By: Kevin Frost
Kevin Frost is a Deafblind three-time World Champion Canadian speed skater who resides in Ottawa. He has Usher’s Syndrome, leaving him with a 10% hearing capacity and 3% vision. Kevin is also a guide dog handler.
In 2010, Kevin won the Community Builder Award for United Way in Ottawa and in 2015, he was honoured in the House of Commons for being a role model for Deafblind Canadians.
Kevin’s reflections on advocacy
"My advocacy goals were to change barriers with corporations and provincial governments regarding service guide dog incidents and turn them into positive outcomes for future guide dog handlers. I also wanted to work with the federal government to improve the financial situation for individuals with sight loss or hearing loss in Canada.
CNIB has been my guiding light and helped me get back on my feet after being diagnosed with Usher Syndrome. Having an Intervenor from Deafblind Community Services under my wings has given me more freedom to live independently.
To be successful as a person with a disability, we all have to learn to educate, listen and be positive. The barriers will always be challenging as a Deafblind person but I believe that positive energy will always win in the end.
There are five important things in life to focus on to be successful: health, positive energy, giving, adaptability, and having dreams. Life is all about choices and decisions we make. Your life becoming beautiful and happy will only be determined by how you think about it being in the future."
June is Deafblind Awareness Month, which was started in 2015 as a way to help Canadians develop an understanding of, and a comfort with, the people in our communities who live with Deafblindness. For more information, please visit deafblindservices.ca