Meet Audrey

Vision Forward often has people ask how they can help create greater awareness of vision loss and the services we offer. But Audrey McGarvie didn’t need to ask. She already knew.

As someone living with vision loss herself, Audrey, a nurse by profession, is quite familiar with the common questions and needs of people experiencing low vision and changing vision.

It was in 2009 that Audrey was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that disrupts central vision. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults.  In addition to AMD, Audrey has had eye infections and bleeds, cataracts, a partial retinal detachment and closed-angle glaucoma. As a result of all her eye conditions, most of the vision in Audrey’s left eye is gone, and she has advanced AMD in her right eye.  

But vision loss hasn’t stopped Audrey. Her proactive spirit functions in high gear, and she is quick to spread good news.

In 2013 Audrey was referred to Vision Forward for low vision services, where we help hundreds of people with low vision learn how to use magnification, contrast enhancement and glare control. Later, she requested an outreach presentation at her Brookfield church so others could hear about our services.

When Audrey and her husband Norm moved to Cedar Ridge Independent Living in West Bend, Audrey took on the charge of starting a low vision group that meets once a month. Audrey has had Vision Forward present to her group about assistive technology and available services, and she has passed Vision Forward’s information on to other housing units within Cedar Community so neighboring residents can also benefit. Audrey is a strong advocate for herself, for others and for Vision Forward. She is also an excellent example of how your support is being paid forward and multiplied to help transform the lives of individuals living with vision loss. You are making a real difference for people in our community, and we are truly grateful.

Thank you for investing in Audrey and others living with vision loss.

Together, with your support, we can positively change the present and future of people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.