In Episode 34 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, we chat with deaf blind athlete Brian Switzer of Massachusetts. Switzer, who has competed in a number of sports and challenging running events, discussed:
- His early years growing up in Massachusetts
- Being diagnosed with Usher syndrome at a young age, which meant both a visual and hearing impairment
- Earning dual undergraduate degrees in economics and philosophy with a minor in German from Stonehill College
- Earning a master’s in public policy with a focus on disability policy from Suffolk University and his current master’s program at UMass-Boston
- Working at the Perkins School for the Blind in the Career Launch program to help prepare young people with visual impairments for employment
- Several sports he initially played and then how he got into running
- Playing beep baseball with the Boston Renegades
- Competing in the Equinox Marathon in Alaska, one of the world’s most challenging races
- Competing in the Radnar Relay Ultra in New Hampshire
- The adaptations of running for blind individuals and the relationship between blind runners and their sighted guides
- The concept of rucking and an event he competed in for Heroes in Transition to help veterans
- His guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- Accessibility testing he has done on running apps like RunKeeper and Strava
Check out his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/briandeafblindathlete/.
Find his two books on Amazon:
1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y6MRD99/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_BP5ENYHYR7H082B65CBR
2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3Z6ZM8/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_B6ZMFKZ58S1DWDHRA53Y
Check out the Career Launchpad Facebook Group he manages for young visually impaired individuals seeking employment or professional development at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2497533623910676/?ref=share. Learn more about the Career Launch program at Perkins at https://www.perkins.org/school/transition-programs/career-launch.
For a text transcript of this podcast episode, visit: https://greglindberg.net/index.php?id=the-eyes-free-sports-podcast-ep-34-running-with-deaf-blind-athlete-brian-switzer-podcast-transcript.