What's happening?

Andrew Leland was in his first year of high school when he realised there was something wrong with his sight. His mother took him to see a doctor, who told him he had a rare diseaseAn illness or sickness..

As time went on, Andrew would be able to see less and less. By middle age, he would be blind.

For years, he tried to pretend that it was not going to happen. But in his thirties the problem became too big to ignore. When reading became hard, he realised he was definitely going blind.

Then he heard about a centre in DenverThe capital city of the US state of Colorado. where people learn to live without sight. Students wear goggles and learn to take in the world by feeling and hearing.

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Warmth from the Sun, for example, can tell you which direction you are facing. Traffic noise shows where a road is.

Leland, who still has some sight, started to find joy in new things. He learnt to hear in a different way and found that a baby's laughter "cut through the room like washes of colour".

By the end of his stay, he was able to find his way back to the centre after being dropped off in a mystery place in the city.

Two days later he flew home. When he reached his local airport, "I followed the sound of roller bags, feeling the carpet of the gate area." He did not need to look for the exit signs.

Yes! It makes you aware of the world in a completely new way, and encouragesIf you encourage someone, you give them hope or confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good. you to use the other senses - particularly hearing and feeling.

No! It makes everyday life very difficult and ordinary activities like crossing a road dangerous. It stops you from seeing beautiful sights and wonderful pictures and films.