Chuck Worthen: Alumni Client & Volunteer

Chuck Worthen has led an interesting life which includes careers that have taken him around the world. For over 20 years, Chuck was in the United States Air Force, in communication navigation systems. During that time, he was awarded several commendations. Chuck also worked for McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in the FA18 Program. He developed and taught training courses for military personnel in Canada and maintained electronic apparatus on aircraft in several countries. He chose an early retirement so he could care for his parents in New Port Richey. At that time, his mother had Macular Degeneration.

Chuck also has Macular Degeneration. In 2001, Chuck began having problems reading because of blurry vision. At first, he wasn’t diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, however both eyes went wet immediately. Going wet means Chuck experienced bleeding behind his retinas – which caused swelling and the macula to lift. The macula, part of the retina, is responsible for the vision that allows us to see fine details and to read. Chuck’s condition was improved by laser treatments that unfortunately caused scarring. Chuck went on to have cataract surgery, and he developed Glaucoma which was also treated. In 2003, Chuck was declared legally blind and was referred to the Lighthouse by his eye doctor.

Until Chuck became legally blind, he had very little knowledge of the Lighthouse. As a child, he had never seen blind people in public except for those who sold pencils as a way to support themselves. While growing up, he heard of the Lighthouse and had always thought the Lighthouse was a place blind people would gather to support each other. When he came to the Lighthouse in 2008, the experience really opened his eyes. He had no idea that there were so many services or that he could be assisted to successfully regain his independence. He was also surprised to learn that so many people care. Chuck took Lighthouse programs, which included Independent Living Skills, Orientation and Mobility/White Cane and Assistive Technology.

Since graduating from his Lighthouse programs, Chuck has become a regular fixture at the Lighthouse. Chuck now volunteers in the Independent Living Skills Program, assisting Lighthouse instructors in providing vision rehabilitation. His experience has been very satisfying. According to Chuck, “…lots of interesting people come for classes… business owners, housewives, etc., some of whom have been blind from birth, and some who lived in sanitariums back in the day when blind people were sent to those places. Many people, regardless of where they’re from, feel as though they are supposed to stay in their rooms and let their families do everything because they cannot see.”

Chuck also assists instructors in the technology lab and he helps get the newsletter sent out. The Lighthouse truly appreciates Chuck’s volunteer efforts. In 2009, Chuck received an award for being Lighthouse’s Volunteer of the Year. In recognition of Chuck’s commitment to the field and because of his expertise and experience, the Lighthouse made Chuck a member of the Lighthouse Board of Directors in May 2011.

Based on his volunteer experiences, Chuck has come to understand that those with vision impairments have no idea that so many people are affected. Then, when they learn that many have the same conditions, it puts vision impairment into perspective—people with vision loss learn they are not alone and that many have been trying to cope doing the same things. Once they make this connection, they’re on the road to independence. Lighthouse’s Independent Living Skills Program teaches each person to build on their existing skills and then it teaches them new ones so people with vision loss are able to take back their independence and get on with their lives.

Before losing his vision, Chuck was a Corvette enthusiast—he owned three Corvettes and he raced them. He also traveled extensively for work and for pleasure. After losing his vision, Chuck lost his motivation to travel or to leave his home. He says, “When you can’t see, you can no longer drive, and then you start to hibernate.”

Today, Chuck is able to see to some extent, using his peripheral vision and a magnification device called a CCTV, however he can’t see details or faces. To get around, Chuck uses two white canes—a walking cane for support and a mobility cane for identification. Chuck says, “It’s hard for the public to understand Macular Degeneration. I am able to see large things, and I can also see smaller objects in my peripheral vision. When you are able to walk around independently, they have a hard time believing that you can’t read.”

Since adjusting to his vision loss, Chuck started to travel again and everywhere he goes, he tells people about the Lighthouse. He knows the importance of getting the word out because many people don’t know there are services that can help. Chuck says, “The Lighthouse is getting better every day. There are more programs than ever before, helping people who are visually impaired and blind feel the joy you get from participating, contributing, working, and being able to succeed.” Because of the Lighthouse, Chuck lives independently, and is achieving the Lighthouse mission.