NATICK — After beginning to lose her vision at age 15, Jennifer Harnish dedicated her life and career to helping others with visual impairments to recognize the full, meaningful lives they can lead and the resources available to them.
A 21-year Natick resident, Harnish was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative retinal condition that has since taken away her functional vision. She said it hasn't stopped her from living her life to the fullest, with the help of support and important resources.
"I really experienced what I could do and how I could advocate, how I could present myself to potential employers as capable, knowledgeable, comfortable in my own skin, and really just accept that I am blind," said Harnish, who in May was named executive director of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. "That's part of who I am now."
Using clinician skills for vision rehabilitation
Harnish started her career as a clinical psychologist and has worked for more than two decades in organizations serving individuals who are blind or have low vision. She worked at The Carroll Center for the Blind for more than 13 years, starting as a case manager and therapist, then became director of rehabilitation services for more than 10 years.
Before becoming executive director for MABVI, she served as that organization's director of social services.
These roles, she said, have been rewarding because of their importance in ensuring that people with visual impairments have access to the same kinds of support that helped her.
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"I wanted to give back and have others receive the amount of support that I received and using my clinician skills, using my lived experiences, that's probably one of the most important factors and the value of being able to serve others was critical to me," Harnish said.
Supporting seniors and underserved populations
Harnish said she is particularly passionate about helping underserved populations, specifically older adults and seniors who are new to vision loss.
"There is some funding for services for those who are older adults or not employed, but we wanted to really work to fill a gap to provide more services to the underserved populations," she said.
MABVI offers a variety of services, including a network of more than 30 peer support groups throughout the state, including in Framingham, Natick and Brookline. These groups are led by inviduals who are blind or visually impaired, which is one reason Harnish said she was drawn to the organization. They also offer an adjustment counseling program that's staffed by those who are blind or visually impaired.
Empowerment through resources and community
Harnish said that one of the biggest challenges people face after losing their vision is not knowing what resources are available.
"I've never been somebody to just hole up in a room, but I was getting to that point," she said. "I realized I wanted to be out and about, I wanted to go to my kids' school, I wanted to be out and social, and active in the community and working. All of those things I learned from the council of peers in my support group and just that value of really adjusting and learning the skills."
Through these resources, Harnish learned practical skills such as how to use a computer, use braille and how to travel safely. She said these skills have significantly improved her self-confidence and quality of life.
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"Something I want people to know is that support exists, services exist and people living full lives exist," Harnish said.
Seeing others thrive through MABVI's services is the most fulfilling part of her work, she said.
"I'm not the one solving this for them — it's providing information and skills development, so they can make decisions and have options about how to continue to lead a full life," Harnish said.
Harnish enjoys an active lifestyle with her seeing-eye dog
Outside work, Harnish lives an active life alongside her seeing-eye dog, Daisy. Harnish said having a seeing-eye dog has helped her both move around safely, as well as provide social opportunities.
"People love to hear about the dog, ask questions about it, and I have found it is a nice connection opportunity with the general public," she said.
Harnish also enjoys spending time outdoors, participating in a hiking group that includes the support of sighted guides.
She frequently travels to visit her mother in Maryland, and says she feels confident and comfortable navigating travel and assisting her mother with everything she needs.
Advocating for accessibility throughout Massachusetts
Harnish is a strong advocate for accessibility throughout the state.
Every day, she takes the commuter rail from Natick Center, which recently completed accessibility upgrades. She recalls the challenges she faced years ago of trying to navigate the station with her children, who are now grown, including the difficulty of carrying them down the stairs. She now feels much more comfortable commuting with the addition of elevators, improved platforms and announcements of track numbers.
Harnish is also part of a support group that advocates for accessibility improvements in public spaces, including bike lane safety and accessible technology.
"It's always going to be a work in progress, but I think Massachusetts in general is ahead of many other states and the focus that they're putting on things like accessibility is great," she said.