The Challenges, Difficulties and Positives of Life as a Blind Person October 4, 2011

Ann Arbor resident Gerald Rickert became totally blind at the age of 17 due to retinal hemorrhages. In this presentation he will discuss his experiences living for the past 30 years as a totally blind person. Topics include: how he opened his own business; how he learned how to study as a blind college student; the challenges of employment he encountered and the lack of access; his independent travels to Las Vegas, Nevada; and much more.

Throughout the past 20 years, Gerald has been instructing visually impaired people on using adaptive technology equipment and recreational activities. He has played and coached a sport called Goal-ball and represented the USA on the Para Olympic team and has also helped develop and organize the first Michigan Sports Education Camp for visually impaired children. Gerald was the first totally blind person to join a normal sighted bowling league and is currently trying to start a blind bowling league in Ann Arbor.