Spectrios is honoring 40 years of serving adults and children with vision loss. In our time, we have been blessed to be part of so many stories of hope and this year we’re sharing those stories with you! As part of our 40 Stories of Hope in 40 Weeks series, we are sharing Janice’s story. Janices story was written with helpful notes from Janice’s daughter, Laura.
Janice's Story
Janice was a teacher who loved reading. Then she developed macular degeneration. She was seeing an eye doctor, but he wasn’t being honest with her about her sight. He was telling her what she had lost, but he wasn’t telling her what was still possible.
Janice's Story
Janice was a teacher who loved reading. Then she developed macular degeneration. She was seeing an eye doctor, but he wasn’t being honest with her about her sight. He was telling her what she had lost, but he wasn’t telling her what was still possible.
That changed when Janice came to Spectrios. She started off seeing Dr. Park, who was caring but direct about what she could and couldn’t see. She was honest with Janice; She told her she needed to stop and think thing through, differently. She told her she needed to reset her brain. Spectrios showed Janice how to reenvision navigating her world. From setting up her living spaces to learning new technology, Spectrios was there every step of the way.
Everyone at Spectrios plays a unique role. Katrina, the Occupational Therapist, asked Janice questions about her daily tasks- like getting dressed, cooking, baking, and meal prep. She taught Janice how to shift her cooking away from the stove and instead, utilize the microwave more often. For when the stove was the only option, she taught Janice how to use bump dots to navigate the range. Katrina was very patient with Janice as she navigated the new skills she was learning.
Mark and the Access Technology Lab demystified new technology. Mark, who also lives with vision loss, shared what he uses regularly for help in his own life. He started with the basics, like how to set up Siri to give the weather forecast or make calls. Since Janice was an avid reader, Mark also taught her how to use the library app and speak feature so she could listen to her stories. By the end of the training, she was even having fun! Janice was so excited to show Mark what she could do.
Mark and the Access Technology Lab demystified new technology. Mark, who also lives with vision loss, shared what he uses regularly for help in his own life. He started with the basics, like how to set up Siri to give the weather forecast or make calls. Since Janice was an avid reader, Mark also taught her how to use the library app and speak feature so she could listen to her stories. By the end of the training, she was even having fun! Janice was so excited to show Mark what she could do.
Now, Janice is accepting her situation and learning to adjust and stay flexible. She plans when she’s going out to eat and gives herself time to read the menu beforehand. She has adjusted to using a magnifier when she reads and adds more light to make it easier. These adjustments seem small but add up to a big impact on Janice’s life.
Spectrios is the beacon of hope for Janice. It has shifted her experience from struggling with vision loss to thriving with adaptability and learning. Her outlook is positive and now she has HOPE. The team at Spectrios has been an integral part of her journey. Spectrios is not just a powerful resource, it is a place of hope and support that will affect her life, and many others, for years to come.
Spectrios is the beacon of hope for Janice. It has shifted her experience from struggling with vision loss to thriving with adaptability and learning. Her outlook is positive and now she has HOPE. The team at Spectrios has been an integral part of her journey. Spectrios is not just a powerful resource, it is a place of hope and support that will affect her life, and many others, for years to come.