Vision Riff Podcast

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? How about New Year’s Goals? I’ve been challenged in both arenas! And I have an explanation that can be narrowed down into one word. Enjoy the first podcast of the new year.

As we round the corner of a challenging year, I reflect on my new direction as an Optician, and new skills learned regarding language. Primarily, I reflect on where to put the adjective when describing a person. For instance: a 'blind person' becomes 'a person with low vision or no vision', or a 'deaf person' becomes 'a person with hearing loss.' I reflect on change, such as starting podcasting just a few months ago, as recommended by a mentoring program. Next year, I plan to develop my social media and update my business based on your feedback. That is how the Low Vision to No Vision series began! Let me know your vision interests, questions, and concerns at [email protected].

It's a time of reflection, of ourselves and our businesses. Have you started the process of your personal and business inventory? It's time to count... What can you let go of? What can you open, allowing a space to receive? I'm letting go of unused stuff that was once valuable to me. Physical and mental stuff that is now dead weight. I'm opening the space to working with new people in adding value to their lives.

How does your end of year look? My podcast career in review. A tip for doctors and consumers. The idea behind the title, Eyes On Profits.

Let me know what you think. [email protected]

Concluding our series on Low Vision No Vision, guests Dianna Jones and Christine Chaikin join me in an informative and insightful conversation about “Connecting.” We cover a broad scope of how the three of us got connected, how one connects (or doesn’t connect) with their doctors, and how to connect with resources in the blind community. I prefer using 'Low Vision to No Vision' rather than 'Blind' because as one’s light fades or becomes very fuzzy, there is a fear associated with the word blind. Even so, we share great resources on this podcast.

This podcast is about twice as long as the usual Eyes On Profits podcast, and it has at least twice as much info for your enjoyment. It will conclude this initial series on Low Vision to No Vision. If you want to learn more about Low Vision to No Vision, contact [email protected].

#insightfulpub #lowvision-novision #blind

Once a person becomes blind, there are several resources in terms of hardware and software resources. Blind at birth, Tammy Robar is joining me as a person who proficiently uses all types of no vision low vision devices. She shares a personal experience that triggered the hairs in my neck to stand out. Doctors, you have a profound affect on your patients lives, besides vision.

I’m enjoying interviewing all these dynamic women, and today’s guest is no exception. Tonya’s story of how she took a negative situation and turned it into an entrepreneurial business venture.

When someone is low vision, and considered blind, they still can see. According to Scheiman, Scheiman, and Whittaker (2006): “Low vision is a condition caused by eye disease, in which visual acuity is 20/70 or poorer in the better-seeing eye and cannot be corrected or improved with regular eyeglasses.” Hence, when one is diagnosed with being blind, it doesn’t mean no light perception!

Dr. Richard networks with Ophthalmologists and Traumatic Brain Injury doctors at the local hospitals for referrals to her low vision practice. My experience with her demonstrates the value of active and creative networking, all under the umbrella of compassion and a true interest in making a difference for her patients and the low vision community.

While in optical college, I wrote a paper on Low Vision Aids. Since then, I have always incorporated magnifiers in optical shops I managed. Recently, I gave a presentation to high school English students answering the question, “What is 20/20”. We also discussed blindness. This episode is an intro to the topic Low to No Vision.