When Jim Justesen lost his sight, he took classes to help him figure out his new reality.
Out of the six people in his group, he was the only one who could afford the computer that could read text.
“My wife said, ‘What are you going to do about it?’” Justesen told us during Bright Spot on the KAXE Morning Show.
Minnesota State Services for the Blind offered some support, but Jim and his wife Jackie wanted to provide more technology-based solutions for low-vision and blind people. They created the nonprofit Eye-Link Foundation in 2000.
“Once we find out where they are with their sight, then we try to match that equipment to them to get the most remaining sight out of them that we can.
"Basically, we deliver and set up and train, if need be, a wide array of equipment that helps you go from not seeing to seeing,” Jim explained.
For example, there is camera software that can be pointed at anything, such as a prescription or a book, and it will read that document to you.
Different lighting and backgrounds can make a difference, too.
“We're learning that some people see blue letters on a pink background better than they do black letters on a white background," Justesen said.
Eye-Link assistive equipment grant applications are available for residents of North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota at eye-link.org. They also help with necessary paperwork, and they work hand-in-hand with the State Services for the Blind and get a lot of referrals that way.
The Eye-Link Foundation is comprised entirely of volunteers and all funds come from direct donations.
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The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
