You may recall reading about Mary Frances Early in our spring appeal. A civil rights pioneer and renowned educator, Mary Frances was the first person in her family to receive a college degree and the first African American to graduate from the University of Georgia.
After retiring from a very successful and distinguished career as a music educator, Mary Frances noticed that her vision was becoming blurry. A specialist diagnosed her with macular degeneration. Today, she is legally blind.
Never one to give up, Mary Frances approached vision loss with her characteristic perseverance and can-do attitude. She researched low vision resources and found Hadley. Immediately, she was impressed that the Hadley website allowed her to tailor the font size and contrast to make it easier for her to see.
Since signing up with Hadley, Mary Frances has participated in 70 workshops. She shares, “The Hadley website represented a true treasure trove of useful information.” Workshops on how to use technology – including the iPhone, Zoom and Alexa – were especially helpful. And she found encouragement through the Adjusting to Vision Loss series. Mary Frances also enjoys Hadley discussion groups and finds comfort in connecting with others going through similar situations.
At the age of 87, Mary Frances now has the confidence to continue doing many of the things she used to do before her vision loss. Grateful for the practical help she has received from Hadley, she is a donor herself. Mary Frances shares Hadley with others, too. “I feel so fortunate to have discovered this website and recommend it highly to others with vision loss,” she explains.
To hear Mary Frances talk about her Hadley experience, or make a donation, visit: https://hadleyhelps.org/donate/spring24.