Transforming a Disability Into a Specialty


I’ve mentioned on the blog before that I’m an avid 60 Minutes watcher and recently they featured a story on Chris Downey, a blind architect (yes you read right). Chris Downey lost his sight ten years ago after brain surgery and instead of changing his profession because he could no longer see, he continues to design buildings.

His story is truly inspirational and we all hope that if we were faced with a situation like his that we would be strong, persevere, and not let something like not being able to see influence not being able to create.

I like this story not only because it’s pretty implausible (I highly recommend watching (or reading) the full story), but it just goes to show that there isn’t just one way to get the job done. Despite losing his eyesight, Downey continues to design and his inability to see, isn’t actually a disability for him. He now designs with a different set of skills that allow him to create spaces he would never have been able to produce, if he had his vision. His designs are not only aesthetically beautiful, they also uniquely appeal to the other senses to help those who can’t see.

So, when someone tells you there’s only one way to do something, tell them the story of the blind architect and how his disability actually became his unique value that no one else offered.

Image Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/60-minutes/

One comment

  1. It doesn’t work for everyone. I’ve been disabled for 10-years without a job. Most employers wont hire you as soon as they learn your disabled.

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