MILWAUKEE – For more than 30 years, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Crocker Stephenson has written about what he sees, painting a picture with rich, detailed description.
Now, as he grapples with losing his vision, Stephenson has started to rely on what he hears instead. Stephenson, who at 63 has a condition similar to macular degeneration, talked about it last week with WISN-TV in Milwaukee.
“I’ve had to learn to listen,” said Stephenson, who in March told Wisconsin Public Radio that he uses a lot more quotes in stories than he used to. “I can’t believe how much I was missing before when I could see.”
Though he can no longer drive, Stephenson isn’t about to let his impaired vision stop him from writing. He takes the bus to work and uses a modified keyboard, magnifying glass, oversized monitor and special lights to read and type at work.
Stephenson’s condition even inspired his weekly column called “Better Angels,” in which he writes uplifting stories about decency, kindness and compassion in Milwaukee.
