Hadley and Chicago Lighthouse Partner to Deliver Innovative Support for Vision Loss

Hadley and The Chicago Lighthouse, two pre-eminent organizations serving people who are blind or visually impaired, are pleased to announce a groundbreaking collaborative project to address the growing need for practical and emotional support among older adults facing vision loss.

The collaboration between the Chicagoland-based nonprofits will include the creation of two complementary video series – Adjusting and Coping Together and Adjusting to Vision Loss: Assistive Technology – that will draw upon the organizations’ respective areas of expertise to offer valuable information and resources to thousands of individuals living with vision loss around the world. These videos, which will be accessible for free from anywhere, will help individuals become more resilient, foster social connections, and better navigate daily life and tasks through the use of assistive technology. (Watch a preview of the Adjusting and Coping Together series—featuring the personal story of a woman navigating the challenges of vision loss.)

The three-year project was made possible through a generous contribution by the Forsythe Family Foundation. Sandra Forsythe, head of the Forsythe Family Foundation, is an active member of both Hadley’s and The Chicago Lighthouse’s boards.

“As our population ages, the number of people who will be experiencing vision loss and vision impairment is expected to drastically increase,” Sandra Forsythe said. “My beloved husband, Rick, had macular degeneration, and he benefited greatly from the programs at Hadley and The Chicago Lighthouse. This initiative will help ensure others can have access to those same resources, wherever they are.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 7 million Americans live with blindness or uncorrectable vision loss. In addition, one in 10 adults are at high risk for vision loss as conditions like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy become more common. Vision loss can have many implications, including an increase in anxiety, depression, and social isolation. (A recent CDC study found one in four adults with vision loss reported experiencing anxiety or depression.) The video series will aim to reduce those social and emotional effects while increasing independence by making people aware of the assistive technology available to them.

“This partnership allows us to combine The Chicago Lighthouse’s clinical knowledge and technology resources with Hadley’s national reach and strength in creating engaging content, “said Johnjoe Farragher, Hadley President and CEO. “Together, we can extend vital resources far beyond Chicagoland and empower older adults everywhere to adapt and thrive as they navigate vision loss.”

"Assistive technology can be life-changing, but only if people know it exists and understand how to use it,” said Janet P. Szlyk, Ph.D., President and CEO of The Chicago Lighthouse. By contributing our expertise to this initiative, we’re ensuring that older adults everywhere can discover solutions that make everyday tasks not only possible, but empowering."