Jeremy Hill woke up one morning in 2012, headed to his job in Buena Park, California, and realized he could not read the street signs. He had been living with type 1 diabetes, and six months later, he could no longer work and had to quit his job.
After his vision worsened, Jeremy visited Braille Institute. He shares, “Over three years, I learned about assistive technology, sensory awareness, independent living skills, and mobility training. It was life changing.”
A Flair for Helping Others
Jeremy was especially adept with technology, and he soon transitioned from student to volunteer instructor for the iPhone class at Braille Institute’s Anaheim center. He also assisted in a computer class and with the youth program.
Having seen many social workers in hospitals, dialysis centers, and other settings, Jeremy also realized that he was good at assisting others. From 2016 through 2023, he returned to school, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from California State University, Long Beach. Last year, he saw an opening for a social work position at Braille Institute, applied for the job, and after four interviews, was hired.
Coming Full Circle
As a social worker at the Los Angeles center, Jeremy connects students with resources, including transportation, housing, and financial assistance. He also staffs a support group and conducts counseling. “I see students who were diagnosed with an eye condition and others who have been victims of an acid attack or a shooting. I try to provide solutions for what people are capable of doing and want to do.”
Jeremy says it’s especially gratifying that students specifically want to meet with him, because of his personal experience with vision loss. “Ever since I decided to become a social worker, I wanted to work with individuals who were experiencing vision loss. To be at Braille Institute, first as a student and volunteer, and now as a staff member, my story has come full circle.”
