BUILDer Brian

At Northern BUILD I got the wonderful privilege to have two visually impaired students in my group.

Both 20 years of age, Daniel became partially blind about six years ago and now can see shapes of objects but lacks color and detail.  Brian on the other hand has been completely blind for two years due to nerve damage.

This post is about Brian.

Now I do not know what I was expecting.  I knew I would be responsible for guiding him around and assisting in activities but little did I know how independent he would be.

Brian was incredibly active in every class; responding to questions, leading discussions, initiating ideas, and leading the way.  It didn’t matter if he was learning a new dance, creating a sack garden, sewing up a tear in a mosquito net, or learning to put on a condom, he did not let his lack of vision inhibit him.

Plus Brian was the funniest and most intuitive kid around.

Example include…

- Staff demonstrating how to do an activity where you sit up and down together in a circle without letting go of your teammates hands and Brian called them out for not sitting down. 

- When presenting about taking pregnant women to the health centers for IPTp, intermittent preventive (prophylaxis) treatment in pregnancy, he said, “Men.  If you are going to score the goal, you have to follow the rules.”

- As I took Brian and Daniel to do the condom demonstration, I had them feel the wooden penis model.  Daniel felt first and figured out pretty simply what it was.  I then had Brian feel it and he goes, “Tara.  Daniel is wrong.”  “Are you sure Brian?”  “Yes!  The penis is circumcised!  I do come from Mbale, the circumcision capital of Uganda!”

- As we danced it out one morning, Brian managed to pick up on the four, 8-count moves with simple explanations and feeling the beat of the drums. 

- Climbing the rock wall like he knew exactly where every grip was.

- Watching him conquer his fear of the zip line and navigate up the tree with the help of his team then fly to the other side.

It was an inspiration to see everyone, from Co-Directors, Counselors, Staff and other campers from different groups, pull together to allow Brian the opportunity to shine.

Priceless