My mom is also legally blind. She has very low vision. Do you have this? We think sometimes it would be better to be totally blind, because since she came to blindness so late in life, she is reluctant to learn things like using her cane and braille. So she recently really hurt herself by falling in a parking lot when the blacktop had a bump in it that she tripped over. And she was not able to learn braille, because she clings to the vision part. I mean, that's not to say she's not glad she can still see some, but just making changes might require the absolute necessity. Also, I'm sorry you lost your vision.

@Jenmcjen My sight problem sis due to a rare hereditary condition known as Stargardt's Disese (also called Juvenile Macular Degeneration). I have a blidn spot in the center of my vision and see everything peripherally.

usual onset for Stargardt's is aroudn age s 12-14, but for me it didnt' come on until i wa 29. So I had a bit of adujusting. As the disease is progressive, I still find mysel fhavign to adjust as I see a little bit less.

Obviously I use a cmputer. I use special software called Zoomtext made by AISquared.com. They have different version. I use the magnifier only version, but there is also a version with a screen reader., that will literally red what is on the screen.

It is frustrating at times as I realize I hve foudn another thing i can no longer do on my own, where i just hire someone to do it fo rme, if I cant' get a friend or relative to do it.

I was forunate in that when i started to lose vision I lived in Los Angeles, and the Braille institute which has specialists who help people learn to adjust to their vision loss.

Probably, fo ryour mother, I'd focus on "independent livign skils", whic is making sure a prson can stil do their own cooking and cleaning and be as self sufficient as possible.

On the bright side, beign legally blind makes me elgible for the national Library Service (NLS) library, which allows me to downloadaudio books and they provide a book player for free. I usually just use an app on my phone to dowcload books. Listening to books means i cna listen when on publci transit or just taking a walk, or somethign that doe snto demand much attention.

California State University, Northridge has an even each yer highlighting technology for the disabled,including the blind or persons with low vision. I seem to recall though that it takes place around the third week of May, usually at Hotels near LAX Airport.

You may do a Google search for "resources for the blind" followed by your zip code. They will list anytign tha tmay be near you. Song a zip code search is helpful to fidn lots of things.

Hope thisis helpful. I have been reluctant to actually be a part of the blind community, as I tend to want to associate with all kinds of people not just other visually disabled persons.

@snytiger6 My mom can totally relate to that. She doesn't want to be defined by being blind. She went blind shortly before my dad died, which will be three years ago in a couple days here, and she lives way the heck out in the middle of nowhere, and has been amazing at taking care of herself. Minus the stupid fall from not using her cane, which everyone who knows her has ORDERED her to start using. Doubt she will.

She originally got connected with a lot of services for the blind. The first, actually, was the NLS audiobooks. I'd been listening to audiobooks for years and years, so I was able to help her get used to them. She unconnected with a number of blind services, because like you said, she doesn't define herself by that one thing.

I'm glad that, if you had to get the disease, you were allotted more sighted years than normal. It is sad, the things you just can't do. My mom sewed so many clothes and other items for us, and my daughter has the last dress she ever sewed. I mean, it obviously doesn't fit anymore, but it will always be kept and passed down, as will the other things we have that she sewed. Not sewing is the saddest thing my mom has had to face due to blindness.

Sounds like you're making good use of accessibility technology. It's pretty incredible once you start to discover all that is out there. It is heartening that so much work goes into making lives easier for those with specific challenges like blindness, and surely all the other things that go wrong. Thanks for all the ideas! Take good care. Hope to "see" you around the site.

@Jenmcjen I forgot to mention that there is a chance that the new driverless (self driving) cars may not require a license to drive. So, that may be a wy for your mom to regain some mobility. As I can already speak into my phone for drivign directions when riding in my sister's car, I'd expect that it would be the same for direverless cars. Anyway, the first models for sale shoudl come out in 2019. I myself wil lhave to wait for initial costs to coem down a bit. I just thought I should let you know aobut it.