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Group works to help vision-impaired people by Cindy Abole Public Relations Living life to its fullest may be a maxim shared by most Americans, but to one patient population, the chance to get out and function among others is clouded by fear and other unnecessary suffering. Their condition makes them prisoners in their own surroundings rather than individuals living with low/poor vision.  Members of the American Council of the Blind's Nancy Levi, left, and guide dog, Luna, and Audrey Gunter with Zack at SEI's Feldberg Vision Rehabilitation Center. Typically, people diagnosed with low/poor vision are challenged to accept a fate filled with limitations. Two women are leading the charge to educate others and promote awareness of “white cane” laws that allow them and other blind and vision-impaired individuals to function comfortably in society.  American Council of the Blind chapter members Audrey Gunter and Nancy Levi are actively promoting their group’s local recognition of White Cane Safety Awareness Day at 10 a.m., Oct. 15, at the Charleston Visitor's Center. The event features a walk in downtown Charleston, special guests, entertainment and useful information. “Our message is to provide encouragement to people diagnosed with low or poor vision that there is light after darkness,” said Audrey Gunter. “We want to assure them that with the right plan and support, they can learn to adapt, have fun and enjoy life.”  Gunter’s story is like many patients living with low vision, a condition related to eye disease or conditions that cannot be corrected by glasses, contact lenses, medication or surgery. And like some serious eye diseases, there currently is no cure.  Gunter was diagnosed at age 18 with retinitis pigmentosa and a prognosis that she would suffer from short-term blindness. More than 20 years later, Gunter, who retired from MUSC’s Transportation Services in March 2001 because of her medical condition, has gone through her own period of adjustment as her vision gradually worsened. “Like everyone with this condition, I  learned to manage it in silence,” Gunter said, of her desire to remain silent about her condition among some friends and co-workers so she wouldn’t be treated differently. Each day, she relied on friends who escorted her back and forth to work and did other small favors. Eventually, she stopped driving, walking, shopping and performing other activities that were routine in her life. On the day she retired, many of her colleagues admitted they had no idea their co-worker lived with impaired vision.  Today, her vision is limited to seeing things literally at arm’s length. For the longest time, she fought against use of the white and red-tipped cane, the symbol for blind and visually impaired people worldwide. Instead, she chose to manage life with the assistance of her guide dog, Zack, during the past few years. “Having Zack around has changed my life,” Gunter said. “I feel more confident and independent doing things again. Today when I walk around the mall for exercise, I can go at my own pace. I no longer rely on someone else to lead me around. Zack and I are a great team.”  An eternal optimist, Gunter has accepted her fate and has taken a positive “no worry” attitude towards life. Within the last two years, she discovered a newfound energy towards enjoying life and has focused her attention on patient advocacy and communicating with others.  “There’s a great need for people to understand who we are and what we are not,” said Gunter, pulling a pocket-sized booklet that highlights the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other S.C. Statutes stating the legal use of guide dogs in public places and other laws prohibiting discrimination of the blind and the visually impaired. “Someone has to take a stand and be a voice for others especially when they’re treated with disrespect,” Gunter said.  “I’m glad to be able to work with people like Nancy, the Association for the Blind and Storm Eye Institute’s Feldberg Vision Rehabilitation Center in helping to get our message out there and assisting patients find helpful resources.” Feldberg center director Stephen Morse, O.D., Ph.D., is grateful to have his program partnered with therapists and specialists from SEI and soon the Association for the Blind, plus other resources to provide support, instruction and guidance for visually impaired patients and others who refer them. “Eventually, we’d like to provide a more complete rehabilitation process for patients or anyone with low vision,” said Morse, associate director of ophthalmology. His goal is to develop the center by addressing specific needs from helping patients learn to navigate around their surroundings to using magnifiers and other system devices to read and remain active. “Our goal is for everyone to work together for the benefit of the patient,” Morse said. In addition to patient care, the center has both an educational and research component. Ophthalmology residents spend part of their training at the center learning and coordinating with specialists to work with vision impaired patients and devise a patient’s plan for therapy. Morse has plans to introduce basic research and studies aimed at understanding low vision and other conditions that impair reading and other daily functions. “I think its wonderful that they are out promoting awareness and at the same time inspiring patients who are struggling,” Morse said. “It’s a great chance to identify weaknesses in society that need to be addressed and help others become aware that they shouldn’t have to struggle and that life for them should be easier.” For more information about the American Council of the Blind, call 571-0737 or 881-6108. Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. 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