Finding a Way: Jason’s Story

It Kind of Seems Like Magic

For Jason, the ability to read a physical book, navigate a busy street, use a smartphone, or simply live independently slipped away along with his vision. Diagnosed with macular degeneration, Jason found himself in unfamiliar territory, uncertain what his future would look like.

Then he found NewView’s Oklahoma Center for Low Vision and Blindness in Tulsa.

In the two and a half years since Jason first walked through the doors of NewView’s Tulsa Clinic, closed doors have swung wide open. He has new skills, new tools, and new confidence. He now lives a life that, by his own description, once seemed impossible.

“If I had tried to do the things I do now back then, it would’ve seemed like magic.”

Jason works closely with Kevin, occupational therapy assistant, who has remained a constant presence throughout his journey. Together, they’ve tackled an overwhelming new world – smartphones, accessibility features, and apps designed to bridge the gap between vision loss and independence.

“Learning how to use my phone, learning how to just work things without vision, is important to me because that’s part of everyday life,” Jason explains. Today, he uses TalkBack, the built in screen reader on his Android phone, and apps like Be My Eyes to navigate the world with confidence. “I now manage my own life again,” Jason says.

White-Knuckled No More

Perhaps the most dramatic chapter of Jason’s journey has been his work with his orientation and mobility therapist, Laura. Week after week, she guides him through busy intersections and unfamiliar environments, teaching him to trust his cane.

“When we started out, I was white-knuckled,” Jason recalls. “You hear traffic whizzing by and you’re not quite sure what’s going on or where it’s going.”

But Laura is patient and skilled and Jason explains that “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing this with anybody other than [her]. Period.”

A Mind Kept Sharp

Jason’s newest pursuit is Braille. Not because he needs it to read – he enjoys audiobooks – but because of what it does for his mind.

“Audiobooks are great, but your mind can wander. With braille, you have to pay strict attention. At least, I do. Your mind doesn’t wander. It stays sharp.”

For a man who has been a lifelong reader, wrote two books, and published three poems, braille is serving as a sort of reclamation. Another way to stay connected to the world.

When asked how his life compares now to where he was before NewView, Jason doesn’t hesitate.

“Night and day,” he says before laughing softly.

The independence he has rebuilt through NewView isn’t just practical, it’s personal. It’s confidence in crossing a busy street, the ability to call for help if he needs it, and the joy of sitting outside on a warm afternoon, lost in a story for hours.