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Tag Archives: Usher Syndrome

  1. Evolution and Inclusive Language: Creating a New Term for Visual Disabilities

    June 16, 2021 - By Brian Switzer

    The terms we use carry with them significance. They can denote power and strength, or they can also denote weakness and other negative biases.  As a society, we have become more aware of the power of language when describing people who may identify in ways that are marginalized. Even better, we have been adopting language created by those people themselves.  I am a DeafBlind person. This is just one aspect of who I am – I’m also a husband and soon-to-be dad, a graduate student, an instructor at Perkins School…

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  2. Breaking Barriers and Feeling Through: Meet the First Deafblind Actor to Star in a Film’s Lead Role

    March 4, 2020 - By Robert Tarango

    I was born deaf, but with 20/20 vision. I’ve always wanted to be an actor. My favorite actors were John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Jon Voight, Robert Mitchum, Doug McClure, and Kirk Douglas. When I was a kid, I played sports like football, basketball, and track. When I was at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind, I was a good player, but I kept thinking about wanting to act! I went to a community college for a while in Arizona. I made the honor roll one…

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  3. Rucking – While Deafblind

    June 19, 2019 - By Brian Switzer

    My name is Brian Switzer. I am deafblind as a result of a condition called Usher Syndrome. As a child, I attended a couple schools for the deaf before switching into a public school. I progressively went blind. I was diagnosed with sight loss at age 4, became legally blind at age 16, and now only possess some light sensitivity. I hold a Master’s degree in Public Policy. I am a co-author on a book on living with deafblindness called, “Walk In My Shoes: An Anthology On Usher Syndrome.” And…

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  4. Stand by Me RP

    May 3, 2017 - By Dave Steele

    My story began three years ago when, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. My life changed forever that day and it was the start of the biggest challenge my family had ever faced. Within the first week of my diagnosis I was declared severely sight impaired (legally blind) and lost my job after being told I’d never drive again. We were plunged in to debt and I fell in to a spiral of anxiety, depression and isolation as my sight began to decline rapidly. We…

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  5. Change can be beautiful

    January 18, 2017 - By Virginia Maze

    Change has always been hard for me, no matter how big or small. In fact, a few weeks ago, my husband switched out the living room rug with the one that was in our bedroom. Once I made the discovery that he did this, I immediately told him that I didn’t like this change. But change is my reality due to Usher Syndrome. Usher Syndrome is a condition that is characterized by hearing and vision loss. I have moderate to severe hearing loss, but it has been stable my whole…

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