In Tennessee Mother of 5 She earned her university degree on May 9th, but she couldn’t see her family cheering for the audience.
Still, when 47-year-old Amanda Jutten crossed the stage and accepted Tennessee Institute of Technology degree Magna Come Loud, she was sure she would move forward more than ever.
“I’m completely blind,” Jutten told Fox News Digital in an interview. “That’s why I have my guide dog by my side.”
Choice of foods that can improve your vision and protect against eye diseases
“The two guys I sat in told me to follow them. We were a team. I was all waving and focused on going over the stage. I was thinking, ‘This isn’t the end. It’s really the beginning of the next thing.’ ”
Juten, who recently became a grandmother, started her University trip It was almost 30 years ago, but I had to postpone my studies when I had a baby right after graduating from high school.
Amanda Jutten, 47, graduated from Magna Cam Loud at Tennessee Institute of Technology and kept her guide dog by her side. (Tennessee Institute of Technology)
She eventually returned to higher education, but in 2020, years later Progressive vision loss From what is known as retinal pigmentation, she found herself in the darkness.
“I had no blind skills and was completely blind,” Juten said. “Over the years I’ve been taught many skills to use the rest of my vision, but what I should do without it was nothing to do at all.”
A girl desperate to see the world before she becomes completely blind
Deciding to regain her independence, she signed up for the eight-month program at Colorado Center for the Blinds.
“I thought blind parents knew they would cook lunch for their children, they knew blind parents would go to PTA meetings.
“I want to help people give the skills to find their voice.”
“The blind people are sitting in the basement and not waiting for the end. They live their lives, so I wanted to do that too.”
With her new skills and adaptation techniques, and updated A sense of self-confidence – Juetten registered with Tennessee Institute of Technology in the fall of 2022, earning a professional degree focused on organizational leadership.
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“It was amazing,” Juten said. “The instructor was asking, ‘What are your needs? How can I make this accessible to you?” They’re great at doing that.
Now, the newly graduated Jutten is advocating for greater acceptance and understanding of the blind.
Jutten became completely blind in 2020 after years of progressive vision loss from a condition called retinal pigmentitis. (Tennessee Institute of Technology)
“The blind need a voice,” Jutten said. “I have a voice and I love using it. I want to help people give the skills to find their voice. We need more teachers and more people in the field who believe in the perfect abilities of blind people.”
Next, she will pursue a graduate degree in blindness rehabilitation, and will likely earn her PhD.
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“I want to start providing services Supporting TechnologyBraille and what I learned and did well is, “I want to teach the blind as a vendor of vocational rehabilitation.”
Jutten traveled Washington DClobbying for blind-related initiatives and protesting ride-share drivers to San Francisco who refuse to serve passengers with wheelchairs or service animals.
After conquering blindness, five devoted moms rebuild her life with the help of her guide dog. (Tennessee Institute of Technology)
She also serves on the board of the Tennessee National Federation of Blinds and is a former president of the Tennessee Guide Dog Association.
she Guide dogColonel, always be by her side.
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Juetten has the following message for those facing blindness:
“You still have the same hopes and dreams,” she said. “All you wanted to do before you were blind, and you still want to do those things. So, find a way to do that.”
