David’s Story 

David, a New Yorker originally from Michigan, worked in marketing, advertising, and computer graphics for almost 40 years. Then in 2005, he returned to school at Columbia University, where he learned about teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). He spent the next 15 years in a volunteer teaching position in the East Village. 

In 2015 when David went for a routine eye exam to get a new pair of eyeglasses, he was told that something was happening with his vision. The eye doctor recommended that David schedule an appointment with a retinal specialist. He was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which makes him legally blind. In 2021, David discontinued teaching because he felt he could no longer provide the students with what they needed. 

David’s Introduction to Lighthouse Guild 

David’s vision condition made it difficult for him to use the telephone. Someone mentioned to him that he could get assistance at Lighthouse Guild. Since contacting Lighthouse Guild, David has met with the Chief of Low Vision Services, Dr. Bruce Rosenthal. He performs low vision exams and manages when he needs a new pair of eyeglasses. David says, “Dr. Rosenthal has been very helpful to me, and he has been like a coach and a cheerleader — providing me with lots of encouragement.” When David lost his vision, it was right before the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone was dealing with the same issues. David became very depressed, and nothing seemed to work for him for about a year and a half. Since then, David says, “I have been doing so much better in the past year and a half, and much of that has to do with Lighthouse Guild and Dr. Rosenthal.” 

David’s Experience with Group Therapy 

Dr. Rosenthal recommended to David that he might benefit from the Group Therapy program. David immediately signed up for the program and has participated intermittently for the past few years. David has been able to experience the meetings in an in-office setting, in-person group meetings, and group meetings over Zoom — which he prefers. David says, “I really enjoy participating in the group therapy meetings from home over Zoom. I feel I get a lot more out of them, and I have remained with the Zoom group for the past year.” David continues, “I have found the group meetings to be very helpful since rejoining them, in that you get to hear what everyone else’s stories are. We all share what we are doing, what the difficulties are, and how we get over them and keep moving forward. And I find them all to be very encouraging.” 

David says, “Social Worker Tamara Greely has put a group of us together via Zoom, and she has been a tremendous asset to the group and the individuals. I can’t believe how much work and follow-up she does, and she stays on top of what’s happening. She is incredibly helpful, and through the years, she keeps getting better, and I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.” 

Through the group therapy program, David has learned to develop more patience and that he can do things differently to get the same result. He says when others share their experiences in group meetings, he can sometimes empathize with them because he has some of the same problems. David says he thinks when everyone in the group shares how they do things, he can pick up things from them on what he can do better or differently and not be so afraid. 

David Volunteers  

Knowing that David had a marketing and advertising background, Dr. Bruce Rosenthal connected him with the Lighthouse Guild marketing team. Following the connection, David met with the team as a volunteer marketing and advertisement consultant. He shared his expertise, ideas, and insight to help make a future project they were embarking on successful. David says, “It was a wonderful experience and one of the best things I have done in a very long time. It drew on my background, training, and experience. I shared my observation on what they can do, or try to do, to make this new adventure a success.”  

David’s Next Steps 

Soon, David plans to schedule some time at Lighthouse Guild in the Vision Rehabilitation program. He plans to learn to navigate the phone more fully and to have the phone read building addresses to him when he’s walking around in the city and how he can change trains in the subway without much difficulty. David says, “I cannot imagine not having such social services available to me. They are unsurpassed, and they offer what you need.” 

About Lighthouse Guild 

David says, “Lighthouse Guild is an organization that offers safety nets all over. They offer services of every imaginable kind you need for a person with vision problems in their daily life. I cannot imagine not having an organization like Lighthouse Guild in this day and age. The technology they offer is amazing, and the social services are unsurpassed. They offer a little bit, or a lot, depending on your needs, across the board, and it’s amazing. They will help you to learn as much as you can so you can maintain your independence.” 

David says, “The doctors there are phenomenal. They are patient. They listen to you. They offer the appropriate tests and the most suitable glasses for your individual needs. I cannot think of anything negative to say about Lighthouse Guild. I really can’t.” David continues, “They offer services in just about everything you need to have regarding vision. The options they offer in the technology center are outstanding. Lighthouse Guild is just amazing.” 

David concludes, “Lighthouse Guild will help you so that you can maintain your independence to the best of your ability. And that’s the most important thing for people to know when vision loss is new to them.”