Dan Parker, Blind Since 2012, Lands His Dream Job Thanks to OrCam MyEye 2

Dan Parker was a professional drag race car driver. In 2012, Dan was severely injured in a race car accident. He was convinced that his life was over. His vocational rehab counselor introduced him to OrCam MyEye 2, which immediately restored his confidence and independence.

OrCam MyEye 2 is the most advanced wearable assistive technology device for people who are blind, visually impaired or have reading difficulties that can read text, identify products, faces, colors and more.

Dan’s Passion for Racing

Dan found car racing exciting since he was eight years old. In 2005, Dan was named the ADRL pro nitrous world champion. On March 31st 2012, Dan’s life changed forever. During a race, at 180 miles an hour, Dan crashed into the wall at the racetracks and his car was split in two. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He survived the accident but tragically lost his sight.

Dan said that after the accident, “I had my days, I wanted to give up, I wanted to cash my own check.” After Dan was released from the hospital, he started to worry about finding a job and making a living. Dan didn’t want to be a financial burden on anybody and wanted to support himself on his own. Within a month, Dan landed a job he calls his “dream job.” Dan now works as a machine shop teacher at a local high school.

Dan Returns to Work

Working at the machine shop requires working with oils and lubricants. Mistaking one from the other can damage his work and the machines he uses. Dan uses his OrCam to read the text on every bottle in order to use the right liquid at the right time. Dan also uses his OrCam MyEye 2 in order to help him label items and keep his machine shop organized which he says is essential when you’re blind. He can even help his students follow instructions in class and in the shop.

Dan credits his strength to keep on fighting for life and the will to recover to his then girlfriend Jennifer. “I woke up in the hospital from a coma to find out I was blind, I was convinced my life was over. I told Jennifer to go pack her bags and move back to Birmingham and to forget about me. And she wouldn’t have it, she stuck with me. And I knew that I had to fight for her.”

On February 2019, Dan proposed to Jennifer using his OrCam MyEye 2 on the Steve Harvey show.