Hi, I'm Randall.
65 - Retinitis Pigmentosa - Florida
EYECE Breaker Spotlight - May 2026
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Randall's EYECE Breaker Story:
"I have been a member of Toastmasters for seven years. When I first started, I was using Zoom for the first time and learning how to use it as a person who is totally blind. At one meeting, I was asked to give a prepared speech and practice it ahead of time. I prepared the speech and practiced, and on the evening of the meeting I was on Zoom and introduced as a speaker. I started giving my speech and, of course, I was pretty nervous and excited about the opportunity to speak to the audience. I was standing up and nicely dressed for the camera and proceeded with my speech. It was seven minutes long. At the end of the speech, I said thank you and waited to hear a response. There was no response, only silence. I waited a few seconds longer, but my brain was racing, wondering what was going on and why everyone was so quiet. I asked myself, was that bad? Then I stepped up to my computer keyboard and started pushing different buttons to see if I had a response. Only silence. Then I realized I had disconnected from the meeting and was not even in the meeting. With urgency, I rebooted my computer and went back to the Zoom link to reconnect, which took what seemed like a long time but probably was only a few seconds. When I got back into the meeting, someone immediately asked, “Hey Randall, what happened to you? You left the meeting.” I said, “Oh no, I did not until after my speech. But I really gave a beautiful speech.” Someone else said, “I’m sure it must’ve been your best speech ever, and we’re sorry we missed it.” We all had a good laugh about it in the end. It was an awkward moment."
Beyond the Story:
What's an activity or hobby that you refuse to give up doing, despite the changes to or loss of your vision?
" Running and exercise. Watching movies. Public speaking and socializing and networking with people."
What’s something that living with vision loss has taught you about yourself?
" Living with my vision loss has taught me to be determined and resilient and to always see the positive and bright side of every situation or event, even when it seems easy to just give up or to complain about it."
What’s a moment, related to your vision, that still makes you laugh?
" I think its funny when it gets awkward because I don’t always know if a person is talking to me or to someone else or they may even be on the phone talking to someone else and I may answer them."
When speaking about your vision, what’s something people are usually surprised to learn about your day-to-day life?
" People are often surprised to learn that I’m self-employed and run my vending machine business with my wife Patty. I also do a lot on my computer and iPhone and people are surprised by this. I’m a member of Toastmasters and a founding member of our Toastmasters club for people who are vision impaired/ blind called viponlinetoastmasters.com"
What’s one misconception about your vision that you wish people knew and/or would let go of?
" I wish people would learn to give me and other people who are blind a chance to prove ourselves before they judge us or make any assumptions about what we can or cannot do."
With your diagnosis in mind, what’s one “rare perspective” you’ve gained?
"Because my condition causes a gradual loss of vision I have experienced the full spectrum of having sight and losing sight completely and it has taught me to be patient and tolerant with myself and with other people and to keep an open mind and to find the good in people and situations."
A Little More From Randall:
" I always say that life is short and precious and we must live it to the fullest and live in the present. I ran my first 5K race after becoming totally blind in 2006 when a friend encouraged me to try it and continued running for 20 years. I ran in triathlons, full marathons and many races totaling over 120 in all. It gave me a great sense of accomplishment and confidence in myself to do this. I also do public motivational speaking and my favorite quote is by John Bingham- a marathon runner and author- “The miracle isn’t that I finished the race; the miracle is that I had the courage to start."
June 2026
Anthony
“I reached for a free Costco meatball…I’m not about to disrespect a free meatball...Then accidentally knocked over the backup supply. My Guide Dog thought it was the greatest day in Costco history.”
May 2026
Randall
“I was dressed for the camera and proceeded with my speech. It was 7 minutes long. I said thank you and waited for a response… only silence. Then I realized I wasn’t even in the meeting.”
April 2026
Jen
“I was cooking with a house full of kids and looking for the butter. They told me to put my hand down directly in front of me…now each time something is directly in front of me, someone yells ‘BUTTER!’”
MARCH 2026
STEPHANIE
"I was in a shop with my daughter when I grabbed what felt like an amazing purse. She urgently whispred to STOP...Turns out, it was attached to another customer! We laughed so hard."
FEBRUARY 2026
SHANA
"I entered a dim bathroom--found a fun-house of mirrors instead. Upon leaving I called for help and laughed until a kind woman led me to freedom."
July 2026
COMING SOON