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Colour me blind – Usher Awareness Day 2021

Singer-songwriter Jasper Steverlinck sings about Usher syndrome

Singer-songwriter Jasper Steverlinck

Flemish singer-songwriter Jasper Steverlinck released a song in 2018 that he wrote in response to a friend’s personal story. Her son had been diagnosed with Usher syndrome and is slowly becoming deaf and blind. This story grabbed Jasper Steverlinck so much that he wrote the song ‘Colour me blind’. The words ‘Cannot change it / It’s inevitable’ suddenly takes on a completely different meaning.

The song ‘Colour me blind’ was written for Jackson and Jasper Steverlinck added the sensitive song to his hit album “Night Prayers”. ‘Colour me blind’ is tailor-made for everyone who is suffering from Usher Syndrome. The melody enchants and the lyrics will take everyone’s breath away.

We think ‘Colour me blind’ is a beautiful song for Usher Awareness Day 2021!

Usher Awareness Day
Every year on the third Saturday of September, we celebrate ‘Global Usher Awareness Day. On this day, which falls on the same day as the autumn equinox, the sun is directly above the equator and the day and the night have the same length. Following the autumn equinox, there will be less light every day; days get shorter and nights get longer.

The autumn equinox is the ultimate metaphor for the Usher Syndrome, because this experience of seeing increasingly less light is an irreversible process for people suffering from Usher Syndrome. The light-sensitive eye cells that have died in the eyes and the cilia in the ears will never come back.
Being diagnosed for Usher Syndrome is a frightening experience.
Therefore we want to make Usher Syndrome known around the world and so create a better understanding of the impact of getting both deaf and blind. Besides, everyone in the world must know that people suffering from Usher Syndrome are remarkably driven and well-motivated to keep participating in society. 

To raise awareness for the most common genetic cause of deaf blindness, we are raising awareness more than ever.
This year the Global Usher Awareness Day falls on September 18th and in the run-up to this day, we will daily share the song ‘Colour me blind’.

*Jackson is Caroline’s son: Ushermom / Colour me blind
Colour Me Blind · Jasper Steverlinck Night Prayer ℗ 2018 Sony Music Entertainment Belgium NV/SA

LYRICS: COLOUR ME BLIND

I’m holding on but now those days are gone
They seem like half forgotten dreams
Where everything was as white as snow
Now the black is in everything

We cannot change it
It is inevitable
But how much longer will it take?
Before we slide into the great unknown
Oh how I know your heart will break

Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know
Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know

My hands are my ears
My fingers are my eyes
I’ll let my memories be my guide
When I fall into the great unknown
I’ll have you here by my side

Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know
Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know

Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know
Colour me blind colour me blind
I don’t think I want to know

But I know, I know, I know

I’m holding on but now those days are gone
They seem like half forgotten dreams
Where everything was as white as snow
Now the black is in everything


GLOBAL USHER AWARENESS DAY
Saturday September 18th 2021

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