MY BRIGHT LIFE!
An eye condition hasn’t stopped Rachel
Rachel O’Neill, 43, Wendouree, Vic
Look at my picture, Mummy!’ I said. ‘That’s beautiful, Rachel,’ she replied. As a kid I loved to draw and paint. My artistic passion took people by surprise. That’s because
I was vision-impaired.
As a baby, I’d been diagnosed with Nystagmus.
It’s an eye condition that caused my eyes to dance about, making everything look shimmery.
It can also affect depth perception.
Trying to focus on the blackboard at school, the letters would blur together. So I listened carefully and took notes.
I also fell in love with poetry, as it was less tiring on my eyes than prose. And I loved writing it as well.
But art was my first love.
I want to study it at university, I decided.
So when I won a place to study Visual Arts I was thrilled.
‘I’m so proud of you!’
Mum said.
I focused on graphic design, but as computers were introduced it became more tricky.
‘The icons are too tiny,’ I sighed, frustrated.
I just couldn’t see the screens well enough.
Leaving my course, I started work as a childcare assistant.
Then, when I was 32, I decided to go back as a mature-age student.
This time, I proudly completed my degree in fine arts, as well as studying professional writing and editing.
Becoming a poet and writer, I now perform my work in public.
And I still indulge my artistic side through scrapbooking, even hosting workshops.
Nystagmus hasn’t held me back! I realised.
I enjoy photography and tending to my garden.
With a love of travel, I’ve developed a few tricks to help me navigate. I research if an area is safe to walk in, download timetables on my phone so I can enlarge them, then count the number of
My eyes dance around making everything look shimmery
stops when I’m on a bus so I know where to get off.
Today I’m a director at Nystagmus Aware Australia, a registered charity supporting those with the condition. With up to one in a thousand people having it, there are lots to support.
We also have a Facebook group for members and raise money to fund research.
Thankfully, there are so many things today that make life easier for those of us with Nystagmus.
With a little extra effort and planning, we really can do just about anything!
Visit: nystagmusaware australia.com