Ability-vs-Impairment: To focus on your ability, you need to dump all the labels that classify you by your impairment. When my left arm was disabled, I decided to be right-handed. My writing was slow and sloppy at first, but I focused on the ability of my right arm rather than the impairment of my left. Don't focus on you blindness but on your hearing, smell, taste, touch and mental abilities. Take an inventory of all the skills, talents, and abilities you have left and begin to find things you can do to capitalize on them. My former abuse, addictions, mistakes, losses and chronic illnesses make me particularly sensitive and useful to people going through similar stuff. I guess, in a way, my disabilities have become my abilities. Take some time to make an honest inventory of what you've got, rather than what you lost. You probably have a lot more resources than you imagine.

Getting Disability Information and Resources: After you've adjusted your attitude and assessed your abilities, it's time begin assembling your other resources. When I built my own home, it took me as long to arrange and collect the materials and subcontractors as it did to actually build the house. Developing resources will be a full-time job until you have a full-time job. You can learn a lot about resources on the Internet. Disability Info is a great place to begin your research on what resources are available to help you overcome your particular handicap. Collect and read everything you can find. Once you've decided on a field of interest you'd like to pursue, research everything you can find on it to figure out how you can work around your handicap. Don't forget your family and friend resources, with one caution...only accept help you actually need from people. Dependence is easy to develop but harmful for you and for the person helping.