This week’s guest on Outlook describes herself as: “An open book.”

Joanne says: “My setback is my setup.”

Our conversation with Joanne Beckford showcases her openness in talking with us, in sharing her own outlook with us and the audience.

Our main goal with this show, showing the world that blindness isn’t the end of everything that was worth living for in life, or certainly does not need to be. Joanne’s positive attitude has helped her along the way on her glaucoma journey and into a future where adaptation is the key.

We discuss her ten years of symptoms, diagnosis, and multiple treatments which brought her to where she is today, accepting rather than denying the reality of her life.

She tells us about understanding family, partner, and employers who offered support.

She shares with us her reaction when the ophthalmologist informed her she could no longer drive. It’s not what you might think. And when people would stare at her, when she’d take out her white cane and take steps out into the world, she couldn’t help but notice the stares she got. Yes, blindness isn’t all or nothing, but rather it’s a spectrum and we three are all somewhere on that spectrum, all at differing places along that continuum.

This is, in her own words, a “new chapter” in her life and she hopes to take what she’s learned, along with her long held optimism, to mentor other people going through similar journeys. We met while talking on the need for greater diversity and we are here to motivate each other, a mutual admiration society and a support system of friendship across Canada.

As discussed on this episode, networking and support are key for the blind community to thrive in Canada. Here’s a link to the Facebook group we mentioned for blind Canadians to do exactly these things:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/821855574951186