Diagnosed with glaucoma in 2012, Derrick’s life changed dramatically when he lost his right eye due to high eye pressure. He also had surgery on his left eye. “To be born with sight and then lose it can lead to a lot of frustration and a very hard journey,” he shared. But Derrick didn’t let that stop him.
In 2023, he turned to Appalachian Assistive Technology Loan Fund (AATLF) for help purchasing an OrCam MyEye2 reading device – his first assistive technology loan. Two years later, after successfully repaying that loan, Derrick set his sights on a new tool to support his independence: the Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses. With encouragement from North Central Sight Services in Williamsport, PA, he applied for another AATLF loan for the sunglasses and was approved within weeks.
Now, with the Glasses, Derrick can use his voice to make phone calls, access AI assistance, gather hands-free information, scan QR codes, read documents, and more – empowering him to stay connected and productive. In addition, Derrick received a DaVinci Pro HD/OCR desktop video magnifier (CCTV) from the Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. The device’s full-page text-to-speech functionality allows him to read comfortably and efficiently.
A contractor for over 35 years, Derrick continues to take on projects and live with purpose. “It’s great to know that people are willing to help you reach your goals as a person with a disability,” he said. “You must empower yourself and remember that your disability doesn’t have to hold you back – it just may take you a bit longer to do the things you want to do.”