Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts

Ophthalmologist Dr. John Shepherd joins us to talk about the connection between vision loss and depression, what signs to look for, and how to get the support you need.

Ever wonder which tools professionals with vision loss use in their daily lives? Wonder no more! Join Sam Seavey, creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, as he shares the tools he loves. Website mentioned in the podcast: The Blind Life YouTube Channel

Dr. Mathew MacCumber from Illinois Retina Associates joins us to discuss common problems that can affect the retina (macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa, to name a few). What should you ask your doctor to make sure you get the most from your eye doctor visits? What is he excited about for the future of treatments in his field? Ricky asks those questions and more. Website mentioned in the podcast: Illinois Retina Associates

Losing vision is a loss. It often brings with it feelings of grief, anger, and sadness. It can help to know you're not alone and that there are things you can do to help you through the rough patches. In this episode, we talk about Hadley's Adjusting & Coping Together virtual support groups. These small groups offer a space to speak openly, connect with others who are also experiencing vision loss, and learn a few things you can do to cope and adjust.

On a previous episode, we shared ideas on how to get around town after vision loss has made it more difficult. We also introduced a feature to the show called Ask Your Neighbor. We invited the Hadley community, your virtual neighbors, to contribute ideas on the topic of transportation beyond the car keys. And the community responded with some great ideas. Tune in to hear what we've learned from you.

This week we sit down with Dr. Laura Miller, a low vision optometrist. Dr. Miller's specialty is to help low vision patients get the most functionality of the vision they have, whether that's high-power lenses, advice on which magnifier to use, or the best lighting for the task at hand. To find a low vision specialist near you, visit The Vision Council Foundation's Low Vision Prescriber Network.

Whether you're navigating a new environment, reading a menu, or shopping, an AI app or gadget may be just the ticket to help if you've lost some vision. But which one is the best one? In this episode, we share practical tips on which tools we turn to for different tasks. We'll share our experiences with Seeing AI, Be My Eyes, Aira, and Meta glasses in particular. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Be My Eyes Seeing AI Aira Meta Glasses

For many, vision loss means giving up the car keys and with that can come complexity, inconvenience, and frustration, among other challenges. We chat with two members of the Hadley community, Dia Kraft and Tara Perry, as they share some of the creative solutions they've found. From rural areas to urban environments, they offer some valuable perspectives about growing more comfortable and confident while navigating life after vision loss. Do you have transportation advice to share? Please share it with your Hadley neighbors. Email us at Podcast@HadleyHelps.org or leave us a voicemail at 847-784-2870. We will revisit the topic in a future episode and share more insights.

Listen in as Hadley team members share tips, tools, and their favorite apps to help make shopping a little easier for people with vision loss.

Braille is often only associated with how people with no vision are able to read books. But there are many other ways braille may be of use, even for those who still have some vision. In this episode, members of the Hadley community share how they have found braille to be helpful in their everyday lives.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome, visual hallucinations that can accompany vision loss, is often overlooked or worse, misdiagnosed. In this episode we chat with the founder of Mary Carmel’s Light, an organization dedicated to supporting those facing Charles Bonnet Syndrome (sometimes called CBS). Previous episode on this topic: Vision Loss and Charles Bonnet Syndrome

For many, losing vision can make everyday kitchen tasks more challenging and even scary. Debra Erickson, founder of The Blind Kitchen, was no different. Then, she decidedly faced her fears and learned some tips. Listen in to hear how Debra grew to love cooking now more than when she was fully sighted.

It's quite common to feel like you're all alone when facing vision loss. And feeling lonely can make the vision loss journey all the rougher. That's why Hadley created a community forum to share stories, insights and bits of inspiration to remind us that we aren't alone on this journey. This week, Ricky Enger and Marc Arneson spend time reintroducing us to Insights & Sound Bites, a community-generated show where others facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust. Find out why fans tell us they listen to this show over and over again when feeling down.

With the Aira app, people with vision loss connect to live, vetted, expertly trained assistants. Using the camera on your smartphone, they walk you through whatever task you're struggling to see your way through.

Join us as Judy Davis shares her personal experience of facing a hurricane and its aftermath with vision loss. She shares how she managed to stay safe, informed, and connected throughout the ordeal. Listen to our previous podcast: Disaster Preparedness with Vision Loss

The Foundation Fighting Blindness funds research to find treatments and cures for eye diseases. They also host local chapter events where you can meet others going through similar challenges. Join us for a conversation with Ben Shaberman, Vice President of Science Communications.

From navigating airports to making the most of airline assistance services, we talk about ways to make air travel with vision loss a little easier. We're joined by James Ashworth, vice president of customer care at Southwest Airlines, who is also living with macular degeneration.

Medical appointments can be stressful for anyone. When you add in vision loss, these appointments can feel overwhelming. From navigating buildings and rooms to filling out forms and signing your name, there can be lots of stumbling blocks. Listen in as we share tips and advice to help make managing medical appointments a bit easier.

As part of Glaucoma Awareness Month, we are revisiting our 2021 conversation with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl, a glaucoma specialist from the Duke Eye Center. Listen in as we ask Dr. Rosdahl common questions we hear about glaucoma, its risk factors, and treatment options.

Reading the newspaper is a daily ritual for many, but vision loss can make it challenging or even impossible. Did you know there's a free service that converts newspaper and magazine content into audio you can listen to on your phone or computer? It's called NFB-NEWSLINE. Join Ricky Enger and Steve Kelley to learn how you can access this yourself.