Lacey Coward
Lacey Coward was diagnosed at 18 months old with Leber's congenital amaurosis, which is characterized by vision loss.
Ignoring those who doubted her abilities because of her low vision, she excelled in school and in life.
Graduating
from Meredith College in 2011 with her Bachelor’s degree in Social
Work, she immediately began working on her Masters in Social Work at NC
State University. She graduated at the top of her class.
Since
Lacey wanted a career that would help others, she took a position as a
Social Worker for the Blind in Alamance County. Lacey troubleshoots and
finds solutions to daily problems that her consumers experience.
She
has gained even more independence with the recent addition of her guide
dog Beecher, a two-year-old yellow lab. She currently lives alone and
over an hour from her nearest relative.
In her spare time, Lacey enjoys reading, watching Netflix and playing with Beecher.
Lacey Coward works at her desk while her guide dog, Beecher, sits nearby and looks attentively. She works as a social worker for Alamance County.
Lacey reviews her caseload on the computer at work. She uses a software, created for individuals who have low vision, which enlarges text and creates a contrast with a black background and colored text.
Lacey types on an adaptive keyboard, which has two red bump dots placed on keys she uses frequently - the 4 and the 8. As her business card below her keyboard denotes, Lacey is a Social Worker for the Division of Services for the Blind and processes authorizations for equipment.
Beecher, Lacey’s guide dog, has been the newest addition to her life.
A framed quote, “Walk by faith, not by sight,” is Lacey’s motto. It sits above her computer as Lacey enters information into the Division’s computer system.