"People are accepting there"
Debbie has found a place near her that helps unleash her creative streak and her desire to give back to the community, a place where how much she can see doesn't matter.
Hadley
“People are accepting there”
Debbie: It is wonderful going to the senior center. One thing that they do up there is art. With a little bit of sighted assistance, we do different kinds of art.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Debbie: Hi, my name is Debbie Morgan. I'm from Lafayette, Indiana. The story I want to share is kind of an ongoing experience. I have artificial eyes. I started going to the senior center of Tippecanoe, which is here in Lafayette, probably about a year and a half ago.
One thing that they do up there is art. We do different kinds of art, and much of this stuff I had never done before, but with a little bit of sighted assistance. I've painted rocks. I've painted kind of abstracts because I don't see the pictures. I've worked with clay. I've also made the fleece blankets where people will cut the squares around the edges and then you tie them together. And a friend of mine and I are going to do that and make them for the animal shelter here in Lafayette.
It is wonderful going to the senior center. The people are very accepting. The art instructor is a young lady who is very encouraging, very helpful. And loves to try new things and she is very glad to have me in her class, and I appreciate that. And the other people in the class interact with me and we have a great time.
So any of you out there, if you do get the chance, go to a senior center. There are other activities up there to get involved in to. I love it and I’m very thankful for it. Thank you.
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 62
Anne's declining vision had her feeling down and sorry for herself. But two gifts—one she gave and one she received—helped turn things around for her.
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Episode 61
Glaucoma advanced to the point where Ron found it too difficult to do the volunteer work he loved in retirement. Still, he found a way to pull himself out of the hole he felt he was in and continue to give back.
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Episode 60
Diabetic retinopathy has taken more and more of Charles's vision. To cope, he is learning new approaches to life AND leaning into areas of passion that don't rely on sight.
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Episode 59
Bruce's vision had been decreasing for years. When it reached the point where he was tripping over objects and bumping into people, he felt embarrassed and kept his vision loss a secret. His wife convinced him to try something new.
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Episode 58
Marie grieved the loss of her vision, and still does. Yet, on a sunny August morning, she came to a realization that made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 57
Terry's doctor told him, "There's nothing more we can do. You'll never drive again," and he was distraught. Then he recalled his military days as a Marine and sailor, and that got him through.
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Episode 56
When Emma lost her sight in just a few months, she struggled to cope. She felt alone, her insecurities grew, and self-esteem plummeted. With time, she came to a new understanding and that helped her tremendously.
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Episode 55
Dave calls his experience with vision loss a slow torture. In the face of this, however, he has found a sense of inspiration in explorers, history, and an activity you wouldn't typically connect with vision loss, sightseeing.
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Episode 54
When Albert's vision decreased to the point that he could no longer read print anymore, he found it stressful. But he's found a new source of comfort that helps him quite a bit.
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Episode 53
Jayne can feel isolated living with her eye disease, spending much of her days forcing herself to focus on things that have become blurry. The stress can be overwhelming, causing her to shut down. But there's one area of life that now brings her more joy than ever before.
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Episode 52
When Jeffry lost his sight, he felt a loss of control, a loss of dignity. Then, he began his long road to empowerment, one small goal at a time.
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Episode 51
Marilyn went through bouts of anxiety and depression with her vision loss and still grieves the loss several years into her journey. She also decided to do something for herself which has helped tremendously.