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㽶ƵֱThe Blind Kid㽶Ƶֱ is giving back to help other visually impaired youth

Brett Devloo lost his vision at age 16, but never gave up on his passions

Langley resident Brett Devloo remembers everything about the day he lost his vision, even though it㽶Ƶֱs been 12 years since the fateful day.

㽶ƵֱIt was Nov. 23, 2011. I will never forget the day,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱI had no idea what was going to happen.㽶Ƶֱ

He was 16 and listening to his history teacher in class when suddenly he could no longer read the overhead projector.

At first, he thought the projector was out of focus, but after the room㽶Ƶֱs lights were turned back on and he still couldn㽶Ƶֱt see, Devloo realized something else was amiss.

He went to the eye doctor that day, and what he thought would be a slight change in his prescription revealed his vision had actually gone from 20/50 down to 20/500 (on a scale of 20/20) in a matter of seconds, and he had symptoms of profound visual impairment.

Devloo said the days after blurred together, but he remembers being in a state of shock as his days filled up with specialists appointments and tests, all the while learning to adapt to his new life.

㽶ƵֱI was directed to different specialists and neurologists, and everything was just an elimination game at that point,㽶Ƶֱ he recalled.

Eventually, Devloo, who is from Manitoba, was tested positive for LHON 㽶Ƶֱ Leber hereditary optic neuropath, a rare mitochondrial disorder due to a gene mutation passed down on the maternal side.

㽶ƵֱThere are four strains of the DNA mutation I got diagnosed with㽶Ƶֱ and one of them you can spontaneously get your vision back,㽶Ƶֱ explained the now 28-year-old. 㽶ƵֱBut mine is the most rare version that does not happen to.㽶Ƶֱ

While there is no cure, doctors are currently treatment options.

, 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㽶Ƶֱs license, his job, and had to give up his car not long after losing his vision.

㽶ƵֱThere was a lot of shock㽶Ƶֱ but I had to roll with the punches, I had no choice,㽶Ƶֱ Devloo shared. 㽶ƵֱI almost didn㽶Ƶֱt have a chance to cope with it, I just had to run with it and keep going.㽶Ƶֱ

He recalled his school administration and teachers being a big support for him as he finished high school, which helped Devloo graduate on time 㽶Ƶֱ a blessing he calls it.

㽶ƵֱThey had a lady with the education board of disabilities come in two or three times a week to basically teach me how to be blind. She taught me some mobility skills with my cane, Braille, and gave me the opportunity to try things on the computer,㽶Ƶֱ he shared.

Devloo㽶Ƶֱs vision is not entirely black, he can see contrast 㽶Ƶֱ light and shadows 㽶Ƶֱ so he couldn㽶Ƶֱt tell where the doors were at school.

㽶ƵֱThe school painted the doors a darker colour so I could use them㽶Ƶֱ They built new handrails on the stairs that go from one door all the way to the next. The school was really helpful.㽶Ƶֱ

After high school, he started a clothing brand which he uses to raise funds to donate iPads to other visually impaired youth.

㽶ƵֱAll iPads come with accessibility software called VoiceOver that lets you navigate by sound㽶Ƶֱ it㽶Ƶֱs a relatively affordable way to equip students with an effective way to learn and stay connected with the world around them,㽶Ƶֱ Devloo explained.

In 2022, Devloo also had the opportunity to record music with one of Stevie Wonder㽶Ƶֱs producers, which took him to Los Angeles to work on the album.

㽶ƵֱI make a lot of winks and nods to being blind in almost every song,㽶Ƶֱ he chuckled.

He moved to Aldergrove in Langley about three years ago, and said people can often find him at the local skateboard parks.

One of the ways he㽶Ƶֱs 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.

㽶ƵֱAny kind of visual marker that is contrast to the ground, I put there㽶Ƶֱ and if you see black lines at a skate park or black tape, don㽶Ƶֱt take it off 㽶Ƶֱ that means I was there and I㽶Ƶֱm coming back,㽶Ƶֱ Devloo laughed.

Devloo is also available for motivational talks at high schools, and currently has two booked in Mission this month.

㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm looking for more places to do more speeches and share my story. I can provide a skateboard demo, a speech, and a small musical performance if they want,㽶Ƶֱ he said.

㽶ƵֱKids need to know that they can be something too.㽶Ƶֱ

His website is relaunching in May as well, which will have a section where folks can donate to help raise funds to go towards the iPads for other visually impaired kids, and he㽶Ƶֱs working on arranging fundraisers as well.

㽶ƵֱI would love to help students with more than that, like get laptops and [other] accessible technology that can be useful and help them do something creative with it or something that makes them feel good with what they have and be able to feel a bit of normalness.㽶Ƶֱ

Those interested can connect with Devloo at .

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Kyler Emerson

About the Author: Kyler Emerson

I'm honoured to focus my career in the growing community of Aldergrove and work with our many local organizations.
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