03/08/2026
🌟Today I witnessed one of those moments that reminds me why I love what I do. 👨🦯
I was working with a young student who is blind, autistic, and has an intellectual disability. After working on his literacy reading skills, some braille math and assistive technology training, I gave him a braille music task and stepped out of the room for a few minutes. My goal wasn't really the music—it was to see whether he would continue working independently, something he usually finds very challenging.
When I returned, I was delighted to see him still brailling, independently working on his own. However, as I looked more closely, I realised he wasn't completing the exercise I'd set. Instead, he was brailling one continuous melody entirely from memory, in silence.
"What are you writing?" I asked.
"The international anthem," he replied.
I let him continue and after he finished, I asked him to read back each note while I played them on the piano. Then he clarified, "It's the German national anthem."
I searched for the printed score out of curiosity... and there it was. Every note name was correct, in the correct key of E flat major.
I asked him where he had learnt this and he said he had heard it.
What an incredible demonstration of musical memory, braille literacy, and inner hearing.
Moments like these are a powerful reminder that disability does not define a person's potential. Never underestimate someone because of the way they communicate, learn, or experience the world. Sometimes, extraordinary abilities are simply waiting for the opportunity to be seen.
VD: Photo of print notation of the German National Anthem on an ipad with the brailled melody in a Perkins brailler in the background with the student's hand reading it.
