StarGardtians, Inc.

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StarGardtians, Inc.

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Empowering the ambitions of students with Stargardt's. Our Starlight Grant funds education, while our heroes Alerica & Comet raise awareness.

We started StarGardtians, Inc. to create awareness for Stargardt's disease as well as implement programs such as Scholarships and Business Grants to those with Stargardt's wishing to go to college or start a business. We personally live and persevere with Stargardt's everyday.

10/31/2026

You found us. And we want you to know — there's support here.

Whether you or someone you love was recently diagnosed with Stargardt disease, or you've been navigating this for years and just discovered Stargardtians, Inc., we're genuinely glad you're here.

Here is what we offer:

The Starlight Grant — an educational scholarship program for people living with Stargardt disease who are pursuing higher education. Because a vision condition should never be a barrier to building the future you want.

Resources and information at starguardians.org — learn about Stargardt disease, explore the Starlight Grant application, and find out how to support the mission.

A community built by people who get it — Stargardtians, Inc. was founded by Matt Carmichael, who lives with Stargardt disease alongside his sister. This organization exists from within the experience, not around it.

"We may not have sight...but we have a vision." 🌟

If you know someone who could benefit from the Starlight Grant or from what we do, please share this post. It could matter more than you know.

Learn more: starguardians.org

10/28/2026

Let's clear up some misconceptions about visual impairment and Stargardt disease — because there are a lot of them, and they matter.

Misconception: "If you have low vision, you must qualify for a white cane or guide dog."
Reality: Vision loss exists on a spectrum. Not everyone with low vision uses mobility aids, and qualifications depend on individual functional vision and needs — not a blanket diagnosis.

Misconception: "People with Stargardt disease are totally blind."
Reality: Stargardt disease causes central vision loss, not complete blindness. Most people retain peripheral vision and continue to navigate the world — just with adaptations.

Misconception: "There's nothing available to help."
Reality: Assistive technology, workplace and school accommodations, educational scholarships like the Starlight Grant, and advocacy organizations make an enormous difference in quality of life. Support exists.

Understanding the real experience of visual impairment makes all of us better advocates, better allies, and better humans. 💛

Share this if you learned something new today.

10/23/2026

Your phone is smarter than you think. 📱

Here are some free tools that can make a real difference for people living with low vision or Stargardt disease — most of them are already on your device right now.

VoiceOver (iOS) / TalkBack (Android) — Screen readers that read everything aloud. Already built into your phone.

Magnifier (iOS) — Turns your camera into a high-powered magnifier with lighting control. Triple-click the side button to open it.

Microsoft Seeing AI (iOS) — Describes people, text, and scenes out loud. Genuinely incredible for everyday tasks.

Be My Eyes — Connect with a sighted volunteer via live video for real-time visual help. Available 24/7, and it's free.

Large Text + Display Settings — Built into every major operating system. No app download needed, takes 30 seconds to set up.

You don't have to spend money to get started with accessibility tools. These exist. They work. 💛

Which of these have you tried? Or is there one we should add to the list? Tell us below.

10/22/2026

Vision loss has never stopped greatness. 🌟

This Blindness Awareness Month, we're honoring some of the remarkable people throughout history who navigated life with low or no vision — and went on to shape the world.

Stevie Wonder — music legend and humanitarian, blind from infancy
Andrea Bocelli — one of the world's most celebrated opera singers, lost his sight at age 12
Helen Keller — author, activist, and the first deafblind person to earn a bachelor's degree
Ray Charles — blind at age 7; one of the most influential musicians in American history
Jorge Luis Borges — one of the 20th century's greatest writers, who continued creating long after he lost his sight entirely

Low vision and blindness are not ceilings. They are part of the full, rich human experience of people who go on to do extraordinary things.

We may not have sight...but we have a vision.

Who inspires you most? Tell us below. 👇

10/19/2026

5 accessibility adjustments that can make a real difference for low vision life 💡

1. Increase your text size. Most phones and computers have an accessibility menu where you can make text larger across every app. Find it once, thank yourself forever.

2. Switch to high-contrast or dark mode. For many with central vision loss, high-contrast settings significantly reduce eye strain. It's not just a trend — for some people, it's a game-changer.

3. Try the built-in magnifier. iPhones have a Magnifier app (triple-click the side button to open it). Android has Magnification Gestures in Accessibility settings. Your phone is already a magnifying glass — you just might not know it yet.

4. Explore large-print and audio options. Public libraries offer large-print books, audiobooks, and digital resources for people with visual impairment — many completely free.

5. Rethink your lighting. High-glare lighting can make central vision loss harder to manage. Softer, indirect lighting often helps. A simple, free change worth trying.

Which of these has made the biggest difference for you? Or share one we should add to the list. 👇

More resources at starguardians.org.

10/16/2026

Imagine reading this caption...
..but everything in the middle is blurry. Or missing.

That's central vision loss — and it's at the heart of what Stargardt disease does.

Your central vision is what you use to read text on a screen, recognize a face across a room, drive a car, and make eye contact. When the macula — the central part of the retina — is damaged, those tasks become significantly harder or impossible without accommodations.

Here's what often surprises people: peripheral (side) vision is frequently still intact.

That means Stargardtians can navigate a room, detect movement, and experience the world with depth and richness — just differently than most. It requires creativity, adaptation, and resilience. And it's something the broader world rarely understands.

That's why awareness matters. 💛

10/14/2026

You might be a Stargardtian if...

You've zoomed in on your phone screen approximately 47 times in one conversation. 👀

You've memorized the layout of your favorite restaurant's menu so you don't have to squint at it again.

Someone asks "did you see that?!" and your honest answer is... sort of.

You have a whole system for navigating unfamiliar spaces — and honestly? It works perfectly.

October is Blindness Awareness Month, and we're here to say: your adaptability is a superpower. The creativity, the problem-solving, the resilience it takes to show up in a world built for full sighted people — that is something worth celebrating.

We see you. With our peripherals. 💛

Drop your most relatable low-vision moment in the comments. We have a feeling you'll get some serious solidarity down there.

10/12/2026

30,000 Americans are living with Stargardt disease. Most people have never heard of it.

That's exactly why October matters.

Stargardt disease — sometimes called Stargardt's macular dystrophy — is the most common inherited macular dystrophy. It affects central vision, which is the part of your sight you rely on for reading, recognizing faces, and seeing fine detail.

It's typically diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 40. It's caused by a mutation in the ABCA4 gene. There is currently no cure, though research is actively advancing.

For the approximately 30,000 Americans living with it, that means finding new ways to navigate, adapt, and thrive — often from a very young age.

Stargardtians, Inc. exists to make sure no one carries that alone.

Learn more at starguardians.org.

10/09/2026

MYTH: "People with vision loss can't see anything at all." ❌

FACT: Most people living with Stargardt disease have some usable vision — just not in the center of what they see. ✅

Stargardt disease affects the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Reading fine print, recognizing faces, seeing detail up close — those are the things that become harder. Peripheral (side) vision is often intact.

Which means Stargardtians have become masters of adapting. Of tilting a phone at just the right angle. Of memorizing layouts. Of reading a room with incredible skill.

This Blindness Awareness Month, let's clear up the myths — because understanding the real experience is how we build a more inclusive world.

What's one misconception about Stargardt disease or low vision that you've had to correct for someone? Drop it in the comments. 👇

02/06/2026

February is Low Vision Month! Do you know someone who is legally blind?

Address

197 Palmer Avenue
Falmouth, MA
02540

Telephone

+15084448987

Website

http://www.starguardians.org/

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