The Eyes Free Sports Podcast - Ep. 34: Running with Deaf Blind Athlete Brian Switzer

<p>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: </p> <ul><li>His early years growing up in Massachusetts</li> <li>Being diagnosed with Usher syndrome at a young age, which meant both a visual and hearing impairment</li> <li>Earning dual undergraduate degrees in economics and philosophy with a minor in German from Stonehill College</li> <li>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</li> <li>Working at the Perkins School for the Blind in the Career Launch program to help prepare young people with visual impairments for employment</li> <li>Several sports he initially played and then how he got into running</li> <li>Playing beep baseball with the Boston Renegades</li> <li>Competing in the Equinox Marathon in Alaska, one of the world’s most challenging races</li> <li>Competing in the Radnar Relay Ultra in New Hampshire</li> <li>The adaptations of running for blind individuals and the relationship between blind runners and their sighted guides</li> <li>The concept of rucking and an event he competed in for Heroes in Transition to help veterans</li> <li>His guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the Blind</li> <li>Accessibility testing he has done on running apps like RunKeeper and Strava</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Check out his Facebook page at <a href='https://www.facebook.com/briandeafblindathlete/'>https://www.facebook.com/briandeafblindathlete/</a>. Find his two books on Amazon: 1) <a href='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y6MRD99/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_BP5ENYHYR7H082B65CBR'>https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y6MRD99/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_BP5ENYHYR7H082B65CBR</a> 2) <a href='https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3Z6ZM8/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_B6ZMFKZ58S1DWDHRA53Y'>https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3Z6ZM8/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_glt_B6ZMFKZ58S1DWDHRA53Y</a> Check out th