He lost his sight, but gained new vision

One month, Jason Reynolds could see. The next month, he couldn’t.

In July 2019, Reynolds was fully sighted, living in Steinbach and working as a long-haul trucker. By August, he was off the road and visiting doctors to find out why he was losing his vision. He hasn’t been back to work since.

Today, Reynolds can see sharp contrasts in colour, notice movement and discern whether it’s light or dark outside. But he has no vision in his left eye, and says it feels as though someone is holding up “four pieces of wax paper” over his right eye.

It’s the result of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Fluid built up in his skull, putting pressure on the back of his eyes and causing optic nerve damage.

“I was a 20-year truck driver and bus driver,” Reynolds, who now lives in Winnipeg, says. “I had no prognosis of ever going blind.”

Shortly after losing his vision, Reynolds was introduced to the CNIB Foundation, the non-profit organization that delivers programs and advocates for people impacted by blindness.

After going through a program that helped him adapt to blindness, Reynolds started signing up to help the organization.

“I thought, here’s something — I’m not working right now (but) I can give back.”

Today, the 52-year-old North End resident serves as a community engagement volunteer. Reynolds and his fellow volunteers provide public awareness and education, and advocate to break down barriers faced by people who are blind or partially sighted.

Reynolds also volunteers with the CNIB’s advocacy mentorship program, where he helps others become better advocates.

“I dove pretty head-first into advocacy. I think that’s pretty important,” he says, noting that, like many people, he previously had no understanding of what it means to live with sight loss. “I knew there were blind people, I knew they were out in public and they were capable, but the work it takes to be capable — you don’t think of it.”

In 2024, Reynolds and his fellow community engagement volunteers celebrated a victory when they successfully advocated for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to improve the brightness and contrast of the steps at Princess Auto Stadium.

The steps were plain concrete without contrasting edges, making it difficult for people with low vision to differentiate the edge of each step. The football club responded positively to the group and painted the front edge of each step with gold and orange paint, making it easier and safer for all Blue Bombers fans to enjoy games.

The CNIB relies on volunteers to help do its work, says Vivi Dabee, program lead for advocacy and community outreach at the organization’s Manitoba office.

“I’m really proud of my volunteer team and how eager they are to break down barriers when they encounter them, and create awareness of the lives of people with sight loss,” she says.

Reynolds has been a positive addition to the team.

“I would describe Jason as a very passionate, energetic and motivated volunteer who’s not afraid to raise his voice when he encounters barriers,” Dabee says.

Reynolds says that losing his sight initially left him in a stupor, but he’s in a much better place now thanks to the support of his girlfriend and his four children.

“Life’s too short not to have fun and enjoy it,” he says. “There’s still lots to enjoy.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the CNIB, visit cnib.ca/volunteer.

If you know a special volunteer, email aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca.