When Nate S. first visited Braille Institute in the summer of 2025, he hoped to get tips on assistive technology to help him function with low vision. While he received help with his phone, he also received much more, including advice on playing his bass guitar when performing in dark clubs.
Nate is a member of The Mendenhall Experiment, a rock band founded by guitarist Brandon Mendenhall, who has cerebral palsy and, through music, aims to change the perception of people with disabilities. The band tours and records often, and was the subject of a documentary called Mind Over Matter, released in 2019.
Born hearing impaired, Nate received hearing aids at age three, which helped him hear and learn how to speak. He also began slowly losing his vision when he was a teenager. His limited vision did not prevent him from leading a life without any special assistance. After graduating from high school, he attended community college, married and raised two daughters with his wife, and worked a series of jobs, including in construction. But music has been his passion. “It’s the reason I get up every day,” he says.
Performing in dark clubs was a problem, however, as Nathan’s vision would decrease in poorly lit rooms or at night. In 2019, he decided to get his eyes checked, he says, “to fix whatever was going on with my vision. I was tired of bumping into walls and trying to see at night.” A retina specialist suspected he had Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that affects both hearing and vision. The diagnosis was later confirmed by a genetic test. It wasn’t until 2025, after an ophthalmologist recommended he visit Braille Institute, that he contacted us.
Nate met with Andrew Cabal, one of our low vision occupational therapists, who helped him learn how to optimize features on his cell phone so he could better see text and images. He also gave him stickers with large-size numbers and bump dots so that he could operate appliances, like a microwave, and also gave him a digital magnifier. “I read a book for the first time in three years,” Nate says.
What Nate didn’t know was that Andrew is also a musician who plays in a band. He suggested that Nate put tape on the neck of his guitar corresponding to specific notes, so he would be able to feel what he is playing in dark clubs where his vision is impaired. “The tape thing really helped me,” Nate says. “I don’t have to look at my bass too much.” He plans on returning to Braille Institute for mobility training.
“I love what you guys do,” Nate says. “Braille Institute is an important resource for people like me. I’ve only met with Andrew once, and my world has already been changed for the better. I could stay in my room all day, but that gets old. You only get one life. You’ve got to make the best of it.”
