Shine A Light - Walk In My Shoes - A Special Look At A Day In The Life Of Two Unique Wexford Women

What is everyday life really like when the world around you has to be navigated differently?

In this special Shine A Light episode, Walk in My Shoes, we meet Emer Mulhall, who is blind and uses a guide dog and Karina Browne who is living with an acquired brain injury.

Through their own words, they share the challenges, the adaptations and the everyday moments most of us never have to think twice about.

Emer told us about living with blindness & spoke about how technology, her guide dog and carefully learned routines allow her to live and work independently — while warning that seemingly small obstacles can create serious dangers.

Emer was visually impaired from birth and initially had some light perception, including the ability to distinguish light, colours and sunshine. However, she lost that remaining perception in 2014, describing the adjustment as a significant loss which took time to come to terms with.

Today she uses a combination of technology, Braille and her guide dog Hope to maintain her independence.

Among the technology she uses are Meta AI glasses, which can describe her surroundings, identify clothing and help her understand what is around her. She also uses smartphone applications to read information such as best-before dates, while the Be My Eyes app can connect visually impaired users with volunteers for assistance.

Emer also uses a Braille note-taker in her work, allowing her to take notes and read information through a Braille display.

However, she says accessibility remains a major issue.

She highlighted the importance of functioning audible pedestrian crossings saying that when one is broken she can be left unable to safely cross a busy road.

Emer also appealed to motorists not to park on footpaths recalling how a vehicle blocking her route recently forced her and Hope onto the road.

She said doing so can leave a visually impaired person “literally taking our lives in our hands.”

Karina Browne suffered a severe acquired brain injury in a road traffic collision 20 years ago has spoken about rebuilding her life and independence.

She was left on life support following the collision in 2006 and faced a long rehabilitation journey, including a period when she required a wheelchair.

Karina said she once believed her life was over, but support from her family, rehabilitation services and her own determination have helped her make significant progress.

Today, she attends rehabilitation and acquired brain injury services, exercises regularly, works and has recently been given additional responsibility in her job.

Karina is also working towards another major goal — having a home of her own. At 41, she says she is excited about the prospect of living independently and doing the ordinary things many people take for granted.

She told Shine A Light that life after brain injury can still involve frustration and challenges, but physical activity, rehabilitation and learning new skills continue to play an important role in her life.

Her message to others is simple: live in the present, don’t dwell on what cannot be changed and allow people to help when help is needed.

Shine A Light is available on podcast on South East Radio's Website Podcast Section & on Spotify

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