“My neighbors are amazed by my yard,” states Michael Koneff. Michael’s love of gardening really blossomed after he lost his vision. The Hadley Growers discussion group—with useful tips and a welcoming community of people who share his interest—helped.
Michael also credits Hadley discussion groups for keeping him on track with braille. After learning the alphabet and numbers through Hadley’s Braille for Everyday Use program, he started contracted braille, a more complex form that uses special signs to represent common words or groups of letters. Michael shares, “I had been struggling and stepped back for a while. Then, I participated in the Embracing Braille group and realized that others were having the same challenges; it wasn’t just me. Now, I am back to it.”
Braille will allow Michael, 56, to write and read things—like notes and lists—for himself. He has a strong support system that includes his wife and daughter, but he is determined to continue doing things on his own. Hadley is helping make that happen. “There were days that I felt that all my independence was taken away,” he recalls. “Hadley gave me back my independence and self-worth.”
Michael lost sight in one eye as a child and suddenly lost vision in the other eye two years ago, when he experienced a stroke where the optic nerve meets the brain. He describes his remaining vision as “a saucer-sized circle of light and shadow.” Medical professionals did not provide any information on where to get help, and he could not find local resources near his home in Southwest Michigan. “I was so lost,” he recalls. “Then, I found Hadley online and that is when the doors really opened.”
The fact that Hadley is free of charge was reassuring and made it easy to sign up. Through more than 80 workshops, Michael found practical help for everyday activities, like cooking and cleaning. He also learned about available technologies, including Voiceover and Siri, which have made a big difference in his life.
“Hadley has been a lifeline. It is my number one, go-to,” he declares. “I felt alone and was in a dark place until Hadley brought me out of it.” Grateful, he has become a Hadley donor and encourages family and friends, too. “If you are going to give, Hadley is a great place to do so.”