The moment I'm told something’s impossible is the moment I know I have to try. When I was told a visually impaired person can't design anything, I became inspired to start a clothing line.You'll find most of my raisons d'etre stem from stories like this...skateboarding, motivational speaking, and so on. Once you've taken a look through my online shop, I invite you to check out some of the other cool things I'm up to.
When I lost my vision, my family, friends, and high school did amazing work to help me thrive. Many people don't have that same support system, and that was something I couldn't ignore. I became driven to share my story in public schools across Canada with the hope that I could make a difference for these kids, teens, and young adults who need it the most.I tell my story straight from the heart, which means each version of it is a little different, but I essentially share the story behind losing my vision in the middle of class and use it as the foundation to spread my anti-bullying message, promote accessibility awareness, and generally inspire hope in those who need it most. If 99 people tell you that you can't do something, I want to be the one person telling you to at least try.Let's find out who we are together.
Homework can really suck...now imagine trying to do it without being able to see. It can be incredibly isolating.Unfortunately, that's a reality for some students. With staff and resources spread thin, many teens don't have the tools they need to get a meaningful education. It can be incredibly isolating. That's why I'm always on the lookout for ways to raise money to give visually impaired students iPads.We are a grassroots, community-driven initiative dedicated to giving back. While we are not a registered charity, 100% of your donation goes directly towards purchasing iPads for visually impaired students (minus the standard PayPal transaction fee).For this reason, we cannot issue official charity tax receipts. However, we are happy to provide you with a receipt confirming your donation was received upon request. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us make a difference.
My name is Brett Devloo, but most people know me as The Blind Kid, or TBK for short.Most kids get their nickname from a talent or some inside joke. Mine was because I went blind during the middle of history class when I was sixteen. (Bet you didn't think that was possible, did you?) It turns out I have a rare DNA mutation called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (or LHON for short). You know how our DNA is made up of millions of pieces of information that talk to each other so your body works the way it's supposed to? Well, I have a small piece of coding that didn't get the memo, which caused me to suddenly lose 98% of my vision.Understandably, a lot of people asked me how I reacted — was I scared? Angry? Panicked? To be honest, it didn't really hit me. One minute, I was taking notes on the overhead learning about Louis Riel, and then the next I couldn't see, so I walked to the eye doctor alone. Yes, alone. Did I tell anyone where I was going or why? Nope. Did I emphasize that I couldn't see to the receptionist at the eye doctor? Also no (I was told to come back later, so I went back to class and returned for my appointment a couple hours later). Although it took about six months to diagnose me, I wasn't really fixed on finding an answer to "why" I went blind. All I knew is I couldn't see, and it more than likely wasn't coming back. Nothing to do but press onwards.Anyways, I don't like to get caught up on that part of the story. I prefer to focus on what happens next:The one thing that was crystal clear to me is I didn't want to focus on myself — I wanted to help others. Over the years, that's taken many different forms through motivational speaking, pouring my heart into music that resonates with those who need it most, and fundraising to provide visually impaired students with iPads to better support their education. And then there's skateboarding — my lifelong passion that's set me free. I owe all that I've achieved to skateboarding, because when I stepped back on that board after I lost my vision, I realized I. Could. Do This. I hope that through my journey on the board, others will discover their own sense of liberation and possibility.Because for me, it's not just about overcoming obstacles — it's about paving the way for others to do the same.Text