Michael’s Story

I’ve been part of the Lighthouse Guild community since I was a kid. I have x-linked retinoschisis, a rare genetic disease that has made me legally blind since birth. Growing up, Lighthouse Guild wasn’t just a place where I received services – it became the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished. Now, as a Specialist at Apple, it’s clearer than ever how valuable Lighthouse Guild has been throughout my life.  

In middle school, I started participating in the Saturday Youth Program, learning skills like cooking, and meeting new friends who shared my experience as a blind person. Eventually, when I got older, I interned with the youth program, teaching those same skills to younger children. That experience showed me that I could take what I learned and give it back to others, foreshadowing my career now. 

When I got to college, I studied computer engineering – and I discovered Lighthouse Guild’s Tech Pals program. Tech Pals is where younger people with vision loss like me work one-on-one with older adults with vision loss, helping them navigate technology and build independence. I had to apply and interview just like a real job, and honestly, that process itself was invaluable. It married my passion for technology with my place in the low vision community. 

One of my favorite experiences was working with an older woman who had a quiet demeanor. At first, she wasn’t excited about learning about new technology. I understood that hesitation – as someone with low vision too, and sometimes people can’t help but think, “Why do I need to learn this?” But I helped her see that there’s never a cutoff age to learn something new, and that learning can make life easier. 

Week by week, she opened up. She started using Zoom on her phone, shopping for things online on her own, even ordering new lights for her home to help her see better. Before, she relied on her daughter for these tasks. Now, she can do them independently. Every week, she’d come in with a smile, excited to learn what was next. Watching her transition to independence was one of the most touching experiences of my life. I was honored to help give that to her. 

Tech Pals taught me how to work closely with someone, learn their personal needs, understand where they are in life, and meet them there. It wasn’t just a Q&A session – it was about listening, asking open-ended questions, and having real conversations. Those skills have been the foundation for my role now as a Specialist at Apple. 

Every day at Apple, I work with customers to answer their questions, teach them about accessibility features, and help them find the right products and services. Just like in Tech Pals, my goal is to connect with a stranger, make them feel comfortable, and show them I’m here for them. I’m not trying to oversell – I’m listening, learning about their individual needs and goals, and helping them based on what they actually want. 

Lighthouse Guild didn’t just prepare me for this career – it showed me that low vision is part of my story, not a limit on what I can achieve. After all the years I’ve spent at Lighthouse Guild, I’m proud to be part of the low vision community.   

Lighthouse Guild gave me skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Tech Pals showed me that helping others navigate technology isn’t just about the devices – it’s about giving people independence. And now, every day at work, I get to carry that mission forward.