Thirty-nine-year-old Mahesh Murthy (name changed) lives and works in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, as a software engineer. When he called the Eyeway Helpdesk, he was on the verge of giving up his job due to the deterioration of his eyesight that started a couple of years ago.
Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disorder, Mahesh began to face difficulty in leading the same life he was used to, or functioning in a similar manner. This made him think of quitting the job and looking for something more appropriate to suit his eye condition.
The Helpdesk counselor helped Mahesh understand and accept his altered reality. He was apprised of thousands of people who lost vision late in life and switched gears to start a new life, successfully. It’s like pressing a reset button, armed with adequate information and resources.
Mahesh was advised to undergo a rehabilitation programme, including computer and mobility training. Learning to operate computers using a screen reading software would enable him to resume his job or take up another role as suited to his needs. Visually impaired people use technology to circumvent barriers in daily living as well as at the workplace. This helps them coexist and compete with their sighted peers.
Mobility training would restore Mahesh’s confidence of navigating through spaces independently as he used to when he was sighted. The Helpdesk counselor helped Mahesh understand the importance of reorienting himself to new ways and techniques. He was put in touch with LV Prasad Eye Institute where he would be rehabilitated.
Losing vision at a later stage can be a devastating experience but the only way to spring back up is to pursue training programmes to acquire new skills of living independently.
Team Eyeway
For any information related to living life with blindness, please visit -http://eyeway.org.in/
