Hi, Kat101.
Welcome to the vision issues forum!
It is so very nice to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to post your story in the vision issues forum.
I want to introduce myself - my name is Dean Ingalls and I am the vision issues editor.
If you are interested please, feel free to read my biography on the vision issues site. You will find we have alot in common. I am legally blind and have dealt with the vision situation for about 10 years now.
I am so sorry to hear about what you have and are now going through. If there is any way I can help please know I am willing to do so. My goal as the editor is provide helpful information for situations visually impaired/blind people are facing.
Question:
Have you been through orientation/mobility training for a white cane. If not, try contacting your Department of Rehabilitation - Blind services. They should have an instructor who will come to your home and help you learn helpful travel techniques inside and outside your home. They can also help with finding some training for Sheba - for lease walking. The Blind Services program offers a large list of topics for helping visually impaired/blind individuals. Some of them are white cane travel, braille, household organization and computer technology education/training.
Question - Does your vision allow you to use a computer without assistive technology? I use a screen reader program called JAWS in order to use my computer.
Hopefully, I have given you some new ideas to try. Check out the vision issues site and read some of the articles posted. I have just taken over as the vision issues editor and only have posted four articles but the previous editor did a good job and there are still some good articles you may find helpful.
I send out a weekly newsletter so, if you are interested please take the time and sign up for it, It is free and contains up to date information concerning several topics about all aspects of vision.
I hope to hear from you again. Please know you are not alone. I deal daily with wanting to hide inside my apartment. I have struggled to overcome the feeling of isolation and depression from feeling like I have lost my life. But as time has past I have learned how to gain back a great deal of my life. I now live in my own apartment, do my own cooking, shopping and household chores. I feel very comfortable using the public bus system for travel. I have learned different walking routes around my apartment building and continue to walk for exercise. If you can find the determination and are willing the training and technology is out there for you to regain a feeling of being somewhat normal. Don't give up - together we can share the experience and help each other. I hope to build a community of individuals dealing with vision which are willing to help each other.
Again thanks for writing.
Your new friend.