☰Menu

Flying Blind: Legally Blind Man Learns to Fly

Author: Jason DeCamillis
Published: 2015/08/26 - Updated: 2026/03/24
Publication Type: Submitted Article
Category Topic: Hobbies - Related Publications

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This personal account tells the story of Jason DeCamillis, a special education teacher and disability advocate from Ypsilanti, Michigan, who is legally blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa - a progressive condition that limits his vision to roughly 20 degrees of central field. Despite being ineligible for a pilot's license, DeCamillis pursued flight instruction through a nonprofit flying club in Ann Arbor, Michigan, logging over 8 hours of flight time with the support of his instructor, Dr. Alex Arts. Written in DeCamillis's own words, the account draws credibility from his direct experience and his academic background in special education and educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. It offers a grounded, real-world perspective on disability, possibility, and the practical value of adaptive approaches - useful to individuals with visual impairments, disability advocates, educators, and anyone questioning what people with disabilities can and cannot do - Disabled World (DW).

Topic Definition: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited genetic disorders that cause progressive degeneration of the photoreceptor cells in the retina, typically beginning with the loss of peripheral and night vision and, in many cases, advancing toward significant central vision loss over time. The condition varies widely in rate of progression and severity between individuals, and while there is currently no cure, those affected often retain usable central vision for many years - as in the case of Jason DeCamillis, who retains approximately 20 degrees of central visual field. RP is one of the leading causes of inherited blindness worldwide, affecting an estimated 1 in 4,000 people, and is a recognized basis for legal blindness classification in many countries, including the United States.

Introduction

Legally Blind Man Takes Flight Lessons to Live His Dream

Jason DeCamillis of Ypsilanti, MI, has wanted to learn to fly a plane ever since he was a child. However, he never thought that it would be possible because he is legally blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive condition which slowly affects his peripheral and night vision.

Main Content

"I have about 20 degrees of central vision now, which some refer to as 'tunnel vision'," Jason DeCamillis, special education teacher and advocate said.

Earlier this year, he saw a video online of a pilot who had lost his license due to the same condition, but kept on flying by taking flight lessons.

"I thought, 'Wow. Maybe I could do the same thing.' I had just never thought to ask," DeCamillis said.

He contacted a local nonprofit flying club in Ann Arbor, MI. and not only did the club agree to take him up for a discovery flight, but his instructor, Dr. Alex Arts, encouraged him to pursue flight instruction.

A young man with short dark hair, a beard, and glasses stands smiling in front of a small single-engine white aircraft inside what appears to be an aircraft hangar.
A young man with short dark hair, a beard, and glasses stands smiling in front of a small single-engine white aircraft inside what appears to be an aircraft hangar. He is wearing a short-sleeved blue and white plaid shirt and dark blue jeans, with his hands resting on his hips in a relaxed, confident pose. The plane behind him is white with a blue and black stripe running along its fuselage, and its tail registration number reads N13775. The hangar interior is visible in the background, with natural light coming in from the open hangar doors on the left side of the frame.

It's been a few weeks now, and DeCamillis has logged over 8 hours of flight time even though he can't ultimately get his license.

"I see this an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. It's not about overcoming disability; it's about living my life. I've seen so many people forgo their dreams as a result of traditional notions of disability, and I want to share what is possible when we work together across ability; doing so isn't charity or inspiration, it's life," DeCamillis said.

A photograph taken from inside the cockpit of a small aircraft in flight. Two men are seated side by side, both wearing aviation headsets with boom microphones.
A photograph taken from inside the cockpit of a small aircraft in flight. Two men are seated side by side, both wearing aviation headsets with boom microphones. The man on the left, in the pilot's seat, is older, wearing a light tan short-sleeved shirt and glasses, and appears to be handling the controls. The man on the right, in the co-pilot or passenger seat, is younger with a beard and glasses, wearing a blue and white plaid shirt and a diagonal shoulder seatbelt. The instrument panel of the aircraft is partially visible in the lower left of the frame, and the view through the windshield shows a hazy blue-grey sky, suggesting they are airborne at altitude.

Jason DeCamillis holds a visual impairment special education teaching certificate in the state of Michigan, and recently graduated from both Eastern Michigan University's Special Education Teacher Preparation Program (BA '14), and the University of Michigan's Educational Leadership and Policy Program (MA '15).

A close-up photograph taken from inside the cockpit of a small aircraft, shot from a low angle looking up slightly toward the two occupants. Both men are wearing aviation headsets.
A close-up photograph taken from inside the cockpit of a small aircraft, shot from a low angle looking up slightly toward the two occupants. Both men are wearing aviation headsets. The man on the right - younger, with a beard, glasses, and a red and white plaid shirt - is the more prominent subject, positioned in the foreground in sharp focus, with his seatbelt visible across his chest. The man on the left is slightly behind him, wearing a darker short-sleeved shirt, and appears to be pointing toward something out the left-side window. Bright sunlight streams in through the cockpit windows, and a green, flat landscape is faintly visible far below through the side windows, indicating the aircraft is at a considerable altitude. The overall tone of the image is warm and slightly overexposed due to the bright ambient light.

DeCamillis is currently working on an independent documentary film of his experience titled "Flying Blind", to be completed in 2016, and is raising funds via Indiegogo in order to complete the project.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Jason DeCamillis's experience in the cockpit challenges a deeply held assumption - that a disability automatically defines the limits of what a person can pursue. By working within the actual boundaries of his condition rather than assumptions about it, he logged real flight hours with qualified instruction, something most people, disabled or not, never do. His parallel work as a special education teacher and his documentary project suggest this isn't simply a personal story, but a deliberate effort to shift how disability is framed in everyday life. The flying club's willingness to include him, and his instructor's encouragement, also matter here - they demonstrate what practical, non-patronizing support actually looks like in action - Disabled World (DW).

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Jason DeCamillis and published on 2015/08/26, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

Related Publications

: Discover how birdwatching offers accessible, enriching experiences for all, including seniors and people with disabilities, in diverse natural settings.

: Urban milkweed gardens, even on balconies and rooftops, effectively support monarch butterflies whose populations have declined due to habitat loss.

: 16-year-old boy Ali Asgari Lemjiri, known as Sky Boy, presents video demonstrations on model aircraft flying.

What People Are Saying

Start, or join, thought-provoking conversations with other Disabled World readers on this topic.

Share and Comment

APA: Jason DeCamillis. (2015, August 26 - Last revised: 2026, March 24). Flying Blind: Legally Blind Man Learns to Fly. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved April 27, 2026 from www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hobby/flying-blind.php
MLA: Jason DeCamillis. "Flying Blind: Legally Blind Man Learns to Fly." Disabled World (DW), 26 Aug. 2015, revised 24 Mar. 2026. Web. 27 Apr. 2026. <www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hobby/flying-blind.php>.
Chicago: Jason DeCamillis. "Flying Blind: Legally Blind Man Learns to Fly." Disabled World (DW). Last modified March 24, 2026. www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hobby/flying-blind.php.

While we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date information, our content is for general informational purposes only. Please consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.