Living with vision loss can be challenging, but you can still do most things you want to do. You just need to do them differently.

We live in a visual world. But suppose a routine visit to the eye doctor revealed a progressive, incurable condition that would leave you legally blind. You will still have some residual vision, but your central or peripheral sight will be gone. How would you manage? What would your life be like?

The good news is that you would still be able to do many, if not most, of the things you currently do. You would just need to do them differently. Hearing, smell, and sense of touch would become more dominant ways to take in the world. Most of us are reliant on our smartphones, tablets, and computers. Using them would now require screen magnification or a screen reader. Windows, Apple, and Android all have this functionality embedded, though it takes some effort to learn how to use it.

One of the biggest changes resulting from vision impairment is losing the ability to drive. You will need rides from a partner, a friend, or a paid service such as Uber or Lyft. Public transportation is another option. Fortunately, we have a very good bus system in Missoula which runs seven days a week. You also may be eligible for Paratransit, which provides door to door service,

Continuing to cook for yourself, friends, or family, also requires different techniques and possibly new equipment. Increased lighting, contrasting surfaces, tactile labels on measuring cups and spoons, audio labels on foods and good organization will help you successfully prepare a meal. When dining out, you may need to use a computer or smartphone to check what’s on a menu before heading to the restaurant. Alternatively, you could use a smartphone app such as SeeingAI or a handheld video magnifier to read the menu when you get there.

Figuring out what to wear is also a matter of organization and labeling. SeeingAI and other smartphone apps, along with your phone’s camera, can help you identify what’s in your closet. Personal grooming techniques can be gleaned from sites such as the Hadley Institute,

Shopping, whether for clothes, groceries, or gifts, can be done online. In stores, apps such as SeeingAI can help you identify products on store shelves. While not legally required, stores may also offer

assistance in the form of a store employee to help a visually impaired shopper pick up the items on their list

For those who love to read ,the Montana Talking Books library offers a vast variety of audio books and magazines, free of charge, to people with print disabilities. Another service, Bookshare, maintains an even larger library of books, though these must be read by a computer. Most new movies and TV shows are audio described. And for outdoor sports enthusiasts, Inclusive or adaptive recreation provides ways for those who are visually impaired to participate in a wide variety of sports.

It’s not always easy to learn new ways of doing things. And the reality is that there are just some activities that are almost impossible to perform without sight. Most of us want to maintain our independence and to build our lives around family and friends. We want to work or go to school, enjoy leisure time, and contribute to our communities. With proper societal support, we can make this a reality.

You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.

To contact the Missoula chapter of the NFB, email us at missoulachapter@nfbofmt.org .