Living with blindness, my story

At the age of 6, I was diagnosed with a degenerating eye condition that would slowly chew up most of my vision. I became legally blind a few years later, not being able to see the top line on the eye charts. The diagnosis was devistating for my mum, because growing up in China, it meant that I wouldn’t get a proper education, would have trouble living independently, let alone have any meaningful job prospects. At this time my mum made a brave and radical decision, a decision to bring me to Australia. I’m forever thankful for the incredible sacrifices my mum had to make in bringing me to a foreign country and raising me on her own.

Bullying and loneliness accompanied me throughout my childhood

At school, I experienced frequent bullying and loneliness as I struggled to fit in. My mum would work two or three jobs to keep our family financially afloat, so when I returned home from school each day, there still weren’t anyone around for me to talk to and to reassure me that everything was going to be OK.

Time and time again, I despaired, wishing everything would be different, that I would see normally again, that I would have a complete family,and would have friends that understood me. I longed to be loved and accepted.

In 2003 everything changed

Please bear with me as I share this very important part of my life journey. This part of my life shaped who I am today.

Growing up, I hated anything to do with religion. I thought to myself, if God existed, why did he make me the way that I am. But in 2003, my best friend, Jason, started going to church and invited me to go with him. There I found what my heart had been longing for all along. Within several months, my life was radically changed. I had profound experiences of God and experienced unconditional love from the church family. I felt I had returned home.

My life now

There have been so many wonderful people who have contributed to helping me become the person I am today. I will forever remember the volunteers that came to my place to read text books and study notes to me because I couldn’t see the text. It is because of those wonderful people (Francie and Colleen), that I have been able to graduate with a double degree, and a job in the Australian Government.

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and a gorgeous son. Although I still face daily challenges, life is good!

Navigating Steemit with my ears

Without enough eye sight to read text on a computer screen or mobile phone, my experience of Steemit is entirely auditory. Through the use of a screen reader/text to speech software, I listen carefully as the synthesized voices read back to me the content you have put together. I intend to describe in more detail about this in a future post.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you all on Steemit.

I am so greatful to be able to share my story amongst such a supportive community.

You guys are the ones that make Steemit such a wonderful community, and I hope to be part of this journey with you all.

To read more about my story, you can read Part 1 of my mini memoir here.

Jimmy