Blind Denmark business owner Warren Bull becomes a role model for people living with low or no vision

Warren Bull may be blind but that hasn’t stopped him running his own successful farmstay retreat and being a role model for other people living with low or no vision in Denmark. Mr Bull and his wife Leonie have been running the Misty Valley Country Cottages for the past 24 years since leaving their busy lives in Perth to manage the farmstay accommodation business. The couple have since built two self contained chalet cottages and keep a variety of farm animals such as chickens, ponies and goats for guests to interact with. Mr Bull was born with inoperable cataracts which resulted in a loss of vision and two prosthetic eyes. “I have no vision, I was born with inoperable cataracts,” Mr Bull said. “My right eye was removed and then my vision in my remaining eye deteriorated, when I was seven I lost my sight altogether. “While my vision loss happened at an early age, that remembrance of what it was like living with sight has helped me with my mobility and It’s given me an appreciation of colours and shapes.” VisAbility is a National Disability Insurance scheme provider that offers practical, emotional and peer support to West Australians living with low or no vision. The organisation’s assistive technology team helps to set up computer or phone programs and provide support for people and business owners. Mr Bull uses assistive technology such as a computer screen reader program Job Access With Speech (JAWS) to enable him to manage the bookings for his business. He said people should not be afraid of technology. “For anyone with disabilities, it’s opening up a world of possibilities,” he said. “I first started using JAWS 20 years ago — it was very basic and cumbersome back then, but it has advanced so much now. “The assistive technology team at VisAbility can help — I am about to have some more sessions following updates to the Microsoft Windows program.” Mr Bull has adapted to continue to work on the farm over the years. “We used to have 110 acres, but I sold 50 acres two and a half years ago because I am in my mid-sixties and wanted to scale back a bit,” he said. “Because of familiarity with my surroundings, I have created my own self-fabricated white cane for the rough terrain at the farm. “I also have a standard white cane and we have a four-wheel motor bike that my wife Leonie uses going to and forth chalets.” Mr Bull said his own experience had enabled him to help other people also living with low or no vision. “We had a family stay some years ago with a daughter who was 13 who was losing her sight,” he said. “Her parents thought it would be beneficial for her to witness what I’d achieved, to inspire her. “There was another couple who came to stay and the husband explained he was going blind because of a medical condition and had to give up driving. “During his stay, he was able to talk openly about his concerns and his journey forward without any vision.” For more information, visit www.visability.com.au