Hadley

Hadley has been so helpful as I have been navigating through the world of losing my sight. From the podcasts to all of the available classes, there is nothing that they aren’t willing to help you with. If they don’t have the answer, they will help you find it. I’m thankful for Hadley. It’s a great place to turn to for any questions you have. Thank you, Hadley.

My low vision has changed my life completely. Finding the Hadley group was essential to help me understand there are resources available for support. I listen to the podcasts and find them reassuring to know, as my vision either decreases or maintains at its current level there are things I can do for mental wellness and dealing with my daily life as needed. I appreciate the information and try to utilize what applies to me. After all, it is my journey, and I want to be in charge of that journey. My vision loss does not define me. .

If you’re blind or visually impaired whether by birth or some other means, then Hadley is a good place for you to go to look for help. There are workshops that you can complete that have helpful tips and information. To help deal with the adjustment and also informational podcasts that could help as well as a call line for anyone who is interested in speaking with someone On vision loss

I found Hadley in a search. Hadley is the only place I found that helps us live with low vision in a great variety of ways. For the past eighteen years I have been battling blindness with two great doctors. The doctors help my eyes. Hadley helps me navigate through all the other parts of losing your eye sight. Thank You Hadley.

Hi, my name is Tony. I live in Chicago and I took the course at Hadley for learning contracted braille and it was not easy but it was well worth my time and effort and the instructors were excellent. They were only a phone call away or an email away and I was able to use them to help me learn. If you’re interested in any of the courses that Hadley has to offer, definitely don’t pass them up.

Hadley has been helpful to me, in my quest to learn Braille, in so many ways. I bombarded them with phone calls and questions so much that I thought they might not take my calls any longer. On the contrary, when they didn't hear from me In a while, they called me to ask how I was doing and did I need any help. Very courteous, professional and knowledgeable. They certainly know how we want to be treated.

Absolutely the go-to source for anyone and everyone who finds themselves living with vision loss or helping a loved one live with vision loss. A tremendous amount of resources, educational sources, and frequently updated with some of the most helpful advice out there. Hadley is a trustworthy organization, loyal to helping in all aspects of vision loss. From learning how to navigate your home, all the way to employment for the visually impaired. I don't know where I would be without having been able to utilize their many resources. Not only do I have tremendous vision loss, but my son's and my dad and my lived with legal blindness as well so the resources that I have been able to learn from through Hadley has been able to trickle down to help my whole family.

Hadley has been great to me. If it was allowed I would give them 100 out of 100 for ratings. They bring the latest, intuitive tech information for blind people like myself. I have been blind(bilaterally) for 10 years. The information they send through texts are invaluable. I love to receive them and learn about others. I enjoyed the reading and the podcast. They have a great rapport with their subscribers. I have learned a lot to assist me through the day from the organization. They are really really great and awesome. I wish them continued success.

I absolutely love Hadley! I’ve been involved with it back when it was the Hadley Institute for the Blind and have taken many of its courses. I have also taken a few of their workshops, which they have now instead of courses. At first I wasn’t sure about the change. I’m one who prefers routine and structure. I liked knowing how I did on assignments and having instructor feedback. However, I have since embraced this change to a workshop system because It makes the Hadley community open for more people than it would be if it were a school. Also, the workshops offer more demonstrations of how things work. You could only read the descriptions of how things were to go in the courses. It’s nice to see demos in real time. I like that you still could talk to an expert if you find you need to. I like their discussion groups which allow you to participate via zoom or by phone and you can also access the recordings of these discussions if you can’t make it to the zoom meeting. Though I was born blind, I used the Hadley resources to brush up on blindness skills and to explore new ones. I would recommend Hadley to anyone who has either lost their sight later in life or even to those who were born blind like myself who want to stay up to date on the latest blindness skills and info.

Hadley provides a wealth of information and encouragement as well as education on blindness and low vision. I have found many subjects to be very helpful such as but definitely not limited to use "talk back" or "voice over", how to use a "fire stick" remote. They have classes and discussions online to help with cooking, gardening, technology, how to get the most out of your doctor visits, and much more. You can gain encouragement from other blind people by listening to their stories and experiences and you can share your own story with others.

I have been with Hadley for a short time. But have used so much of the services. Like the workshops, podcasts and discussion groups. It has helped me with so much.
The technology has given me the freedom to send texts and do zoom meetings. It has also helped me show my grandson things on his cell phone. He also has RP.
The podcast and discussion groups have helped me deal with my vision loss. Through the other people coping and dealing with the way they handle there vision loss.
I have found that if I have a question or a comment all I have to do is call and someone from Hadley will help.

I also work in the mentoring program through Hadley and have a great partner to share the things we go through and the way to cope with them.
I have been telling everyone about Hadley just to help other poeple with vision loss to get help with coping with there vision loss.

Thanks to Hadley I'm coping with my vision loss so much better and my family has noticed the difference.

I found the Hadley website while searching for low vision aids. My journey with AMD began in 2012 when I was diagnosed with wet maculr degeneration. The condition has worsened over the years. I recently purchased an IPhone 14+ to replace my Samsung android smartphone. I thought that the IPhone’s accessibility features were better than that of my former smartphone. I had no idea that the transition from android to IPhone would challenge me so much! Hadley’s resources have helped me tremendously! I am 87 years of age, still enjoying an active life that includes broad communications with others . The Hadley web site represented a true treasure trove of useful information. Not only does it feature excellent videos in technology, it also includes discussion groups, recreation, and tips for daily living with vision loss. The experts who present these topics will answer questions and provide excellent suggestions for quality living. I feel so fortunate to have discovered this website and recommend it highly to others who suffer with loss of vision.

My name is Leah. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a rare genetic eye disease. The doctor told me that in 2 years I would not be able to drive, read or recognize people's faces. There is no cure or treatment so don't bother looking it up. It would just cause me to have less quality of life worrying about something I couldn't change. The doctor then told me to make an appointment for a year out.
There was no information given about places to find help. No one to tell you how to deal with the changes and the loss. Not even "hey, there are ways to cope with this." At the time, I didn't have any symptoms, so I figured that I was misdiagnosed and blew it off. 4 months later, everything looked like crumpled up paper. At that point, my neighbor suggested calling the commission for the blind. I was told someone would call me in 3 weeks. Then I was told it would be 3 more weeks. After that, I realized I was not going to hear from them.

I was told about Hadley, and went online to check it out. I binge watched several videos. I rated them and asked questions. EVERY TIME I got an answer to my questions.

I needed to learn braille as soon as I could. Hadley sent books to me that I could go through while listening to someone walk me through each page. It was so easy to learn! When I learned the first 3 books, they sent the next group. I am now learning contracted braille. It takes a bit longer but it is the same process and their program works great!

I have watched some of their videos over again as my vision loss progresses. I went through a tech class on Iphones and voice over. I got an email asking if I had any questions. I have to admit that I am not a tech person. I was very frustrated! I just wanted the phone to stop! I wrote an email on a Friday night. I am surprised thy couldn't hear the tears running down my face BUT I got a call from Hadley first thing Monday morning. A very kind and CALM gentleman walked me through the things I was struggling with, and all was right with the world.

I have been able to call and throw a curve ball at them a couple of times. They always call back with an answer. They are there to help with anything. Even just to talk and give sage advice to take a break now and then. Do something that doesn't have to do with learning how to cope.

Before Hadley, I felt like I had been thrown to the wolves. Why is it that doctors don't tell you there is help out there? Hadley keeps adding new subjects and they are always so encouraging!

They are like family, except they actually answer the phone. ;)

We have a local organization that helps train people, but things have changed, and it is not so helpful anymore. So I look back to Hadley to get me through.

The commission did get back to me after a year. I do get help from them, but it is one day a month.
Hadley is the best!
Thank you so much for being there.

I have been a "Hadley learner" for several years and am also an enthusiastic supporter and donor.

Hadley is a fabulous resource for the visually impaired. They have been very helpful to me and I find their discussion groups and workshops extremely valuable.

If you have friends who are losing vision, make sure they know about Hadley. Their website is free to all. Many of the people who work at Hadley are visually impaired and share their knowledge and experience willingly. Wherever a person is on their vision loss journey, Hadley helps.

February 23rd of 2023 was the day of my life changed. I was reading a book, left for a few minutes to do something, and when I came back I couldn't find my book! Not only that, but I realized I couldn't even see my hands. In the space of less than 5 minutes I went blind.
I was scared; I was confused, and felt totally helpless. After visits to eye specialists, it was determined that my vision loss, although similar to macular degeneration, had to be a genetic condition for it to happen as quickly as it had.
I contacted my state for resources for the blind and for seniors and I was told to call a specific number and try to receive assistance for Independent living. Unfortunately, when I did, I was told they had a five to eight month waiting list before they could even process me for the assistance.
What to do ... New to blindness I had no idea what my next steps were, (or for that matter, how to take those next steps since I couldn't see where I was going!).
When I was told I was legally blind it left me feeling lost. I felt somewhat less than whole. A big part of my life was forever lost. And then, I stumbled onto hadley.edu on the internet. With the help of a friend we were searching the internet for resources for the blind. I entered the hadley.edu website and I have never turned back to living without it.
Hadley has resources on every possible topic concerning life. Living visually impaired doesn't mean not living life normally. You can still cook, garden, do crafts, and all things to take care of yourself independently.
Since I love to read the first workshop I entered was learning Braille. I wanted to hold a hard copy of a book and to read it. I started with learning Braille by touch and then moved on to learning Braille by sight. It's been 5 months since I went blind and I can truly say that Hadley has made every day of those 5 months possible for me to live with hope and to move forward to being independent. Since it has only been 5 months, I'm not saying I know Braille or I can read fast. But I do know enough to be able to read it all be it slowly.
Yes I look forward to the state resources once I come up on their wait list but I haven't been sitting around feeling sorry for myself... Hadley has made it possible for me to live a life as normal as possible. I realized by going through their podcasts, workshops, and everything else that they offer that I was not alone. This is not the end of the world, it is the beginning of a new life experience.
There are people out there who care and that is what I embrace about Hadley. They care.

I did not grow up in a digital world. In fact I remember being sent to buy the evening edition of the newspaper, so my father would have the latest stock prices for trading via an overnight telegram. Car phones, although, very pricey, became available after I finished college. From then on the digital revolution accelerated.

Today, everything is online and and I don’t think I could survive were it not.


I know that because I thought my life was over when I developed glaucoma and was no longer able to read.

I searched online daily for many months for assistive devices. All I could find were various types of magnifying glasses and screens. They worked for short texts, but magazines piled up.

One day I stumbled upon Hadley.edu.

The first recording that I listened to was “Adjusting to Visual Loss.” Feeling depressed over my visual loss and being told that it “takes time” to adjust, angered me. When given the opportunity to comment on the podcast, I wrote: “ why does it have to take time?” I never thought anyone would read comment.

But that’s not what Hadley.edu is about. A learning specialist texted me and asked if we could talk about my comment. I couldn’t believe it! Someone cared!

I called her back and we talked for almost an hour.

That’s what makes Hadley.edu stand out. The phone number works, someone answers, you can talk to a person who wants to help you with your visual problem.

Hadley.edu is also remarkable because of the multitude of activities you gain access to through their learning podcasts. I have learned how to take it vantage of the accessibility features on my phone and my computer so that text is read to me and I can record a text message pr email and not struggle with a small keyboard. have learned of apps, such as Seeing AI which reads small items, such as business cards and menus. I learned about the OrCam, a device which can take a picture of an entire page and read it back to you, allowing me to read books not available from Audible. Most recently, I have learned about Voice Dream Recorder, an app which allows me to choose a voice that I enjoy listening to, rather than listening to the robotic voice of Siri.

In addition to being available individually and through numerous podcasts, Hadley.edu hosts and leads discussion groups on a number of topics that individuals can attend online or via a phone. I have learned a lot from others’ experiences.

But if you are not digitally inclined, Hadley.edu offers the same information in large type, on tape/CD, in braille, and ver the phone.

In summary, I consider Hadley.edu a great nonprofit because it is only a phone call away I am spreading the word about Hadley.edu so others' lives will be less limited by vision loss.

As a consequence of a dozen years of gradual decline in my vision due to glaucoma, I was
finally diagnosed as being legally blind in 2020. For two more years I accepted my plight with
complacency until I could no longer read the floor indicator buttons on elevators.
My passive solution to that problem was to wait for someone to join me in the elevator lobby
and dependently ask, “Would you please push 3 (or 5, or whatever) for me? That quickly
became frustrating.
To Do List: Learn Braille numbers.
When I finally expressed my determination to solve that problem by learning Braille numbers, a
visually impaired friend of mine suggested I start by calling Hadley. When I did, a kind and
helpful woman explained, “We strongly advise that you learn the Braille alphabet characters."
First, I resisted; she persisted.
Three days later I received my first workbook in the mail. I immediately went to the “Braille For
Everyday Use” section on Hadley’s website, and immersed myself in learning characters A
through C. I was hooked. When I finished one workbook, I couldn’t wait to get the next. In
relatively short-order, Hadley’s easy-to-follow tutorial process led me through the alphabet, the
numeric characters 1 through 0, and punctuation.
To-Do list: Learn Braille numbers, (and alphabet, and punctuation). CHECK!

At the age of 70 and after a lifetime of good eyesight, I started noticing major issues with my vision. Finally, after eight months of doctor's appointments and tests, I was told that I was losing my central vision because of a rare inherited retinal disease. I was devastated to be told that -- although I probably wouldn't go completely blind -- my life would "change forever".

At the recommendation of a blind friend of mine, I logged on to the Hadley website and immediately realized that I wasn't alone in my vision loss -- and most importantly -- that there were resources and people to help me as I adjusted to my new life.

Over the past two years, I have made extensive use of Hadley's resources (workshops, discussion groups, podcasts, etc). Hadley's focus on tools and technology to help you with daily living has been tremendously useful for me. But, by far, it has been the positive experiences and examples of others that has provided me with the energy and motivation to face head-on the challenges that I encounter.

Everyone that I have met through Hadley embodies a spirit of positivity and willingness to help and educate. It is Hadley's culture of providing hope and unwavering support that has been so helpful and gratifying to me -- and to so many others dealing with blindness and visual impairment.

I became a student at Hadley in 2016 with a course in grade 1 Braille. Following that, I took courses in listening skills and guide dog considerations. I have also gone through numerous video workshop to learn more about technology and daily living skills and listened to various Hadley podcasts on adapting to vision loss.

All of the courses, videos and podcasts have been very well done. The instructors are very supportive and knowledgeable. The topics are extremely relevant, and more material comes available regularly. If I have further questions, I can always reach out to Hadley staff for help.

As my vision loss is progressive, my needs change. Something I learned a year ago may no longer serve me, but with Hadley’s wide range of tools, I know I will find a solution to my newest challenge and support for the journey forward.

From my perspective as a relatively new VIP (Visually Impaired Person), Hadley.edu has proven to do so much more than to simply offer a vast array of accessable and engagable seminars and services for blind and visually impaired people like me. Hadley's staff and volunteers have helped me to realize that, as a 60+-year-old new-comer to the workd of blind and visually impaired, my greatest challenge would be to learn to adapt my new "visually challenged world" to function in a world pf "sighted" experiences...a world where practically EVERYTHING is SO GRAPHIC AND SO VERY VISUAL! The many remarkable resources at Hadley.edu have helped me to move toward that adaptation and to make it a reality. Hadley.edu has helped me to eliminate a lot of the frustrations and to become far more patient and understanding of my "new world". Thank you, Hadley.edu.
Dan Hanfland
Executive Director, retired
Community Health Charities of South Carolina

Hadley should be the prescription that comes with the diagnosis of vision loss. "Hadley changed my life" sounds melodramatic but for those who know, knowledge and education are the foundation for hope and optimism. Hadley.edu is all about real life facts and tips to build a life as our vision diminishes. The educators present mechanisms, tools, aps, experts, forums that address the hardest parts of vision loss. Many of the educators are visually impaired as well so their perspective is personal - they know the fear, dismay, anxiety, withdrawal, impact on relationships that vision loss presents. All of this is free of charge!

I live is a small rural community in southeast Kansas, we don't have a resource center for the visually impaired and when you lose your vision you can't drive to find one. But Hadley is here 24/7 at my disposal with real time practical assistance and solutions. Many of the educators also reach out when you take a workshop or series to offer additional, personalized information - it's like meeting a new friend.
Pat Lyons
Fort Scott, Kansas

Here is what I wanted to say.
For years I was dreading the news I got at the beginning of the pandemic. I was legally blind all my life, But now all that was going to change, I was going to loose the rest of my sight. I felt so alone. A friend told me about Hadley. It changed everything, Hadley taught me so much. They taught me how to read and write in braille. The workshops are so helpfull. I learned how to do everything all over again. Without Hadley I would be sitting at home scared and alone.
Sure there are lots of organizations to help the blind, but none like Hadley. Hadley truly understands how we feel. They talk and teach in a way that no one else does. Hadley truly gets it. I know I dont have to do this alone. Hadley is always just a phone call or email away. You have no idea how much that means when you are in this situation.
Hadley has given me the confidence to live independently and enjoy my life. I am so great full.

In the late 1980s I had just started a business to support myself and my disabled husband. The business was going well when I was diagnosed with ARMD. I was terrified. A counselor at my local JC suggested I contact Hadley. I have been a student with them ever since. Beyond the basic skills I needed to stay literate and capable of earning a living they gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. As technology has changed I have been able to stay up to date through the seminars and instructional videos they make available. Always at no cost and without strings. Now that I am in a position to help other blind individuals Hadley is always my first recommendation. I know I can send people who are new to vision loss to Hadley regardless of where they are in life or circumstances and know that they will get the help they need.

Hadley has been a great asset in my life as a blind person for several decades.

In 2005, I took Hadley’s Independent Living course, which gave me the best reason to learn braille – labeling spices and cans in my kitchen. I then took Hadley’s uncontracted braille class and soon my kitchen and bathroom cabinets were full of braille labels. Even though I also began taking braille at Ho’opono Services for the Blind in Honolulu, I continued taking the rest of Hadley’s braille classes to increase my reading speed. Finally around 2015, I took Hadley’s Transition to Unified English Braille class, which was wonderful! And a few months later, I was hired to teach braille at Ho’opono!

Since that time, I have continued with Hadley. Although they have totally revamped their curriculum, I enjoy their many discussion groups on cooking, braille, gardening, fitness, and access technology. I have also had the pleasure to be in contact with a few of their braille instructors regarding questions I had about rules of UEB. And all of these courses and discussion groups have been free to me as a blind person!

I am so grateful to Hadley for their services, from which I’ve learned so much valuable information, resources, tips and techniques

Hadley has made a positive impact on my life. Since March 2021 have been learning through the Hadley website, which has been a valuable resource. I am grateful I found it.

I was diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness in 2018. As my vision diminished simple tasks became difficult. There was not much help available to me. Through my research I found Hadley.

From the moment I clicked on to the Hadley website I was learning. Here I discovered the world of accessibility available on my devices. Learning about contrast for reading ease and using it to organize my home to find things was a huge benefit. Learning to use tactile to identify medications, kitchen accessories, or on my tv remote are helpful. Simple yet important low vision recommendations to improve the quality of my life.

The workshops and pod casts deliver detailed and useful information in a format easy to understand. In the discussion groups I connect with people from all around the globe with vision loss, living productive lives. I am inspired by their stories. I get alerts and recordings on the groups I sign up for via email. If I miss one, I can listen when I have time. From the kitchen to the garden, I get tips to complete daily tasks that have become difficult with vision loss. These services are free. What a Gift.

Everyone at Hadley is great! Friendly, knowledgeable, and supportive. Always ready to answer my questions or assist me with technology issues. On the phone or via email I appreciate their help and support.

Your contributions to Hadley will continue to open doors for people worldwide living with vision loss be their best. Thank you for your support.

Hadley has always had a special place in our hearts and in our family. Both my parents were extremely active with Hadley when I was growing up as far as serving the cause. I now have had the privilege and honor to be a part of the Woman's Board. The woman are truly dedicated to working together for this worldwide cause. Julie Tye, President and CEO (and her staff) have done great things for Hadley. The centennial year (2020) introduced the the updated website for the Hadley Learners. It is extraordinary. So many learners are becoming so much more self sufficient with the expansive, enriching course selections and the use of workshops, podcasts & call- in support. An updated version of braille has just been introduced to the website. The fact that we help learners everyday free of charge with any visual impairment is most rewarding and gratifying. Let's continue to help Hadley grow!

Work-shops, podcasts, discussion groups, all at your disposal 24/7. The eagerness to help is unbelievable. From the front desk throughout, the spirit of wanting to help is there. During a time of feeling lost, Hadley made a drastic difference in my life. I honestly can't say enough good things about Hadley. I wish that I could meet the entire staff in person. They never make you feel as if your a bother. I am constantly spreading the word "HADLEY". I can't thank you enough, but for now, THANK YOU. WILLIE PATRICK

In December of 2019, I suddenly went blind. It was a very frightening time. I was very fortunate that I have such a supportive family. In no time, my sisters had my application for disability submitted, a social worker contacted, and an independent living counselor found. They did not let me wallow in my grief. Since I have several animals, I knew I had to keep moving no matter the circumstances. My animals counted on me to take care of them. Without them, i would have crawled into a corner and never come out. My sister and I devised a way for me to get to the barn safely in order to feed the horses. We used a long rope and tied it from one fence to another. This way, I could hold the rope and know where I was going. It worked well.
I soon started the Daily Living Skills classes. While there, One of the instructors talked about Hadley Institute. My sister set up an account for me. I would get on the website and check out the workshops. I also got on as many discussion groups as I could, which was almost all of them. I really needed to connect with others that were in the same condition that I was in. Hadley gave me exactly what I needed at the time. Being involved with Hadley made me feel better, knowing that I was not alone.
I learned a lot from the discussions and the website. I am very grateful for that, and I pass it on every chance that I get.
Since joining Hadley in 2020, I am now attending the Career Training Center in Raleigh, NC. Every time I encounter a new person, I will talk about Hadley and how awesome it is for the visually impaired. I am also a resource for any workshops involving animals. I constantly suggesting a Kritter Korner discussion group. I have also helped co-host a few groups.
I love Hadley and recommend it to everyone. It sure helps me with my struggles in life by giving me ways to adapt to my blindness.

For many years, my family has struggled with macular degeneration. My brother and I have advanced macular degeneration. Hadley has been a unique resource for me, one that my now deceased brother never knew existed.

In our electronic age, Hadley provides a personalized response to anyone with low vision. For example, once on the Hadley website, the user can select contrast and color to suit visual need.
I’ve leaned from Hadley how to use my Smartphone, to read my email, use magnification, and have anything on my computer read to me.

Hadley has introduced me to others who have adapted to their vision loss, which gives me hope that there are many possibilities for me. If I am having difficulty using electronic devices, cooking, reading labels, taking notes, watching TV, selecting clothes, Hadley website is where I go for help.

While there are many sources of medical intervention, the practical solutions for daily life are not addressed by medical providers. Through its technical staff and website, Hadley is a ready source for anyone, anywhere, to to improve their quality of life. If a website user has a question, a staff member is immediately available to help. Zoom meetings allow users to share experiences and support.

It is very difficult in any local community to provide all the services Hadley offers. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, and Hadley is remarkable in its commitment to offer services via its website to a worldwide community. In my local community, I have suggested Hadley to many people who are blind or have low vision. For example, when I suggest using a Smartphone, I immediately refer to the Hadley website for instruction and practice.

Hadley is ever improving, always up to date with possibilities for low vision users. Hadley is my partner in navigating low vision, and my needs are changing constantly. I am ever grateful.

Hadley has done an incredible job executing on its vision. This is a testament to the people behind the Hadley Institute and their passion for providing resources for those with vision impairment. We are excited to see Hadley continue to grow and help our communities!

Hadley is a community of really awesome people that are rallied around a great cause. We are all motivated by increasing the scope and reach of our mission and its so exciting to see our leaders continue to reach new milestones.

I have been a volunteer with the Hadley Woman's Board for approximately eight years. I am constantly impressed by the high caliber of the programming and care that Hadley takes to ensure it is serving its learners. It is a wonderful organization and I am very proud to be affiliated with it.

I heard about Hadley a long time ago. I am now 28 years old, and my mom took a Braille class through Hadley when I was little. I became involved with Hadley in the summer of 2020 and am now a regular participant in some of their discussion groups. Hadley does a great job at providing both a sense of community and a great education. I meet new people while also gathering a lot of useful information and learning about various resources through their discussion groups.

During the last 5 years of retirement, I have been a Hadley Learner. Even though, I have been blind for 46 years and worked as a Vocational Rehab Counselor for 30 years, I continue to learn new and interesting things concerning changes in medical discoveries about blindness, new technologies and even tips on cooking and other techniques for performing daily tasks. All from Hadley’s videos, interviews with people from all walks of life with stories such as a man who is blind who has won championships in golf, a woman chef who is blind, a married couple with a blind spouse and their ups and downs and adjusting to blindness and many more helpful trainings. A couple of my favorite monthly Zoom meetings are Cooking with Hadley, and Tech It Out. I highly recommend Hadley to any person going through vision loss seeking knowledge on how to live a meaningful and happy life.
I like giving back to Hadley through donations and encourage others to do the same.

A few years ago I decided I would like to learn Braille.. Hadley was recommended to me as a great resource. When I went to their website I was amazed at what I found. Not only did they have a great system for learning braille they had many tools available for living with vision loss. One of Hadley's greatest strengths is their staff. I found that they are very helpful and encouraging.

I’ve been blind since birth. I learned to read Braille by the time I was 6 months old. When I found out I could complete Hadley’s Transitioning to UEB course by mail for free, I was ecstatic and relieved! Thanks to Hadley my Braille skills are up to date. Now I’m able to read and write using the new Braille code. Hadley has given me the knowledge to be successful in all areas of my life.

Hadley offers so many learning opportunities such as, discussion groups, workshops, podcasts and Braille course’s. Through these opportunities it has allowed me to connect with other visually impaired people from all over the world. Plus, if you need further help their learning experts are just an email or phone call away. They are some of the kindest, most caring and knowledgeable people I’ve ever had the opportunity to learn from. When you enroll at Hadley your life will be changed forever whether you’re a family member, friend or visual impaired yourself.

Hadley has completely changed my outlook on life. Now instead of saying “I can’t “ I’m saying “I can”! They have brought happiness, hope and fulfillment into my life. I cannot thank them enough! By donating to Hadley you are bringing hope, happiness and so much more into the lives of people who are visual impaired.

When learning I was losing my eyesight I didn’t know where to turn or what to do next. My life was over as I knew it.

I eventually contacted Hadley which has become my go-to resource. It provides a veritable wealth of information from live discussion groups to free Voiceover
and other workshops. Their podcasts are so informative and helpful. Just yesterday I listened to one about about the Accessible Pharmacy. That one hit home since I have been having such difficulty managing my meds. That’s a big deal for those of us with little or no vision.

Hadley centers itself around “our” needs allowing us to choose from a variety of learning and listening experiences and, most importantly, has staff available to offer personal help just a phone call away. The staff is also visually impaired so they get it. That part is so critical.

For me, Hadley was really a savior in my journey through blindness. Hadley inspires trust. Hadley cares about “us”. That’s what makes it so exceptional. That’s what a non-profit should be all about. I wish I could give Hadley more than 5 stars since it made such a difference in my life.

When we were told that my 1-year old granddaughter, Gracie, had small optic nerves and that her vision could not be helped with glasses or contacts, we were more than a little overwhelmed. We didn't know where to go or how to help Gracie. My mind wandered into her future school days and I wanted so bad to be able to help her with her homework. Of course, I didn't know how I could do that if I didn't know how to read braille. I am such a "planner" by nature that I thought I need to start now if I am going to be ready by the time Gracie is in school.

I started looking for resources and everything fell short of my expectations. Searching the internet for something that was relatively easy and inexpensive, I found Hadley. They have truly been our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Their courses are free of charge and easy to use. It's hard enough that you have to learn to adapt to new circumstances but Hadley offered financial peace of mind and we could focus on learning. They have amazing resources that are just a phone call away.

After working through the Braille for the Sighted courses, I wanted to make sure that others would be able to focus on learning to adapt to visual challenges the same as we did and not be concerned with the financial impact. I am now a donor as well as a learner. I cannot think of a better place to support than Hadley. You know that they are always just a phone call away.

When my vision became so bad that I could no longer use a CCTV to read print, I decided to learn braille. In 2000 I went to a program in Kansas City, Missouri for people who are blind to study contracted braille. You would think I'm a braille expert by now, but I only had two months at the program. It was like a crash course.

Still, I was skilled enough to be able to read braille and earn a MFA degree. But, I used an electronic braille device and preferred to read uncontracted braille. Plus, I did all my writing with a regular keyboard.

My braille writing skills were very poor. And it was time to switch to a new electronic braille device. I needed to improve my braille writing before I could do this. I turned to Hadley and signed up for Braille Literacy 4 which focuses on reading and writing contracted braille. Now, I can write braille without having to stop and think about how to write the contractions. I can't believe how much my braille writing skills have improved. Thanks to a terrific teacher who is blind and very encouraging and patient. And thanks to the wonderful braille materials and services Hadley offers, including loaning me a Perkins braille writer to use for the course. Thanks especially for the generous donations that make Hadley possible.

I became legally blind a few years ago and started searching for information and assistance / support for dealing with my changed circumstances. Even though I live outside the USA, I heard about Hadley and accessed their website. The variety and depth of resources was and continues to be extremely helpful. The employment rate amongst blind / vision impaired people is very low, leading to many not being able to access training courses or paid assistance. Hadley's generous provision of free, detailed information and courses on a range of subjects is of invaluable benefit. As well as training, there are also the opportunities for social interaction through the internet / phone based monthly group chats covering a variety of interests. The Hadley Institute does a sterling job of supporting vision impaired people and deserves respect and support to carry on those invaluable functions.

I joined the Hadley Women's Board several years ago after a few friends put me up for membership. I have a nephew who is blind and I was thrilled to be a part of an organization that gives so much to people who are visually impaired.

I cannot begin to say enough wonderful things about The Hadley Institute and how they help these individuals through various programs and classes that are free of charge. The team at Hadley works tirelessly on developing these to make sure their student's lives are a little bit easier and that they are better able to navigate life with an impairment.

Hadley is determined to keep up with our ever-changing world of technology and life so that no student is left behind. The group of people who work at Hadley are some of the brightest, special and hard-working individuals I have been around and they truly care about the Institute and the students they serve. I am always in awe of what Hadley has accomplished in the last 100 years and I am honored to be a part of an organization that has helped so many people and one that i know will continue to grow in the future. Mindy Rendell

I am a proud Hadley Woman's Board member! I learned of Hadley over a decade ago when I first moved to Winnetka, IL. My grandmother, who is blind, shared with me how amazing Hadley is for the blind community. Some time later, a good friend of mine reintroduced me to Hadley where I got to meet an amazing group of women. The Hadley Woman's Board invited me to become a member! I was excited and touched to serve in a way that not only helps others, but would also make my grand mother proud. I am alway's impressed with how Hadley works incredibly hard to understand the visually impaired community and Hadley's great strides to innovate and empower the community it serves. Five stars+ for Hadley!

My affiliation with Hadley dates back nearly 50 years when I was an 8th grader living in Wilmette and I met Dr. Richard Kinney, one of the organization's pioneers. Dr. Kinney was the first blind person that I ever met and he made an impact on my life.
Years later, in 1992, I became reacquainted with Hadley when I was sponsored for Women's Board membership. I have enjoyed being part of this board from the start!
My connection became more personal after my sister gave birth to her daughter, Annie. Born at just 26 weeks, Annie had blindness caused by retinopathy of prematurity. When Annie was very young , she and my sister designed the Holiday card used by Hadley. Annie began taking Hadley courses throughout her high school, college and post college years.
Many people assume that I became involved with Hadley because of Annie, but that wasn't the case as I had been a Woman's Board member long before she was born. However; Annie's story has given me more drive to make sure that the visually impaired population is served, accepted and mainstreamed into our society. She has been an inspiration to me and my family. Knowing how she has flourished in life has pushed me to be an even more active supporter of Hadley.
I have served in many roles as a Board member and as a Trustee but feel I have personally gained more from those experiences than I have given. It was an honor to achieve Life Trustee status this fall.
I am proud to continue to uphold Hadley's mission of serving the visually impaired and blind population free of charge throughout the world for the past 100 years!
Sarah B Barden

My local state service for the blind told me that braille was too hard for an adult to learn. I pushed them and they taught me, but my sighted instructor didn't read braille tactilely and when I spoke to lifelong braille readers they told me he was teaching me absolutely the wrong way. So I sought out Hadley, which was a lifechanging experience. My teacher there was blind, a true expert, exacting and compassionate. Now I read novels in braille and my quality of life has improved many times over. And I didn't pay a dime (except for the donations I made, inspired by their excellence.) Long live Hadley!

I have been affiliated with Hadley for twenty-one years as a volunteer. What drew me to the Institute initially was the dedication of the staff to provide learning experiences and support to those with vision loss, all at no cost to the individual. As a volunteer, I served on committees, worked on fundraisers, and organized programs. As I became more involved I had the opportunity to meet some of those who were impacted by Hadley. This is my favorite part of being a volunteer. The personal stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving personal goals are moving. Seeing the results of Hadley's work first-hand is inspiring and it reinforces the fact that we are truly making a difference in peoples' lives. Hadley is a strong community of learning experts who are available to talk to individuals about their interests and challenges. More recently, Hadley launched a new and updated website with relatable content for those with vision loss. The dedication of the staff I mentioned early, is even more evident today. I am honored to be a volunteer at The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

I’ve been a recipient of services from Hadley for the past 20 years. It's the only correspondence school in the world for people who are blind. their services are exemplary; timely and accurate response from all staff. As a professional rehabilitation specialist, I have referred numerous students to their programs.

Hadley has been helping blind and low vision people navigate their world for a long time. I have personally taken their Braille courses by mail and I regularly attend their Tech It Out zoom meetings to find out what is the latest technology for blind people.

I have learned so much from Hadley courses and presentations! But there is so much more to learn and Hadley is committed to providing resources for learning. The Hadley website has been recently revamped to make it easier for us to use and they are sensitive to providing learning in formats that are the most useful to the blind community.

The services they offer for blind and visually impaired are outstanding! Their programs, educational, instructional and social help with the adaptation to vision impairment.
Sharon Kassakian

I was first introduced to Hadley when my son was in elementary school. I was given a copy of Just Enough to Know Better by his TVI. That began my journey into the world of braille. I have also taken some courses over the years. This past Spring I was asked to try out their new website. It is fabulous! I loved it. My son loved it. My co-workers loved it! (I am a certified braille transcriber now for Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC.) Hadley has been so helpful to me and other parents of blind/VI children. They are a wonderful organization!

My world grew so small when a progressive eye disease caused reading difficulty. A word of advise from a mentor and telephone number for Hadley has been a blessing for me. I have taken several college credit courses. The large print materials and variety of courses with instructors who have a passion for what they do has lifted my spirits and quest for knowledge. My most memorable course was the use of the Abacus. It was a bit of a challenge at first. By the end of the course I was able to work through math problems faster with an abacus than a calculator! I had acquired a skill few have mastered. Recently Hadley kicked their offerings up a big notch. They have answers available day or night that only another blind/low vision person can offer. When you don't grow up blind you have "normal skills" but chopping vegetable and not fingers is a question I needed answered years ago so I called my older brother who was blind. Now I can get on my computer and go to Hadley and they can tell and show me how to paint my fingernails and chop vegies! They've given me pointers on making the most of apps on my iphone. Hadley is giving the best of all information in so many ways to those of us who need and want help to survive in a sighted world.

I am very proud to be a Hadley student in the adult continuing education program. I have gained knowledge and skills which have enabled me to participate more fully in the life of my family and community. The staff of Hadley is experienced, knowledgeable and caring and have enriched my learning Experience. The information available in workshops, instructional presentations and group discussions is accurate, up to date and useful, and is available in a variety of formats from braille and large print to downloads and videos. Hadley hasn’t given me a handout, it has given me a hand up and has made my life richer and more challenging. This is indeed a worthy organization to support.

I found the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired after losing my vision to myopic degeneration of the retina and optic nerve. My vision began deteriorating approximately 10 years ago. Before that, I was fortunate enough to have my vision correctable to 20/40 with contact lenses. Now, I can only discern light from dark. I took cane lessons, made my home blind-friendly and changed from print books to audiobooks, so the experience has not been as depressing as it might have otherwise been.
The problem was that I couldn’t write notes to myself other than digitally and I could only read in audible form. I needed to learn braille.
After looking into the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired, I started taking correspondence Braille courses from them. That experience has completely changed my life! Firstly, the courses were extremely well-designed, easy to follow and genuinely fun. I began with the course called Tactile Readiness, which taught how to use one’s hands and fingers to determine the amount and location of characters on the page. I proceeded through the second, third and fourth classes, which introduced and taught the Braille alphabet, numbers, punctuation and most challengingly, contractions. Now, I braille notes to myself and shopping lists, and I can read braille menus and books. It is enjoyable and empowering.
Every course I took was very well thought out, well-designed and the exercises and assignments were excellent. All staff members and instructors with whom I have been in contact were kind, knowledgeable and very helpful. I even visited the Institute, which is in a suburb of Chicago, and found the atmosphere to be so positive and pleasant that it was difficult to leave!
I rate Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired as top-notch. It is the very best non-profit organization with which I have ever been involved.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually impaired has the mission of enhancing the quality of life of persons challenged by visual impairment, and they accomplish that mission beautifully, in my opinion. There are so very many visually impaired people who don’t know where to turn for assistance in making their lives “normal” again. My wish is that the Hadley Institute becomes one of the first and best-known organizations to which the visually impaired are referred. It would please me beyond words to learn that charitable contributions to the Hadley Institute increase every year so that Hadley may reach more people in need of their services, and more donors experience the pride of supporting such a wonderful organization.

Hello, my name is Frank Strong. I live in Des Moines, Iowa. I am a proud Hadley Institute student. I have been blind for over 40 years. Hadley has been a wonderful resource for me over the years. I have taken many classes through Hadley’s distance learning services. I have learned how to read and write Braille, learned computer skills including use of MS Excel, attended webinars on creative writing, and how to play chess. I even took a Hadley course which taught me how to identify bird songs.
Hadley instructors are both knowledgeable and helpful. Hadley has broadened my skills and given me confidence to become more involved in the community.
Thanks, Hadley!

I am a professional in the field of Blind Rehabilitation. In the past eighteen years I have completed twenty of Hadley’s courses. My first experience with Hadley is consistent with my most recent experience. Everything is exceptionally professional and well done. The course material is relevant and up to date, and the instructors take the time to enhance the experience of the course offerings. I have benefited greatly from my relationship with Hadley and encourage other professionals in the field and visually impaired individuals to take advantage of Hadley’s offerings.

For many years, I lived in fear, allowing myself to be a victim of perceived limitations and feeling a lack of support. I was born with poor visual acuity but corrective lenses were always an option for me, until a series of medical events changed that 20 years ago. Transitioning from a world with corrected acuity and plagued by double vision and visual perceptual/processing challenges; to a world seeing 20/700 with diminishing visual fields of vision, has been frightening. I experienced job loss, isolation, misdiagnosis, and had no tools in my toolbox. As a single parent, this was unacceptable.

Hadley has been more than a school to me. It has been a lifeline. It has been a place of acceptance, understanding, and hope. The courses I have taken have helped me to be independent again. I now feel safe and no longer live in fear. The courses have helped me to be a better parent to my daughter, who also experiences visual challenges as a result of a brain injury, which means the world to me. I have become a better advocate and have taught her skills that I have learned. Through my connection with Hadley, I no longer feel alone in my journey. Hadley gave me more than I could ever imagine; safety, confidence, independence, skills to parent, recreation and fun, a sense of self, community, and most of all hope.

I cannot speak highly enough for Hadley Institute. I first took a course from them in the year 2000 and then came back again for ongoing coursework in Spanish and Braille from 2010 until 2018. Because Hadley's student support network is so extensive I've stayed on with their group teleconferencing forums which inform about various topics of personal interest, adaptivity and independence resources, and which also allow for social connecting to others with similar interests. The social support networks have been incredible and I've made friends literally across the U.S. and in some cases - across the world. Equally, whereas at one time I couldn't read Braille, now I can read with reasonable fluency though of course needing my own ongoing practice. Considering that I've always been treated well by Hadley faculty and staff, and further that the education and personal or resource networking has essentially been totally free for me (other than my paying for some materials or making donations), what real negatives can I bear against this group? I know that Hadley is presently going through a long season of changes and upgrading their technical focus with the institute, and I'm pleased to hear about the renovated Hadley home campus, but I've found even with newer employees and faculty that their is a BIG ear to listen to my concerns and there appears to be a willingness to modify their administrative course as they build and expand and try to innovate how course material is presented to older students and new enrollees alike. Indeed, I've been quite impressed at how Hadley has ensured that students with every type of learning curve or technical adaptivity have been included so they could stay active in Hadley course resources: I know of one student who is 93 years old and only receives study materials by Braille or audio recordings through either postal mailing or by telephone and no computers. Yet, younger students are able to take courses online via their Smart Phones and interact through apps on the same; the wide range of resource support and the broad expanse of learning enablements has been impressive to me. Further, I've not met hardly a single co-student who wasn't willing to find practical learning tools, hardware and equipment or software support, and to offer helpful advice to a fellow student who was either struggling with learning the Hadley course materials or simply having a hard time in life. The positive inducements to support one another in learning and in daily living first by Hadley Learning Experts and second by fellow students has at times been comparable to the personal encouragement and growth opportunities which I receive at my local church (Wow). May the Lord bless Hadley and only help them to do things better and thus continue growing. Thanks!

My six-year-old daughter unexpectedly lost her vision three years ago due to malformations in her eyes. As parents, we spent the majority of our time working with doctors, therapists and other medical professionals hoping to retain any of her vision that was salvageable. Throughout this time we were also supported by the teachers and services offered by the public school system, who realized my daughter would be most successful if she were to begin learning braille. My daughter took to braille quickly and it was soon apparent we, as parents, were going to need to learn what felt like a new language—one of dots in two by three cells.

My husband and I struggled with little success in learning braille until I received a recommendation by my daughter’s braillest for Hadley’s braille courses—courses for sighted individuals who wanted or needed to learn braille to support a visually impaired person in their lives.

Hadley’s online courses are well-organized, easy to follow and provide the resources I needed in order to be successful in sight-reading braille. I was surprised to find out I was shortly thinking in braille and the mental struggle to translate dots into letters and words was becoming both easy and fun. I learned to both read and write braille and was surprised to find the two skills related but initially separate in my mind, and yet both were crucial to helping support my daughter.

And while online and remote, I got to know my instructor and have appreciated all her guidance and advice on how to learn and be successful with braille. I’ve gained an appreciation for braille I didn’t expect to have. Today, my daughter is still my teacher, laughing at me with an, “I told you that last time, mom” comment when I forget a contraction or punctuation.

Learning braille has been an important bonding point for my daughter and me and it was made possible by Hadley. My thanks to Hadley is immense. You have changed our lives for the better.

Courtney Blum

The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired is an exceptional resource for all! We have enjoyed being a client of the Hadley Institute for nearly three years when we began our journey to adopt our daughter from China.
As soon-to-be parents of a child who is blind, we wanted to equip ourselves with as many resources as possible before bringing our daughter home. When we contacted the folks at Hadley, they truly echoed the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” What a great feeling knowing we were being supported, encouraged, educated, and given the tools to equip ourselves and our daughter for the journey ahead! Learning braille has been amazing! We have experienced outstanding instructors, staff, and volunteers that took us where we were, and to this day, continue moving us forward to where we need to be!
The Hadley Institute has positively impacted our lives. We are grateful for the kindness and compassion shown to us by the folks at Hadley. I encourage others to seek out the tremendous resources offered by the Hadley Institute! We give the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired our highest recommendation!

I have been legally blind my entire life. When I was a child it was considered adequate for me to read with my nose in the book. I graduated high school with a second grade reading speed. I was not able to finish college because I could not keep up with the work in spite of the fact that I knew many totally blind students who had the Skills they needed to succeed.

Now 50 years later I have discovered the joy of braille. I have just completed the braille course through Hadley and for the first time in my life I can say I am literate

Hadley courses change peoples lives! Their courses in their personal attention is priceless!

Thank you Hadley ! Jody W Ianuzzi

Forty years ago, I dropped out of high school due to bullying. It was drop out, or take my own life.
I had to wait until I turned 18 to take my GED, but I did and passed on the 1st time.
Then, while working part-time, I earned a Forty - Hour Certificate in Office Administration from Jackson State Community College.
I took the test to get into the U.S. Armed Services, but was told I had failed by a mere five points. If I had only graduated from high school, i would have passed. My GED was not the same.
As it worked out, I married and became a wife and a mom. I put my college education to volunteer work.
Then I lost my sight to a rare disorder... That’s when I found out about Hadley. Due to health issues, it has taken me six years, but I DID IT! I AM NOW A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE!
My teachers have taught me to dig deep inside myself.. that I CAN DO THIS! There were patient with me when I was sick or could not understand what the lesson was about.
Each teacher was available to discuss anything I needed.
I thank GOD for HADLEY!
I also think doing away with the high school program is a mistake. There are more people out there like me.
How could I tell my sons not to quit when the going got tough, when I did?
THANK YOU HADLEY FOR ALLOWING ME TO FULFILL MY DREAM!

I was very fortunate to find Hadley soon after I lost my sight. I was able to use it to restore some confidence in myself after losing pretty much everything on top of my vision. I have used their seminars in the past to help learn how to do things and keep up with the tech advances for accessibility. I love being able to continue learning and being able to ask my instructor if I need any help ... without having to explain my limitations too much. I highly recommend it to anyone who qualifies for its services.

The Hadley School for the Blind is a fantastic school. I took my first course in 1999 and I am still involved in learning at Hadley. The online courses that I have taken are marvelous, allowing a flexibility that I appreciated. As a fairly organized person, these courses enabled me to work independently on my own timetable. The professors with whom I worked were highly professional, caring individuals who were always ready with explicit explanations of the coursework.
Hadley is a great place to learn. I recommend the school without reservation.

The Hadley School for the Blind had made all the difference for me and my family. With our first grandson blind at birth we knew we needed to learn as much as we could to help him grow and learn. The information and support I received from the instructors and staff at Harley was tremendous, and the courses taught me what I needed to understand what his world was like as well as how to best help him learn as he grew. To be sure that he has a support system in the future. I have taken several business courses through Hadley with a vision to include visual design and tactile images for advertising and written documents for both sighted and visually impaired persons. Without The Hadley School for the Blind, none of this would be possible. They have given me the tools and education to be successful and help provide for my grandson in the future.

Hadley's business courses were excellent, in that they taught me me to examine my business ideas in depth. They brought up some things I would not thought of on my own. It was a valuable experience. The instructors were kind and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Hadley.

I love to cook and read. With my midlife vision loss I needed to find a resource for learning braille so I could continue to cook and read. Hadley filled that need and more! Hadley offers FREE courses in braille and independent living. Through their awesome Hadley courses, I learned in the privacy of my own home, at my own pace, with very little time input on my part. Hadley instructors are so caring and such professionals it stretches over the distance to make you feel so at ease. No wonder Hadley has over 10,000 students from around the world knocking at their door to get to their excellent courses, primarily braille. Hadley’s braille literacy program is easy and guaranteed to work for a newbie like me or anyone else. Their braille literacy program consisted of four courses: the first one just simply awakened my fingers to be better at tactile feeling and taught my hands to move about a braille page in six easy lessons; the second course taught the braille alphabet and had me making braille labels for items about the house after 16 easy lessons; the third course had me reading and writing uncontracted braille with nine lessons; and the fourth course provided the 189 braille contractions in its 30 very easy lessons to make me fully braille literate. Braille made me whole again giving back what I had lost. I was literate again, albeit in a different format, but I could read, cook from recipes, and even do my favorite Sudoku puzzles all in braille. I fell in love with braille and with Hadley. Thank you Hadley, thank you to those individuals upfront involved in teaching me, as well as, those behind the scenes, and those who keep Hadley going. There are many, many of us out here who fall between the cracks and are in need of Hadley. I am so glad I found Hadley!

My experiences with Hadley School have provided me some useful and essential insights with the unique needs of adventitiously blinded students and potential applicants for guide dog schools. Understanding the “grief management” part of losing one’s sight later in life and the decision making process related to obtaining a guide dog has added to my experiences as a teacher and as a resource person for parents, teachers, and other school officials.

I was first informed of the Hadley School at the Spring Vision Conference for Teachers of the Visually Impaired in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

My two favorite Hadley courses are: Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness and the Guide Dog preparation course.

I am a longtime professional who has worked in the field of blindness and low vision for 30+ years as a university professor and direct service professional. Truthfully, my finest and most fulfilling experience during recent years has been my great pleasure as serving as a Hadley School for the Blind Ambassador.

The goal of the Hadley Ambassador program is to provide a first-hand opportunity to learn how Hadley can help supplement local rehabilitation services through a collaborative learning partnership. To date, Hadley has trained 60 ambassadors, who represent more than 50 agencies from 28 states and 10 Canadian provinces. To the best of my knowledge, this type of program is unique within the blindness field.

As an educator, I can state with confidence that quality of Hadley's programs is extremely high, and all staff demonstrate unerring dedication to the maintenance of this high-quality content and to the accessibility of all courses to learners who are blind or have low vision.

Thanks to the Ambassador program, I have renewed admiration for the comprehensive services that Hadley provides to learners throughout the world. I am proud to be associated with Hadley School for the Blind.

My education and training through the Hadley School for the Blind was life-changing for me. As a former member of the military who lost my sight following traumatic injury, the courses Hadley offered allowed me to begin and continue my rehabilitation while at home while I was healing. The courses were able to help me get on-track to realize that sight loss is more of an inconvenience than a disability. Following my military career, and with what I have learned through numerous Hadley courses, I have gone onto a successful career and future. Thank you Hadley!!!

I successfully completed the Hadley business communications and powerpoint courses. This gave me the confidence and the technical skills needed to develop a power point presentation which I presented to the VIST committee at the VA in El Paso, TX.

I am a current student in the braille literacy program. I recently enrolled after losing the last of my sight. So far, the school administration and professors have been of invaluable help in getting me started toward a life of increased independence. This is one of the few organizations offering education to the blind for free and it needs to continue to be funded. We have potential and need to realize it.