. Has it changed what I write about or my style? I doubt it's changed my style, but I think I write a little bit more about where I'm more interested in writing about people going through struggles, and I think maybe I have an extra measure of empathy.
Ricky Enger: Have you had the opportunity to meet other people who have low vision now that you've lost some of yours?
Frank Bruni: Yeah, I've made a point of it, not tons, but I've gotten to be very friendly with a very renowned jurist in Washington D.C. Who's on the Circuit Court there, which is one step below the Supreme Court. His name is David Tatel and he has retinitis pigmentosa and he lost his vision by the time he was about 32. And he and his wife have become friends and he has had a brilliant judicial career. And if you went into his courtroom and you knew nothing about him and you just watched for a while, you very likely would never pick up on the fact that he is profoundly, legally blind. He sees almost nothing.
If you watched really carefully and you saw him exit the courtroom, you would see him hugging the wall. And apparently something that has happened in the last couple of weeks since I last saw him, he has, at the age of mid 70s, he's actually integrated a guide dog into his life, which he has had such an amazing attitude about him. I mean he has viewed it and approached it and experienced it as this adventure, which it is. And I think that's the real answer to your question is I never before understood so fully how crucial perspective is, how crucial it is to realize that this challenge you've been visited with is a pittance compared to what most people deal with. How crucial it is to realize that everybody, if not visible to the naked eye, is going through something pretty difficult probably, and you just don't know it. When you open your eyes to that, it is enormously emotionally helpful. And I think it makes you a bigger and better person.
Ricky Enger: Is there something aside from just as you say, opening your eyes to this perspective and how everyone is going through a struggle and each of us has them, is there something that's been particularly helpful for you since you've lost your sight, whether it's just a something that you've realized or even some piece of technology or some experience that you've had that's been really helpful for you?
Frank Bruni: The impact of this on me remains, for lack of a better word, subtle enough that I'm not in the realm benefiting much from technological assistance. I mean other than the fact that I've increased the font sizes on everything I write. And there again, talk about perspective, I mean 20 years ago, I would not have been able to monkey with the look and the size of what I read and the back-lighting or front lighting or side lighting or upside down or whatever. I mean I am able, because I live at this moment in time, to manipulate the visuals of what I read or the computer aspects of what I'm writing in a way that is enormously helpful, and it's very low tech. I mean it's nothing I had to learn to do, I just had to start doing it. That wouldn't have been doable in the past. And so how lucky am I to have NAION in 2019 and not even in 1999, or God forbid, 1959. Right?
Ricky Enger: That's exactly it. I often tell people that if you have to be blind, now's the perfect time for that to happen because there are so many more opportunities and it's far far different than it was just 20 years ago.
Frank Bruni: Yeah, no, and it's funny, I mean, you and I are talking about this. Every vision challenged person talks about this and is aware of this. God bless Apple. We talk about corporations in such evil terms, and sometimes that's entirely justified, but I often love me Apple because, whether it's dictation stuff, et cetera, they've been really sensitive to this in a way that I suspect goes beyond the market reward, but I don't know.
What else has been helpful? The perspective thing I mentioned in realizing other people's struggle has really been the most helpful. But as a kind of sub point of that, I would say, I often do kind of go through my head, kind of like do a roll call of the people in my life. And I look at them from the perspective of what have they been through in the last five years? What are they going through now? And there's all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't be so conscious of if I weren't going through that exercise. Which is an exercise that I think makes me a better friend, but it also is something that kind of gives me a better awareness of my place on things and becomes protection against self-pity.
Ricky Enger: Is there one thing that when the doctor told you, "This is it. This is what has happened. You're going to have to get used to things as they are or perhaps worse than they are now." Is there something that you wish that someone had told you then that you've kind of figured out for yourself now and you just wish you could say, "Hey self, this is what I know now"?
Frank Bruni: This isn't exactly what I think you have in mind, but I wish that the initial doctor, or for that matter, other doctors had done something, which now that I've integrated many more doctors into my life. Something that wasn't said to me by the first doctor I saw, by the second doctor I saw, by the third doctor I saw. Something that wasn't ever really said to me was your challenge from this day forward is in much greater measure, psychological and emotional than it is physical. And you might want to think about whom you're going to talk to the most about this, whether you want to talk to somebody professionally. It remains shocking to me and I would call it derelict, delinquent, negligent that the medical profession doesn't, as a practice and a habit, and the doctors aren't better trained to realize and brace for and help patients through the psychological impact of illness or disability or any sort of medical shock like this.
I almost get a little angry when I think about the two visits I made to the initial doctor and the two times I left that office with her sort of shaking her head and sort of like, "Yeah, this is a really rough blow." And never was it said like, "Would you like a referral to a counselor?" Never was that brought up at all. And I think it's possible in this doctor's case that... You know, this doctor I came in as an educated person. I was a New York Times columnist, maybe she knew my name. My romantic partner at the time was a physician who was there with me, maybe she thought he's got it covered, but there were other doctors who saw me who wouldn't have necessarily made those assumptions. And she shouldn't have either.
As a kind of, to find answer to your question, I wish the doctors at the start had been more aware of that, have had more of a conversation with me about that. But I wish it almost less for myself because I can take care of myself. I'm a big boy and I'm smart about these things and I'm conscious, but I really worry for other people because there are people who really should have that said to them. There are other people who don't have as many friends. And I think, and I've talked to people, I think this is a fairly common widespread flaw in the medical profession, well beyond eye doctors, you know? And it's so obvious that I'm dumbfounded that it's not remedied.
Ricky Enger: Sadly, it's kind of a case of, "Well we can't do anything more to fix you. And so our role here is done. Good luck or not, off you go." And that's very unfortunate.
Frank Bruni: I think physicians need to be much, much more careful about the information that they're doling out because it has a real impact, and sometimes they're doing it cavalierly.
The physician in question insisted that the chance that my other eye would go was 40%, now because I've done some journalism on this now and I'm again, talk about luck, I can pick up the phone. And because I'm a journalist who's going to be writing some about this and has written some about this, I can pretty much get the most prominent neuro-ophthalmologist in the country on the phone and I can ask them questions journalistically which are valid, which I am asking for that reason, that are also the subjects of my curiosity, right? Not everybody can do it, but I now know that that 40% was a real outlier prediction, that almost everybody else is in the 15% to 20% range.
Don't throw that number out if it's an outlying figure because that's a much different emotional impact than 20%, when you're talking about the stakes being legal blindness. So I have a lot of thoughts about the medical profession and the way in which physicians, without bad intentions, can complicate their patient's lives utterly needlessly.
Ricky Enger: So you're actually writing, or perhaps you're done writing a book on your experience thus far. What can you say about that? Do we have a publish date yet?
Frank Bruni: No, it’s not done. It's due the middle of next year and my guess is that means it'll be out probably in the middle of 2021. I think they'd like the next presidential election to occur and the next president to be inaugurated. I think they want to get beyond all that. And I've had to juggle that work. I'm still working full time at the Times and still on CNN four or five times a week. So it hasn't been ... I have not been able to turn my full attention to the book. But the book is basically about a lot of the things we've talked about today. It's about aging, and limits, and perspective, and how you adapt to sudden limits in your life that kind of make you aware that this is the beginning of a long process of more limits when you age, how you hold onto your perspective ways in which... Sorry, my dog is barking.
I got a dog during all of this. I wanted a dog. Again, I hadn't had one in many, many, many years and I asked myself why I pressed the button now. Why would you press the button when your vision is in peril? Well, first of all, I don't want to live as if that one in five chance is going to happen. Number two, I realized and a kind of... This wasn't hugely consciously thought out, but I did want to do something that took me outside myself. I think it's really easy to become even more self-obsessed than you are already when you're going through something like this. But that bark you just heard I think is part of a story you and I are talking about.
Ricky Enger: And she sounds like a really neat dog. I forget what breed she is, she's a mix, I remember that much.
Frank Bruni: She's a mix. I didn't know what breed she was when I got her. She was my little brother's dog. She came from a Border Collie rescue group and she looked like, and was described as, predominantly Border Collie, but I'm one of those nerds who had her DNA done, and it turns out she's actually a mix of Australian Shepherd and Siberian Husky.
Ricky Enger: Awesome. I want to thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story. We will all certainly look forward to reading the book when it's out. In the meantime, if people want to find out what's going on in your world, what can they do to kind of follow what's happening with you?
Frank Bruni: If you go to the Times website and hit Opinion and then Columnists, you can find your way to everything I've written recently. And if you go into one of those columns, you can find a link that shows you, that invites you to and shows you how to sign up for my free weekly newsletter. And every Wednesday at noon, a newsletter that I write, that's a kind of much more improvisational personal take on the news and that also includes updates about my life and my struggle with NAION. That comes out every... Which is once you sign up for it, it just zooms into your inbox every Wednesday at noon, no charge.
That again is something you can access if you go to the Times website, go to the Opinion section, go to Columnists, go to me, click open one of my column columns and several places in that column. It invites you to sign up for my weekly newsletter, which would be great if you did.
Ricky Enger: Fantastic. We will also have a link in the show notes to, I believe you're on Twitter as well, right?
Frank Bruni: I am on Twitter. It's @FrankBruni and I'm on Facebook, which is @FrankBruniNYT.
Ricky Enger: Thank you again for taking a little time with us today. I appreciate it very much.
Frank Bruni: Thank you very much. I appreciate your time.
Ricky Enger: Got something to say? Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents or make suggestions for future episodes. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected]. That's [email protected] or leave us a message at (847) 784-2870. Thanks for listening.
All Episodes
-
Episode 118
Vision loss can be emotionally overwhelming. In this episode, we chat with a clinical psychologist who is legally blind herself, Dr. Ann Wagner. She shares how learning from and connecting with our emotions can bring about healing and transformation.
-
Episode 117
Preparing for a disaster is important for everyone. But for people with vision loss, it requires some extra thought and planning. In this episode, we share some ideas on how you can prepare.
-
Episode 116
Did you know that veterans are eligible for vision services and equipment through the Veterans Administration even if their vision loss developed many years later and was not as a result of service? Learn more as we chat with a representative of the Hines VA.
-
Episode 115
Voting can be tricky if you've lost some vision. In this episode, we discuss a variety of ways to cast your ballot, no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 114
The Bright Focus Foundation funds research to find cures for macular degeneration and glaucoma, among other conditions. In this episode, we learn about their glaucoma and macular degeneration monthly chats. These sessions with scientists are open to the public and offer insights into the latest breakthroughs, treatments, and promising research on the horizon.
-
Episode 113
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a lot to offer people with vision loss. Whether it's reading menus, describing pictures, or even narrating scenery, AI can make a big difference. This week we chat with Steven Scott, host of the Double Tap podcast, about some of the best AI-powered tools out there… so far. Link to Double Tap on Apple Podcasts.
-
Episode 112
When the doctor says, "there's nothing more I can do for you," what next? Who can help you make the most of your remaining vision and learn how to live more comfortably with vision loss? We break it down for you.
-
Episode 111
This week we talk to Dave Epstein, the visually impaired creator of the All Terrain Cane. He shares about his life with a progressive eye disease and his love of hiking. These two pieces of Dave lead him to develop his unconventional cane.
-
Episode 110
When you have vision loss, scams can be even more challenging to avoid. Listen in as we get some tips and tricks from Veronica Lewis who runs a low vision assistive technology website.
-
Episode 109
Be My Eyes CEO, Mike Buckley, joins us to talk about how this free, smart phone app merges technology and human kindness and how it's now using AI to describe the world in front of you.
-
Episode 108
Recently retired, David Tatel served for decades on the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also happens to be visually impaired. In this episode, he and Ricky talk about his recently written memoir, a book about his life as a judge, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and how all of these roles intersect with his experience with vision loss.
-
Episode 107
This week we talk smartphone tools and when you might want to use the different options. Jennifer Shimon from the Wisconsin Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired joins Ricky.
-
Episode 106
Sometimes, navigating life with vision loss goes a bit sideways. Things don't always turn out exactly as we've planned, and it can help to just laugh at these strange situations.
We've shared several episodes of listeners' stories, what we're calling vision loss bloopers. Today, Ricky Enger and Doug Walker share some more of these bloopers along with a few of their own.
-
Episode 105
Prevent Blindness' patient advocacy program empowers people facing vision impairment. Patients learn how to promote change with their physicians, their families, drug companies, and even policy makers.
-
Episode 104
Ever thought about getting a guide dog? Listen in as we chat with members Jeff Flodin and Ed McDaniel about their experiences with guide dogs and some common misperceptions.
-
Episode 103
The National Library Service has a free talking book program for anyone in the US with vision loss. Tonia Bickford, an advisor from Michigan's talking books program, joins us to discuss how to get the most out of this free service.
-
Episode 102
This week we learn more about visual hallucinations that sometimes accompany vision loss, a condition called Charles Bonnet syndrome.
-
Episode 101
Sometimes vision loss can make us feel less secure. This week we talk about personal safety with Hadley's Chief Program Officer, Ed Haines.
-
Episode 100
For many living with vision loss, watching TV is less enjoyable as they can't see what's happening on the screen very well anymore.
Audio description fills the void by narrating key visual elements. Listen in as Ricky chats with Hadley member and avid audio description user, Judy Davis. -
Episode 99
Listen in to our conversation with Dr. Mondal, a low vision optometrist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. We chat about what to expect from a visit to a low vision specialist and the kind of help they can offer.
-
Episode 98
Have you listened to Hadley's community-generated audio podcast yet? In this episode, Ricky and Marc Arneson, Hadley's Director of Community, share a few stories from Insights & Sound Bites and discuss how to contribute your own story. Insights & Sound Bites | Hadley
-
Episode 97
Listen in as artist Chloe Duplessis explains how a degenerative eye disease changed, and didn't change, her life and love of art. "I thought art required sight. I was wrong."
-
Episode 96
Dr. Judy Box, a Hadley member living with macular degeneration, shares her tips for managing those important conversations with your eye doctor.
-
Episode 95
In this episode, the Hadley team talks all things gifts. Giving them, getting them, what's on their wish lists, and how vision loss may, or may not, impact these activities.
-
Episode 94
Friendships often change when one has vision loss. Whether it's adaptations to the activities you enjoy together, asking for help, or turning that help down … there are conversations to be had. Let's tune in as two Hadley members, Eugenia DeReu and Tara Perry, share their experiences with what's changed for them — and what's stayed the same.
-
Episode 93
Losing some vision can make for shopping challenges. Here are a few mishaps that Hadley members have run into. Have your own to share? Email us at [email protected]
-
Episode 92
This week we chat with the chief technology officer from Envision as he shares how their free mobile app or camera-enabled glasses can help those with vision loss. It speaks aloud written information, describes surroundings and objects, and even tells you who's nearby.
-
Episode 91
Lots of questions, concerns, and stereotypes connected to use of the white cane. In this episode, we address several of them from past discussions on the topic.
-
Episode 90
Listen in as Hadley's Director of Community, Marc Arneson, chats with Hadley members Bill Massey and Gregory Peterson about their participation in Hadley's new Peer-to-Peer program.
To learn if getting a peer connection is for you, call us at 1-800-323-4238. -
Episode 89
Listen in as we chat with Ed Haines about getting the most out of our magnifiers.
-
Episode 88
Listen in as we chat with animal lovers Debbie Worman and Sheri Robinson about the joys and challenges of caring for a pet when you have vision loss.
-
Episode 87
Listen in as Hadley member, Wendy Spencer Davis, shares why she decided to learn some braille and how it's helping her in everyday life.
-
Episode 86
Ed McDaniel, a psychologist with low vision, joins us to talk about common emotional triggers people with vision loss face and how to recognize and manage them.
-
Episode 85
Jessica Grogan from the American Diabetes Association joins us to talk about managing your blood sugar with vision loss.
-
Episode 84
Tune into our chat with Sarah Clark, a visually impaired marriage and family therapist, as she offers her unique insight into some common family dynamics that often make adjustment more challenging and how to navigate through them successfully.
-
Episode 83
Join us as we chat with Hadley member, Kris, about her experience living with vision loss in a senior community.
-
Episode 82
Listen in as Hadley staff share their real-life bloopers—times when things didn’t quite go as planned.
-
Episode 81
Join us as we take a dive into the features of the BlindShell cell phone.
-
Episode 80
Listen in as Pastor Scott Himel shares his advice for participating in religious services no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 79
Join us to learn about how ScripTalk technology translates medication labels into speech and where you can find a participating pharmacy.
-
Episode 78
Join occupational therapist from Duke Eye Center, Fay Tripp, in a conversation about bioptic glasses—what they are and who can benefit from them.
-
Episode 77
Listen in as we chat with birding expert Freya McGregor who shares her tips on how you can enjoy this hobby, no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 76
Listen in as Hadley's Doug Walker and Ricky Enger chat about how they use GPS in their daily lives. From walking directions to finding items or assisting a driver by navigating a trip, GPS can be a very handy tool.
-
Episode 75
Listen in as we chat with Dave Steele about his life, poetry, and vision loss.
-
Episode 74
Listen in as we discuss some common situations that can make us feel unsafe and share ideas on how to address them. We're joined today by Christy Ray and Ricky Jones of STRIVE4You.Org
-
Episode 73
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for feelings of shame to creep in when we've lost some vision. Join social worker Jeff Flodin and psychologist Ed McDaniel, both visually impaired themselves, as they explore where these feelings come from and how they have worked through these emotions in their own lives.
-
Episode 72
Listen in as Dorrie Rush of OE Magazine shares how she resisted using a white cane for years, the stigma she feared, and the confidence and security she found once it was in her hand.
-
Episode 71
Learn how CVS pharmacy customers throughout the US can access a free service that reads aloud prescription medication information.
-
Episode 70
Join us as we chat with author Hannah Fairbairn about the tips and tricks she has learned to take some of the stress out of holiday get-togethers, no matter your vision.
-
Episode 69
We're joined by the creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, Sam Seavey. Sam shares his personal journey with vision loss and advice he has for people who are newer to vision loss.
-
Episode 68
Whether you like to read for enjoyment or need to check your mail, reading is an essential part of your day. We're sharing tips and tricks for how to continue reading, the best low-tech and high-tech gadgets, and the benefits of learning braille.
-
Episode 67
Chief Innovation Officer Doug Walker chats with us about the launch of Hadley's newest podcast, Insights & Sound Bites. This new podcast will offer short stories shared by listeners. By tapping into the power of our community, we hope to share ideas, discoveries, and moments of inspiration along the journey through vision loss.
-
Episode 66
Jim Hoxie and Joanna Jones join us to discuss their children’s book, "Grandpa's White Cane." Jim shares how vision loss shaped his life and how he and Joanna, a retired teacher, began instructing children about the importance of white cane awareness and the do's and don'ts for helping people with visual impairment.
-
Episode 65
Blogger and social worker Jeff Flodin talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for helping people led him to blog about his experiences.
-
Episode 64
Hadley has partnered with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to offer a Spanish-language version of our popular cooking workshop series. Devina Fan, director of the National Eye Health Education Program at NEI, joins the podcast to talk more about this new initiative, NEI’s expanding Spanish content, and the importance of connecting Hispanic and Latino communities to important vision resources.
-
Episode 63
A change in your vision may make some parts of your job more challenging. But with a bit of help and some new skills, you may be able to stay in your job. Hadley Chief Program Officer Ed Haines and Learning Expert Steve Kelley join the podcast to talk about our new Working with Vision Loss workshops and to share tips for where to find support and how to ask for what you need.
-
Episode 62
Certified accessible travel advocate Melvin Reynolds joins the podcast to share tips for getting the most out of traveling, no matter your level of vision. Melvin gives advice on what to research ahead of a trip, considerations for traveling with a guide dog, and how a certified accessible travel advocate can help.
-
Episode 61
Karen and Dan Leonetti share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
-
Episode 60
Rabbi Lenny Sarko joins us to talk about how his vision loss journey led him to create a first-of-its-kind braille Sefer Torah that people around the country can access.
-
Episode 59
Actor and artist Bruce Horak talks about his personal journey with vision loss, how he got interested in painting, and his role in the new television series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
-
Episode 58
CEO of Eschenbach Optik of America Ken Bradley joins the podcast to discuss how Eschenbach has adapted through the pandemic to help people with visual impairment access low vision devices remotely. Through their "Telelowvision" program, you can try out magnification devices from the comfort of your home to find what works best for you before you buy.
-
Episode 57
Scottish radio broadcaster and podcaster Steven Scott loves finding and talking about tech stuff. He's especially fond of apps and gadgets that make life easier for him and others with vision loss.
-
Episode 56
NYT Columnist Frank Bruni returns to the podcast to talk about his new book. Frank describes his personal experiences with vision loss and how, with time, his perspective has grown.
-
Episode 55
IT professional and stand-up comedian Todd Blenkhorn talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for stand-up helped him find and share the humor in daily interactions.
-
Episode 54
In this episode, we're sharing highlights from previous interviews with a glaucoma specialist, retina specialist, and a low vision doctor. Listen in to learn more about common eye conditions, treatments, and what to expect at these specialist appointments.
-
Episode 53
Master Gardener Sue Brasel and Hadley's Chief Program Officer and gardener Ed Haines join us for a chat about gardening, no matter your level of vision or gardening experience. They share tips for how to get started, common challenges, and the many benefits of gardening.
-
Episode 52
We're joined by Carol Mackey, an avid discussion group participant, and co-host Debbie Worman to chat about what Hadley groups are, how to join, and what you can get out of them. With 10 groups on a variety of topics, there's something for everyone. Listen in or chime in – it’s up to you.
-
Episode 51
Bold Blind Beauty blogger Stephanae McCoy joins us for a chat on beauty, style and confidence. Stephanae talks about how vision loss shaped her life, and then shares some of her favorite fashion and beauty tips.
-
Episode 50
Hadley staff share their favorite kitchen gadgets and tips. Whether you're an experienced home chef or a total novice, you're bound to pick up a few ideas that fit your vision needs and make your time in the kitchen more productive (and fun).
-
Episode 49
We sat down with Kim Walker, co-director of research and development at Hadley, and Mark Andrews, one of the Hadley advisors who reviewed our exciting new approach for adults with vision loss to learn braille. From labeling items in your home to identifying buttons on an elevator, braille can be a wonderful tool for everyday use.
-
Episode 48
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Gretchen Rubin, chats about her research on how tapping into different senses can enrich our lives and connect us to each other in surprising ways.
-
Episode 47
Twin sisters Jenelle and Joy join the podcast to share their personal experiences with vision loss and adjusting to it emotionally. While they look identical, their perspectives and journeys differ, highlighting their mission to show that "there is no right way to go blind."
-
Episode 46
Hadley learner Sharon Noseworthy shares tips and tricks for hosting get-togethers of any type or size, no matter your vision. Sharon has always loved the role of hostess and has learned to adjust her approach now that her own vision has declined.
-
Episode 45
We're joined by Teepa Snow, occupational therapist and founder of Positive Approach to Care, to learn more about the challenges of having both vision loss and dementia. Teepa addresses common misconceptions about dementia and shares practical tips for supporting someone with both conditions.
-
Episode 44
We sat down with several Hadley staff members and asked them about their favorite tech tips, apps, and gadgets. Whether you consider yourself a tech expert or novice, the group recommends a variety of high-tech and low-tech options that fit your comfort level and interests.
-
Episode 43
Judge David Tatel has served on the second most powerful court in the country since 1994. He also happens to be blind. Judge Tatel joins us to share his story on building a law career and family while dealing with changing vision, the technology and resources he's found useful, and what made him consider getting a guide dog in recent years.
-
Episode 42
In honor of White Cane Safety Day today, we're joined by Hadley learner Larry Carlson and Orientation and Mobility Specialist Elijah Haines for a conversation about this important tool. Larry shares what made him decide to use a white cane, and Elijah shares tips for what to consider and how to adjust to using a white cane.
-
Episode 41
Supriya Raman, manager of the Disability and Multicultural branches of the TSA, shares tips on traveling among shifting COVID restrictions. Supriya covers what to expect at the airport and what resources are available for people with visual impairment.
-
Episode 40
Photographer Michael Nye chats with us about his latest art exhibit, "My Heart is Not Blind," a collection of photos and audio interviews of people with visual impairment. Through these stories, Michael provides a look into what he calls "our shared humanity and shared fragility," as well as common misunderstandings about blindness.
-
Episode 39
Champion blind golfer Chad NeSmith talks about how vision loss shaped his life, and how he shares his passion for golf with others with vision loss.
-
Episode 38
Doug Walker, Hadley co-director of R&D, and Ed Haines, Hadley Chief Program Officer, chat about the making of Hadley's "Adjusting to Vision Loss" workshop series. The series guides people through the emotional aspects of vision loss. Doug serves as the series' personal storyteller and narrator.
-
Episode 37
In this episode we chat with ophthalmologist Dr. Angela Elam from the University of Michigan. Dr. Elam addresses common questions and concerns, and shares her advice for returning to the eye doctor among shifting COVID restrictions.
-
Episode 36
Dorrie Rush, OE's Chief Content Officer, joins us for a chat about this wonderful online resource chock full of tips for living well with vision loss. You'll find great articles on using tech tools, tips for health and well-being, stories from others living with vision loss, a terrific podcast, and more.
-
Episode 35
Learn about a new service that’s just launched in 2020 called Accessible Pharmacy. Accessible packaging and labeling and personalized customer support all free of charge to the end consumer, and specifically designed for those with vision impairment.
-
Episode 34
Audio Describe the World! That’s the mantra of UniDescription: a free smartphone app that provides audio descriptions and navigation tips for US National Parks and other public places.
-
Episode 33
In this episode, we chat with low vision optometrist Dr. Mark Wilkinson from the University of Iowa. Dr. Wilkinson answers common questions and shares his advice for getting the most out of low vision optometry appointments.
-
Episode 32
Jan and Elgie Dow share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
-
Episode 31
Join Hadley advisor Eddie Becerra as he shares about losing his sight from diabetic retinopathy, and how he gained a new perspective on life.
-
Episode 30
Classically trained chef Regina Mitchell shares how vision loss shaped her life. Regina worked her way back into the kitchen and is now helping others cook with confidence, no matter their vision.
-
Episode 29
In this episode we sit down with the director of Well Connected, an organization that offers free, call-in groups for adults over 60 on a wide variety of interest areas: games, music, meditation and more.
-
Episode 28
Support groups can be a great way to connect with others who "get it." Listen in as as low vision support group leaders Lynndah Lahey and Judy Davis describe how their groups are run and what their members get out of them.
-
Episode 27
World-renowned artist John Bramblitt describes how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.
-
Episode 26
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Tim Murray of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Murray treats eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He answers common questions and shares his insights into the future of treatments.
-
Episode 25
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl, a glaucoma specialist from the Duke Eye Center, and ask her some of the many questions we’ve heard about glaucoma, its risk factors, and how to treat the disease.
-
Episode 24
Hadley learning expert Jessica Smith shares her experience raising a puppy that may eventually become a guide dog. She covers what she’s learned and things to consider if you’d like to volunteer to help out a guide dog school.
-
Episode 23
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a day to recognize this important tool that empowers people with visual impairment to travel safely and independently. It also brings attention to the general public to be mindful of visually impaired neighbors, giving them additional consideration and right-of-way when needed. We sat down with Kellee Sanchez, an orientation and mobility specialist, to talk about the history of White Cane Safety Day, and how a white cane can help those with vision loss.
-
Episode 22
Be My Eyes is a free smartphone app that connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers for help with visual tasks. We sat down with Will Butler from Be My Eyes to hear how the app started, tips for using it, and exciting new features that provide specialized assistance, including with Hadley.
-
Episode 21
Tracy Simon from Eye2Eye peer support program shares her story of vision loss, how her program works, and the benefits of connecting with and supporting each other.
-
Episode 20
Ophthalmologist Dr. Lori Provencher chats with us about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed doctor's visits. She shares tips for staying safe, questions to ask, and what to expect before, during and after your next office visit.
-
Episode 19
Mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske returns to the podcast to share tips and insights on how to cope with life's challenges, such as vision loss or an illness, building resilience and focusing on self-compassion instead of judgment.
-
Episode 18
Author of "When You Can't Believe Your Eyes," Hannah Fairbairn, chats with us about how to communicate in everyday situations when you can't rely on visual cues. Hear Hannah's own story about losing vision, her practical tips on adjusting to vision loss, and advice she has on regaining confidence in social situations.
-
Episode 17
In this episode, we continue the conversation on living during the COVID-19 pandemic with a visual impairment. Listen in as we share some experiences, tips, and strategies for coping during these difficult times.
-
Episode 16
The COVID-19 crisis has brought a wave of change and uncertainty to our everyday lives. Listen in as we share personal experiences, resources and some helpful tips...all from a blind or low vision perspective.
-
Episode 15
Assistive technology experts Ricky Enger and Steve Kelley review BlindShell, a mobile phone built for those with visual impairment. They discuss the basic features, how it differs from a traditional smartphone, and how to decide if it's right for you.
-
Episode 14
This week we sit down with Dan Roberts, author of "The First Year-Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" and founder of MDSupport website and support group. Hear Dan's own story about being diagnosed with macular degeneration and what prompted him to reach out to others facing similar circumstances.
-
Episode 13
Listen in as we explore the basics of using hand tools with a visual impairment. Gil Johnson, a visually impaired home repair expert, shares tips on everything from measuring, to leveling to hammering.
-
Episode 12
Elections are right around the corner. So we gathered a panel to talk about options for voting no matter your level of vision. Listen in as we explore everything you need to know, from registering to vote to the many ways you can cast your ballot.
-
Episode 11
Ricky sits down with Android Accessibility Product Manager Brian Kemler to discuss what is available on Android phones for those with visual impairment. From adjusting font size and color, or opting to listen with TalkBack instead, the commitment to making these powerful tools more useful to a wider audience is clear.
-
Episode 10
In this episode, we chat with Gil Johnson, an experienced home repair and woodworking enthusiast about things to consider when undertaking home repair with blindness or low vision.
-
Episode 9
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down to continue a conversation with author and visually impaired world traveler Dr. Wendy David. Together they explore a wide variety of helpful hints covering train, plane, and cruise travel as well as practical information on traveling internationally and navigating hotels.
-
Episode 8
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Joe Strechay, associate producer on the Apple TV+ series SEE. The show takes place in a future where, after a viral apocalypse, all humans are blind. Joe takes us behind the scenes of the show and his work to help build an inclusive set for the cast and crew, including those with low to no vision. From casting to costumes, scripting to scenery, hear how Joe helped create a science fiction world that strives to be authentic to life with vision loss.
-
Episode 7
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down with travel author Dr. Wendy David in this latest episode. In part one of this two-part interview, Debbie and Wendy discuss tips for traveling with confidence as a blind or low vision person, advice on picking destinations, considerations for traveling alone and in a group, and more!
-
Episode 6
Ricky Enger is joined by Hadley's Debbie Worman and mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske in this latest episode. Debbie and Tiffany talk about what mindfulness is and the specific benefits that mindfulness can offer for those living with vision loss. Tiffany then walks listeners through a short mindfulness exercise.
-
Episode 4
Listen in as we share practical tips on how to keep your handwriting readable. This resource-packed episode includes many useful techniques and solutions to common handwriting challenges. Hadley Learning Expert Jennifer Ottowitz chats with Sue Dalton, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.
-
Episode 3
In this episode, Hadley's Steve Kelley speaks with Kendra Farrow, from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, located at Mississippi State. The episode serves as a guide for those new to vision rehabilitation, including determining who is eligible for services, key differences between the medical and social services models, and how to locate services in each state.
-
Episode 2
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Microsoft's Jeremy Curry, a Senior Program Manager with the Windows Accessibility team. New vision accessibility features are now available in Windows 10 for low vision and screen reader users.
-
Episode 1
In the inaugural episode of Hadley Presents, Ricky Enger and Jonathan Mosen of Aira chat about the ways in which a visual interpreter service, such as Aira, can be used to gain valuable visual information and enhance travel and leisure activities for blind and low vision users.