I met Blake Lindsay in 2016 once I was engaged on my first picture sequence about blindness. I labored with Envision, previously Dallas Gentle Home for the Blind, to doc the tales of 15 folks with quite a lot of visible impairments. Blake was the primary of the corporate’s workers I met who took me on his journey as a blind particular person, or slightly “handi-capable” particular person as he likes to explain himself.
After documenting the each day challenges and testimonies of the blind and visually impaired workers I met by the Lighthouse, I saved in contact with Blake over time. We had shaped a connection and I discovered his story, particularly, to be inspiring and attention-grabbing. A lot in order that in 2021 we determined to work on one other undertaking together- this time devoted to his story and specializing in his means to encourage others by his optimistic perspective and outlook on life and his journey to independence.
As a tribute to the one who launched me to the world with no sight, this undertaking is a private endeavor and goals to present Blake’s story the eye it deserves. As he likes to say and an announcement that describes the intention of this undertaking, “You may lose your sight, however you don’t must lose your imaginative and prescient.” Welcome to the world of this purpose-driven particular person with a ardour for dwelling life to its fullest.
When he was 9 months previous, Blake was identified with a uncommon most cancers referred to as retinoblastoma. He underwent a surgical procedure that saved his life, however the docs couldn’t save his sight. Blake says he has been blind ever since he can bear in mind. At the moment at 57, he has completely no visible recollections, however nonetheless, he has crammed his life with extraordinary experiences and positivity.
In 2011, Blake wrote and revealed a e-book referred to as Blind for a Objective, by which he mentions considered one of his Dad’s favourite quotes, “‘I Can’ is an perspective, ‘I Will’ is an intent, ‘I Am’ is taking motion, and, ‘I Am Glad I Did’ is almost at all times the outcome.” This assertion is the embodiment of the sort of particular person Blake is and the way he has lived his life. He’s a doer, at all times working to unfold kindness and positivity whereas enhancing his degree of independence.
Bodily health is a big a part of the trail to Blake’s independence. In junior excessive, he turned part of the wrestling group and practiced lots of completely different sports activities together with swimming, jogging, bowling, and bicycling. Blake’s dad started his instructional profession as a coach so Blake adopted after his Dad’s instance and in addition had one brother within the navy, one other working as a basketball coach and athletic director.
Blake was at all times surrounded by nice bodily and psychological help. All through his life, he has continued to train regularly however has additionally experimented with extra daring sports activities. With the assistance of a coach, he rode his first horse at 8 years previous and when he turned 18, he purchased his personal small motorbike. His thirst for journey even led him to leap out of an airplane on the age of 46.
“It was about having religion and enjoyable, multi function. I believed the parachute would open when wanted, and I had full belief in my skydive teacher. We even made an enlightening souvenir audio-video manufacturing, which is able to at all times encourage folks to dive in and face these fears, targets, and challenges which inevitably come our approach in life.”
For Blake, independence means sustaining a full-time job, but additionally doing as a lot as he can with out help. To him, asking for assist isn’t a foul factor, however he tries to do all he can solo as a result of it makes him really feel extra unbiased.
Blake was simply 13 years previous when he took his first job working at his college switchboard fielding inbound calls and transferring callers to the place they requested. Blake says “It was nice memorizing 70 three-digit extensions and I actually received a kick out of receiving my first paycheck that I earned by my very own work.”
When he was a child, folks observed his means to memorize issues — he may bear in mind the date and time, who he met, and what they mentioned. His Cousin Pleasure used to name him “Elephant Reminiscence” and began shopping for him elephants when he was 7 years previous.
Blake’s reminiscence is an unimaginable instrument he makes use of to assist him work on new expertise to additional his independence, particularly in the case of expertise and doing his job. He likes to inform folks, “if you must be blind, now’s the very best time,” referring to the development of expertise and improve in sources to assist the visually impaired.
After we arrived at his apartment, Blake gave me a bit of tour and took me to his pool, the place he likes to train. His large blue eyes have been nearly completely matching with the blue water, resulting in our first dialog about colours.
In his e-book he explains, “I like to listen to about what folks and issues appear to be by descriptions. I’m delighted when somebody takes their time and places their views into telling me what they’re seeing. For instance, a lovely or interesting-looking sky within the day, night, or nighttime, or their artistic descriptions of colours. It certain opens up my creativeness.”
His spouse Jennifer, whom he has now been married to for about 19 years, performs a serious function on this a part of his life. She shares what she sees of their world on daily basis. She not solely has an exquisite knack for describing surroundings but additionally enjoys serving to Blake maximize the experiences they stay collectively. On the grocery retailer, she leads and explains all the things intimately from which space they’re in to what fruits or greens can be found and the way they appear. Jennifer colorfully describes their environment so as to assist Blake perceive the scenario higher and join what he feels and smells to a visible thought.
Along with serving different blind folks at his full-time job at Envision, Blake is basically keen about radio and does skilled voiceovers. At residence, he arrange his personal skilled radio recording studio within the visitor room. Born with a golden voice that instructions consideration naturally, Blake has loved a profitable profession in radio broadcasting beneath the title of Blazin’ Blake. As a facet job, Blake recurrently has purchasers rent him to do something from on-hold voice messages to radio and TV commercials, narration, and extra.
“After I was youthful, I set to work with Ok-98 and obtained optimistic press on a televised information phase, which lowered 1000’s of peoples’ apprehension by serving to them to know that radio was a superb and possible profession for blind communicators,” he mentioned.
Blake has achieved fantastic issues in his life all with out the good thing about imaginative and prescient, proving that success is attainable even within the presence of challenges some would say are insurmountable. He has made it his mission to encourage folks to be courageous and switch their challenges and struggles into function and motivation. He naturally encourages others, sighted or not, by his optimistic outlook on life, sharing coronary heart, and loving character.
In his very emblematic voice, Blake mentioned “I’ve hardly ever felt sorry for myself. I’m grateful that my eyesight was all that was taken and my life was spared. It feels nice to be alive! My lifetime of whole blindness continually gives me alternatives to problem and encourage folks of all ages to set vital targets and to observe by with an motion plan.”
In regards to the creator: Jerome Poulalier is a 34-year-old French photographer primarily based in Lyon and dealing worldwide. The opinions expressed on this article are solely these of the creator. You could find extra of Poulalier’s work on his web site. This text was additionally revealed right here.
