"The gift that keeps on giving"
This week Dorrie shares how technology has made all the difference for her in living with vision loss.
Hadley
The gift that keeps on giving
Dorrie: I would have to say, that the outstanding category for me, has been technology. Along the way, it has given me back so many things, so many functions that vision loss made difficult or impossible.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Dorrie Rush: My name is Dorrie Rush and I am from New York. I have Stargardt disease and have lived with progressive vision loss for more than 30 years.
There is one device that plays a major role in every single day in so many ways for me, and that is the smartphone. The smartphone of my choice is the iPhone.
From the beginning, I learned to use voiceover, the screen reader. So, everything on the screen is read to me, which takes a lot of the stress out of trying to decipher or magnify everything on such a small screen.
I also use Siri to the maximum of my ability, which is very helpful because obviously in many ways the voice assistant makes verbal commands, voice commands easier to accomplish.
I also, of course, use the clock. Very difficult finding out what time it is when you have difficulty seeing. I use reminders a great deal and just things that I need to remember at a certain time. And I also am an incessant list maker, so I have a lot of lists. I love checking the weather. It's always nice to know what's happening in the weather.
I use Seeing AI, the app from Microsoft to read signs, to read documents and to read product barcodes, which is helpful when you're shopping or when you are cooking dinner and right now, I'm using voice memos to record this.
It sounds like a lot, but I learned one app at a time very patiently and with a lot of help from Hadley's workshops, which are the best. So, I can't imagine functioning without a smartphone. It is the gift that keeps giving.
Marc: You never know who might need to hear your story. If you’d like to share with us, just leave us a message on our Insights & Sound Bites voicemail. By calling, 847-512-4867. Or, you can use your smartphone or computer and email us a recording to [email protected].
All Episodes
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Episode 42
For Cynthia, every story shared helps her on her own journey with vision loss.
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Episode 41
Living with low vision meant Karen was constantly explaining to others what she can and can't see. Then she found a tool that has made a big difference.
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Episode 40
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Episode 39
This week, hear how rediscovering a favorite activity helped Celia find balance as she adjusts to vision loss.
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Episode 38
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Episode 37
Listen in as Vanessa shares what has helped keep her from feeling hopeless and defeated due to vision loss.
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Episode 36
Stacy shares with us how being honest about her vision loss with her friends and coworkers has made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 35
For many, having to give up the car keys due to vision loss is traumatic. Deb felt it too. Then, during a call to arrange transportation for herself, a new door opened.
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Episode 34
Listen in as Anne describes how a question posed to her shifted her perspective for living with vision loss.
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Episode 33
This week, William shares how learning to continue with his favorite hobby, even with vision loss, has been therapeutic—and uplifting. Here's the link to his website https://www.blindtruths.org/
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Episode 32
This week Angela shares how she struggled to get around due to vision loss, how she tried to hide it from others, and what helped her.
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Episode 31
This week we hear from Appreciate. She found that a Facebook group, The International Blind Cafe, gave her a source of comfort and encouragement.