For Mary Grace, Helen Keller has always been a source of inspiration— a hero whose determination to overcome extraordinary challenges helped Mary Grace make sense of her own life. It wasn’t until she was in her 50s that Mary Grace was diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2, a condition that affects both hearing and vision. 

For much of her life, she felt caught between two worlds, never quite feeling that she fully belonged to either the blind or the Deaf community. Helen Keller gave her a way to put that feeling into words: “Blindness separates us from things, but deafness separates us from people.” It helped her explain to others something she had struggled to articulate for years: that losing access to the world around you is one challenge, but feeling disconnected from the people in it can be an entirely different kind of isolation. Through Keller’s example, Mary Grace found not only inspiration, but also language for an experience that was uniquely her own.

At Visually Impaired Persons Support (VIPS), we believe that learning opens doors to greater independence, confidence, and connection. That’s why we’re excited to offer FREE Braille classes. Whether someone is newly experiencing vision loss or looking to build on their existing skills, Braille can be a valuable tool for everyday life, literacy, and independence.

Don’t forget to join us for our annual Sips with VIPS fundraising event!

🕓 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.

📍Vella Farms 5136 Dale Rd, Modesto, CA 95356

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the VIPS Annual Fundraiser: Sips with VIPS! on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Vella Farms in Modesto