"As speakers, we never fight over the size of our slice of the pie, we build a bigger pie." - Cavett Robert, founder, National Speaker Association
Daniel Kish: Top Ten TED Talks for 2015
TED: Truth and Dare, Vancouver - March, 2015Daniel Kish Delivers a warmly stirring and personal perspective on his own life, blindness, and helping others to navigate their challenges. He is listed as one of the top ten talks from the TED2015 main stage, and featured in TED's online Ideas Magazine.
"THANK YOU. you were wonderful! You've got an amazingly compelling way of speaking -- curiosity and intelligence and interest oozing out of every phrase that you utter. It's so listenable to! You talk as if you're alive and thinking through every word, and I absolutely love that!" - Chris Anderson
Daniel Kish Voted Talk of the Day at PopTech
October, 2011Daniel Delivers a genuinely personal perspective on his own life, blindness, and helping others to claim their freedom. He was fortunate to be voted Talk of the Day. A special video clip was produced about our work, and a story was filmed and written for CNN, which was subsequently aired on Sanjay Gupta's show.
"THANK YOU, again, for your participation in PopTech this year. I heard nothing but great things about your talk" - Andrew Zolli, CEO and Head Curator
TEDx Talks
Various TEDx talks given by our staff in various countries about what blind people can teach sighted people.
Patins State Conference
Daniel Kish, Keynote - November 4, 2015From the Patins Website:
"Daniel Kish, blind educator, shares his experience and perspective on fostering learning in challenging students under challenging circumstances, while not losing ourselves in the process. Includes personal story, demonstrations, practical tips, and Q&A."
Daniel Kish 2015 PATINS State Conference Keynote Preview - Private Interview
Note: the way the session was micked has Daniel sounding very subdued and echoey.
Daniel Kish 2015 PATINS State Conference Keynote Video
Note: the recording actually begins somewhat abruptly, after Daniel's opening introduction.
World Access for the Blind at the No Barriers Summit 2015
"Kish asks big but simple questions, "How much freedom do you want in your life? How much freedom do you want for yourself, and what are you willing to do to obtain that degree of freedom?"
Activating Creativity: Lessons learned from the blind who have learned to see
Proctor And Gamble World Design Conference - October, 2013Daniel Kish, Keynote
Abstract: Creativity and the brain: definition of creativity, bringing something new or distinctive into being. In order for us to bring something new into being, we must be able to renew ourselves, to bring something new in ourselves and from ourselves into being. Newness created within us spreads from us into the world around us. The answer lies in changing and renewing our brain.
The brain is the center of everything we do. If we maintain rigid paterns in our lives and in our personalities, then our brain remains static and stagnant. Not only does this thwart innovation and creativity, but it leads to early brain atrophy. By creating newness and freshness to our lives and our relationships and our characters every day, our brains remain fresh, constantly building and foraging new connections, organic and alive. This is where innovation and creativity is activated. So, what happens to the brain when we engage it in a whole new way of experiencing the world? We took blindness, which would seem intuitively devoid of positive quality and purpose, and we transformed blindness into positive quality and purpose. In the case of blind people, by activating the creative process within the brain's of our blind students, the brain literally rewires itself to find another way to see. This is confirmed by brain scans. To do this, we borrowed from brain science and experiences with hundreds of blind students in over three dozen countries to develop and implement what we call the "Freedom Formula". Among these elements is a process of FlashSonar, which entails teaching people to "see" using sound the way bats do. We teach the whole brain how to see, even if the visual system isn't receiving a visual input. We create new linkages, we refresh the system with new connections through extensions of sound, touch, and active social engagement.
When I visited the Gamble house, I was able to explore through touch and hearing the meticulous and ingenious attention to design detail, borrowed from cultures around the world - nothing about status quo there, but only brilliant newness at every step and turn, brought together in one place from every corner of the globe. With this newness and freshness, Gamble helped build a fortune 50 company. More than likely, he had a very activated brain. I learned to see, and I have taught hundreds of others to see. I also must have an activated brain. We can all have activated brains. Through personal stories, live demonstrations with audience participation, and videos that dynamically illustrate the scientific and educational nature and results of our transformative program, this audience will enjoy a personally creative experience.
K8 2015 Keynote: Daniel Kish of World Access for the Blind
Kenshoo Summit - May 20, 2015Recording of the K8 2015 keynote presentation from Daniel Kish, President of World Access for the Blind - adaptability of the human brain and the digital domain.
The Power of Expectation: Daniel Kish
Fidelity Investments Comfy Chair Conference - June 24, 2015Sound Vision: The Consciousness of Seeing with Sound
Toward a Science of Consciousness - 2012 Plenary SessionDaniel Kish
Presents on the popular philosophical issue of what it's like to be a bat, with perspectives of neural science and psychology.
No Sight, No Limits: How the Blind Learn to See
Brain Development and Learning Conference - July 25, 2013Daniel Kish
"Under-development of self-direction seems common but unnecessary among blind people, and often leads to passive dependence and under achievement. We demonstrate and discuss conditions that foster or disrupt the development of the process of self directed achievement, as well as methods for remediation. We show that self directed achievement is optimized by natural perceptual engagement, rather than structured skills repertoire. Emphasis is given to the activation of the imaging system as suggested by recent brain scan studies. Hands on demonstrations of FlashSonar imaging and its application to freedom of movement are provided."
OHE: Symposium on Optimal Healing Environments
December, 2012Daniel Kish presents on optimizing healing environments for blind people
Learning to See Better: Lessons from the Real Life Bat Man (highlights)
Paypal Mind and Sight Conference - September, 2013Daniel Kish Presentor
Abstract: Through personal stories, live demonstrations with audience participation, and videos that dynamically illustrate the scientific and educational nature and results of our transformative program, this audience will enjoy a personally innovative experience.
In order for us to innovate in the world, we must be able to innovate within ourselves. Innovation within us spreads from us into the world around us. The answer lies in changing and renewing our brain. The brain is the center of everything we do. If we maintain rigid paterns in our lives and in our personalities, then our brain remains static and stagnant. Not only does this thwart innovation, but it leads to early brain atrophy. By creating newness and freshness to our lives and our relationships and our characters every day, our brains remain fresh, constantly building and foraging new connections, organic and alive. This is where innovation is activated. So, what happens to the brain when we engage it in a whole new way of experiencing the world?
We took blindness, which would seem intuitively devoid of positive quality and purpose, and we transformed blindness into positive quality and purpose. In the case of blind people, by activating the innovative process within the brain's of our blind students, the brain literally rewires itself to find another way to see. This is confirmed by brain scans. To do this, we borrowed from brain science and experiences with hundreds of blind students in over three dozen countries to teach people to "see" using sound the way bats do. We teach the whole brain how to see, even if the visual system isn't receiving a visual input. We create new linkages, we refresh the system with new connections through extensions of sound, touch, and active social engagement.
Who were Paypal's earliest founders? "Elon Musk"
He has been sited as one of the worlds greatest modern innovators, and one of 100 most influential people in the world. He revolutionized internet commerce. He's the first commercial enterprise to send manned rockets into space. He's the first to create a sustainable, long distance electric car, and everyone told him it would be impossible. He must have an activated brain.
I don't count myself as being anywhere among the world's most innovative or influencial. I don't suppose I'll fly to Mars, or event the first autonomous android, or revolutionize the known universe. All I want to do is help people to see better., to see, not just with eyes, but with consciousness.
but one thing I do share in common with some of these folks, like Elon Musk, is that for me, the "i m" in "impossible" means "Make It Possible". The "I M" isn't a dismissal or negation of what can be done; it's a call to arms of what must be done.
I cannot see anything at all, and yet, I have learned to fill the unknown with awareness, and approach it with relaxed poise. I've taught this to many hundreds of students. It is nothing more than adaptation, which any of us can do - to face the unknown with relaxed poise. I also must have an activated brain. We can all have activated brains.
It is when we are able to raise our heads beyond the walls of our blindness boxes that we get a glimpse of life's greatest luster. Notice, I call them "blindness boxes" rather than comfort zones. Then, we can make educated, informed choices about whether to step out of our blindness boxes into a much larger world more full of opportunity and richness, and to share our own creativity with others. If we blind people can learn to see in the dark, then surely sighted people can learn to see better in the light.
Daniel Kish: Entrepreneurs Organization
Chennai, India - February, 2013"Dear Daniel,
I thank you for coming to Chennai to be among EO members at the RIE. I appreciate you time and effort to be among us. It was a pleasure and privilige for us and it is a Privilige for me to have had the opportunity to meet you. I look forward to being in touch and hopefully meeting you again and spending time for a chat. I wish you well Daniel and I am sure you will be graced with a good life from all the lives you are touching.
WIth sincere thoughts. Anand Pakkurti"
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA - 2010-2011
Brian Bushway: Team Building and Inspirational PresentationsJeremy Cook, PhD
Brain Awareness Week 2014
Prof. Mel Goodale (Brain and Mind Institute) and Brian Bushway (World Access for the Blind)Keynote Speakers
The Center for Integrative Neuroscience: University of Nevada, Reno
"Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. The Integrative Neuroscience Center of Biomedical Research Excellence and the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience presented a host of student oriented activities at UNR to celebrate and explore the wonders of the brain."
Daniel Kish, Walden University Academic Residency
Atlanta - April 25, 2014"Daniel Kish, founder and president of World Access for the Blind, will speak to more than 700 doctoral students at Walden University's academic residency on April 26 at the Sheraton Atlanta."
"Daniel Kish, founder and president of World Access for the Blind, spoke at Walden University's Atlanta residency this afternoon and earned a standing ovation from attendees."
Walden University Academic Residencies FaceBook
the Washington Governor's Student Achievement Council
Living with No LimitsDaniel Kish Presents - March 10, 2015
Governor appointed agency advancing educational opportunities and attainment in Washington; leading a statewide effort to develop and implement a strategic plan for raising attainment at the postsecondary level. "Staff emails have been pouring in yesterday and this morning in appreciation for you and your presentation. You touched many lives in very meaningful ways. Be safe and know you are deeply respected. I am inspired by your continued contribution to the fulfillment of others. You are truly a dream-maker and providing a lasting contribution to the success and happiness of those you serve. Your humility and strength of character are models for all of us in the daily navigation of finding meaning and fulfillment in our lives. As is often commented, ?We must all ?press on? in our work in lifting others up.?" - Gene Sharratt, Ph.D. Executive Director, Member of Governor's Cabinet
Braille Challenge
Brian Bushway, Keynote - March, 2010The Need for User Centered Wearable Devices for the Blind
IEEE: ISTAS'2013Daniel Kish, Plenary Session
"This talk focuses on outlining some of the challenges that modern technology presents disabled individuals. Blindness is emphasized as an example that exemplifies the issues faced."
Mindshare LA: Puts Innovation and Research to a Test in Solving Modern Challenges
Daniel Kish - September 21, 2011"Program Features Daniel Kish, President of World Access for the Blind - 'Echolocation & Giving Sight to the Blind' ..."
"Mindshare LA stirs up another evening of innovation, thought and play - speaker line-up explores the implementation of sound in giving sight to the blind, the importance of biosphere exploration, how respect for the work-place boss depends on culture, and more."
Sonar Imaging and Navigation in Blind Humans
Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO),International Conference - 2015
Daniel Kish, Keynote
Bio-acoustics in Humans and Animals
International Syposiums, University of Southern Denmark, Kerteminde - 2009, 2010Daniel Kish delivered keynotes and plenary sessions on human sonar, including auditory scene analysis and training. Present were some of the world's top experts and scientists on bio-acoustics.
Echolocation in Bats, Dolphins and Man - March, 2009
Echolocation in Whales, Bats and Man
Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP) Conference
June 24 - 29, 2007: Daniel Kish and Brian Bushway travel to Armenia to present at the international Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP) Ophthalmology Conference in Yerevan, and to lay the ground work for development of the first Orientation and Mobility training program for the blind in Armenia.
Conference: Acoustical Society of America - December 2000
Daniel Kish and World Access for the Blind team hold press conference and demonstrations at the meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, in connection with Dr. Leslie Kay, keynote speaker on the technical achievements of "sonic vision" or "seeing with sound".
Washington State University, Wenatchee
Workshop Delivered - March, 2004"Thank you so much for the wonderful presentation. I was so impressed with your comments and abilty to be so inspiring. We all loved you!!!"
- Dr. Gene Sharratt