When blind mother of 5 Amanda Juetten walked across the stage at Tennessee Tech University’s commencement ceremony on May 9, she couldn’t see the crowd cheering for her, but she could feel their support. The 47-year-old mother of five, now a grandmother, graduated magna cum laude with her guide dog, Colonel, steadfastly by her side.
Juetten’s journey to this moment was anything but ordinary. After decades of setbacks, including raising a family, losing her vision entirely, and relearning how to navigate the world, she emerged not just with a degree but with a renewed purpose: to advocate for the blind community.
How a Blind Mother Balanced School, Family, and a New Reality
Juetten first enrolled in college nearly 30 years ago but put her education on hold when she became a mother right after high school. For years, she worked to support her growing family while coping with progressive vision loss from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. By 2020, she was completely blind and unprepared.
“I was left totally blind with no skills for blindness,” Juetten told Fox News Digital. “I had been taught how to use my remaining vision, but not what to do with no vision at all.”
Determined to regain independence, she enrolled in an intensive eight-month program at the Colorado Center for the Blind, where she learned essential skills like Braille, assistive technology, and navigating public spaces without sight.
“Blind people are not sitting in their basements waiting for the end,” she said. “They’re out there living their lives, and I wanted to do that, too.”
A Triumphant Return to College With Unwavering Support
In 2022, Juetten enrolled at Tennessee Tech University, pursuing a degree in professional studies with a focus on organizational leadership. This time, she had something she didn’t before: a strong support system.
Her guide dog, Colonel, accompanied her to every class. Professors proactively asked, “What are your needs?” rather than questioning her capabilities. And her classmates became her allies—literally guiding her across the stage at graduation.
“The two guys I was sitting by told me to follow them—we were a team,” Juetten recalled. “I was thinking, ‘This isn’t the end. It’s really the beginning of what’s next.’”
From Graduate to Advocate: Fighting for the Blind Community
Juetten isn’t stopping at her diploma. She’s now a vocal advocate for disability rights, serving on the board of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee and lobbying in Washington, D.C., for blindness-related initiatives. She’s also protested rideshare companies that deny service to passengers with wheelchairs or guide dogs.
Her next goal? A graduate degree in blindness rehabilitation, followed by a potential doctorate.
“The blind need a voice,” she said. “I have a voice and I love to use it. I want to help give people the skills to find theirs.”
Why Juetten’s Story Matters
Juetten’s journey underscores two critical issues:
- Accessibility in education – Her success highlights how accommodations (like supportive faculty and assistive tech) can empower students with disabilities.
- Representation in advocacy – Blind individuals often face misconceptions about their capabilities. Juetten’s visibility helps shift those narratives.
What’s Next for Juetten?
With her degree in hand, Juetten plans to:
- Launch a career in assistive technology training
- Continue lobbying for disability rights legislation
- Mentor other blind students navigating higher education
Her guide dog, Colonel, will remain her steadfast partner, proving that with resilience and the right support, barriers are meant to be broken.