I developed Retinitis Pigmentosa while I was growing up and by the time I was 35, I was no longer able to drive or maintain my job as a security supervisor. I had been diagnosed at the Stein Institute at UCLA. They told me that my condition would continue to worsen over time, which it did.

Then I decided that I needed help and went to large agency for the visually impaired in Los Angeles. They provided classes in many subjects that helped me organize my life and adjust to my vision loss. I started weekly Orientation and Mobility training, which made all the difference for me.

I lived in North Hollywood, California, part of the city of Los Angeles. This is a city full of different and unique areas. There are quite residential and major metropolitan neighborhoods, narrow streets and six lane highways going through the center of town. I was motivated and learned to use a long cane in all kinds of situations around town.

I trained in malls, airports and busses. I have family that I wanted to visit that lived too far away to take the bus and too close to fly. So I learned to travel on the commuter train that we have in downtown L.A. My instructor did not want me to sit in handicapped car as she did not think I was disabled. So I learned how to mark my seat in a way that I could get up and move around and find it when I came back to it later.

My family was also having problems with my vision loss. They didn't know how to guide me and I was often falling off curbs and being led into fire hydrants. The O&M teacher also worked with my family and put my wife under the blindfold for an hour and a half. After that, their ability to walk with me safely improved one thousand percent.

There were hard times and easy times. Some of the lessons were many hours in length and I was exhausted by the end. My mobility instructor was one of the best. She knew when to push me, in spite of my fear and resistance. And, she knew when to stop and have coffee.

Eventually, I ended up getting a guide dog from Leader Dog School in Michigan. "Rusty" has been a great help and my best friend. But I feel it is still very important to have regular refresher courses in mobility to keep up my skills. That keeps me able to travel independently if I need to. I'm able to travel around town whenever I want, go to different functions, travel, and go to conferences as I need, and feel confident.

I thank my orientation and mobility instructor for all the help given to me.