Darren Harris shares with me how he dealt with progressively losing his eyesight until becoming 100% blind. Initially he was justifiably angry and defiant about the disease that robbed him of his sight, yet quickly he realised that he could turn this frustration into much more productive ways and turned to football.
He’s not once used his dis-ability to prevent him from doing what he wants to do, including achieving a degree in mathematics – not having access to the course material in braille, he relied upon his memory and friends to re-read the material.
Being denied the opportunity to compete in the Paralympics football team due to a technicality (three of the four countries of GB refused their athletes to compete as one team for Great Britain), he didn’t give up on his Paralympic dream, choosing to switch sports and take up judo.
Fully retired from pro sport, it is apparent that Darren is still driven in achieving success and opened my eyes up to his view on whether equal opportunities is even possible as a target for society.
Timestamp for talk:
• 2:16 – Darren talks about his early life including loss of sight
• 8:14 – Darren talked about his determination
• 10:48 – Daren talks about how his mind was opened to psychology
• 13:11 – Darren talks about creative thinking in the work place and schools
• 17:57 – Darren talks about implementing learning through action
• 20:32 – Darren talks about viewing problems differently
• 21:41 – Darren talks about an experience that opened his mind up to possibilities
• 46:25 – There are reasons why more men watch sport… racism… euros… a certain national status
