Mental Wellness and Vision Loss: The ASPECT Program

Julie Grutzmacher, Director of Patient Advocacy and Population Health Initiatives at Prevent Blindness, answers the question: What is the ASPECT program? Vision loss is as much a mental health journey as a physical one. Prevent Blindness launched the Mental Wellness and Vision Loss video series to offer support, hope, and practical information for individuals adjusting to vision loss, as well as for those supporting them. The series features blind and visually impaired (BVI) mental health therapists who uniquely bridge two worlds: lived experience with vision loss and professional mental health practice. Through their stories and insights, they explore how these perspectives intersect and inform their work. Key themes include guidance for therapists working with the BVI community, the experience of being a BVI therapist, the power of storytelling, and the complex connections between grief, disability, and identity.