Langley resident Brett Devloo remembers everything about the day he lost his vision, even though itB次元官网网址檚 been 12 years since the fateful day.
B次元官网网址淚t was Nov. 23, 2011. I will never forget the day,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 had no idea what was going to happen.B次元官网网址�
He was 16 and listening to his history teacher in class when suddenly he could no longer read the overhead projector.
At first, he thought the projector was out of focus, but after the roomB次元官网网址檚 lights were turned back on and he still couldnB次元官网网址檛 see, Devloo realized something else was amiss.
He went to the eye doctor that day, and what he thought would be a slight change in his prescription revealed his vision had actually gone from 20/50 down to 20/500 (on a scale of 20/20) in a matter of seconds, and he had symptoms of profound visual impairment.
Devloo said the days after blurred together, but he remembers being in a state of shock as his days filled up with specialists appointments and tests, all the while learning to adapt to his new life.
B次元官网网址淚 was directed to different specialists and neurologists, and everything was just an elimination game at that point,B次元官网网址� he recalled.
Eventually, Devloo, who is from Manitoba, was tested positive for LHON B次元官网网址� Leber hereditary optic neuropath, a rare mitochondrial disorder due to a gene mutation passed down on the maternal side.
B次元官网网址淭here are four strains of the DNA mutation I got diagnosed withB次元官网网址� and one of them you can spontaneously get your vision back,B次元官网网址� explained the now 28-year-old. B次元官网网址淏ut mine is the most rare version that does not happen to.B次元官网网址�
While there is no cure, doctors are currently treatment options.
, a national patient support group, estimates there are about 35,000 people worldwide with LHON, but thousands more carry the genetic mutation and could lose their vision at any time. While it can happen at any age, it most often affects men between the ages 15 and 25.
It took more than six months for Devloo to receive his diagnosis and the news that he would be blind for the rest of his life. He lost his newly acquired driverB次元官网网址檚 license, his job, and had to give up his car not long after losing his vision.
B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of shockB次元官网网址� but I had to roll with the punches, I had no choice,B次元官网网址� Devloo shared. B次元官网网址淚 almost didnB次元官网网址檛 have a chance to cope with it, I just had to run with it and keep going.B次元官网网址�
He recalled his school administration and teachers being a big support for him as he finished high school, which helped Devloo graduate on time B次元官网网址� a blessing he calls it.
B次元官网网址淭hey had a lady with the education board of disabilities come in two or three times a week to basically teach me how to be blind. She taught me some mobility skills with my cane, Braille, and gave me the opportunity to try things on the computer,B次元官网网址� he shared.
DevlooB次元官网网址檚 vision is not entirely black, he can see contrast B次元官网网址� light and shadows B次元官网网址� so he couldnB次元官网网址檛 tell where the doors were at school.
B次元官网网址淭he school painted the doors a darker colour so I could use themB次元官网网址� They built new handrails on the stairs that go from one door all the way to the next. The school was really helpful.B次元官网网址�
After high school, he started a clothing brand which he uses to raise funds to donate iPads to other visually impaired youth.
B次元官网网址淎ll iPads come with accessibility software called VoiceOver that lets you navigate by soundB次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a relatively affordable way to equip students with an effective way to learn and stay connected with the world around them,B次元官网网址� Devloo explained.
In 2022, Devloo also had the opportunity to record music with one of Stevie WonderB次元官网网址檚 producers, which took him to Los Angeles to work on the album.
B次元官网网址淚 make a lot of winks and nods to being blind in almost every song,B次元官网网址� he chuckled.
He moved to Aldergrove in Langley about three years ago, and said people can often find him at the local skateboard parks.
One of the ways heB次元官网网址檚 learned to skateboard blind is placing thick black tape or black spray paint in certain spots to let him know when he needs to slow down, stop, or turn.
B次元官网网址淎ny kind of visual marker that is contrast to the ground, I put thereB次元官网网址� and if you see black lines at a skate park or black tape, donB次元官网网址檛 take it off B次元官网网址� that means I was there and IB次元官网网址檓 coming back,B次元官网网址� Devloo laughed.
Devloo is also available for motivational talks at high schools, and currently has two booked in Mission this month.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking for more places to do more speeches and share my story. I can provide a skateboard demo, a speech, and a small musical performance if they want,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淜ids need to know that they can be something too.B次元官网网址�
His website is relaunching in May as well, which will have a section where folks can donate to help raise funds to go towards the iPads for other visually impaired kids, and heB次元官网网址檚 working on arranging fundraisers as well.
B次元官网网址淚 would love to help students with more than that, like get laptops and [other] accessible technology that can be useful and help them do something creative with it or something that makes them feel good with what they have and be able to feel a bit of normalness.B次元官网网址�
Those interested can connect with Devloo at .
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