Brian Bushway
Empowering the Blind to Access Their World

About Brian Towards the end of seventh grade Brian’s eyesight began to rapidly deteriorate. Assuming he needed glasses, Brian consulted a doctor. However, they detected that his optic nerve, the cable that connects the back of the eyeball to the brain, had begun to deteriorate. That summer his eyesight disintegrated from 20/20 vision to utter darkness. Providentially, Brian became acquainted with Daniel Kish. Daniel, born completely blind, taught himself echolocation at a young age. Echolocation allows the user to “see” with sound. Daniel makes clicking noises with his mouth, which reverberate off objects around him enabling him to “see” the spatial dynamics. Daniel not only taught Brian echolocation, but also coached him in sports, including mountain biking, while utilizing echolocation. Today, the two work as colleagues with World Access for the Blind (www.worldaccessfortheblind.org). Together, they teach educational and motivational workshops to open the way for the visually impaired to fully access their world.

Brian in India This year Brian will travel to India with Daniel Kish to administer an intensive mobility workshop with Calcutta Mercy Hospital’s administrative team and candidates from the blind school. Their goal is to give these people a crash course in mobility and echolocation so they can become teachers and trainers for those around them. They will continue to support this core team through correspondence from the US in hopes to develop a full, independent mobility program for the visually impaired in Calcutta to become fully autonomous, contributing members of society. We are currently raising funds for Brian and Daniel’s trip. If you would like to help improve the mobility and quality of life of the visually impaired in Calcutta, please make a donation at www.buntain.org/donate and write “Brian” in the comments section.

Links

World Access for the Blind Website
Support Brian's Trip to India