For 40 years, Spectrios Institute for Low Vision has been dedicated to serving adults and children living with vision loss. Throughout our history, we have had the privilege of witnessing countless stories of hope, resilience, and renewed independence. This year, in celebration of our 40th anniversary, we're proud to share these stories with you. Today's story follows Joanne B.'s journey from an age-related macular degeneration diagnosis to low vision assistive technology training from the Access Technology Lab.
Joanne B's Story
Age-related macular degeneration took her tennis and music. Low vision technology training gave her back reading, news, and connection.
Joanne B. has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which came on quickly and aggressively about five to six years ago. At the time, she was living in Sun City, Arizona, and was an avid tennis player and active musician, playing cello and trombone in four different local music groups. Her first sign that something was wrong came when she noticed she couldn't see the ball and her racket appeared “crooked.” After her diagnosis, her vision rapidly declined and Joanne was forced to give up both tennis and music. She found a low vision support group in Arizona, which helped, but she did not see a low vision specialist right away.
About two years ago, Joanne and her husband relocated to St. Charles, Illinois and she started receiving eye injections at the Simpson Eye Care Center in Dundee. Her doctor there felt her vision needs had gone beyond his scope of care and referred her to another specialist. Before she left that practice, the optician adjusting her glasses gave her a pamphlet for Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. He told her he had never visited the facility himself but had heard they could help people “like her.”
Joanne waited until she was fully settled into her new surroundings before scheduling an appointment with Dr. Chun. Dr. Chun prescribed a high-powered magnifier and referred her to Dr. Gregg for an assistive technology evaluation- Joanne had been struggling to use a desktop computer with very little success. Dr. Gregg introduced her to the iPad and began basic instruction on its built-in accessibility features. She was so impressed that she purchased her own iPad soon after.
Joanne worked with Dr. Gregg to master accessibility features and apps that support independent living. At the time of her interview, she shared that audiobooks were her favorite feature. Prior to her vision loss, Joanne was an avid reader; her magnifier helps with reading but tires her eyes quickly during long documents, books, and other sustained reading tasks. Audiobooks, however, allow her to read and enjoy books again without strain, fatigue, or frustration. The iPad's dictation and VoiceOver features help her stay in touch with friends and relatives by email. She also uses Screen Speak to keep up with the news and recently discovered an easy-to-navigate crossword puzzle app.
When asked what she'd like others to know about her experience with assistive technology and the training provided by the Spectrios Institute, she said, “It has changed my whole life. I couldn't do anything before. Now I can read, enjoy crosswords, and keep up with what my friends and family are doing. It is so much better than just sitting there.”
Joanne B. was first interviewed for this story in 2016. If you would like to receive more stories of hope and practical information from Spectrios Institute for Low Vision.
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