Hey there! I’m Adam, and I’m here to share my story about how I achieved financial independence at the age of 32, despite going blind. I run a website called BlindLuckProject.com where we chat about financial independence and how to create your own luck, no matter the odds.
I’m passionate about raising awareness for visual disabilities and sharing my journey of going blind during my young adult years. I want to inspire others who are facing adversity in their lives, especially those with disabilities.
My journey started when I was a kid with better than perfect vision. But in middle school, my brother and I were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye condition that gradually leads to total blindness. At first, I didn’t think it was a big deal. I was still playing sports and living my life. But as I got older, the reality of my condition started to sink in.
I had dreams of becoming a pilot, but my night blindness put an end to that. Instead, I decided to focus on my education and got accepted into several great universities. I figured if I couldn’t fly a plane, I might as well get a degree and see where that takes me.
Going through college while losing my night vision was a unique experience. I had to stop driving at night and had a few mishaps like falling into bushes and running into street signs. But I graduated in 2010 with a degree in Construction Management, right in the middle of the Great Recession.
I started working part-time at the university library and eventually got a job at a large welding shop. It wasn’t the start to financial independence I had imagined, but it was better than moving back home.
During this time, I learned a lot about frugal living and managed to stay out of credit card debt. As the economy improved, I was promoted to a project manager position and things started looking up.
However, on my 26th birthday, I had to give up my car keys. It was no longer safe for me to drive. This was a tough pill to swallow, but it forced me to learn to ask for help and adapt to my changing circumstances.
I started taking a taxi to work every day, but soon found a more reliable and cost-effective solution – carpooling. I also realized that not owning a car was saving me a ton of money.
As my vision continued to deteriorate, I set a goal to save $1 million by age 40. It was an ambitious goal, but I figured if I increased my earnings and got more aggressive with investing, it was achievable.
Unfortunately, I faced discrimination at work due to my disability. Despite bringing in a significant amount of profit for the company, I was unfairly compensated. This led me to look for a new job, one that would offer me fair compensation and long-term disability insurance.
I applied for around 50 jobs, interviewed with ten firms, and received four job offers. I ended up accepting a job as a supply chain manager for a large aerospace company.
As my vision worsened, I had to ask for reasonable accommodations at work, such as a backlit keyboard, a safety partner, and a screen reader software. I also had to delegate some tasks to my colleagues.
Eventually, my vision deteriorated to the point where I could no longer perform my job effectively. I had a difficult conversation with my boss and we agreed on a transition plan. By December 18th, 2019, I was placed on a medical leave of absence and the disability claim process was started.
Now, I’m retired and living off my long-term disability insurance, social security disability insurance, and other income. I didn’t reach my goal of saving $1 million by age 40, but I’m still working towards it.
I hope my story can inspire others who are facing adversity in their lives. Remember, you can do this! Don’t give up, find your best available option, and keep moving forward.
If you want to learn more, check out my website BlindLuckProject.com. Thanks for reading!
