Even if you're a very private person, interacting with other individuals who have experienced vision loss can be extremely therapeutic. It's important to keep in mind, however, that each person is an individual and will react to, and cope with, their own vision loss in highly specific and personal ways.
Also, people with longstanding vision loss may or may not experience the same challenges and day-to-day difficulties as people with more recent blindness or low vision.
Nevertheless, meeting other people who have lost vision as adults can help you -- and them -- feel less alone or misunderstood. Support groups also provide an opportunity to share your experiences and hard-won expertise in adapting and managing everyday tasks.
The Coping with Vision Loss Study [1], authored by Kaye Olson, John McElheron, and Nancy Pilorget, investigates the wide range of coping strategies used by adults and older adults who are blind, visually impaired, or have low vision. Their study reveals a number of important psychosocial issues that illustrate the complexity of the vision loss process and the critical importance of support networks and coping strategies.
The following national organizations can provide you with information and databases to help you locate self-help and support groups in your area. Please note that it is the responsibility of the organizations and agencies listed below to ensure that the information in their databases is up-to-date and accurate.
For additional information about vision loss support groups in your state or local area, see the listings in our Related Topics section below:
Links:
[1] http://www.visionaware.org/the_coping_with_vision_loss_study
[2] http://www.visionaware.org/american_council_of_the_blind
[3] http://www.visionaware.org/american_diabetes_association_0
[4] http://www.visionaware.org/american_foundation_for_the_blind
[5] http://www.afb.org/services.asp
[6] http://www.visionaware.org/council_of_citizens_with_low_vision_international
[7] http://www.visionaware.org/e_a_r_s_for_eyes_directory_of_low_vision_support_groups
[8] http://www.visionaware.org/helen_keller_national_center_for_deaf_blind_youths
[9] http://www.visionaware.org/the_lighthouse
[10] http://lighthouse.org/find-help
[11] http://www.visionaware.org/national_federation_of_the_blind
[12] http://www.visionaware.org/the_glaucoma_foundation
[13] http://www.visionaware.org/sightconnection
[14] http://www.visionaware.org/blind_bloggers_blogs_by_people_who_are_blind_or_have_low_vision
[15] http://www.visionaware.org/viscop_visually_impaired_and_sighted_copartners
[16] http://www.visionaware.org/the_new_york_eye_and_ear_infirmary
[17] http://www.visionaware.org/colorado_springs_independence_center
[18] http://www.visionaware.org/general_amd_information_and_resources
[19] http://www.visionaware.org/north_dakota_association_of_the_blind
[20] http://www.visionaware.org/pennsylvania_council_of_the_blind
[21] http://www.visionaware.org/blindconnect_inc
[22] http://www.visionaware.org/visually_impaired_people_inc
[23] http://www.visionaware.org/FL-Lighthouse-Visually-Impaired-Blind
[24] http://www.visionaware.org/UVA_School_of_Medicine
[25] http://www.visionaware.org/john_a_moran_eye_center_at_the_university_of_utah
[26] http://www.visionaware.org/eye_to_eye_low_vision_support_group
[27] http://www.visionaware.org/MI-Association-Blind-Visually-Impaired
[28] http://www.visionaware.org/independent_living_inc
[29] http://www.visionaware.org/red_rock_center_for_independence
[30] http://www.visionaware.org/new_jersey_blind_citizens_association_inc
[31] http://www.visionaware.org/Massachusetts-Eye-Ear-Infirmary
[32] http://www.visionaware.org/low-vision-occupation-support-group
[33] http://www.visionaware.org/download_resources
[34] http://www.visionaware.org/hawkin_hawkeyes_vision_loss_support_group
[35] http://www.visionaware.org/detroit_institute_of_ophthalmology
[36] http://www.visionaware.org/frog_town_low_vision_support_group
[37] http://www.visionaware.org/share_the_vision
[38] http://www.visionaware.org/joplin_association_of_the_blind
[39] http://www.visionaware.org/the_league_for_the_hard_of_hearing
[40] http://www.visionaware.org/visionscope_support_groups
[41] http://www.visionaware.org/ID-Commission-Blind-Visually-Impaired
[42] http://www.visionaware.org/blind_service_association
[43] http://www.visionaware.org/options_for_independence
[44] http://www.visionaware.org/georgia_council_of_the_blind
[45] http://www.visionaware.org/KS-KABVI
[46] http://www.visionaware.org/prevention_of_blindness_society_of_metropolitan_washington