Why having my own business means so much to me: the story of my husband’s deteriorating eyesight.

Jon’s deteriorating eyesight is, without a doubt, a factor in why I do what I do.

But I’d still work with words regardless of his disability.

It’s the self-employed working from home bit that’s helpful in our circumstances.

Jon is my husband. A force to be reckoned with. A man who defies stereotypes and labels.

He was registered blind* the year we got together, in 2001, when we were 19.

He has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition. Currently, he’s holding on to 5% vision in one eye.

Dr. Cronshaw, with a degree in visual arts and philosophy (yep, visual) and an MA and PhD in art history, who has worked as a stockbroker, as press secretary for a member of the shadow cabinet, who created a faux nu-krautrock band wangling a slot at the Tate in the ultimate send-up of performance art, is these days forging a successful career as an indie author.

But he can never find that USB lead he dropped. Or read the three digits on the back of his new bank card. Or work out where the ‘X’ is to get rid of that pop-up on the website he’s trying to read.

So, yes, part of the appeal of being a self-employed proofreader and editor is being able to be here, at home, on hand to help.