This is an amazing story covered by Matt Wixon of the Dallas Morning News. Charlotte Brown, a 14 year old freshman at Emory Raines High in Texas, seems like your everyday high school athlete. She participates in basketball and runs cross country. She even holds the school record in the pole vault. What many don’t know about the spry, young Ms. Brown is that she is visually impaired. Technically, she’s legally blind, having 20/400 vision in her right eye, while the left only senses light and dark.
How in the world can someone that is legally blind, who describes her vision as “looking through a coffee stirrer and then making it blurry all around” compete in any sports, more importantly the pole vault, which requires complete precision?
“Fourteen steps to the vault. I just count my strides and I go,” Brown said, “I know when to put the pole down and jump.”
While she’s had her fair share of ups and downs, including breaking her arm running into a hurdle that wasn’t removed from the track, she continues to compete and look for new challenges. “Her mom and I have never said ‘can’t’ and we’ve never said ‘why,’” said Brown’s dad, “We’ve only asked ‘How?’”
We wish Ms. Brown, a true inspiration to us all, the best in her athletic pursuits. With her drive and determination, the sky is the limit!
- For the entire story, eloquently told by Mr. Wixon, visit: Emory Rains’ Charlotte Brown runs, jumps and pole vaults – yet she’s legally blind.
- For video on Ms. Brown’s story: Click Here.
After watching Charlotte’s story on T.V., I a 49 yr. old male with no diagnosed disabilities except for motivational issues, have been totally inspired by this young woman to not let what I thought were major life setbacks I could not over come, no longer be my focus. I now focus on what I need to do to overcome my issues instead of putting the blame on life’s unfair circumstances. Thank you Charlotte!