October is Blindness Awareness Month, and Khara is on a mission to increase understanding and acceptance for people like her, who live with visual impairments and other disabilities.
Born with a rare condition called Septo-Optic Dysplasia, Khara has faced numerous challenges since birth, but her determination and positive outlook have turned those obstacles into opportunities for growth and resilience.
Khara’s blindness was caused by the underdevelopment of her optic nerves during the 14th week of pregnancy, preventing signals from reaching her brain.
When she was born, her mother noticed something unusual about her eyes—they moved uncontrollably and didn’t align, a condition called Nystagmus.
In addition to blindness, Khara is missing a structure in her brain called the Septum Pellucidum, and her growth was stunted due to an underperforming pituitary gland.
Daily growth hormone injections are a part of her life, allowing her to grow and thrive. Diagnosed at just five months old, Khara’s condition affects only 1 in 10,000 newborns.
Despite her early setbacks, Khara has made it her mission to show the world that blindness is not a limitation—it’s simply a different perspective.
“Confidence is not about what you see, but about how you see yourself,” she says with conviction.
From delayed milestones like crawling and walking, to learning how to interpret the world without visual cues, Khara has faced every challenge with incredible strength.
She didn’t crawl until she was one and a half years old, didn’t take her first steps until she was almost three, and relied on years of early intervention and support to help her access the world.
In a recent video shared on social media, Khara speaks candidly about her condition and her journey.
“I was born with a condition called Septal Optic Dysplasia… With this condition, my optic nerves are small and underdeveloped, which caused me to be completely blind with no light perception,” she explains.
She recalls conversations with her mother about delays she experienced as a baby and how difficult it was to understand concepts without visual references.
Over time, Khara has learned to navigate her world using tools and technology that have empowered her independence. One of her most cherished tools is her white cane, which she has affectionately named “Cece.”
In her video, she jokes, “I named her because she helps me see. See? Ha ha.”
Cece, her constant companion, allows her to move through life without barriers, symbolizing the strength Khara has found within herself.
Khara’s story is one of perseverance and hope. She is dedicated to breaking down stereotypes about blindness and building a world where kindness, inclusion, and understanding prevail.
Her journey reminds us that true confidence comes from how we view ourselves, not what we see.
