Stronger Than Sight: How vision leads us beyond limits and into purpose

I remember standing at the edge of the long jump runway in high school, completely blind, guided only by the sound of my guide’s voice. To others, it looked impossible. To me, it was an invitation to reimagine what was possible. That leap set me on a path that carried me around the world as a five time Paralympic medalist, keynote speaker, and advocate for vision driven leadership.

Losing my sight as a child was life altering, but it was not life ending. Like so many young people, I was searching for a place to belong and a way to discover my strengths. For me, that place was the track. That first leap was not just about sport. It was about courage, community, and trusting that even when we cannot see the future clearly, we can still move boldly toward it.

Along the way, I learned that success is never a solo journey. My guide runner’s voice reminds me that we all rely on others to help us reach our destination. Parks and recreation professionals understand this deeply. You are guides for your communities, creating spaces where people grow, belong, and uncover what they are capable of. What may look like facilities to some are often the starting lines of life changing journeys.

Recreation was the launching pad for my own vision. It is where I learned resilience, courage, and trust. Those same lessons live inside every park program, youth league, and community event you organize. That is why I often share my mantra, “No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision®.” Vision allows us to build what does not yet exist, and that is exactly what you do every day as leaders in recreation.

Today, I have the privilege of sharing my story with organizations around the world, but I never forget where it all began. It began with community, access, and people who believed in creating spaces for growth. The impact of your work may not always be immediately visible, but somewhere in your community, a life is being changed because of it.

I know this because I lived it. A young boy, blind but determined, standing at the edge of a long jump pit with nothing but a vision of what could be. That vision carried me to podiums, stages, and communities across the world, and it began in spaces like the ones you create every single day.

Thank you for being the guides, the builders, and the visionaries. Your work matters more than you know, and I am honored to share my story with you.

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