S1E2: Maintaining a Positive Attitude!

Shawn interviews special guest Dan Roberts, a retired educator and book author who also serves as the editor-in-chief of Living Well with Low Vision; founding director of MD Support; and founding director of the International Low Vision Support Group. His organization, MD Support, is a worldwide non-profit public service organization committed to providing information and support for those affected by macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases.
Published On: February 4, 20210 CommentsTags: , ,

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In this episode…

Hosts Dawn Prall and Shawn Doyle begin with a conversation about maintaining a positive attitude with MacD, especially during pandemic times. Dawn shares tips, such as creating a gratitude or joy list, to assist with sustaining a healthy mindset.

Shawn interviews special guest Dan Roberts, a retired educator and book author who also serves as the editor-in-chief of Living Well with Low Vision; founding director of MD Support; and founding director of the International Low Vision Support Group. His organization, MD Support, is a worldwide non-profit public service organization committed to providing information and support for those affected by macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases. Dan shares his amazing, uplifting story about how losing his central vision affected his life. He offers tools, tips, techniques and ideas for people who suffer from macular degeneration and their families to apply in their MacD life every day.

Actress, singer, voiceover artist and SiriusXM radio show host Christine Pedi introduces a new segment from New York City. She stops by to share her inspired adventures, as she navigates life through diminished vision and transitions into the world of visual challenges.

The podcast closes out with the regular featured segment from Vispero’s Bill Kilroy, Senior Sales Director for the Northeast, and Mike Woods, Strategic Accounts Manager for Education. Vispero is the world’s largest Assistive Technology for the visually impaired serving people who are blind or low vision. Throughout this podcast, they highlight key Vispero products that can enhance people’s lives.

In this episode, Bill and Mike talk about the ClearView GO, a portable desktop video magnifier that can travel with the user. They share highlights of the low-vision device, including how this foldable video magnifier plugs into the wall or runs off of battery; gives users access to information on their desktop, whiteboard, blackboard or looking outside out of a window; and features a rotating camera to look at themselves for personal use like applying makeup and grooming. Hosts Dawn and Shawn wrap up the episode with fun trivia and information on additional resources.

What We Discuss in This Episode

This second episode covers the following featured topics:

“How do you stay motivated during adversity, whether it’s MacD; the world we live in right now; or any type of adversity people face?” (3:15)

“My suggestion would be when people ask me this question is a very simple exercise to sit down and do a gratitude list or joy list.” (6:13)

“We’ve got a great guest today on the show…. [who] gives a lot of tools, tips and techniques, and ideas that people can apply to their life today who are suffering from macular degeneration or their family.” (9:46)

“So I started producing programs, audio and visual for these groups, and we [the International Low Vision Support Group] now have 225 groups in 13 countries and the United States. (20:15)

“We were all put together into a committee, and we worked for a year developing a low vision rehabilitation model… to show patients and doctors the path that a person who’s diagnosed should follow.” (24:01)

“When we hear about this book, The First Year: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, can you give our listeners one or two tips from the book that you think would be most important for them to know?” (28:19)

“In your mind, what would you say are… one or two most prevalent myths and misinformation about this devastating disease for people and their families?” (36:20)

“I’m going to stop in briefly and share my adventures, as I navigate through the world with diminished vision and try to accomplish more and understand more about myself and the world throughout.” (46:11)

“Today’s featured product…. is a foldable video magnifier that can be plugged into a wall; it can run off of battery; and it can give a user access to information that’s on their desktop on a whiteboard or blackboard or outside looking out of a window, or if they’re using it for personal use, they can rotate a camera that can look at them.” (49:40)