Michelle works in customer service out of the Beyond Vision base supply center at the Great Lakes naval base in North Chicago, Illinois. December 8, 2024 marked her 27th year of working at Beyond Vision! Michelle has an eye condition called Retinitis pigmentosa or RP, a rare eye condition that leads to progressive vision loss.

When Michelle started at Beyond Vision, she still had enough sight to be able to use a computer with magnification. As she progressively lost her sight, she had to start using what is called a screen reader as well. By 2007, Michelle was fully blind and having to rely completely on the screen reader technology, JAWS, to do her work on the computer.

It was scary and challenging to lose her sight and go from seeing the screen and using the mouse to fully relying on just audio and the keyboard Michelle said. However, she said her managers and coworkers were incredibly supportive during the transition. She was able to spend time during work to train with JAWS, learn keyboard skills, and train with other coworkers who are also blind.

“I’m proud now to say that I’m totally blind and I’m happy with my life the way it is,” Michelle said, “Working brings meaning to my life …Beyond Vision has the accessibility and technology for us to be independent. No one is holding our hands.” When going through the transition of losing her remaining sight, Michelle said that she told management that she wanted no special treatment. She just wants to be treated like a regular employee.