HomeMy WebLinkAboutEvery challenge has a silver lining, Kevin Frost tells students - Orleans News - 02/21/2017 - Orleans News - 02/21/2017When life gives you lemons, you just have to make lemonade, legally blind and
legally deaf athlete Kevin Frost told students at Norman Johnston Alternative
School on Feb. 16.
Frost, who has competed mostly in speed skating, told students about his
workaholic lifestyle before he found out he was losing his sight, just as he'd
lost his hearing as a child.
"I have three senses left. You guys have five," he told the students. "But
choose to live my life to the fullest."
The students were taking a life skills class, a part of the program at the
alternative high school in Blackburn Hamlet.
Frost went to school in Blackburn Hamlet as well, losing his hearing while he
was a student at Emily Carr. He said he grew his hair long to cover his hearing
aids and got teased for his speech impediment.
Kevin Frost, third from left, spoke with students in the life skills class at Norma
Johnston Alternative School on Feb. 16. Frost shared his journey losing his
vision and sight and how he's overcome challenges.
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But he said he always managed to find the bright side of his disability. Training as a hockey referee, he would take out his
hearing aid whenever he had to ref a game, keeping himself oblivious to any verbal abuse from players. Eventually, his vision
deteriorated enough that he lost his driver's licence and was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, which caused him to lose most
of his vision and hearing.
"The doctor sat me down and said, I have to take your license away, your job away," Frost said. "The point here guys, is you
never give up."
He shared with students how he got a guide dog — first a dog named Nemo, and now his dog named Lewis who was by his
side as usual.
He's pursued his athletic dreams and goals, becoming an accomplished speedskater who competed internationally. Now, he's
cycling as a tandem rider with a guide, competing at the national level.
He's found the silver lining to his Usher syndrome as an athlete who has encouraged other visually impaired athletes to
pursue sports, especially speed skating.
He asked students about some of the struggles that they have, and what dreams they still wanted to pursue as adults.
"it doesn't matter how hard life is, the more positivity you have, the easier it gets," Frost told the students. "There's a joy in all
worlds."
Brier Dodge is a reporter -photographer with the Orl6ans News and Ottawa Metroland Media publications. She can be
reached at brier.dodge@metroland.com . Follow her on Twitterand Facebook.
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