Ray Charles

Born in Albany, Georgia, Ray Charles was a singer and composer. By the time he was 7, he was totally blind. His hits include classics such as ‘I Got a Woman’, ‘Unchain My Heart’, ‘Georgia on My Mind’, and ‘Ruby’. He won 12 Grammy Awards.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was born without sight in the US. He learnt to play many musical instruments. He has had many hit records including ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’.

Helen Keller

Born in the US in 1880, as a baby Helen Keller lost her sight and her hearing. Anne Sullivan, who was blind herself, taught Helen the name of objects by tracing out the shapes of the letters on her hand. Helen learnt to read Braille and went on to write many books.

Who is the patron saint of blind people?

There are several saints proposed to be patrons of blind people. Some people say that St Lucy, born in 303, gave her possessions to people in poverty. Her feast day is on 13 December. St Cecilia was blind and is said to be the patron saint of musicians and blind people. Other people have said that St Odilia is the patron saint of blind people. She was born without sight in 720 in Alsace. When she was 12 years old, St Erhard of Regensburg visited her village. He baptised her as a Christian and at once she regained her sight and later entered a convent and became an abbess.