My name is John Bolton I have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and a hearing loss which is known as Usher Syndrome Three. I received my guide dog, a Labradoodle, from Guide Dogs of the Desert in 2010, and his name is Leighton. I am blessed to be married 42 years to my high school sweetheart, and we have 2 children and 7 grandchildren. I worked for the City of Glendale (Arizona) and, after retiring, Leighton and I continued attending city council meetings together. Leighton has helped me show city officials that being blind does not mean the visually impaired cannot live a full life - we just need a few accommodations to make anything possible.

Leighton and I appeared in a video showing how difficult it was for the disabled to maneuver around trash cans that was placed on city sidewalks in our neighborhood. When we brought this to the Glendale City Council in 2013, we were successful in changing the city code to remove these trash cans from the sidewalk. The new city code took effect January 1, 2014. Then Leighton and I appeared before the Peoria (Arizona) City Council and brought to their attention about the trash cans being placed on the sidewalks. In that city, trash pick-up is twice a week! After the Council viewed the video, Leighton and I trying to maneuver around more than 60 trash cans in just one city block, they agreed to change their city code to remove these trash can off the sidewalks and place the cans on the gutter side of the sidewalk. Peoria also has changed their code to begin February 1, 2015 to place the trash cans on the gutter side of the curb. 

I personally believe that  all cities should change their codes in order to allow people who are visually impaired, those that are in wheelchairs, mothers pushing their infants in strollers as well as children walking to school, a safe sidewalk so that none would have to be in danger of walking in the street to avoid trash cans.

As many fellow blind/visually impaired individuals, I use a screen reader (JAWS 15) to access web information and recently tried to access various city and state websites, along with college web sites and found that these local web sites were not meeting state or section 508 guidelines.  Starting in 2013 I have filed a complaint with the State of Arizona to bring their web site up to standards. With the help of Arizona Disability Law we are drafting a letter of complaint. I know that changing codes and laws is a slow process, believe me it tries my patience.  I am just one man who saw a need, I want to encourage everyone to step out, speak up and let your voice and needs be heard.  One by one we can make changes.

Retired from the City of Glendale (Arizona), John continues to be a fighting advocate and example, finding every opportunity to showcase the need for reasonable accommodations and accessibility for those with disabilities. His determination and leadership is especially poignant during the National Disability Awareness Month.