For the first thirty-seven or so years of my life I did not have any problems with my eyesight. Then one day I noticed dots and flashing lights in my eyes. I thought I had a detached retina, but when I went to the ophthalmologist he said that was not the problem and that I would need to see a retina specialist for a diagnosis. Over the next few years I went to several specialists, who all agreed that my vision was deteriorating, but not on the cause. I eventually learned that I had Cone-Rod degeneration—an incurable and degenerative eye disease.

As my vision got worse, I reduced my driving to the point where I was rarely on the road. I was too embarrassed to ask my friends for rides and was going out less and less. I realized it wasn’t safe for me to drive, and that I had no choice but to give up my driver’s license. I went to the local Department of Motor Vehicles and exchanged my driver’s license for a state-issued identification card.

I remember that long walk home, and thinking I would now be doing a lot of walking. I remember thinking that my independence and freedom were over, and I remember feeling very alone. Soon, I began to have problems crossing streets. I did not know to use a white cane and had no idea how blind people got around by themselves. 

Then, one day I read about the National Federation of the Blind and learned that there was a chapter meeting near my home. I went, and after all those years met another blind person. In fact, I met lots of them. They were much more independent than I was, even though many of them had less vision than I did. They all used long white canes, and a few had guide dogs. But, the main difference was their attitude and the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind. They did not view blindness as the obstacle that I did. They were not defined by their blindness. They were living the lives they wanted to live, and I immediately wanted to be more like them.

I immersed myself in National Federation of the Blind literature and learned that I was not alone. Other people had lost their vision and learned the skills needed to live with their blindness. I have since learned the skills needed to successfully live with my blindness, but most importantly I have learned that blindness does not have to hold me back. Although I do not drive, I travel all around town, the state, the country, and even the world. I now travel more than I did when I could see. I have come a long way from the day I walked home from the DMV. It is now hard to imagine how I let such low expectations creep into my life, but I am thankful that the National Federation of the Blind has transformed my dream for a full and productive life into reality.