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13 שנים מאוחר יותר עם כאב כרוני בשל עקמת שמי קתרין ואני בת 27. אני סובלת מכאב כרוני עקב ניתוח לאיחוי חוליות עמוד השדרה. ב-13 ביולי עברו 13 שנים מאז ניתוח הגב שלי מחוליה T4 ל-L4. אני חיה עם כאב גב קל מאז הניתוח, שכבר הפך להיות "נורמלי". תודה לאל שאני מצליחה לחיות חיים נורמליים. 13 Years Later with Chronic Pain Due to Scoliosis My name is Katherine and I am 27yrs young. I suffer from chronic pain due to scoliosis fusion surgery. This coming July it’ll be 13 yrs since I had my back surgery going from the T4 to L4 vertebra. I have lived with mild back pain since the surgery, which has become “normal” to me. Thankfully I have managed to live a “normal life.” כיצד אני מתמודדת עם כאב כרוני במארס 2016, בסוף יום עבודה רגיל, התחלתי לפתח כאב גב חמור שהלך והחמיר מיום ליום. אושפזתי ולאחר בדיקות מרובות וצילומים שנעשו וכשחזרתי למנתח המקורי שלי, נתקלתי במומחה שדרה שעוזר לי מאז אוקטובר 2016. המתכת בגבי מכבידה וגורמת לדלקת בעמוד השדרה, העצבים והשרירים מסביב. אני מקבלת זריקות אפידורל כדי לעזור להתמודד עם הכאב ודלקות הפרקים. אני עדיין יכולה ללכת אבל זה נהיה קשה יותר במהלך היום, מכיוון שהרגליים שלי נעשות כבדות וחלשות יותר והכאב מתחזק. How I Manage Chronic Pain In March 2016 at the end of a normal work day, I started developing severe back pain that grew worse by the day. After being hospitalized, having multiple tests and scans done and going back to my original surgeon, I came across a spine specialist who has been helping me since October 2016. The metal in my back is weighing down on my last discs causing inflammation in the spine, nerves, and muscles all around. I have steroid epidural injections to help deal with the pain, inflammation and arthritis. I can still walk but it does get harder throughout the day as my legs get heavier and weaker and the pain gets stronger. אסירת תודה על חיי אני מעבר לאסירת תודה, כי טיפולים אלה סייעו לי לשמור על עבודה במשרה חלקית, לצאת לאירועים מיוחדים ולבלות קצת זמן עם בני משפחה וחברים. היה קשה שהחיים שלי התהפכו ולהסתגל לכל העזרה שאני זקוקה לה, אבל לאט לאט אני מוצאת את הדרך להתגבר על הכאב בעזרת המון אמונה, משפחה, והיוודעות למקרים דומים שמזכירים לי שאני לא לבד. Grateful for my life I am beyond grateful though because having these treatments has helped me keep a part time job, go out on special occasions and enjoy some time with family and friends. It’s been hard to have my life flipped around and adjusting to all the help I now need, but I am slowly finding my way through the pain with the help of lots of faith, family, and all these chronic warrior pages that remind me I’m not the only one.

Falling Is Tough, No Matter Your Age When I was asked to do a tips article, I freaked out. I'm not an expert on anything noteworthy other than how to make a great homemade latte (and even then expert is a strong word in that scene). But, then I realized I have fallen several times. Each time I fall, I find myself preventing falls or falling in ways that might prevent cuts, scrapes, or any other injury. So, I figured why not share my tips and tricks because they might help others. The first four tips come from an article I previously wrote for my blog That CP Chick titled "Five things that I've learned from living with CP." No matter how old you are, falling is tough. People fall for a lot of reasons. For example ( I may have experience with all of these), the sidewalk jumps out at you, you trip over a shoelace, you fall because of a cramp, you experience a sudden incline that everyone else sees and you don't. Unfortunately, having Cerebral Palsy does not help the falling situation no matter what it is. I hope you enjoy these tips and tricks. Tip #1: When you fall, once you realize you're okay, say it "People freak out when they see other people on the ground. In a weird way, this gives me faith in humanity. The action of people freaking out lets me know that I’m not gonna get stepped over or on" (That CP Chick, April 10, 2018). This realization is one that I think comes in handy when you fall around a lot of people. I often use this tip at home even when I haven't fallen and just dropped something it lets my parents and whoever else is home know that I'm okay. And if you're not okay when you fall, don't be afraid to let people know that either. In my opinion, t's better to tell someone that something is hurt and get it fixed ASAP than it is to be in pain. Tip #2: If you are about to fall for a repeated time, cheat to the side you didn’t hurt the last time This might seem silly or even impossible but I promise there is a method to my madness. Sometimes when I fall I cheat to one side. If I fall again and have enough time, I will often cheat to the other side if I can to avoid injury. Some people ask me if I think about something when I fall, which side to fall on is normally what I think about. Tip #3: Embrace the heel-toe "If you grew up in physical therapy for any reason, you should be familiar with three phrases: “keep pushing, keep pushing”! “Up up up”! AND “heel toe, insert your name here”. While all of these phrases are equally important, the third one carries the most weight. Listen to it, embrace it, and you have reduced your chances of walking loudly and tripping my friends" (That CP Chick, April 10, 2018). Tip#4: STRETCH, STRETCH, AND STRETCH Growing up, I wasn’t a fan of gong to therapy (sorry every therapist I’ve ever had). But, my favorite part about going to therapy was…. stretching. Why? Because I didn’t have to do anything. I just had to be still on the mat while my muscles were being stretched out. Sure it hurt, but it felt better afterwards. That leads me to my point: Stretching is important. Not just in your life as a kid, but in adult life too. To quote my parents and all my friends who have tried to get this point hammered into my head for so many years, “what you do now will help you in the future" (That CP Chick, April 10, 2018). Stretching can also help your muscles stay loose and help your mobility which decreases your chances of falling. Tip #5: Always carry a small first aid kit You never know when you might need one! Just keep a small one with bandages and some sort of cleaning wipe or medicine. I usualy keep one in my backpack, purse, and car.

Growing Up With Polio & Overcoming Adversity I was born in India and contracted polio at a young age but fortunately I was adopted by a wonderful American family and received proper medical care once I arrived in the U.S. I grew up always doing whatever I set my mind to and that mentality stuck with me throughout adulthood. I never really felt like my disability limited me from doing anything and it was not until I was a teenager that I started to feel insecurities about my body because I never saw anyone in TV/Film or in magazines who looked like me and it made me wonder why. As an adult I have made sure that media becomes more inclusive of the disability community so that future generations of children can see themselves represented in media and can feel valued and won't feel insecure. I realized in order to change the media perception I had to not only be behind the camera in productions but in front of the camera as a model and actress as a role model for others. I love what I do and I hope I can inspire others to chase their passion and dreams- whatever they may be. We are all capable, beautiful individuals with so much to give and do to make the world a better place!

Introduction Bullying is an epidemic that is not only occurring in schools, but online and even in the work place. Whether it is physical, emotional, or even cyber bullying, bullying is a serious pitfall for many, and the way in which we respond is crucial for our well-being. While we cannot necessarily put an end to bullying, we must take advantage of what we can do and make ourselves a priority. If you have experienced bullying, you are not alone and there are people here to help! Try taking these steps to improve the situation. Tip #1: DISENGAGE Bullies are looking for a reaction from you. Do not retaliate and do not give them the response in which they seek. This will only add to the fire and make the situation worse. Keep this in mind before responding. Tip #2: UNDERSTAND IT ISN'T YOU When someone intentionally does something to try and hurt you, understand that they are actually hurting inside. They are struggling, and therefore, they are antagonizing you to make themselves feel better. If someone is bullying you, understand that there is nothing wrong with you! They are acting out based on how they feel internally. Tip #3: BE ASSERTIVE Being assertive is broken down into three parts: Words, Body Language & Tone of Voice 1. Words: You need to stand up for yourself and say no. It is ok and necessary. Approach the situation or bully in a confident and respectful manner in a non-aggressive way. Let them know that this is unacceptable and it will not be tolerated! Despite how you may feel on the inside, they need to know that you will no longer be treated poorly. Sometimes it can be difficult to say no, but beginning to practice can help you to become more comfortable. Keep saying no until the bully gets the message. Do not engage in violence and try and remain calm no matter how angry you may feel. It may even help to have a mantra that you repeat in your head such as “keep calm” or “you’ve got this.” 2. Body Language: When it comes to responding in an assertive way to a bully, you want to make sure that they understand how serious you are through your body language. Bullies will pick on people that they think will not stand up for themselves, which is why the way you present yourself is crucial. Here is how you will do it (even if you don’t feel it). Stand up straight Keep your head held high Shoulders back Take a few deep breaths Look them straight in the eye and hold that contact 3. Tone of Voice: While words and body language are extremely important when responding to a bully, so is your delivery and tone of voice. You want to deliver your message in a calm, strong and confident voice. Try not to speak too quickly. Speak slow, steady and don’t let the reaction of a bully get in your way. Tip #4: TELL A FRIEND, LOVED ONE OR SOMEONE YOU TRUST Don’t keep this a secret. Let someone know what is going on and ask for support. That person may not only be able to comfort you, but also assist you on taking the next step. Tip #5: RESPOND INTERNALLY Learning how to respond to bullying internally will not only help you to respond to the physical bully, but it will help you to cope and grow from the situation. Here are a couple of ways to respond internally: 1. Express Yourself: Bullying can be painful and many people who are victims end up engaging in self-sabotage. You need to prevent this and remind yourself that you do not deserve that. Grab a notebook and use it to journal. You can even use an electronic notebook or Word document. Writing down your feelings can have such a positive effect on your mind. It can give you a safe and private place to record your feelings and what is occurring. 2. Reach Out: Connect with friends, get involved in hobbies you love and do things that make you feel good! Responding internally also means doing what boosts your self-esteem. Go for a run, spend time with family, take your dog for a walk, read a book, get your nails done and do whatever makes YOU happy. Surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you. Take care of yourself. When you take action and do what makes you smile, it helps you to gain confidence and therefore, better understand your self worth! FINAL WORDS No one deserves to be bullied, and victims of bullying must remember that they are not alone! Practicing these methods mentioned above can help you to gain confidence in yourself, learn better communication, build positive relationships and a better future! If you or anyone you know is being bullied, don’t forget to report it. Talk to someone you trust and take action! We are in this together. Follow my journey to prevent suicides, violence and inpsire people to go after their dreams: https://www.facebook.com/iamsydneynanberg/

Nothing is Impossible with Scoliosis & Dwarfism Sometimes when life throws us curveballs, the punch is a little harder than expected. I can only image the thoughts that ran through my mother's mind when doctors rushed me to an examination room instead of in her arms after delivery. They would enter some hours later to share that her baby girl was born with extreme complications. Dyastrophic Displaysia Dawrfism mixed with a severe case of scoliosis was what they presented to mom about me. Their educated guess: she will never walk, talk, hear, and likely will not live past the age of 6. It would be nearly impossible as her spine will eventually curve to such a degree that her lungs and heart will collapse. That was in 1986. Today, standing at only TWO feet tall, I am probably one of the most unique and unforgettable women many have ever seen. At age 32, I am proud to say that I am defying gigantic odds. Having been featured on many media platforms including FOX, CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and SoulPancake’s “I Survived” series, I was also invited by the White House’s Obama Administration to help unite women from across the globe. Made 2 Soar Cruising in my jet black wheelchair, I've been able to cofound Made 2 Soar where I deliver presentations that has sparked the hearts and minds of thousands of people across the globe. I absolutely love traveling the country, sharing my story and invigorating messages on leadership, diversity/inclusion, and academic success because I can visually see the impact my presence has on others. God has graced me to live a unique life that has indeed been filled with tough challenges, but that is worth everyday he gives me to live. As critically acclaimed artist, author, speaker, and law school grad, I don't mind bragging on myself just a little... in doing so, I hope it inspires the world because I realize that I am a visual example that anything is possible.

לאהוב את עצמך זה תהליך שנמשך כל החיים - בעלת מוגבלות או לא הילדות שלי הייתה מאתגרת מספיק גם ללא הקושי הנוסף (או לפחות כך חשבתי אז) שבלהיות בעלת מוגבלות. המשפחה שלי הייתה עניה והיו בעיות של אלכוהוליזם והתעללות. אפילו עם המחסומים האלה אמי תמיד ידעה שאני צריכה ללמוד לדאוג לעצמי, החל מלספר לרופאים שהיא לא מוכנה לקטוע את הידיים שלי (הכי דרסטי) ועד לתת לי בובה כדי שאוכל להתאמן במשחק איתה. תמיד אהיה אסירת תודה על כך, אבל הדבר היחיד שהייתי שמחה להבין מוקדם יותר הוא שלאהוב את עצמך וביטחון עצמי הם דברים מסובכים עבור כולם, לא רק עבורי בשל ההבדל הפיזי המובהק שלי. במהלך בית הספר היסודי ורוב התיכון חשבתי שלבישה קבועה של מעיל שרוול ארוך תסתיר את המוגבלות שלי ותמנע מבטים ושאלות. א. הוא לא הסתיר כלום. ב. וואו כמה שהיה חם במהלך הקיץ. אז בשנה האחרונה שלי בתיכון זרקתי את המעיל, והתחלתי לאט לאט ללמוד לאהוב את עצמי ולאפשר את השאלות. לא אשקר, כיום אני בת 34 ורק בשנים האחרונות באמת הבנתי מה זה אומר ואני יכולה לומר שאני אוהבת את עצמי. Loving Yourself is a Lifelong Process - disabled or not Growing up my childhood was challenging enough without the added difficulty (or at least what I thought at the time) of being disabled. My family was poor and there were issues of alcoholism and abuse. Even with those barriers my mother always knew I had to learn to do things for myself, from when she told doctors she was not willing to amputate my arms (talk about drastic) to giving me a stuffy that had buttons and laces so I could practice. I will always be grateful for that, but the one thing I wish I learned early on is that loving yourself and self confidence is a tricky thing for everybody, not just me, though I had a physical difference that jumped right at you. During elementary school and most of high school I thought wearing a long sleeve jacket at all times would hide my disability and avoid stares and questions. A) it didn't hide anything and b) man was it hot during the summer, so in my last year of high school I threw out the jacket, and started piece by piece learning to love myself and allow the questions. I am not going to lie, I am now 34 and it hasn't been until the last few years that I really understood what this meant and can truly say I love myself. לעורר השראה בכולם להרגיש בטוחים ויפים כשאתה חי בעולם שבו הבדלים פיזיים אינם נחגגים אלא מוסתרים - בוודאי שאנשים יבהו, ישאלו שאלות או יחשבו שאתה לא מסוגל להשיג דברים בעצמך. לכן אני כעת רואה זאת כ"איך אני יכולה ללמד מישהו לראות מעבר לפיזי". לאחרונה הצטרפתי ל- Senegence (חברת איפור וטיפוח עור מדהימה) כמפיצה עצמאית... ואני לחלוטין מחוץ לאזור הנוחות שלי. ה״עבודה״ שלי היא להתאפר, לעזור לאנשים להרגיש יפים והכי חשוב - שיסתכלו עליי ויראו שאני אוהבת את המוצרים (ואני אוהבת את המוצרים). הדרך היחידה לחגוג את עצמך ושאחרים יחגגו אותך היא לחבק את אי הנוחות ובאמת להאמין במי שאתה, מבפנים ומבחוץ. זה מספיק. זה לגמרי מספיק. ככל שאנשים "רגילים״ יציגו את ההבדלים בפתיחות - בטלוויזיה, בסרטים, בדוגמנות, באופנה, במקומות עבודה וכו' - כך לכולנו יהיה טוב יותר. הבנה וחמלה הם רגשות אנושיים בסיסיים ואנחנו צריכים לעבוד יחד כדי לקבל את החוויות האלה. העולם הוא מקום כל כך יפה כשאנחנו אוהבים את עצמנו וזה את זה. אני מקווה לעורר השראה בכל אחת ואחד, בעלי מוגבלות או לא, שנאבק עם ביטחון עצמי. תחושות של ביטחון ויופי משתנות בין אחד לשניה - ויהיה לי לכבוד לעזור לכם "למצוא את היופי שבכם". באהבה, בקי Inspiring Everyone to feel Confident & Beautiful When you live in a world where physical differences aren't celebrated, but rather hidden or ignored, how would it be possible for people not to stare, ask questions or think you are unable to accomplish things on your own. I now look at it as "how can I teach someone to look past the physical". I recently started with Senegence (amazing makeup and skincare) as an Independent Distributor...and I am WAY out of my comfort zone. My "job" is to wear makeup and help people feel beautiful, and most importantly put myself out there for them to see me loving the products (and I do LOVE the products). The only way to celebrate yourself and to be celebrated by others is to put yourself out there, embrace the discomfort and truly believe that who you are, inside and out, is enough - because let me tell you, it IS enough. The more "regular" people embrace differences in the open - tv, movies, modelling, fashion, workplaces etc. - the better we all are. Understanding and compassion are fundamental human emotions and we need to work together to have those experiences, the world is such a beautiful place when we love ourselves and each other. I hope to inspire anyone, disabled or not, who struggle with self-confidence. Everyone's idea of how to feel Confident and Beautiful is different than someone else's and I would be honored to help you "Find Your Beautiful". xo Becky

הולך שוב לאחר פגיעה בחוט השדרה שלום, שמי קובי טרוסדל. ב-4 במאי 2017 הלכתי לים עם השותפה שלי לדירה בנאפולי, פלורידה כדי לשחות. רצתי מהחוף, התחלתי לצלול לתוך המים, פגעתי עם ראשי בקרקעית ושברתי את הצוואר. השותפה שלי משכה אותי מהמים וביצעה בי החייאה כדי להחזיר אותי לחיים ולהציל אותי. מאז הייתי כבר בשני בתי חולים שונים לשיקום פגיעות בחוט השדרה פגיעה שלימדו אותי הרבה על מה עליי לעשות כדי להחזיר את הניידות והעצמאות שלי. תמיד הייתי אדם מאוד חיובי ועקשן שבאמת וזה עוזר לי להתגבר על המצוקות והדרישות הקפדניות של הפיזיותרפיה שעדיין ממשיכות להוות מטרד בחיי. Walking again after a spinal cord injury Hello, my name is Koby Truesdell. On May 4th 2017 I went to the ocean with my roommate in Naples, Florida to go swimming. I ran from the shore and proceeded to dive into the water hitting my head on the bottom sandy floor and broke my neck. My roommate then pulled me out of the water and gave me CPR in order to bring me back to life and save me. Since then I have been to two different Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Hospitals that have taught me a lot about getting to where I need to be to regain my mobility and independence. I have always been a very positive and headstrong individual which really helped me through the trials and tribulations of the rigorous Physical Therapy demands that still continue to plague my life. התגברות על הפגיעה בחוט השדרה שלי כשהרופא אמר לי שאני כנראה לא אצעד שוב, לא הצלחתי לדמיין את עצמי יושב על כיסא גלגלים ולא מסוגל ללכת. החיים הללו מעולם לא היו קיימים בראש שלי, ועם עבודה קשה ונחישות הגעתי לנקודה שבה אני עכשיו הולך ללא כלי עזר בבית על בסיס יומי. אם יש דבר אחד שאני יכול להגיד לכולם, זה להישאר חזקים, לעבוד קשה ולעשות את הכי טוב שאתם יכולים, כי לא משנה מה יקרה - הכל יהיה בסדר. Overcoming my spinal cord injury When the doctor told me that I would probably never walk again I wasn't able to envision myself being in a wheelchair and not being able to walk again. That life has never existed in my head, and with hard work and determination I have gotten to a point where I am now walking without any assistive devices throughout my house on a daily basis. If there's one thing that I can say to everyone, it's to stay strong, work hard, and do the best that you can because no matter what happens everything is going to be okay.

נולדתי שונה, נראה אותו הדבר היי, שמי הוא לואיס האצ'ט. נולדתי עם תסמונת פולנד, כלומר חסרים לי שריר החזה הימני ושתי הצלעות שמאחוריו. להוריי נאמר בלידה שאני לא אעשה הרבה ספורט כשאגדל, במיוחד רוגבי וקריקט. למרות שיש לי בעיה יומיומית של חוסר איזון בשרירים ואני מצוי בסכנה מאחר שהריאה שלי לא מוגנת במלואה, התגברתי כדי להגשים את החלום שלי ולהעמיד אחרים על טעותם. חתמתי על החוזה הראשון שלי כשחקן קריקט מקצועי עבור מועדון סאסקס קאונטי כ-20 שנים לאחר שנאמר שלא אשחק את הספורט. שיחקתי במשך 6 שנים קריקט מקצועני, שמרתי את המצב שלי בסוד לרבים, עד שפרשתי בשנת 2016 עקב פציעה. לאחר קריירת הקריקט, הפכתי להיות דובר מוטיבציוני כדי לעזור לעורר השראה באנשים להתגבר על מכשולים, לאהוב את מה שיש להם, להאמין בגוף ולהגיע להגשמה עצמית. כמו כן, הפכתי למורה ליוגה לאתלטים במטרה לעזור לאנשים לעשות את הפעילויות שהם אוהבים כל עוד הם יכולים, על ידי מניעת פציעות ומתן כלים לחיים מאוזנים יותר. תודה שנתתם לי לחלוק את הסיפור שלי. ניתן לקרוא עליו בהרחבה באתר www.lewishatchett.com BORN DIFFERENT, SEEN THE SAME Hi my name is Lewis Hatchett. I was born with Poland Syndrome. Which means I am missing my right pectoral muscle and 2 ribs that are behind it. My parents were told at birth that I wouldn't play many sports growing up, especially rugby and cricket. With my condition posing daily issue with muscle imbalance and the threat of my lung not being protected fully, I overcame these to realize my dream and prove others wrong by signing my first contract as a full time professional cricketer for Sussex County Cricket Club, 20 years later after being told I wouldn't play the sport. I played for 6 years of professional cricket, keeping my condition a secret to many, until having to retire in 2016 due to injury. Post cricket career, I have become an inspirational speaker to help inspire those to overcome obstacles, love what they have, promote body confidence or reach success however that looks to them, plus so much more. As well as this I became a yoga teacher, where I teach Yoga for Sport. With the simple aim to help people do the activity they love doing for as long as they can by preventing injuries and living a much more balanced life. Thank you for letting me share my story. You can view more of my story by visiting www.lewishatchett.com

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Blindness ain’t stopping me... Living with Stargardt’s Disease for the past 10 years I have learnt a lot. You have to learn to constantly adapt to your surroundings, see things in a unique way and learn to read small print with technology that you could once read with the naked eye. You have to find new tricks and tactics to help you in your everyday life. Being diagnosed at such a young age I had no real perception of what my eye condition meant and for many years I struggled with rapidly deteriorating vision whilst trying to avoid coming to terms with my condition. I was in denial, I didn't want to be "blind", I didn't want to be “the blind kid”! What is Stargardt’s Disease? Throughout my schooling years it was difficult to describe to my teachers what Stargardt’s Disease is. I think that the words "visually impaired" instantly has people assume "blind” or that you have no sight what so ever when in most situations that isn't the case. It was hard, I did feel like the odd one out and I did feel like the only blind kid ever to have attended school. The white board, the text books, the school work, you name it - it was all almost impossible for me to see! In the second half of High School I started learning how to use technology to my advantage. I learned to take a photo of the board and then read it off of my phone, how to use ZoomText on my laptop and to listen to audio books rather than read the hardcopy. As I started to feel more comfortable using these tools, and I was accepting of my condition, everything became easier! Plus, all of my grades improved, I completed VCE in year 11 and then switched to VCAL in year 12 where I won the excellence award for my efforts in that year! Living in a small country town my family found it difficult with accessibility issues. At the time, there wasn’t a great amount of options available to vision impaired people in rural areas. ability not disability I was fortunate to have a visiting teacher, Joanna Lenten, travel four hours return every fortnight to see me, organised through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). Jo was amazing; I couldn't say a bad word about her! She worked tirelessly to ensure my schooling was stress free. Every time she came up I would have a new issue and instead of pulling her hair out, she dealt with it like a true professional! Jo and the team at DEECD do a great job and deserve credit for that. It has been two years now since I completed school. I work as a supervisor in a retail store here in Horsham. The job is fast paced and every day is different to the last! My job involves working on a cash register, processing refunds and exchanges, stocking and displaying items and everything in between! I can’t see myself not working, I love to work and I am more than capable for the job! It can be hard getting a job when you are visually impaired, as people can be judgemental and make assumptions based on stereotypes. I am a strong believer in ability not disability and I think that if someone who is visually impaired feels comfortable and capable to work, go for it! There is so much out there to aid you - technology is incredible! An iPhone has just about everything you need now. Most text and other visuals on computers can now be enlarged with apps like ZoomText and other tricks. In the end, all of our journeys, from one visually impaired person to another, are different. We are capable and independent. However, blindness is a real thing and it needs more attention and desperate funding to ensure that future generations have a bigger and brighter future ahead of them!