Hadley

Linda always imagined retirement would mean doing the volunteer work she loved, but after losing her eyesight, she thought that chapter of her life was over. Then one memorable hospital visit reminded her she still had exactly what people needed.

You can listen to Insights & Sound Bites on Spotify here https://bit.ly/4fm0yh3 or on Apple Podcasts here https://hadley.info/4uPAm34—or check it out below.

"I still have value" Linda always imagined retirement would mean doing the volunteer work she loved, but after losing her eyesight, she thought that chapter of her life was over. Then one memorable hospital visit reminded her she still had exactly what people needed.

Vision loss can progress slowly. It can also come on more quickly, as it did for Doug.

"Hadley helped me immensely with my sudden vision loss journey,” he says.

“They have answers and guidance for just about any question that comes into your mind about your vision loss.”

Hadley helps people in all stages of their vision loss journey, with free support made possible by our donors.

William took up woodworking as a hobby after losing his eyesight. One of the projects he likes to make—wind chimes—has turned out to be helpful for finding his way around. “I put wind chimes in the corners of my yard,” he says, “and when the wind is blowing, I know I’m in my area.” By placing chimes with different tones in different corners, he can tell where a sound is coming from—so he even knows which way he’s facing.

Have you devised a handy trick that makes use of sound instead of vision? Feel free to share it below.

How can you make sure your ingredients are mixed together when you’re cooking with vision loss? Actually, there are several ways, like choosing a great big bowl to give yourself plenty of room—and for some recipes, reaching right in with your clean hands. Professional chefs do it all the time!

For details on these tips and more, check out Hadley’s Mixing and Spreading video, part of our Cooking series.

Cooking: Mixing and Spreading If you enjoy cooking, you know that many recipes call for mixing and spreading ingredients, whether you’re baking a cake, whipping up a main dish, or just making a quick sandwich. With a few tips and a little practice, you can make sure your ingredients are all mixed together, or spread evenly, no...

We are honored to present our Help Is in Sight Award to the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia - NFBV.

With chapters across the state of Virginia, NFVB is an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, a collective of people who are blind working together to improve opportunities and increase the general public's understanding of blindness.
Thank you, NFBV, for your partnership in helping people adapt and thrive!

"I don't want to give up knitting just because I'm losing my vision. I might have to change my knitting, or I might have to change how I knit or something like that."

Hadley member Anne is one of many people who knit with vision loss.

We updated our knitting blog post below with practical tips for knitting with low vision or blindness, including ideas for using touch, contrast, lighting, labeling, and organization to make knitting easier and more enjoyable.

You'll also find links to crafting communities where you can learn from, connect with, and encourage others along the way.

What knitting tips, tools, or gadgets have helped you most?



American Council of the Blind
NFB
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

10 Tips for Knitting with Vision Loss Knitting is a rewarding way to create scarves, blankets, gifts, and much more, no matter your level of vision loss. It’s one of the most popular crafts around, and it can be learned and enjoyed by anyone—from children to older adults. Whether you’re new to the hobby or you’re ready to pick u...

From awkward encounters to everyday mishaps, humor can help reframe some of the challenges that come with vision loss. Ricky talks with guest John Hewitt about finding the funny moments, laughing at yourself, and using humor as one more tool for navigating life.

You can listen to Hadley Presents on Spotify here https://bit.ly/4dC716k or on Apple Podcasts here https://hadley.info/43AmYny—or check it out below.

Tapping Back into Laughter After Vision Loss From awkward encounters to everyday mishaps, humor can help reframe some of the challenges that come with vision loss. Ricky talks with guest John Hewitt about finding the funny moments, laughing at yourself, and using humor as one more tool for navigating life.

Lori puts it bluntly.

“Vision loss is scary,” she says. But, for her, the right help has made a big difference.

“Having resources like Hadley makes me feel less alone,” she says.

Thank you to Hadley’s donors, whose support keeps our help free and available to all who need it.

Steven Scott from the Double Tap podcast joined us on Hadley Presents to talk about smart technology in the home for people with vision loss. He mentioned that some people think technical solutions won’t be right for older adults, but he finds that anyone can get excited about technology once they learn what it can do.

“I never subscribed to the theory that age has anything to do with capability,” Scott said. “I’ve met a lot of 85-year-olds who could probably outdo me with technology. It’s not about age.”


Double Tap