A blind electrician from Matanzas proves that limitations are not barriers to success

In the Playa de Matanzas neighborhood, a small repair shop has become a symbol of perseverance and resilience: there, Yusmel Fernández González, a blind electrical technician, defies the expectations of his community and the limitations imposed by his visual impairment at the age of 49.

His life, marked by retinitis pigmentosa, is a story of struggle, ingenuity, and an tireless quest for independence, highlighted the official newspaper Girón.

The disease was diagnosed when he was only 10 years old. Until then, Fernández had attributed his frequent trips and inability to see the ball during baseball games to mere distractions.

However, that day at the hospital in Santiago de Cuba, her life changed forever: "Your son has a degenerative disease that will gradually diminish his vision," they told her mother.

For a child of his age, the doctors' words were hard to understand, but the restrictions that followed were a devastating blow: suddenly, he was forbidden from running, climbing trees, and, most painfully for him, looking directly at the sun, an experience he enjoyed so much.

But what characterized him since childhood was his ability to adapt and find new ways to live fully, and although the diagnosis marked a before and after in his life, it did not stop him from seeking ways to explore the world that was becoming invisible to him.

It was in his father's workshop, where he taught himself to repair appliances, that he discovered his fascination with electronics: among tools, wires, and circuits, he found both a refuge and a purpose.

Remember how, as a child, he built his first alarm with a coil and some old batteries, amazing his classmates, and from that moment on, he became the innovator in the classroom, dismissing the stigma of being “visually impaired.”

Throughout his academic training at the Álvarez Berrier Cruz Polytechnic, his love for electronics and physics grew exponentially.

Although his teachers provided certain accommodations due to his illness, Fernández never allowed this to affect his performance: he memorized complete lessons and solved mathematical and electrical problems in his "mental board."

It was then that he realized that Ohm's Law was not just an abstract formula, but the key to understanding the electrical circuits that he was so passionate about.

Today, in his repair workshop, Fernández has earned the respect and admiration of the entire community, proving that he has overcome obstacles by relying on his hands, which have become his true eyes and his primary tool for work.

With a simple touch, it identifies brands and models of appliances, memorizes circuits, and detects faults with astonishing precision.

His clients, who arrive with rice cookers, blenders, and other broken appliances, are amazed to see him working with a distant gaze and dark glasses, as his fingers deftly navigate each component: “Just by touching them, I can tell what model it is and how its electrical system is designed.”

The sense of touch and hearing have developed extraordinarily: he can detect if a screw is rusty or if a cable needs to be replaced just by touching them, but his abilities extend beyond simple repairs.

In his effort to overcome the challenges posed by his vision impairment, he created a device that emits a sound to confirm whether a piece of equipment is consuming energy after being repaired, allowing him to ensure that the repair was successful: “So far, I have never had a device returned to me after repairing it.”

Despite his skills and self-confidence, life has not been easy for Fernández: two surgeries restored some of his vision for a time, but his condition progressed irreversibly.

However, rather than giving up, he decided to adapt to the new circumstances: his cane became his inseparable ally, allowing him to navigate the city with independence. He has developed a meticulous routine to manage his home when his wife, who organizes his clothes and supports him unconditionally, has to be away.

"I can't tell if my clothes have stains," he says with a touch of humor, "but the smell of the detergent gives me a hint that they're clean."

Fernández does not seek recognition or compassion; what he values most is the gratitude of those who rely on his repairs to recover essential items in their homes.

"What gives me the most satisfaction is feeling that I am useful, that I can take care of myself," he admits, because for him, blindness is not a barrier, but an opportunity to show that limitations only exist if we allow them to define us.

His story is not just that of a man who overcame adversities, but a reminder that determination and effort can turn any challenge into an opportunity.

As he gathers his tools at the end of each day, Fernández thinks about the next piece of equipment he will repair, and although his eyes cannot see, his mind never stops envisioning the path to a solution.

Last September, Cuba won the gold medal at the Blind Baseball World Cup, which is yet another example of overcoming challenges.

The achievement of the Cuba national team for visually impaired baseball players broke the medal drought for Cuban athletes in any category, after defeating Italy 2-1 and claiming the title of the second WBSC International Baseball Cup for the Blind held in London, Great Britain.

Driven by the sensational golden triple by the outstanding sprinter Omara Durand, Cuba significantly surpassed its performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games during the Paris 2024 Games. This achievement reflects yet another demonstration of personal and professional will in overcoming the obstacles that life presents.

Frequently Asked Questions about Yusmel Fernández, the Blind Electrician from Matanzas