Michael "Mikey" Hughes, 33, a radio producer from Ayrshire, Scotland, has been announced as one of the housemates for the UK reality show "Big Brother 9." Hughes will be the first blind person to participate.
The Daily Telegraph says, "Mikey was born with Stickler's syndrome, a rare genetic condition which left him partially sighted. He was rendered totally blind after haemorrhaging during an operation to remove a cataract when he was 23. He works as a producer for Insight Radio, a station set up for blind and partially sighted listeners. He describes himself as 'zany.'"
Hughes wrote a narrative about his life here and describes some of the negative attitudes he has endured as a blind man. Hughes worked as a Research Associate with Proctor and Gamble, and then became a researcher for BBC Radio's "Good Morning Scotland" before his current position with Insight Radio. He has also performed occasionally as a stand-up comedian.
