Driven Beyond Sight

When Ron Vertheen talks about life, there’s a spark in his voice that makes you forget he’s 70 years old or that he’s blind. For 46 years, Ron owned and operated an auto body shop in Winfield, Illinois. Cars were his world. He built engines, painted cars, and even raced stock cars on the weekends. His favorite? A 1987 Z28 Camaro he built from the ground up.

But in 2022, everything changed. Ron began losing his vision suddenly and without clear explanation. Doctors suspected diabetic retinopathy and damage from years of welding, but no one could pinpoint the cause. “They told me my eyes looked worse than the surface of the moon,” he recalled.

After two surgeries—one on each eye—his vision didn’t improve. In fact, it worsened. Today, Ron describes his sight as “looking through heavy fog,” with just enough light perception to navigate his surroundings.

Though the prognosis was devastating, defeat was not in his vocabulary. “I didn’t have give-up in me,” he declared.

Losing his vision meant giving up more than driving—it meant re-learning how to do everything in a different way. Simple tasks like grocery shopping and crossing the street became challenges that required new skills.

After his vision loss, the State of Illinois connected Ron with mobility training, where he learned how to master his white cane, walk with the flow of traffic and rely on other senses like hearing to help him navigate independently. The State also connected Ron with Donka, Inc. to learn computer and technology skills for independence. At first, Ron was hesitant to pursue technology training because he didn’t even know how to type, but soon, that became his greatest accomplishment.

“Learning to type was the most exciting thing for me, and yes, I used to race cars,” Ron admitted with a laugh. “I never thought I’d learn to type, because I was a hands-on guy and not an office worker, but Donka showed me I’m still capable of learning.”

His Donka instructor, Ann Byrne, quickly became one of his biggest supporters. “Ann is absolutely my favorite teacher I’ve ever had in my life,” Ron continued, “She never lost faith in me and always encouraged me. No other teacher ever did that. Ann is the best asset for Donka, and I don’t know what Donka will do when she retires.”

In working with Ann, Ron also learned how to make Zoom calls, send emails, and navigate digital tools that keep him connected with family and friends. “Donka helped me keep my independence, and that was one thing I wasn’t ready to lose when I lost my vision,” he said.

Despite the challenges that came with vision loss, Ron maintains a contagious positivity. He often joked with Ann, “Being blind sure sucks, but there’s no point in feeling pity about what you can’t do. Figure out what you can do—and go do it.”

“You can’t just sit at home all day and watch TV as watching tv now meant only being able to listen to the TV, so you’ve got to find things to do that keep you busy and happy.”

That drive is what fuels him to stay active and work out. Ron proudly shared that his daily exercise regimen consists of 200 sit-ups and crunches and 2–3 miles on the treadmill, and that’s no easy feat even for someone half his age. While he does use transportation services like Pace, he prefers walking everywhere because it keeps him physically fit and he can now confidently cross large and busy intersections—and does so regularly to get to his church from his residence in Carol Stream.

Staying physically fit also helps strengthen his mental wellbeing. When asked how he copes with the emotional and mental components associated with vision loss, Ron stressed, “Sometimes, all you need is a good old-fashion walk.” He added, “Going for a walk always fixes my attitude, clears my head, and makes me feel better afterwards.”

And he doesn’t stop there. Ron is always looking for new ways to keep himself busy and engaged. With the training he received at Donka, Ron no longer shies away from technology but rather embraces all the new assistive tech gadgets. Ron became an early adopter of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and absolutely loves them. They give him the freedom to move through any environment with confidence—through spoken directions to navigate, identifying buildings and street signs with ease, and reading restaurant menus on his own. “The Meta glasses changed my life,” he said, “They opened up the world in a way I never thought possible.”

He’s also an avid user of voiceover and voice assistance like Siri that help him text, call and stay connected with family and friends. Equally, he loves using his Victor Reader Stream to listen to audiobooks and was excited that he was finally able to listen to the Bible on audio.

When reflecting on his life, Ron says he considers himself lucky for all the adventures he had before losing his sight—racing, boating, rock climbing—but he refuses to let blindness stop him from experiencing life further. “I used to love riding a bike, but I could no longer do that without ending up in a pool,” Ron said with a chuckle, “but I didn’t let that stop me. I got a tandem bike and now go with family and friends, so I can still enjoy the experience, just differently.”

Ron lives by the philosophy, “Life is what you make of it, and the more you put in, the more you get back.”

We wanted to share Ron’s story this month because October is World Blindness Awareness Month—a time to uplift voices of lived experience in hopes to create a world that is accessible for the blind community. By sharing his story, Ron hopes people gain a better understanding of what it means to live without sight. “It’s not hard,” he notes. “It’s just different.” He also urges people to give those who are blind space and time to learn and do things on their own. “We’re capable of everything—even if you think we aren’t.”

Ron may no longer be able to drive, but he’s still in the driver’s seat. His story and positivity remind us that independence doesn’t come from sight—it comes from staying revved up for what’s next and going full throttle ahead.