Dan Mancina lost his vision due to a degenerative eye disease. Although he had been skateboarding since he was 7 years old, he was unable to continue this activity as a person with vision loss. Until, he decided to do it anyway. Through practice, hard work and perseverance, he is proving that there are no limits to the human spirit. Learn more about what Dan and how he inspires others.Share about a time you got out of your comfort zone? Let us know about it in the comments section.
"Blind skateboarder inspires others to achieve"
In recent years, accessibility lawsuits against companies have increased. With 20% of the population living with a disability, it would be wise for businesses to take this issue to heart. It is expected that the percentage of those living with a disability will increase as baby boomers get older. Creating an atmosphere of inclusion is simply morally right. 
Her mother was blind for as long as she remembers. She can recall times from her childhood when her mother was not given equal access. The Americans with Disabilities Act has changed that. Or has it? Her mother's most recent hospital stay left this daughter scratching her head and searching for answers. 
These women lost their vision at different stages of life. They now educate others and create awareness on what vision loss looks like and willingly share insight on how best to support them and those like them. They are successfully building a culture of sensitivity and teaching those around them how they would like to be treated. 
Carina's Bakery is special for so many reasons. It was created by a courageous and determined woman who wanted to offer a variety of vegan baked goods. The shop is equipped with assistive technology and signs that encourage customers to be patient. Dogs are welcome. The visionary behind this project is visually impaired and so are the employees. 
Steph Fernandes wanted to use her education to serve and inspire young people. When she got the job as Assistant Public Defender, she was given the opportunity to live out her dream. Her presence in the courthouse has sparked conversations about blindness and independence as well as encouraged dialogue around accessibility. 
Vera Jones, a collegiate basketball athlete had been inducted into the Hall of Fame and was used to winning. Winning almost never comes without hard work and the ability to face challenges though. Her strong will and determination were engaged off the court, when her son faced one of his toughest battles – losing his sight.
You may remember Wait Until Dark from 1967 when Audrey Hepburn played Susy. The thriller's plot is centered around a blind woman who is victimized by a group of conmen. The men had not planned for Susy's inner strength and her ability to navigate in the dark much better than they ever could. 
Lenny Jordan thought his artistic dreams were over when he began losing his sight to a degenerative eye disease. Through a conversation with a colleague, he began exploring various artistic techniques. Awakening a dormant talent, Lenny has used color pencils, sketch pads and paint to create breathtaking works of art. 
Shawn Sturges started noticing diminishing vision at the age of 15 and was later diagnosed with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy which led to total blindness. After losing his sight, he became withdrawn and angry. He later discovered that rock climbing provided an escape from everyday stress. Today at 31, he is an inspiration to so many. You can catch him climbing at an indoor facility or even the Eldorado Canyon in Colorado. 
Juliet Cody is 50 and has had low vision most of her life and experienced total vision loss in 2000. She is a motivational speaker and author who is on a mission to educate adults and children about what it means to be blind. She can do anything although she may do it differently than a sighted person. She learned many of her independent living skills at San Diego Center for the Blind. 
Trachoma is the leading infectious disease that causes blindness in the world. It is caused by a bacteria that is often carried by flies and is prevalent in poverty stricken communities where access to clean water and sanitation is prohibitive. In 1998, the World Health Assembly set out to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. 
Imagine playing baseball unable to see the ball. Someone already did. People of all ages and abilities are competing in Beep Ball. There are a few differences between Beep Ball and its cousin Baseball though. The ball beeps and the bases buzz allowing participants to use sound instead of sight to play. 
Some people view old age and vision loss as obstacles. For 94 year old dream catcher, Pauline Lawrence, not so much. Although she has lost much of her vision, she still dreamed of riding a bicycle like she used to years ago. Recently, Pauline took her first bike ride in over 15 years. 
When the term beauty comes to mind, we think of appearance. If a person is beautiful, perhaps they have a certain physique, perfect curls or dewy skin. What does beauty mean to someone living with vision loss? The answers from four blind individuals will enlighten you. THEY are beautiful. 
In a newly published book, “Hold The Light,” author, April McGowan explores vision loss through the character of Amber who discovers that she is losing her sight at the beginning of her creative career. The book takes the reader on Amber’s journey of self discovery in pursuit of her true purpose.
As people age, many have the experience of seeing floating shadows in their eyes appropriately named eye floaters. Should this happen, a physician should be consulted. Floaters can be a sign of a benign disease. It could also be an indication of an eye disease that could lead to vision loss. If detected early, often diseases can be treated and remedied.
Since birth, Rosie has been blind. When a 2nd grade class began asking questions about blindness, their teacher invited Rosie to answer their questions. Rosie was happy to share her story and life with the inquisitive bunch who gained new perspective and understanding of the remarkable ability of the many living with vision loss.
Visits to the eye doctor and staying healthy are routine prevention measures that guard against vision loss. However, some people will face untreatable loss of vision where the effects are permanent. It can be a depressing experience initially. Mike Glenn encountered blindness brought on by diabetic retinopathy and shared his story with radio talk show host, Charity Nebbe. We are reminded that vision loss is not the end but the beginning.
As people spend more time in front of screens, dry eyes are becoming a greater concern. With the addition of smartphones and the widespread use of the internet, our lifestyle is different than it was 20 years ago. Issues associated with prolonged blue light exposure are fairly new. However, we should pay attention as continued exposure to blue light emitted from many digital devices can cause a multitude of complications for the eyes including dry eyes. Thankfully, there are a few things that we can do to restore moisture and alleviate dry eye problems.
Many people over the age of 40 experience some form of vision loss. Researchers have discovered a gene that could be responsible. This gene causes a chronic hereditary eye disease which affects night and peripheral vision. There is no cure at this time. Scientists believe that study of the gene will lead to conclusions which bring them closer to healing treatments.
For many older adults, night driving becomes more of a challenge with each passing year. There are a number of possible causes for declining night vision which include early cataract formation, glaucoma and dry eyes. Fortunately, there are surgical procedures and treatment options available. In fact many of today's solutions have the benefit of a briefer recovery time which allows patients to get back to their normal routine sooner.
Most people know that smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco can lead to heart disease and cancer. However, many don't realize that sustained tobacco use can deteriorate eye health and lead to vision loss over time. Smoking also worsens diabetic retinopathy. Experts urge smokers to quit as blindness caused by tobacco consumption is often irreversible. 
Imagine a mango that offers more than sweet tropical flavor. Developed by researchers in Thailand, the Mahachanok mango packs a healthy punch. This super fruit has the potential to slow cell degeneration, reduce cancer risks and enhance eye health. What makes the Mahachanok mango so powerful is its high level of the antioxidant anthocyanin and carotenoid. Even better, this mango is not limited to the normal growing season. It can be produced past the normal April-June cut-off time of other fruits of its kind.
Danito Mondlane is an 8th grader full of courage and determination. Although blind, he has worked with coaches to learn the techniques of surfing. Danito built up his confidence by first working with a body board and practiced every week for 2 hours until he mastered his skills. He entered competitions and triumphed over his opponents to win the top position in the South African Adaptive Surfing Championship in Muizenberg. His next challenge? The International Surfing Association World Championship.
When Google glass first hit the scene in 2014, the announcement came with media buzz and excitement. However, the hype soon fizzled out as concerns were raised about security, distractedness and plain creepiness. The technology has recently been relaunched as smart glasses, a tool used to help the blind navigate their surroundings. The glasses do not correct vision but rather connects the user to a live sighted agent that can see through the glasses and communicate with the user through a headset.
We know Judi Dench from movies such as Philomena and Shakespeare in Love. Today, the multiple Academy Award nominee is living with a few limitations that come with macular degeneration. She's made some adjustments and says she will start using audio books. The actress has not let the disease stop her from doing what she loves.Look for Ms. Dench this September as Queen Victoria in the film Victoria and Abdul. She will also appear alongside Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz as Princess Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient Express coming to the big screen in November.
Nearly all of us have been touched by Alzheimer's disease in some way. According to the Alzheimer's Association approximately 5 million Americans have been diagnosed. This number is expected to increase to 16 million by 2050. With Alzheimer's disease as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, researchers have been on the hunt for ways to detect the disease earlier. Recent findings indicate that an eye scan can catch the disease before an individual experiences any symptoms. 
News media did a great job warning us of the damaging effects that improper viewing of the eclipse could have. Now that it's over, some have been posting on social media that they are feeling off or having headaches and other symptoms. While we usually do not experience the symptoms of eye damage right away, there are a few warning signs that we can look out for.
When Steve Walker began to notice symptoms of a rare eye disease, he never imagined that one day that he would live with severely limited vision. As the disease progressed and more of Steve's vision was lost, instead of losing hope, he trained for triathlons which made him aware of the inner strength he possessed. He began to see blindness similar to other obstacles that he had already overcome in bootcamp. Mr. Walker has competed in dozens of triathlons. Additionally, he is a 2 time Ironman competitor and is currently pursuing a degree in psychology. Nothing can hold him back.
Driving is part of a daily routine that few of us give much thought tot. However, many who live with vision loss have lost driving privileges too. Chip Sheehan, founded a driving school in Maryland that provides standard driver's ed to high school students but also offers a one day, course that gives blind students a confidence boost and a chance to get behind the wheel. 
A study found that drinking coffee can lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in seniors. Since there are over 200,000 new cases of AMD diagnosed in the United States each year, this news gives hope to many who would like to prevent the disease from stealing their sight.
Experts suggest that setting your kids up for a successful school year should include making sure that they can see the whiteboard and read from their text books. An eye exam is the best way to ensure good vision health. There are other things parents can do to protect little peepers.
Those who live with vision loss, are often excluded from using everyday appliances. The Talking Laundry module was developed as a result of one person’s desire to have appliances speak their settings. The device, developed by 14 year old, Jack DuPlessis, gives voice to GE washers and dryers making them accessible to the blind and visually impaired.
Visual impairment is increasing at an alarming rate. As our population ages, the numbers will likely continue to go up unless a significant investment is made in the treatment of eye disease. It is believed that investing in research, interventions and remedies makes good economic sense as it creates the opportunity for to return to the workforce. Without treatment, vision loss often correlates with job loss.
