A Disabled Man's Dreams

I haven't had the easiest time in life. I was born with cataracts which were removed but left me with only 10% vision (2/20), low enough to be classified legally blind. I additionally suffer from micropthalmia, which makes corrective surgery an impossibility for me. So sadly this is how I'll be, and there's every chance it'll get worse one day, I already have glaucoma--I take drops for it, but they're not cheap, and they can only work for so long.  I also have a guide dog, who is amazing, but he adds to my costs as he has to be kept in absolutely tip-top shape, and hasn't been having the best time of things himself, which upsets me.

So having all this weighing on me has made me think about what I want to do in life, where I want to go. (I haven't had the chance to see much of the world, its too expensive to be able to think about things like that)  Its always on my mind, knowing that my sight is going to go one day, and not even knowing when so its that much harder to plan a future.  There's so much I want to see and do, so much of the world I want to experience (whether the unlikely ones like seeing Old Trafford in person one day,  seeing more of Australia's natural beauty while I still can, or even starting  a family of my own one day--which is something I could not do without a chance to provide for them), and I worry that I'll be denied all that because of my disability, and only left with my blindness and regrets.

There's more people I want to help than only myself. I know others with disabilities, some who share my condition, others with autism, deafness, cerebal palsy, and Down's Syndrome. Many of them are struggling too and have their own stories to tell. I want the best for them and would love if I was in a position where I could help them have a voice and live their dreams too. I know how hard it is, and making other's lives easier would help mine as well.

I rely heavily upon my family and I feel awful for it, I hate having to ask as I feel like I'm taking away from their lives too, and feel like a burden. Its really hard knowing that it could always be that way. I want to help them too and become more independent, but its really rough. Assistive technology such as a customised MacBook Pro (with programmes such as JAWS)  could potentially be a great aid to my independence, but unfortunately technology for the blind is so expensive, just the combination of Macbook + programmes costs several thousand dollars, even besides anything else.). Beyond that, the house is so cramped--I'd love to move out one day soon, but I know its just not financially possible (especially living in Sydney, which has a terrible housing bubble), without help. 


I've been trying to save for a while now, at least enough to be able to move out and feel secure from week-to-week. Sadly I face disadvantages that most don't, I face discrimination due to my condition, which makes it harder to find work. I have to pay medical bills and medication costs, and as a disabled person, specialty equipment (which people like me rely upon) is always going to be far more expensive than regular items.
After a life that for so long has been limited by my condition, I'm trying to just become independent and happy, but ironically its something I can't do alone.  I'd really appreciate your help.
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