A Powerful Partnership for Those with Vision Loss
For Pat Kosmerl, coming to terms with her vision loss required both practical and emotional training. Fortunately for her, Chicagoland is home to two organizations that can address both needs.
Hadley, based in Winnetka, offers online videos, podcasts and support groups that are specifically geared to adults who are experiencing vision loss. Meanwhile, The Chicago Lighthouse has an entire department dedicated to helping people find and use assistive technology so they can maintain their independence and continue to do the activities they love.
“They’re both organizations that understand people with vision loss, and they both care about helping you personally,” Pat says. “The emotional support and community from both organizations really helped me out. Hearing other people talk about the same issues I was dealing with in Hadley’s support groups made me realize I was not alone. The care and assistance I have received from Patrick [Andrade, The Lighthouse’s Director of Assistive Technology] has been crucial in helping me adapt to visual challenges, showing me how to optimize the accessibility features on my digital devices.”
This month, Hadley and The Chicago Lighthouse will unveil a series of online videos that will combine their respective expertise, ensuring their assistance is available anytime, anywhere. The Adjusting & Coping Together and Adjusting to Vision Loss: Assistive Technology video courses will help those with vision loss become more resilient, foster social connections and understand assistive technology available through The Lighthouse’s My Tools for Living store.
“This partnership allows us to combine The Chicago Lighthouse’s clinical knowledge and technology resources with Hadley’s national reach and strength in creating engaging content,” said Johnjoe Farragher, Hadley President and CEO. “Together, we can extend vital resources far beyond Chicagoland and empower older adults everywhere to adapt and thrive as they navigate vision loss.”
The three-year project was made possible through a generous contribution by the Forsythe Family Foundation. As a member of both Hadley’s and The Lighthouse’s boards, Sandra Forsythe was familiar with the organizations’ complementary strengths and knew they would work well together.
“As our population ages, the number of people who will be experiencing vision loss and vision impairment is expected to drastically increase,” Sandra Forsythe said. “My husband, Rick, had macular degeneration, and he benefited greatly from the programs at Hadley and The Chicago Lighthouse. This initiative will help ensure others can have access to those same resources, wherever they are.”
