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Who is Annie
The world was at her feet for Annemarie Nodelijk, 23 years young in 2007. At her feet. During the spring of that year, her life was still going smoothly. As part of her higher education in fashion design at the Fashion Academy in Rotterdam, Annemarie is doing an internship in New York with the famous fashion designer Daryl van Wouw. Annemarie assists him at his fashion shows. And knows how to present herself well.
Dark clouds
In the fall of the same year, dark clouds gathered over her hitherto sunny existence. Annemarie was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor the size of an egg. The tumor presses on her optic nerve. She is immediately hospitalized. Surgeries follow. Those operations succeed, but because wound fluid continues to press on her optic nerve for too long, she loses much of her vision. After a long hospitalization, she must continue her life visually impaired. Diagnosis: right eye blind and left eye cochlear vision.
Counteroffensive
Annemarie, looking back on that dark period in her young life: "Yes, your life is completely turned upside down. Because nothing is self-evident anymore. Even just walking to the corner of the street is a bridge too far. From one day to the next, your self-confidence is completely gone. And you become an insecure little bird." Strong-willed as she is, Annemarie immediately launches a counter-offensive. She goes through an intensive rehabilitation program at the Royal Visio Het Loo Erf in Apeldoorn. And she even manages to finish her final collection for the Fashion Academy during this rehabilitation. With a sparkling fashion show in Grand Café Engels, she puts the crown on this education.
Rehabilitation
"I initially started AnnieStyle to investigate to what extent people like my designs and also whether they would want to wear an Annie. During my rehabilitation in 2008, I set up AnnieStyle. AnnieStyle is special because of my life story and because they are all unique, handmade items with a funky, quirky look, allowing you to stand out from the rest. You can use the bags both inside out and outside in. Both sides are equally beautiful. It makes me happy when people walk around with my bag and are proud to be carrying an AnnieStyle. And this not only because of the bag, but also because of the story behind the bag".
Annie's interview
Annemarie answers personal questions posed by journalist Ton Broekhuisen of the free newspaper Metro
Yes, that is and will remain the same. I will have to make do with that for the rest of my life.
For example, I can't see depths. Stairs down are therefore very difficult. On the street, I can't see anything coming from both left and right. I have less trouble with objects that are far away from me than with objects that are close to me. For the most part, I look over them. I actually have a very large blind spot. Looking down is also difficult. So curbs, for example, are difficult.
I have a red and white cane. And on my computer there is a program installed that pronounces and reads everything out loud. I could still do some reading with my left eye but because it takes a lot of energy, I only last a short time.
Absolutely. People are very helpful. Really everyone shows respect. People stand up for me on the streetcar. And I am helped to get on and off. If I stand looking around for a moment, people already come and ask me if they can do anything for me. Very sweet, yes.
Such a cane does indeed provide you with the necessary privileges. But for now, you just be glad you don't have to claim it. Silly.
Most fashion students can work at their internship company. For me, that opportunity fell through. My supplemental earnings as a bartender and cleaner also fell through. I now receive Wajong benefits. On Tuesdays, I teach sewing classes at an activity center.
Surely I can market my own designs. Manufactured by others, but under my direction. I am also running with plans for a webshop where I can offer my own clothing line. Difficulty is that I am not able to provide mass production. In my case, they must be unique pieces.
A lot of things are not clear. Even a guideway is not always kept clear. Then "sighted people" stand there having a chat at their leisure. One lady even thought that the guide path is there to make it easier to walk in stiletto heels! The important thing is to foster an understanding of what visually impaired people have to deal with. People should also realize that there are graduations in low vision. For example, I can text. But notice that this causes resentment because I walk with a cane anyway. But one has nothing to do with the other. Someone with a cane is not necessarily completely blind. And needy. So there needs to be more communication. If people are in doubt, let them ask!
The central message of this campaign is that the blind and visually impaired are simply part of society. Despite the fact that we cannot see or see less. And that not all of us can participate (fully) in the workforce. We can do so much. So we simply and fully belong.