[Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors

[Johanna Baccan]

To All:

I was asked by Dr. Steven  Sang one of the top Retina Doctors at Columbia
Presbyterian  Hospital in New York City, new York  to speak to Columbia
University Medical Students.  He wants me to encourage them to become Retina
Doctors and Retina Researchers.     I am a 54 year old woman and have a
unusual form of Stargardt's Disease and have been visually impaired for 34
years.  I know that we all have mastered some if not all the Techniques of
Blindness.  But my talk is going to be on what it would mean to regain my
vision and what I have missed out on for 34 years.  I would like to hear
from all of you to let me know what it would mean to you to have or regain
your vision.  What struggles have you had.  There has been a declined in
Medical Students to become Retina Doctors and Researchers in this country.
As a whole the Blind Community seems to function in a way that people don't
realize how difficult it really is.  So instead of talking how I mastered
the Techniques of Blindness I have to talk about the reality of vision loss.
These students are exposed to other patients with diseases that are much
more visible and pronounced then our vision loss.  At times my particular
eye disease has been called a Hidden handicap.  Because to look at me even
though I use a cane I do not look visually impaired at all.  Any suggestions
or comments would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Johanna Baccan