Amy Nichols first noticed something was different when she would read.
The text had a waviness, and it was something she had never experienced before. So she went to the eye doctor and was soon diagnosed with Punctate Inner Choroidopathy, a rare disease that attacks the retina, leaving permanent holes. Nichols was only 28 at the time, but had to quickly realize that the rest of her life would be affected by vision loss.
It took six months for the disease to affect one eye, and by the end of the first year she had permanent issues in both. Punctate Inner Choroidopathy essentially causes black spots in your vision and will get worse as time progresses. The diagnosis and ensuing year completely changed her life. She felt as though her world would never be the same. No longer would she cross Main Street for lunch, and she had a hard time moving around her home without bumping into furniture. And as a certified public accountant, her vision was quite important.
But once Nichols connected with the New Hampshire Association for the Blind in Concord, it began to open up her world again. She received the counseling and therapy needed to get her life back on track.
“I don’t know what I would have done without them,” Nichols said. “I can’t say enough good things about the NHAB. They saved my life.”
Now 15 years later, Nichols is leading a normal life thanks to some incredible technology, her family and her dog guide, Opal. And none of it would be possible without all the help from the association.
“If I ever needed anything, it’s only a phone call away,” Nichols said.
Since losing most of her sight, Nichols has learned to sew, and even took her first solo trip to New York City to see her father. And Nichols is just one of many success stories told by clients of the N.H. Association for the Blind.
“I see other blind people be successful and it makes you feel like, ‘I can do this,’ ” Nichols said.
Last year, the association served just shy of 900 people across the state and about 70 percent are over the age of 70. But those are just the ones currently being helped, as there are about 8,500 in the active data base. The end goal is to help those affected by vision loss live rich and full lives.
“We really tailor each plan to each inpidual,” said Nancy Druke, vice president of program services. “And we’re always here for when they need us.”
When someone either contacts or is referred to the association, they will first meet with a social worker to get the necessary counseling to help manage the initial reaction to their vision loss, as well as properly determine the services needed.
“The majority of the people we work with are what we call visually impaired, so if anyone is having any difficulties because of their vision, that’s enough of a criteria,” Druke said.
The low vision services department is there to assist people make the most of their remaining vision through training and the use of low vision aids like glare reducing glasses, CCTV’s and magnifiers of varying strengths. Vision rehabilitation therapists Denise Caruso and Jewett O’Connor will meet in a person’s home to best assess their environment and determine the equipment needed. Along with the low vision aids, Caruso and O’Connor will focus on areas that enhance independent living, so they will help set up the kitchen with colored or textured tags on the stove and microwave for a safe cooking environment.
“The goal of everything is to maximize the remaining vision,” Caruso said. “It’s about helping them accomplish their goals.”
They work to make everyday things a little more manageable by outfitting washing machines, television remotes and thermostats with helpful guides, along with creating systems for tasks like banking and looking over the mail.
“You want to simplify it,” O’Connor said. “You see what works best and what’s most comfortable.”
Getting around the house and the community is important to help avoid isolation, so promoting safe travel skills is vital to the home visits. The association also works with school districts through educational services to help children in the school setting affected by vision loss or blindness.
“We start seeing people when their daily functions are affected by vision loss,” said George Theriault, the association’s president and CEO. “They say ‘when I was losing my vision I had lost hope. I had no idea help was available.’ ”
But it’s not all about teaching the inpidual. Working with the families and members of the community is key to helping someone with vision loss lead the lives they want to.
“It’s just as important to work with their support system,” Druke said.
Most of the funding comes through philanthropy, while some is a result of state contracts, as well as a modest endowment. But insurances, along with Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the services provided, so donations are crucial to maintaining the high level of care.
In addition to the paid staff, the association has more than 80 volunteers, but anyone wishing to volunteer is welcome to help.
As for Nichols, the thing she misses the most are faces. Because of her condition, there are large black spots in the area where someone’s eyes, nose and mouth should be. But to her credit, she can still do a tax return, and that’s more than most of us can say.
For more info, visit sightcenter.org.
