MLV Foundation Inc.

02/22/2026

Getting a comprehensive eye exam by age 40 permits ophthalmologists/optometrists to screen for all age-related eye diseases such as Macular Degeneration that cause vision loss, frequently before symptoms occur.

02/18/2026

Common causes of low vision include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.

02/15/2026

Macular Degeneration (AMD) often runs in families, and genetics can play a role in up to 70 percent of AMD cases.

02/13/2026

Beyond Sight and Sound: Understanding DeafBlindness A Seeing Without Limits Podcast Episode In this powerful episode of Seeing Without Limits, host Felishya Booker and MLV founder, Debbie Sanders sit down with Jeri Cooper, a Certified Vision Loss Therapist (CVLT) and founder of Jeri’s House in Bro...

02/11/2026

Low vision is a significant visual impairment that cannot be fixed with conventional methods, impacting daily tasks like reading, cooking, and writing.

02/08/2026

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Americans aged 65 years and older.

02/04/2026

Low vision doesn't mean low potential. Explore adaptive tools.

02/04/2026

I want to take a moment to share something I’m incredibly proud of and deeply connected to.

Several years ago—before COVID—I came across the work of my friend Dave Steele, known as The Blind Poet. I first read one of his poems and it stopped me in my tracks. I later ordered his books—three volumes—and his words hit exactly where I was in my own vision loss journey at the time.

What struck me most was how parallel our paths felt. Different eye conditions, but very similar experiences. Dave lives with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). I live with glaucoma. Both lead to the loss of peripheral vision. Like Dave, I’ve experienced progression that moved into central vision in one eye—my left eye now has only light perception and finger motion. The tunnel vision in my right eye continues to narrow, and the quality is further complicated by astigmatism.

Over the past four or five years, both personally and through MLV, I’ve tried many times to bring Dave to the Midwest so others could hear his story—through grants, partnerships, and speaking opportunities. While those efforts haven’t come together yet, my support for Dave and his work has not wavered. One of these years, Dave…

That’s why I’m so proud of this documentary. It’s powerful, honest, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating vision loss—or supporting someone who is.

I hope you’ll take the time to watch The Blind Poet and hear Dave’s story. You may find pieces of it that resonate more than you expect.

🎬 Watch the documentary here:
https://youtu.be/rsMBLZ67NBc?si=wtnqURrSO6SWsk7_

Please consider sharing it so more people can learn, connect, and feel a little less alone on this journey.

Dave Steele, the 'Blind Poet', is nearing the end of his sight as retinitis pigmentosa closes in. With no treatment and no way to slow its progress, he docum...

02/01/2026

Macular Degeneration affects 11 million Americans. Learn the symptoms.

01/31/2026

We took a great group of people on a cruise to Cozumel and Costa Maya. We had a rough start to the trip due to Royal Carribeean changing the terminal we were departing from at the last minute and a customs and border security delay, but in spite of that hiccup, we all had a wonderful time.

❤️We even had a proposal happen! Congrats to our couple of love birds, Colton and Lisa. 💍

01/30/2026

Mental health and vision impairment are deeply connected, but it’s something people rarely talk about.

Living with sight loss means constantly adapting.
Planning more.
Thinking ahead.
Using extra energy just to get through everyday life.

It can mean masking anxiety so you don’t seem incapable.
Pushing through exhaustion because the world doesn’t slow down for you.
Explaining your needs again and again.

Some days the hardest part isn’t what I can’t see.
It’s the emotional weight that comes with it.

The pressure to prove independence.
The fear of being judged.
The loneliness that can come from feeling different.

Vision impairment doesn’t just affect your eyes.
It affects your confidence, your stress levels, and your mental health.

And that doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you human.

If you’re navigating sight loss and struggling mentally, you are not failing.
You are carrying more than most people realise.

Be kind to yourself.
Rest when you can.
And please remember you are not alone.

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♿ Image description / alt text

Illustration of a blind mum sitting on a park bench with her guide dog beside her. She holds a white cane resting against the bench while gently touching her dog’s head. Soft grey clouds above her fade into lighter ones, representing mental health struggles easing. Text on the image reads “Mental health and vision impairment are connected.”

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01/25/2026

The first step in managing glaucoma is understanding your specific condition. There are several types of glaucoma, including open-angle and angle-closure.