Column: Ingemann On Vision Loss & More
[Column written by Erica Ingemann]
Imagine waking up to a world slowly fading – blurring, dimming, and slipping away. For many in Bermuda, this is not imagination. It is daily life.
Vision loss – whether gradual or sudden – deeply affects a person’s independence, mobility, mental health, and connection to community. It can take away the ability to read a recipe, cross the street confidently, or look into a loved one’s eyes.
At Vision Bermuda, we empower people with vision loss to live full, independent lives. We do this through training, assistive technology, support groups, and home visits, providing both practical skills and emotional support.
But our work is about more than providing services—it’s about restoring hope when it seems all hope has been lost.
The everyday victories we witness are powerful: a mother preparing lunch for her son’s visit, a senior walking to the grocery store alone, a retiree learning to cook safely again, a reader rediscovering the joy of a newspaper, a young adult returning to work.
To most, these may seem like small feats or routine activities. But for someone learning to live with vision loss, these are life-changing moments of restored identity and self-worth. One of our clients shared, “Vision Bermuda has helped me to be more independent and shown me that life can continue despite your disability.”
Vision loss is increasing in Bermuda, and so is the need for our services. As a nonprofit, Vision Bermuda relies solely on donations, grants, and community support to continue this work.
Your support allows us to serve more people and ensure that no one in Bermuda faces vision loss alone.
Supporting Vision Bermuda is about more than giving—it’s about making a lasting impact. Whether you donate, volunteer, share our story, or advocate for accessibility and inclusion, you’re helping someone reclaim their independence, reimagine their future.
Bermuda is a caring, connected community. With your help, we can ensure that every person experiencing vision loss has the tools, support, and confidence to live fully and independently.
Your support brings vision to life. Be the light someone needs today. For more information about Vision Bermuda, please visit: visionbermuda.bm
This op-ed is part of the Third Sector Spotlight Series, a collective media campaign coordinated by the Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the value, impact and contributions of Bermuda’s nonprofit sector.
- Erica Ingemann, Executive Director, Vision Bermuda
So glad you published this op-ed, I had no idea this charity was on the island! I will definitely support it going forward.
My grandmother lost her sight in her early 60s, but continued to have a vibrant life for more than 30 years. She also continued to live independently until she was nearly 90 (and the only reason she ended up in supported living was not because of her sight loss but because of the number of stairs in her house). And by live independently, I mean she taught herself to read moon braille; counted the steps to the corner store, the hairdresser, etc and made these trips on her own (!); continued to cook for herself, keep her own house and stay engaged with the community. And it was thanks to supporting groups like Vision Bermuda. Thanks for everything you do
Vision Bermuda used to be called the Bermuda Society for the Blind and it has been here since the 1950s. The charity has been headquartered at Beacon House since the 1960s.
A brief history can be found at https://visionbermuda.bm/our-history/
Thank you so much for sharing this; I love these feel-good testimonies! Your grandmother sounds like an extraordinary woman. It’s really moving to hear how she adapted and kept living so independently and fully. Stories like hers are powerful reminders of what’s possible with determination and the right support. I’m really glad the piece helped bring Vision Bermuda to your attention. Your support means a lot. We are really happy to be able to help in whatever ways we can. ~Erica