Devin Peck


Location: Orange, CA

Challenge: Norris Disease

Website: facebook.com/blindtechniques

Devin Peck is a drummer living in Orange, California. He lost his sight 14 years ago when he was 17. Devin adds "I was initially diagnosed with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (fevr) which can cause mild to severe vision loss due to retinal detachment". Both of Devin's retinas are completely detached and he is totally blind. He adds "I have since dealt with high-frequency hearing-loss and recently started wearing hearing aids".

Devin's eye condition is a differential diagnosis of another condition called Norris Disease which can cause blindness, hearing-loss, and stunted growth which can be observed in his brother who is only five feet tall and will be 21 in a couple months. Devin says "I had a number of painful surgeries, but nothing seemed to be working, and said no more after a year of failed procedures".

At the time of Devin's vision loss, he was primarily playing trumpet. He was first chair and section leader in high school. Devin adds "I started messing around on my dad's drum-set when I was about 12, though. I also was able to march bass drum in an indoor ensemble for one year. I was set to march snare the following year, but couldn't see well enough when that time came, so I played drum-set with that group instead until I was 20".

Since then, Devin has performed at least a hundred times throughout Southern California. He has also earned his bachelors degree in psychology and lives independently. He says "I currently give drum lessons in Orange County, and still love performing. I am very fortunate to have found a group of musicians who didn't initially discriminate against my blindness". Devin's band mates are generous enough to drive him and his equipment to and from shows. He adds "Being a drummer, taking paratransit isn't really an option, and I'm pretty sure Uber and Lyft drivers wouldn't be too please either". Devin has learned how to set up and tear down all of his equipment by himself, but does get help at shows since they are pressed for time. He adds "I may not know my way around a new venue at first. I do what I can, though. They'll usually hand me stuff to put together while they put other things together. I always do my bass drum pedals because nobody else can figure out how".

Devin adds "Coping with my blindness is pretty much not an option for me. What's the alternative, right? I adapt and have a life or not adapt and have no life. Overcoming challenges has become a way of life at this point. I also suffered an abusive childhood, but my past does not have to define who I am in the present. Of course, I am not perfect and still occasionally find myself making excuses for being intimidated by certain challenges and inconveniences associated with my blindness and hearing-loss, but I've gotten better over the years of practicing discipline and facing that intimidation with will power and determination". He still struggled with asking for help if he needs it, but he has gotten better at excepting helping-hands if it means that's what he has to do in order to get things done.

Devin says "I do my best to have a 'Can-attitude' while maintaining a healthy level of realistic-positivity".


Devin Peck