---
title: Building a Life of Independence
description: Discover how Carly Stevason transformed her life through Goodwill, gaining independence and confidence after overcoming challenges related to her visual impairment.
image: https://blog.goodwillindy.org/hubfs/IMG_3451.jpeg
---

![](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/01_GICI/Logos/GCSI-wordmark.png?width=269&name=GCSI-wordmark.png "GCSI-wordmark.png")

## [Building a Life of Independence](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/building-a-life-of-independence)

 \[fa icon="calendar"\] Jun 2, 2026 10:00:00 AM / by [Jennifer Neer](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/author/jennifer-neer)

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![IMG_3451](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3451.jpeg?width=250&height=188&name=IMG_3451.jpeg)In the heart of Franklin, Indiana, the local Goodwill of Southern & Central Indiana retail store is more than just a place to find a hidden treasure or a vintage sweater. For Carly Stevason, it’s the place where the blurry edges of her world finally came into sharp focus.

Carly’s journey has never been easy. Diagnosed with a brain tumor as a young child, the illness left its mark on her optic nerve. By the age of six, Carly was declared legally blind. Today, she navigates the world with approximately 30% of her vision. For a long time, that limited perspective didn't just affect her sight, it affected how she saw her own future.

When Carly joined the Goodwill retail team in 2019, she started as a floor associate. She spent her days purging items and organizing shelves, content with her role but hesitant to dream bigger. Like many of us who have faced setbacks, Carly felt she had reached her ceiling. She assumed that more complex tasks, like pricing items or operating a cash register, were simply out of reach due to her eyesight.

Before finding her footing at Goodwill, Carly admits she felt adrift. “I was lost,” she shares candidly. “I wasn’t making good choices. I had thoughts of what I wanted to do, but no plans on how to do them.”

The turning point came two years later when a mission coach asked a simple but life-changing question: “Would you be interested in doing something else?”

Carly was honest about her fears. She wanted more, but she knew she needed help to get there. The response she received is a testament to the power of a supportive workplace. Her manager didn't just offer platitudes; he asked exactly what equipment she needed and ordered it that same day.

With a few months of training and the right accommodations, Carly moved from the aisles to her very own designated register. She hasn't looked back since.

Today, Carly isn't just a cashier; she’s a storyteller. "The people I meet at the cash register are amazing," she says with a smile. "I’ve even thought about writing a book: Stories of a Cashier."

Goodwill’s support has extended far beyond the walls of the retail store. From her coworkers providing daily transportation to the organization helping her with a down payment on her home, the community has rallied around her. But the greatest gift hasn't been the equipment or the house, it’s the independence.

“Goodwill has helped me grow up,” Carly says. “I don’t feel like a person who needs other people to do things for me.”

Carly is a reminder to all of us that when we provide the right tools and a little bit of trust, there is no limit to what a person can achieve.

Whether you’re looking for your first job, a fresh start, or a place where you can truly belong, we want to help you reach your goals. Come be a part of a team that invests in you by applying at [https://www.goodwillindy.org/careers/](https://www.goodwillindy.org/careers/) today.

 

 Topics: [Employment](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/employment), [Disability](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/disability), [Success Story](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/success-story), [Disability Services](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/disability-services), [Retail](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/retail), [Mission Awareness](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/mission-awareness)

#### Written by [Jennifer Neer](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/author/jennifer-neer)

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- [Riverview Apartments (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/riverview-apartments)
- [Stand Down for Veterans (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/stand-down-for-veterans)
- [The Excel Center Anderson (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/the-excel-center-anderson)
- [The Excel Center Bartholomew County (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/the-excel-center-bartholomew-county)
- [The General Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/the-general-wayne-a-downing-home-for-veterans)
- [Veterans Home (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/veterans-home)
- [Veterans Support (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/veterans-support)
- [WBW2020 (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/wbw2020)
- [Warehousing (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/warehousing)
- [Weekend Rewards (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/weekend-rewards)
- [Workforce Housing (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/workforce-housing)
- [World Diabetes Day (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/world-diabetes-day)
- [donating (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/donating)
- [organizing (1)](https://blog.goodwillindy.org/topic/organizing)

see all

### Recent Posts

#### About Us

Everything we do, including our retail operations, helps us further our mission of helping individuals and families become more economically self-sufficient. From education, to employment, to health, all our programs and services – made possible through your support – provide life-changing opportunities to those who connect with Goodwill.

 

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