VISION BEYOND SIGHT: The Power of Community

It can be easy to feel alone living with an inherited retinal disease (IRD). As a kid, only one other person in my school had a visual impairment. Recently, I went on a first date with someone who said, “Forgive me if I ask any dumb questions—I’ve never dated someone who is visually impaired before.” She is not the first person to express such a sentiment on a date with me. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m the first visually impaired person for every woman I’ve dated. I’m also the first visually impaired colleague, friend, etc., for most people in my life.

Throughout my life, community has played a significant role in helping me feel less alone in these moments. I’ve been fortunate to be connected to groups of other visually impaired people, where I’ve been able to learn from their successes, feel less alone by connecting with others who have similar experiences, and support people who are experiencing challenges I have overcome.

Jack and his guide dog, Baloo

It is common for young people with visual impairments not to feel fully seen or understood by their sighted peers. For many, finding a community of visually impaired peers is the first time they feel they can truly be themselves in social situations. These environments can help them develop more confidence interacting in other social situations.

Having access to such communities has helped me get to where I am today. When I think that accessibility barriers are too significant to overcome, I can look in my community for proof that it can be done. When I feel like I am the only person going through a particular challenge, I can ask my community to find someone who has already overcome it. When I encounter an accessibility = barrier that feels unfair, my community and I can work together to fix it.

Many things can contribute to a visually impaired person’s success, and having a community is one of those foundational things that I encourage everyone with a visual impairment to seek. Of course, a community can only do so much. But I’ve learned that people are resilient, and having a community can help us find and develop resiliency.

Connecting with organizations like Hope in Focus can be an excellent opportunity for you and your family. Learn more about the Hope in Focus Family Connections program, our LCA conference 2025, and other organizations supporting those living with visual impairment on our website at hopeinfocus.org.