Mom of 5 earns degree after going completely blind, now aims to help others
When Amanda Juetten, a mother of five from Tennessee, received her college degree magna cum laude from Tennessee Tech University on May 9, it was a momentous occasion. What made this achievement even more remarkable was the fact that Amanda is completely blind.
As she crossed the stage to accept her degree, Amanda couldn’t see her family cheering in the audience, but she had her faithful guide dog, Colonel, by her side every step of the way. “I’m totally blind,” Amanda shared in an interview with Fox News Digital. “So I’ve got my guide dog by my side.”
Amanda’s journey to this moment began nearly 30 years ago when she started her college studies but had to put them on hold when she became a mother right out of high school. She worked hard to provide for her family but always had a dream of completing her education.
In 2020, Amanda found herself facing progressive vision loss due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, leaving her completely blind. Determined to regain her independence, she enrolled in an eight-month program at the Colorado Center for the Blind to learn new skills and adaptive techniques.
With her newfound confidence, Amanda returned to higher education at Tennessee Tech University in 2022, pursuing a professional studies degree with a concentration in organizational leadership. Despite her blindness, Amanda found incredible support from her instructors who were committed to making her educational experience accessible and inclusive.
Now a college graduate, Amanda is advocating for more acceptance and understanding of the blind community. She believes that blind individuals have a voice and should be empowered to live their lives to the fullest. “I have a voice and I love to use it,” Amanda said. “We need more teachers and more people in the field who believe in the full capacity of the blind.”
Looking ahead, Amanda plans to pursue a graduate degree in blindness rehabilitation and hopes to offer services in assistive technology and Braille. She has already been actively involved in lobbying for blindness-related initiatives and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Through her journey, Amanda has shown that blindness is not a barrier to achieving one’s goals and dreams. With Colonel by her side, she has conquered challenges and is now ready to empower others in the blind community to do the same. Her message to anyone facing blindness is clear: “You still have the same hopes and dreams. So let’s find a way to do that.”
Amanda Juetten’s incredible story serves as an inspiration to all, reminding us that determination, resilience, and the support of loved ones can help us overcome any obstacle.
