It's been 13 years since Aldergrove resident Brett Devloo lost his vision, but it hasn't stopped his passion for skateboarding or helping others one bit.
Ever since, he's been raising funds through his clothing brand to donate iPads to other visually impaired youth.
“All iPads come with accessibility software called VoiceOver that lets you navigate by sound… it’s a relatively affordable way to equip students with an effective way to learn and stay connected with the world around them,” Devloo explained.
Most recently, he raised enough to donate an iPad to a 14-year-old boy in Richmond who moved to B.C. from Nigeria a year ago.
"I sat and talked with him, told him things that I've done since I lost my vision and that gave him hope. You know, that you don't have to be scared of things, and he wanted to try things - he wants to go skiing and try skateboarding," Devloo recalled.
"It's so fulfilling, it's my favourite thing affecting people and being able to maybe make them feel better for even just a little bit."
He moved to Aldergrove about four years ago, and said people can often find him at the local skateboard parks.
In the past year, Devloo's been working closely with Hippie Mike Industries to produce a documentary about his experience.
“It was Nov. 23, 2011. I will never forget the day,” Devloo recounts. “I had no idea what was going to happen.”
He was 16 and listening to his history teacher in class when suddenly he could no longer read the overhead projector.
Eventually, Devloo, who is from Manitoba, was tested positive for LHON – Leber hereditary optic neuropath, a rare mitochondrial disorder due to a gene mutation passed down on the maternal side.
“There are four strains of the DNA mutation I got diagnosed with… and one of them you can spontaneously get your vision back,” explained the now 28-year-old. “But mine is the most rare version that does not happen to.”
While there is no cure, doctors are currently researching treatment options.
LHON Canada, 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 driver’s license, his job, and had to give up his car not long after losing his vision.
Devloo’s vision is not entirely black though, he can see contrast – light and shadows.
One of the ways he’s 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.
“Any kind of visual marker that is contrast to the ground, I put there… and if you see black lines at a skate park or black tape, don’t take it off – that means I was there and I’m coming back,” Devloo laughed.
A longterm goal Devloo has is to compete at the Olympics to raise further awareness.
His documentary premiers in Hope at the Hippie Mike Industries (HMI) Skatepark on Friday, Jan. 31, and he is looking for a transportation sponsorship so he can attend.
The documentary will be available online afterwards.
Those interested can connect with Devloo at theblindkidtbk.com.
