[Stylist] My Article for Low Vision Month

Tue Feb 6 19:33:54 UTC 2018

I am celebrating 

because FEBRUARY is LOW VISION MONTH. 

You may enjoy my series of 3 new articles. 

The first one went live today.

<https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/steps-i-have-taken-to-reg
ain-a-creative-life-after-experiencing-vision-loss-with-low-vision-technolog
ies/12> Click Here

__Below IS THE COPY OF THE ARTICLE____

 <https://www.visionaware.org/default.aspx> VisionAwareT

For independent living with vision loss 

Steps I Have Taken to Regain a Creative Life After Experiencing Vision Loss
with Low Vision Technologies 

<https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/steps-i-have-taken-to-reg
ain-a-creative-life-after-experiencing-vision-loss-with-low-vision-technolog
ies/subscribe/125> Track This Blog By E-mail

Posted on 2/6/2018
by Lynda Lambert
<https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/lynda-lambert/author/145>

Editor's note: February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Peer Advisor Lynda
Lambert talks about her experience with vision loss and getting her life
back together by seeking immediate professional help
<https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/there-is-hope-there-is-he
lp-part-1-in-a-series-on-low-vision-and-low-vision-services/12>  and
obtaining the necessary low vision services. In this three-part series, she
outlines critical steps you should take if you are experiencing vision loss.

My Experience with Vision Loss

By Lynda Lambert
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/get-connected/peer-advisors/lynda-lambert/1
25> 

Vision loss can come gradually over a long period of time, or it can be
quick and final. Regardless of how it progresses, our first reaction is to
think our creative life is over and that we will be a different person
because of it. We will encounter new challenges and learn new ways of
working and thinking. My sudden sight loss was over a decade ago; I thought
I would never be able to write or make art again. I was in shock. In fact, I
spent the first five months wondering how I would carry on with my life.
Fortunately, I met another blind person who became my mentor, and she gave
me advice and information that gave me hope for my future. I will provide my
three steps that worked for me. This information can provide a bridge to
seeking help and learning how you can continue on with your own creative
life goals. I know you, too, can make positive changes so that you can be
the creative person you know you are. Are you ready to begin to change your
life? 

Step 1: Seek Professional Help 

Once you have been diagnosed with an eye condition that is causing sight
loss, you will need to find out about low vision
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/eye-health/low-vision/12
3>  and visit a low vision specialist
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/eye-health/types-of-eye-
care-professionals-5981/125#LowVisionSpecialist> . This is the first
professional who can help determine what your needs may be. You can ask your
eye doctor to recommend a low vision specialist. Typically, your eye doctor
will recommend that you go to a low vision specialist and will set up your
appointment while you are there. You can use the VisionAware directory to
find a low vision specialist in your area
<http://www.visionaware.org/directory.aspx?action=results&CategoryID=66> .

When my regular eye doctor discovered that I had an unusual situation, he
immediately called a specialist while I was in his office, and within a day,
I was at the specialist's office. In some circumstances, it is urgent, and
you may have no time to waste in getting your diagnosis or treatment. That
was my case. I was eventually diagnosed with Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
<https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-ischemic-optic-neuropathy>
. This condition causes rapid sight loss. Quick action on the part of my
doctors prevented complete sight loss. I am a person with low vision. I
cannot see details or colors, but I have light perception and a small amount
of peripheral vision. Perhaps, like me, you can learn to function quite well
with the aid of technologies for the blind and devices and equipment
designed for people with low vision.

Your visit to a low vision specialist will involve a low vision eye exam
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/eye-health/low-vision/lo
w-vision-examination/1235>  to determine just what you see, how you see, and
what types of equipment might work to help you. Because I am a visual artist
and author, my doctor wanted me to bring in samples of my art and writing so
he could determine what my needs are. Can you imagine my surprise when the
low vision doctor told me I could make art again? And, I could learn to
write again with the aid of low vision equipment
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/helpful-products/overview-o
f-low-vision-devices/124>  and some training
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/essential-skills/vision-reh
abilitation-services/123> . I began to feel like things were looking up for
me at this point. I was greatly encouraged by this news.

Step 2: Keep an Open Mind About Your Options

After your visit to the low vision specialist, you will know what options
are available to you so that you can regain a life filled with creative
possibilities. Remember: loss of sight does not mean loss of vision. You are
still the same person who has desires, goals, intentions, and a vision for
your future. Keep in mind you are still that same person with the same
personality, education, experiences, and hopes. I was still the same person
who wanted to make art and display my artwork in gallery exhibitions. I
still wanted to write more books and have my work appear in literary
journals. Even though my eyesight was limited, I could still see myself
being the creative woman I am. I was still bursting with ideas and images I
wanted to manifest. But how?

Not long after my friend who is blind connected me with the professionals
who were there to help me, I went off to a rehabilitation program
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/essential-skills/vision-reh
abilitation-services/123>  where I would be in school, learning how to
regain and reimagine my creative life. It was an exciting new adventure, and
I entered into this school full of excitement and determination. I became
the professor who was now a new student in a new school. I felt like a high
school student again.

Stay tuned for my next post on Step 3.

Additional Information

Read more about Lynda Lambert and her art.
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/emotional-support/personal-stories/recreati
on-and-leisure-personal-stories/introducing-lynda-lambert-seasoned-writer-an
d-artist/1235> 

Check out this
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/roadmap-to-living-with-visi
on-loss/15> "Roadmap to Living with Vision Loss."

Find out about low vision terms and descriptions.
<http://www.visionaware.org/info/your-eye-condition/eye-health/low-vision/lo
w-vision-terms-and-descriptions/1235?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoryk-M2H2QIVVQeGCh28j
gLXEAAYAyAAEgJVzfD_BwE#devices> 

Read this series on low vision and low vision services.
<https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/there-is-hope-there-is-he
lp-part-1-in-a-series-on-low-vision-and-low-vision-services/12> 

  _____  

There are currently 0 comments

  _____  

*         Copyright C 2018 American Foundation for the Blind. All rights
reserved. Material provided on VisionAware.org is intended for information
use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice 

https://www.visionaware.org/blog/visionaware-blog/steps-i-have-taken-to-rega
in-a-creative-life-after-experiencing-vision-loss-with-low-vision-technologi
es/12

Visit me:

 <http://www.lyndalambert.com/> www.lyndalambert.com

Author:

.and Then We Were Three (Chapbook- 4 Pennsylvania Poets), 2002.

Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage: Poems, Kota Press, 2003

Walking by Inner Vision: Stories & Poems, DLD Books, 2017

Currently in development:  Star Signs: New and Selected Poems by Lynda
McKinney Lambert, 2018

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate
the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for
days and years. Genesis 1:14 (NES)

First Snow  (Lynda's first chapbook) is now ready for publication in 2018. .

Editors: contact the author for information & viewing or publishing this
work.

My Author's Page:   <http://www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert>
http://www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 2051 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/stylist_nfbnet.org/attachments/20180206/00c99ec3/attachment.gif>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 46668 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/stylist_nfbnet.org/attachments/20180206/00c99ec3/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 48596 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/stylist_nfbnet.org/attachments/20180206/00c99ec3/attachment-0001.jpg>