Toni Sharp has learned to live the way she wants without sight.
Taupō’s Toni Sharp has spent a lifetime showing people that it doesn’t matter what life throws at you.
By Dan Hutchinson
Toni lost her sight at the age of 13 after being kicked in the head by a horse in Wairakei in 1982, but that has not slowed her down.
She has now written a book documenting her journey since then.
"Since I had my accident back in 1982, I've had so many experiences that people have always said, you know, you need to be documenting this," Toni says.
She is the co-owner of Sharrp Kitchens with ex-husband and childhood friend Graeme Sharp, navigating the complexities of administration duties through apps that translate everything she does into speech.
Not one to muck around, Toni wrote the bulk of the book in about three weeks, four years ago, then spent a day updating it earlier this year to bring it through to 2026.
It traces her life from her early years in Taupō, through the accident, and into the decades of adaptation that followed.
Despite losing her sight entirely Toni went on to complete her schooling. The only subject the accident prevented her from continuing was mathematics, as the maths Braille code is entirely different from standard Braille.
"The only thing it prevented me from was continuing with maths," she says. "Other than that, I wasn't held back at all."
Sharp has been the office manager and co-owner of her business for more than 25 years, using text-to-speech software to manage her work on a Windows computer.
She is currently on her eighth guide dog - Boyd.
She has volunteered with the local blind community for more than 30 years and has been a Toastmasters member for 25 years, reaching national leadership levels that has taken her on international travels.
The book also covers personal losses, including the deaths of her mother and older brother from Huntington's disease, and the disappearance of her younger brother nearly five years ago, whose remains have never been found.
"Yes, you've got these adaptations and changes and modifications that you need to make, but the thing is, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Look for ways of being able to navigate those challenges in order to continue."
The book is available now at Paper Plus and Paetiki Bookshop in Taupō.
Toni also plans to set up a stall at the local market in early December and intends to publish the book on Amazon, as well as record an audible version — which she plans to narrate herself.
Copies can also be ordered by emailing typicaltony@outlook.com.