After experiencing vision loss, Derek realized he had to take the word "can't" out of his vocabulary
Derek was 23 years old and working in cash management when he started having trouble seeing the general ledger. He was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, which is an inherited disorder that causes progressive damage to the macula (a small area in the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision).
Imagining life with a visual impairment was difficult and scary at first, but changing his perspective made all the difference.
"As soon as I stopped thinking about all the things I couldn't do and realized all the things I could, then I stopped putting the word 'can't' into my vocabulary," he recalled.
Today, Derek works for the state of Delaware, helping other blind and visually impaired people do the same and achieve their career goals.
This video, created by the National Disability Rights Network, tells Derek’s story: