Early Life and Vision Loss

• 💡 Dan Mancina was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at age 13, a hereditary disease that causes progressive vision loss.
• 🧬 The condition is X-linked, meaning it comes from his mother's side, and affects 50% of males in his family; three of his four brothers have it.
• 🛹 Despite the diagnosis, Dan continued to skateboard, drive, and live a relatively normal life through high school and into his early twenties.

Life Transitions and Challenges

• ✈️ Moving to California at 18 to pursue professional skateboarding led to burnout and disillusionment with the industry.
• 👨‍🍼 Becoming a father at 21 brought significant life changes, including a period of single parenthood and custody battles.
• 📚 He returned to school, pursuing aviation management, and later massage therapy, seeking independence and a stable career.
• 🚗 Vision loss progressed, leading to the cessation of driving at night, and eventually, significant impairment in his left eye due to Coats disease, requiring injections.

Adapting to Blindness and New Pursuits

• 🚶‍♂️ Dan underwent orientation and mobility training, learning to use a cane and regaining confidence in navigating the world.
• 📱 Technology, particularly smartphones and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, became crucial for independence.
• 🏠 He purchased a home and adapted it with braille labels and organizational systems, demonstrating a commitment to independence.
• 🎓 Pursuing a Master's degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy highlights his dedication to understanding and aiding others with vision loss.

Rediscovering Skateboarding

• 🛹 After a period of disinterest, Dan rediscovered skateboarding, initially using residual vision and a cane to navigate obstacles.
• 🌟 He began filming videos of himself performing tricks, which gained traction online and led to opportunities.
• 🛹 This led to sponsorships and the goal of having his name on a professional skateboard, a significant milestone in the skating community.
• 🤝 He is now working with companies like Real Skateboards and Adidas, and aims to push the boundaries of what's possible for blind skaters.

Advocacy and Future Goals

• 🏞️ Dan founded the "Keep Pushing" foundation to raise funds for building fully adaptive skate parks for individuals with visual impairments.
• 🏫 The foundation plans to host clinics and camps, teaching adaptive skateboarding to children and families.
• 🏅 He is actively involved in advocating for adaptive skateboarding to be included in the Paralympics.
• 🛹 He highlights other blind skaters like Nick Mullins and Justin Bishop, showcasing a growing community.

Personal Reflections and Advice

• 🗣️ Mancina emphasizes the importance of a person's voice and character over physical appearance when forming relationships.
• 💡 He advises his 16-year-old self to remain carefree and true to himself, cherishing that spirit.
• ♿ He acknowledges the challenges of people's treatment of the blind, often stemming from good intentions but lacking understanding.
• 🛹 His journey demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and a passion for pushing limits, both in skateboarding and in life.