Last year, Ryan St. John was in a car. Over the course of a few months, lots of doctor appointments, and multiple procedures and surgeries, Ryan was left without his vision.
At the time, Ryan hadn’t known anyone who was blind. He had never heard of assisted technology. He was at a loss, and it took a toll on his mental health.
“It was far from pleasant,” Ryan says. “I didn’t know where to turn, didn’t know what the next steps were.”
Ryan was connected to First Aid for the Blind and quickly started working with Brian. Brian is also blind and has firsthand knowledge and experience that Ryan found helpful.
"For me, it was good to have someone who understands,” says Ryan. “The relatable aspect of it, for someone to go ‘I understand how you feel, I dealt with this, I dealt with that’ is tremendous to me. Brian definitely aligned well with that. He's good at vocalizing his past experiences."
Kurt Deichmann, founder and CEO of FAFTB, said that this aspect of the training – the relatability factor – is something that many clients appreciate.
“One of the reasons they like our training is that we've been there and done that ourselves,” Kurt said. “That gives us immediate credibility.”
With Brian’s help, Ryan has learned how to navigate websites and social media, get properly measured for a white cane, and make changes to his house to make it more accessible. He’s hoping to get improved computer equipment and also a leader dog to regain independence and mobility. He also wants to go back to his job in law enforcement.
“I am a very purpose-driven person, and for a long time I felt like I had no purpose,” says Ryan. “I feel like I can get back to work and be productive again.”
Ryan’s mental health has also improved since working with First Aid for the Blind.
He said he originally had “a pretty hopeless state of mind” but that knowing “there are other people out there functioning, that gave me hope. I thought I would be stuck in the house the rest of my life.”
Ryan and Kurt agree that the information that FAFTB provides is akin to drinking out of a firehouse – it can be a lot!
“It gives you an introduction to so many things and gives people a source, a sense of community,” says Ryan.
If you or someone you know needs support like Ryan, please contact us at admin@faftb.com.
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