For more than 50 years, Bev Walker dedicated her life to education, helping generations of students develop a love of learning and literature.
Today, the former teacher from regional Victoria is embracing a very different learning journey: one that has seen her adapt to significant vision loss with determination, humour and the support of Vision Australia.
Speaking on Vision Australia Radio, Bev shared how losing her sight affected almost every aspect of her daily life.
"As an English teacher, reading was my life," Bev said.
"Suddenly I couldn't read books, newspapers, recipes or even the instructions on my medication. Having to rely on other people for things I should have been able to do myself was really difficult."
Distance a barrier
After complications from cataract surgery and ongoing low vision, everyday tasks became increasingly challenging. Living in regional Victoria added another layer of complexity, with specialist services often located hundreds of kilometres away.
"We have distances to travel," Bev explained.
"If I need to see Vision Australia in person, it's around 180 kilometres away, and of course I don't drive anymore."
A referral from her local optometrist proved to be a turning point.
Through Vision Australia, Bev was introduced to a range of supports designed to help her navigate life with low vision. One of the most significant was the Check In and Chat program, where she connected with wellbeing officer Michelle.
For Bev, having someone who genuinely listened made a world of difference.
"The main thing was having someone listen to what I was going through," she said.
At a time when she was adjusting to major changes in her life, the support she received through the program helped her regain confidence and put her in a position to make the most of other Vision Australia services and supports available to her.
Within weeks, Vision Australia staff were helping Bev explore low vision aids and adaptive technology designed to support her independence. From magnifiers and signature guides to technology training and ongoing support, she says the impact was immediate.
"Vision Australia have just been fantastic for me," she said.
"They've provided equipment, helped me trial different options and shown me what was possible."
Assistive technology provides independence
One of the biggest changes has been accessible technology.
With support from Vision Australia's assistive technology team, Bev now uses a smartphone and computer that speak to her, helping her stay connected with family and friends, manage emails and navigate everyday tasks.
She is also an enthusiastic user of the Envoy Connect audiobook player, which has allowed her to rediscover one of her lifelong passions.
"I'm just so thrilled that I can listen to books again," she said.
"I don't watch much television at night anymore. I put my little device on and listen to a book every evening."
Beyond technology, Bev has also found connection through Vision Australia's Quality Living Group.
The group brings together people who are blind or have low vision to share experiences, offer practical suggestions and support one another through the challenges of vision loss.
Bev values both the advice she receives from others and the opportunity to contribute her own experiences to the discussions.
"It's helping each other with suggestions," she said.
"It's nice to be able to add value to the conversations as well."
Meta glasses a smart move
More recently, Bev has embraced another emerging technology that's generating excitement in the blindness and low vision community: Meta smart glasses.
The glasses can help identify objects, read printed text and provide information about a user's surroundings using artificial intelligence.
Bev recounted a memorable story about asking her glasses whether a tub of ice cream in a supermarket freezer was vanilla, only for a nearby shopper to answer before the technology had a chance.
Another amusing moment occurred when she asked the glasses to read an envelope and was surprised when they informed her she lived in Pennsylvania rather than Victoria.
Despite the occasional misunderstanding, Bev says the technology has transformed her day-to-day life.
The glasses help her sort mail, identify products, read labels and even adjust the temperature on her stove.
"What is the temperature on the dial?" she can ask.
The glasses provide an answer, helping her cook safely and independently.
For Bev, the technology itself is only part of the story.
She credits the guidance, expertise and encouragement of Vision Australia staff, the support she received through the Check In and Chat program, and the connections she has built through the Quality Living Group for helping her build confidence and learn new skills.
"It's given me independence back," she said.
Stories like Bev's highlight the life-changing impact that practical support, emotional wellbeing, peer connection, accessible technology and specialist services can have for people who are blind or have low vision.
They also demonstrate how different parts of Vision Australia work together to support confidence, independence and connection.
Listen to Bev's story
