If you haven’t come across this news story yet, you’re likely to hear a whole lot about it soon. Not only has Ben Underwood been featured on CBS News, but he’s also been highlighted in a story in PEOPLE magazine. My prediction is that, like Jason McElwain before him, this kid might just make an appearance on Oprah Winfrey. Stay tuned.
Ben Underwood, who is now fourteen years old, lost both his eyes to cancer as a toddler. He now has two artificial eyes, made of plastic. But his disability hasn’t stopped him from living a very normal life. If you went to visit his neighborhood, you’d probably watch him sail right past you as he skated down the street, or you’d notice him walking along the sidewalk without a cane or seeing-eye dog. It’s more than likely you’d have no idea he was blind at all.
If you went into Ben’s house, you might find him playing video games. That’s right—video games—even though he can’t see a thing. He’s able to tell by the sounds the games emit what is happening, and whether his aim is off. He’s also actively involved in martial arts.
Ben uses an amazing form of echolocation, the same technique used by dolphins and bats. He makes a clicking sound with his mouth as he walks or moves about. The sound waves he makes bounce off the objects around him and return, creating an image in his mind. His ability is so keen that he can identify objects as he passes by. “That’s a fire hydrant,” he says. “And that’s a trash can.” It’s really quite a fascinating thing to watch him in action.
Much of Ben’s confidence and his refusal to let his disability stop him can be attributed to his mother. She describes Ben waking up from his surgery crying, “Mom, I can’t see anymore! I can’t see anymore!”
And she replied, “You can’t use your eyes, but you’ve got your ears, and your nose, and your mouth…” Right from the start, she taught him not to set any limits. “Nobody is going to tell him that there’s an impossibility for him,” she says.
I think you’ll really enjoy watching these several video clips available free at the CBS News Website. Read the article, but be sure to check out the video just to the right of the written piece. There are several clips showing Ben doing what he does best—living life to the fullest and just being a regular active teen.
Here is the Link: A Teen Who Sees With Sounds – CBS Evening News
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.
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