Nonprofit Hadley in Winnetka helps people with failing eyesight navigate life

Losing your eyesight to age-related conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy can be devastating.

It's not only the physical disability of not seeing as well, but the emotional toll of how life is slowly, but inevitably, changing.

But Hadley, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Winnetka, offers help with its focused workshops on everyday topics such as cooking, how to operate your technology, or managing your medication when you can't read the labels.

Hadley was started in Winnetka in 1920 by schoolteacher William Hadley, who lost his sight later in life. Hadley wanted to continue to read, but he could no longer make out the words on the printed pages. So he taught himself Braille.

Now the organization teaches older adults with low vision how to effectively live their lives and retain their independence.

"You have to understand that, for adults who lose their vision later in life, everything becomes different, more difficult," said Joan Jaeger, chief marketing officer for Hadley.

"Things they used to do without thinking become more challenging, like pouring their morning cup of coffee or putting toothpaste on their toothbrush."

Jaeger said that Hadley programs break down daily living routines in five-minute tutorials, giving clients a new way to do things such as cooking or dialing a phone.

"We offer tips, tricks and techniques for adapting the other senses to help people navigate their daily life," Jaeger said. "They are the tools they need to live their life without frustration."

But Hadley doesn't just tackle the physical aspects of losing vision. The emotional struggle can sometimes be just as painful.

According to Jaeger, studies show that impaired vision often brings with it other negative outcomes like falls, isolation, depression and cognitive decline.

"When people lose their vision they have to give up their car keys. And that means they have to give up some of their freedom," Jaeger said. "They just can't get out and do the activities they used to do, which can lead to isolation and loneliness, which can lead to depression."

In order to keep people active, Hadley offers monthly phone-in discussion groups that connect people with vision loss. Jaeger said anyone can join the monthly discussions by just calling in on their phones. Or, Hadley will call clients over Zoom and all they have to do is answer.

Discussion groups include Get up and go, which helps people stay fit; Travel Talk, offering tips for traveling with low vision; Book Nook, where participants can share what they are reading; Resource Roundtable, where everyone offers support and resources; What's Cooking offers helpful hacks, gadgets and other tips for cooking with low vision.

And there are plenty more. Find them online at hadley.edu.

Hadley also recently launched Braille for Everyday Use, a series of workshops that includes a workbook mailed to users' homes and accompanying audio instruction available by phone or online.

Jaeger said that learning Braille can give people with low vision the confidence they need to go places.

"People with low vision tell us that elevators petrify them because they can't see which number they are pushing. But every elevator has Braille next to the numbers. Learning that gives them confidence," she said.

The best part is that Hadley's programs and services are free.

According to Jaeger, as a nonprofit, Hadley is funded by donations from both individuals and organizations.

This year, Hadley will serve more than 20,000 people from across the U.S. For more information, visit hadley.edu or call (800) 323-4238.

"We offer immediate results with very relevant and practical tips and techniques," Jaeger said. "They may seem simple, but they add confidence and hope for the future."

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Hadley

What: A nonprofit organization that offers programs and resources for people with low vision due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and more.

Where: 700 Elm St., Winnetka

Details: Call (800) 323-4238, email info@hadley.edu, or visit hadley.edu.