When he was a teenager growing up in Southern California, Robert “Bob” C. began losing his eyesight due to a rare condition called keratoconus, which affects the structure of the cornea. After first damaging one eye, it eventually spread to the other.
The condition continued to worsen as Bob studied political science and computer science in college, receiving two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Irvine. He launched his career with Rockwell International on a top-secret Navy project, and then worked for Ericsson, the international communications company, on one of the first digital telephone exchanges.
“My adaptive method was to get closer to the screen,” Bob says, but by 1993, that no longer worked. Several cornea transplants failed. “I could no longer see and couldn’t do my job anymore.”
Finding Help for Vision Loss
After a recommendation from his ophthalmologist, Bob visited Braille Institute, first to be evaluated and to receive a desktop magnifier. He also signed up for library services.
“I wasn’t too interested in the library at first, but when my life became more confined, I started downloading books and reading all the time,” Bob reveals. He estimates that he’s listened to about 300 audio books by now, including most of the works of Charles Dickens. Bob has also received in-home cane training and taken classes on independent living.
He’s now learning about artificial intelligence for the visually impaired, including using his smart phone to identify objects. Bob is also using a Victor Reader—a handheld digital audio player—to help him learn to play the piano.
A Commitment to Giving
Not long after he began benefiting from Braille Institute services, which were all free of charge, Bob began giving back, frequently donating multiple times a year.
“What keeps me contributing is that I can see the money going to good use, Bob says. When you get to know the volunteers and staff, you realize that they’re all good people trying to help other people.”
