Loss of an Inspirational Blind Teacher

Brian R. Miller, 52, was born with defective retinas and could barely see large text right in front of his face. Nevertheless, he was one of the first blind students to sit in classrooms with sighted students in California in the 1970s and 1980s.

Miller's blindness led him to dedicate his life to helping other students with disabilities. After high school, he went on to a career with the U.S. Education Department's Rehabilitation Services Administration to help others like him. Sadly, his life was cut short due to complications related to COVID-19.

Miller started exhibiting symptoms in mid-March, after returning from a trip to Jordan; in his life, he visited 45 states and 65 countries. He entered the hospital on March 28th, was put on a ventilator the next day, and died after he began bleeding internally and suffered organ failure.

"Brian believed strongly in the capacity of individuals with disabilities to engage in all aspects of life," Carol Dobak wrote in a message to department staff, Miller's direct supervisor, "and his own life was a reflection of this philosophy."

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Brian Miller, whose blindness inspired a career helping disabled students, dies of COVID-19