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Brian Celusnak | August 2022 Men In Motion

Brian Celusnak is a 30+ white man with reddish/brown hair, beard and mustache. He's wearing a gray teeshirt that says "We Defy" in big white block text.

Brian Celusnak | August2022 Men In Motion

Contents

Editor’s Note

UPDATE: Hi Everyone, unfortunately I’ve been dealing with some extreme burnout requiring the need for lots of rest. In view of this during the month of August our regularly scheudled posts will be slightly off schedule as my energy permits. Now, without further delay let’s get to today’s post.

Brian Celusnak, our August Man In Motion, looks at the process of adjusting to disability(s) as the Stages of Change and I love it! Adapting to a disability can be grueling and it is a state of change no matter how you view it. I hope you enjoy reading and/or viewing Brian’s YouTube video. If so, and you have a comment or thought you’d like to share please drop by our Facebook group. Thank you! ~Steph

Initially when you acquire disability, they say you go through the stages of grief because disability is kind of like losing something. But I really like to refer to them as the Stages of Change, kind of flipping the switch on it from negative to positive.

~Brian Celusnak

Beyond Sight Magazine

Brian Celusnak is a 30+ white man with reddish/brown hair, beard and mustache. He's wearing a gray teeshirt that says "We Defy" in big white block text. Cover text reads Beyond Sight August 2022 | Men In Motion | Brian Celusnak.

YouTube Video

Introduction & Diagnoses

A selfie of Brian in his Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi (white jacket)
Brian in his Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi

My name is Brian Celusnak, I’m 32 years old and legally blind or visually impaired since birth. And I am August Man In Motion for Bold Blind Beauty.

And I was diagnosed at the age of two, with Optic atrophy and nystagmus, which are two things that are kind of tied together. Optic atrophy is basically my optic nerves never fully developed, for whatever reason. So the image my eyes are seeing is kind of being distorted when it goes to the brain, and nystagmus means my eyes constantly are moving. And basically, one friend of mine described it as I look like I’m constantly reading a teleprompter, which is fine for me.

And I also was later diagnosed at age 11, with cerebral palsy (CP), which basically, is a neurological disorder, I guess, you could say. But basically, it affects some my muscle movement, particularly legs, so I walk with a walker. So basically, I had both sides of the spectrum, I was born with a disability, and I acquired a diagnosis for another completely separate disability later in life.

So I kind of figured out and understand both sides of the spectrum, whether it’s, you’re born with it, and learning how to do adaptations, kind of as a primary thing. Or learning about disability, and acquiring adaptations, as secondary because you learn how to deal with things normally, and then you’re like, Oh, I got to figure out an adaptation. Now, this is rough, but I mean, it is what it is you’re dealing with the current state your adult. And it’s a lot easier having some experience under your belt, knowing what adaptations will work for you, as they come a little bit later on in life.

Stages Of Change

So right now, I’m to the point where as initially when you acquire disability, they say you go through the stages of grief because disability is kind of like losing something. But I really like to refer to them as the Stages of Change, kind of flipping the switch on it from negative to positive and just deal with it as it comes. I mean, sometimes you gotta embrace the struggle. The struggle is only in attitude, as I like to say.

So with that being said, right now, even though I’m a blind guy using a walker, I’ve had a lot of experiences over my lifetime even though I’m 32. In college, I kind of came out of my shell in terms of I joined several on-campus organizations that are public university, including stand up comedy, which a lot of people when they meet somebody with a disability, they’re a they don’t know how to act. So for me the the icebreaker that I made people feel comfortable is like in jokes, I got a disability. I laugh, you should laugh too otherwise I’m gonna, stare your down until you do too.

So I did that for five and a half years and that also led beyond college to different places I have lived where I didn’t really know anybody I just hopped on an open mic and started making jokes and making friends. And now I’m settling down I got a house, a wife, a dog, and I have great job as a blind rehabilitation specialist I get to help others achieve their true potential through adaptive technology or techniques. They have visual impairment help them go through the stages of change so I’ve been doing that for like nine years.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

As of now I’ve got hobbies outside of work I’ve been doing Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for six years. Earlier in life I’ve wrestled in there a little bit of Taekwondo but definitely settling in Jiu-Jitsu and been working hard at as ways to strengthen my legs and improve mobility. And really, it has no effect of whether or not I can see because feeling where my opponent and myself are in space and reacting based off of that.

So um, and also I joined a service organization you know, friends, family. So, basically just trying to do the best I can and flip the negatives to a positive because I mean it could get a lot worse if you let it but it’s just an uphill battle and you got to realize, hey, I’m doing it. Let’s do more.

So that is my submission for Bold Blind Beauty Men In Motion. Although I’m ruggedly handsome, I’d like to say and if you like this I’m also on social media. I have a blog also, it’s called eyeroll4 E-Y- E- R- O- L- L-4 is a pun dot com. Eyeroll4.com is just a motivational blog. But anyways, thanks for having me. Talk to you later, bye.

Connecting With Brian:

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Image Descriptions

  • Header, Beyond Sight Magazine Cover and YouTube Thumbnail are identical and feature Brian Celusnak a 30+ white man with reddish/brown hair, beard, and mustache. He’s wearing a gray teeshirt that says “We Defy” in big white block text. Text on the cover reads “Beyond Sight August 2022 | Men In Motion | Brian Celusnak.”
  • A selfie of Brian in his Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi (white jacket)
  • YouTube Video description: In the video Brian is on a sofa and wearing an olive green polo shirt with khaki pants.
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