As an ophthalmologist, I am fascinated people whose spirit and determination helps them overcome visual impairment or even blindness.
Daniel Kish is one of those people.
Daniel lost his vision to cancer as infant, but as a child he learned to navigate his surroundings by teaching himself a technique he calls “flash sonar”—he clicks his tongue and listens to the echoes to create a mental map of what is around him. The technique, also called echolocation, is similar to the method bats and dolphins use to get around. Daniel compares it to shining a flashlight into the dark—the difference being that the “illumination” comes from sound instead of light.
Daniel is the co-founder and president of World Access for the Blind, which is working on “improving the quality of interaction between blind and sighted people by facilitating equal access to the world’s resources and opportunities.” The organization’s philosophy is perhaps best summed up by its “no limits perspective,” which states: “Our students are grounded in the knowledge that limits are to be self chosen, not imposed by others.”
Daniel was recently profiled by The Discovery Channel series “Is It Possible?” In the episode you can watch him ride a bike using the “flash sonar” technique and teach the method to a young student. Many more videos of Daniel and others using the technique are available here.
Daniel is truly a remarkable person, and it is wonderful that he is helping to spread awareness of such a useful mobility technique.
