Live Well With Vision Loss

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🌟 Vision Loss Warrior 🌟
🌟Low Vision/Blind Safety products
🌟Disability Advocate
🌟Public & Wellness Speaker
🌟Mentor
Rebuild confidence, capability & connection.
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‘Insights into the vision loss journey’For a long time, it wasn’t my vision loss that stopped me - it was me.I told myse...
15/12/2025

‘Insights into the vision loss journey’

For a long time,
it wasn’t my vision loss that stopped me
- it was me.

I told myself …
It’s too hard!
Too hard to cook.
Too hard to adapt.
Too hard to even start.

And while grief and loss come in waves
(that part is normal), there’s a moment
where you have to catch yourself
before comfort turns into
confinement.

I realised I was shrinking my world to make it feel safer.

Burying my head in the sand without even noticing.

The shift didn’t come from forcing motivation
- it came from noticing the story I was telling myself

… And choosing not to let it win.

If this resonates with you,
maybe today isn’t about pushing harder.

Maybe it’s about not stopping yourself
before you begin. 💛

And always remember,
You are not alone in your vision loss journey.
Reach out to someone in the Blind and
Low Vision community
Or share your thoughts below. 🫶
[ID: White writing within a white frame with quotation marks, and on a black background.]

I grew up in the lucky country.Australia felt safe, easy-going, friendly and welcoming - a place where people gathered, ...
15/12/2025

I grew up in the lucky country.

Australia felt safe, easy-going, friendly and welcoming - a place where people gathered, laughed and shared life.

For my entire 50+ years, Bondi Beach has been part of that Australia.
Not just a beach, but ‘the’ beach.

Surfers. Tourists. Locals. Morning swims, iconic movies and tv serials.

That unmistakable Australian atmosphere the world comes to experience.

In October, my friend Karina and I visited - because that’s what you do when you’re in Sydney with an international friend. You go to Bondi. You feel the energy. You feel the community connection.

To wake up today and hear that innocent lives were taken there is devastating.

A place of joy for so many Australian, turned into a place of grief.

This isn’t the Australia I knew growing up.

Yet it’s still the Australia I love - the one that mourns together, holds space, and leads with compassion.

Today, Australia is crying.
And my heart is with every family whose life has been forever changed. 🤍














[ID: A map of Australia with a face that is crying.]

Non-negotiable 👀 - when it comes to having my eyes checked, I don’t mess around.Today was my routine check-up at Queensl...
11/12/2025

Non-negotiable 👀
- when it comes to having my eyes checked, I don’t mess around.

Today was my routine check-up at Queensland Eye Institute (QEI)
… and before you scroll past, here’s the truth:

Living a full, active, adventurous life with Myopic Macular Degeneration only works when I stay on top of my eye health.

Not after an incident.
Not when something feels “off.”
Regularly. Consistently. Non-negotiably.

In My local team gave me the all-clear after the champagne cork incident - yes, that bruise! -
but I still showed up for my pre-Christmas appointment because dry MD can change, wet MD can sneak up fast, and my lifestyle isn’t exactly slow or inactive.

And honestly? I don’t plan on slowing down.

Surfing. Indoor para-skydiving. Travel. New adventures.
I love all of it - and that means keeping my ophthalmologist in the loop at least 1–2 times a year to make sure everything is still stable.

At QEI, the team run all the imaging and assessments before I even sit down with my ophthalmologist, and that level of care gives me the confidence to keep saying yes to life, even with MMD in the passenger seat.

Today’s visit outcome?
No wet MD. Dry MD stable.
And I walked out reminded that staying proactive lets me keep living boldly, not cautiously.

If you’re living with vision loss, please don’t wait for a crisis.
Your eyes deserve the check-up.
Your life deserves the freedom. 💛

Ssh… it’s a cover-up!You know when an event has been locked into your calendar for ages… and then, out of nowhere, a cha...
11/12/2025

Ssh… it’s a cover-up!

You know when an event has been locked into your calendar for ages… and then, out of nowhere, a champagne cork decides to smack you in the face? 🤣

Yep. That was me.
Bruised, a bit tender, and getting all the confused looks.

Thankfully, the event was scheduled well before the cork situation - so I already knew exactly who to call. My go-to girl: Reagan from Beauty Link.

She’s the one you want when you’re trying to look put-together but your face says “I’ve been in battle with a bottle of bubbles.”

Reagan took one look, and went, “Yep, we can fix this.”

No fuss.
No drama.
Just her doing her thing - blending, smoothing, calming everything down - and suddenly I looked like myself again.

And honestly? That bit of confidence was all I needed to show up to the webinar without overthinking who was staring at what.

Sometimes a cover-up isn’t hiding.
It’s just helping you feel comfortable enough to get on with life.














[ID: the top of Joanne‘s shoulders and her head are in the image, and she smiles softly. Her hair is swept over to one side with soft curls. She has make-up on as she’s about to attend a very special webinar as a guest panellist. She is wearing why do pearl studs, and a pale green halter neck dress.]

10/12/2025

Today’s webinar reminded me of something powerful:
Braille isn’t optional.
Braille isn’t “extra.”
Braille matters - because people matter.

Hearing everyone share their experiences using braille … wow!

The confidence it gives.
The independence it protects.
The dignity it restores.

This is why we can’t treat braille like a cosmetic add-on at the end of construction.

Placement, purpose and function are everything!

If it doesn’t work for the person using it, then it doesn’t work - full stop.

And yes, I’m still new to learning braille.
I’m learning because I want options.
Because with degenerative vision loss,
I refuse to rely on just one tool.
I want every tool that keeps me independent,
adaptable and empowered - braille included. 💛

Today proved it:
Braille is evolving.
Braille is relevant.
And braille has a future - because we’re choosing to give it one. 🌟

If you missed the webinar, stay tuned.
If you’re learning braille, keep going.
And if you design or install tactile signs …
please, do it right.
Someone’s safety, confidence and autonomy depends on it.














{Joanne is standing in front of an office building after finishing the webinar. She has a pale green flowing Holter neck dress on, white pearls, make up and her hair is styled curl curly and swept off her face. She is smiling.]

Some people think braille is outdated …but the truth is the opposite.Braille is literacy. Braille is safety. Braille is ...
09/12/2025

Some people think braille is outdated …
but the truth is the opposite.

Braille is literacy.
Braille is safety.
Braille is independence.

And people are using it every single day to navigate the world.

That’s why today’s Inclusive by Design webinar matters so much.

We’re bringing together lived experience, braille specialists, and access experts to unpack the real future of braille what’s working, what’s failing, and what absolutely must change.

This is for you if:
• You use braille every day or wish you could.
• You’re on the fence about learning it.
• You’ve had good (or bad) experiences with braille in public spaces.
• You’re designing, managing, or influencing any environment people need to navigate.
• You care about equity, accessibility, or inclusive design in Australia.

✨ It’s free. It’s powerful. And it’s going to be eye-opening.

Register, share it, tag someone who needs to hear this - and let’s make accessibility impossible to ignore.

[ID: Joanne, with short strawberry blonde hair stands at a display table of tactile and braille signs, smiling as she runs her hand over one of the signs. She holds a white cane in her other hand. A green text bubble reads, “Braille isn’t fading - it’s evolving. And today, we’re talking about its future,” with hashtags and in the corner.]

07/12/2025

As someone who is legally blind, with Myopic Macular Degeneration, a champagne cork hitting me in the eye last weekend could have ended very differently. 😱

My retina is thinner than tissue paper and vulnerable, so the fact that the swelling is down, the bruise is fading, and my vision is improving feels like an absolute gift.

And because this can happen to anyone …

here’s your reminder that the festive season is fun - until a cork becomes a projectile.

It takes one split second to go from celebrating to sitting in emergency all night - trust me, no one wants that plot twist.

A few quick tips for safe champagne opening:
• Chill the bottle properly - cold bubbles mean less pressure.
• Keep a firm hand over the cork while loosening the cage.
• Point it at 45°, away from people, pets, faces, and fragile things.
• Twist the bottle, not the cork, and let it ease out quietly (no heroics needed).

Celebrate big, stay safe, and protect those precious eyes this season.

Share this post with your friends and family this festive season and remind them to open bottles safely. 💛
[VD: Joanne Marie is in a car and the video shows a portrait shot of her. A strawberry blonde hair hangs softly around her face, and she’s wearing a black singlet sports bra. Her right eyelid and under eye is still lightly bruised.]

🌟 Share this post and create awareness and momentum this IDPwD 💞International Day of People with Disability reminds us t...
02/12/2025

🌟 Share this post and create awareness and momentum this IDPwD 💞

International Day of People with Disability reminds us that inclusion isn’t just about ramps or policies -
it’s the tiny actions that make the biggest difference.

For people with disability, these ‘micro-inclusions’ shape our day:
✨ Clear communication instead of pointing
✨ Items put back where they belong
✨ Space to move without being grabbed
✨ Describing what’s happening so we stay connected
✨ Good lighting and clear pathways
✨ Inviting, asking, and including rather than assuming

These everyday gestures may seem small,
but they say:
“You belong.” 💛














[ID: Slide 1 is Joanne walking along the Esplanade, the ocean is on e side with a concrete barrier next to her. The sky is clear, and there’s some trees behind her. She’s wearing a green ribbed knitted singlet top, a brown hat, white loose beach pants, her brown Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, and is holding her lime green sparkling Glam Cane out to the side. The other hand is causally placed in her pocket. Joanne is smiling, and the image is casual and calm. The remaining slides are words only, on a marble light brown and white background. A green arrow is at the base of each slide, and the final slide has a green heart.]

Saturday night took an unexpected turn when a champagne cork launched straight into my face and sent me to the emergency...
02/12/2025

Saturday night took an unexpected turn when a champagne cork launched straight into my face and sent me to the emergency department. 😱

When you live with Myopic Macular Degeneration, any impact near the eye is a serious red flag, no matter how harmless it might seem at first.

There are so many possible complications after trauma to the eye area:
retinal tears, detachment, bleeds, pressure spikes, swelling …
and some of them won’t show symptoms straight away.

That’s why follow-up testing is absolutely essential, even after ED says everything looks fine.

Today I had full retinal imaging, OCT scans, visual acuity tests and pressure checks, all compared against my previous results.

The best news?!

Everything is stable and very similar to my August scans.
My eye pressures were also right where they should be.✔️

These colourful images aren’t just pictures - they’re my baseline.

They show the layers, thickness, and health of my retina,
and they’re how my optometrist and ophthalmologist catch even the tiniest change.

So if you ever experience an eye injury, no matter how “minor” it seems, please:
Get checked immediately.
Then follow up with your regular optometrist or ophthalmologist ASAP.

Your vision and eye health is worth that extra appointment.















[ID: A photo of a computer screen displaying multiple eye-scan results. The top left shows a large circular retinal image in warm colours like orange and red. To the right are two grey cross-section OCT scans showing the layers of the retina. Beneath these, a detailed retinal photo with branching blood vessels is shown alongside a blue-and-purple heat map indicating retinal thickness. The images look vibrant and scientific, almost like abstract art, representing different angles and measurements of the user’s retina.]

Here’s something people don’t think about ⁉️The silly season is here, the parties have started, and the champagne is flo...
01/12/2025

Here’s something people don’t think about ⁉️

The silly season is here,
the parties have started,
and the champagne is flowing …

But one celebratory POP can go seriously wrong.

A champagne cork can fly out at
around 60–80 km/h,
and eye specialists report they see
thousands of cork-related eye injuries
worldwide each year.

It only takes a split second to go from “cheers!”
to an unexpected trip to ED.

And this isn’t about Low Vision or Blindness.

Even the doctor who treated me had the exact same thing happen but fortunately realised and pulled her head away quickly!

Most people don’t have the chance to react that fast.

Celebrities, guests at weddings, people at home …
it happens everywhere.

So if you’re popping a bottle this festive season,
take a second:

Point it away from faces,
twist the bottle not the cork,
and keep everyone out of the splash zone 🍾

Let’s celebrate with joy - not bruises,
and keep the surprises to the gifts and get-togethers only. 💛

Share this reminder with your loved ones -
And wishing all of you much joy and a safe and merry festive season ✨
[ID: Joanne is sitting in her bed, her right eye area is bruised, and there’s coagulated blood in the outside corner, where the cork explosion cut her eye. Joanne holds up the cork, with the wire still attached and twisted. She’s wearing a white hooded beach shirt, and her dark red nails highlight the light brown cork.]

30/11/2025

The new house celebrations came to an abrupt holt!

Couldn’t resist opening the bottle of Moët,
But just as I began to untwist the wire…

Pop!!

Straight into the side of my better eye 😱

Didn’t plan to spend my night in hospital having scans and waiting for ophthalmology results!

So grateful it didn’t hit my eye directly! - and no fractures or danage found with the initial scans 🙏🙏

ďżź













[VD: Joanne is sitting in a hospital bed and there is congealed blood around the side and bottom of her right eye, and the irye itself. There is swelling and bruising around the area. Joanne hold up the cork from the champagne bottle that did the damage and shows the hospital eye examination room with the equipment in.]

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