Beauty Buzz & Blog Biz | Reflecting Back
Back Down Memory Lane
Reflecting back really helps to put life in perspective. Like many people in my age group, my memory is fading and I struggle daily. Because Alzheimer’s runs in my family, it’s important to me to get as much done as possible. Looking back helps me to see how far I’ve come and confirms the path I’ve chosen.
The following lightly edited article was originally published to VisionAware a few years back when I became a Peer Advisor. If memory serves it was probably around the time I began Bold Blind Beauty. While many things have changed since this article was published, overall I’m pleased with the progress to date.
Stephanae (Steph) McCoy
Eight years ago, going blind was not on Stephanae (Steph) McCoy’s bucket list. Since life threw her this curveball, however, how was she to continue her plan to change the world? Life produced the formula: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) + Life-Altering Event = World Changed!
Steph, always a little quirky, began with picky eating and excessive hand washing. Her behaviors progressed to extreme cleaning and a driven purposefulness that would make the TV character, Monk, weep. After losing most of her eyesight, Steph credits OCD for making the situation bearable thanks to many regimented routines. After developing macular holes, cataracts, glaucoma, and becoming legally blind, Steph is still striving to change the world by:
- Serving on the Board of Directors of Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh
- Serving as a Low Vision Committee Member and Chair of the Publicity Committee of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind
- Member of the Committee for Accessible Transportation (paratransit service)
- Fundraising Committee Member of the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind (GTCB)
- Led a team in raising over $10,000 in donations to finance research for Foundation Fighting Blindness
- Campaigning for an international low vision awareness effort
- Publicly speaking at various organizations on a range of vision loss issues
Because Steph is a single-minded, determined, advocate, and conqueror, it made sense that she would find a way to face losing her vision head-on by promoting low vision awareness and creating an open dialog to dispel societal myths on blindness and visual impairment. Helen Keller once said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Steph’s vision is to educate and alter the mindset of how people view others with disabilities, and to that end, she is changing the world, one conversation at a time.
Reflecting Back Image Description:
A selfie of me wearing a long-sleeve white tee with a gray vest and a Low Vision pin. I’m also sporting one of my favorite black asymmetrical wigs, the hair slightly covers my left eye. My makeup in this photo is mainly eyeliner and lip balm. A small section of my red couch is behind me as is a standing floor lamp.
For additional information:
Visit Steph’s LinkedIn profile.
Read blog posts by Steph McCoy on the Visually Impaired: Now What? blog.