The only difference is he reads his sheet music in Braille.
Daniel lost his eyesight in junior kindergarten due to a genetic condition called Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).
On Nov. 5, he was presented with a $1,200 cheque from the Orléans Lions Club at their annual Spaghetti Dinner to help pay for the cost of a special computer he will need to use in school and at home.
Daniel received funding from the Ontario Government to pay for most of the expensive computer, but the family had to come up with $1,200 to cover the rest.
"Currently he has to use a huge computer that is not portable at all," said his mother, Suzanne. "This will make such a huge difference in his independence."
Kevin Frost, a local world-class speed skater who is deaf and blind, heard about Daniel's story and brought it to the Lions Club.
Claude Bertrand, president of the Orléans Lions Club, says he is proud of the work the group does for the blind. "This is just the kind of thing we do. We think it's very important and after Kevin approached us with Daniel's story we felt we needed to help."
The special laptop computer Daniel will receive has a Braille pad that translates web pages and other information.
"Thank you for your help. I'm really happy about it," a shy Daniel told the crowd that had gathered for the Lions Club's Annual Spaghetti Dinner to raise funds for Alzheimer's disease.
"He wants his education and he wants his independence," said Suzanne. "Before the only place he could read is at home, now we will be able to write and do research and send e-mails anywhere."
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Frost has also recently returned from a second mission to Cancun, Mexico, to help local deaf children.
He met with 14-year-old Manuel, who has two holes in each eardrum, making his hearing very difficult and causing a great amount of pain.
With Frost's help, he is currently on antibiotics to prepare him for future operations.
Frost also met 10-year-old Marie Carmen. She received a hearing aid three years ago, but Frost said because of the hot climate her soft mould aids cracked.
He lent her his hard mould hearing aid and said she instantly perked up. "At first she was very shy but once I put the hearing aid on her you could see her trying to hear for what must have been the first time in some years," Frost said.
She also tried Frost's MP3 player, and although she could not hear the lyrics, Frost said she started to move and sway. "She could feel the beat, it was pretty great."
Now that he is home, Frost said he will do some fundraising or ask for a company sponsor to get a hard mould hearing aid for Marie Carmen.
Frost said assisting these kids is what helps him mentally for his sports training. "I know what element they're in. I know what the gift of a hearing aid or a special computer can bring to your life and what it can do for your independence and freedom.'
"It also gives me a good mental boost. When I have a bad race I just take it as a learning experience."
To help Kevin Frost in his fundraising initiatives visit www.ushersyndromeskater.com.
