I am 59 years old and I developed Stargardt’s disease when I was 11 years old (even though they didn’t know what it was back then), and by the time I was 16, I was legally blind (20/200).  I worked for the National Park Service for 32 years and was on a technical rescue team for all of that time which required hundreds of hours of training as well as being called on many rescues. I participated in rescues in all types of conditions and in all types of terrain, using helicopters as well as many miles of hiking and climbing over rough country.  My eyesight degraded to about 20/400 into my 10 th year with the NPS, but I continued on the rescue team.  I am now retired and am still called on rescues for the county and I actually have been their high angle team leader and training officer for the past 2 years. To all those young people out there with this disease, please do not give up your dreams and keep trying; there is much for you to do and accomplish.  I know, I have been there.