68 | July/August 2015 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE68 | July/August 2015 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

dale Carnegie wrote How to Win Friends and Influence People 75 years ago. You still hear one of his most famous quotes today: “When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.” Omar Alvarado has been making lemonade almost since he was born.

Omar was born blind, but today, he is a musician, an adven-turer, a hobbyist, a high school graduate and a young man who never limits himself.

The youngest of Anita Nunez’s three sons, Omar was born blind because of medical issues that persisted until he was 18. Anita and Omar's brothers Rudy and Misael (“Butch”) were determined from the beginning that he would never be treated differently and would be encouraged to do everything he could.

He began public school at North Elementary with a class assistant. When Omar entered third grade, the school suggested he might be better off in a special school for the blind, but his mother wanted him to stay with children he already knew. She sent him to a facility in St. Augustine to be evaluated for his potential, where she learned he tested “too advanced” for third grade. He stayed in public school.

Since he learned to play the harmonica at age 4 and later picked up skill with the accordion and drums, by fifth grade, when he took an aptitude test, he scored high in musical ability and was given a recorder. This flute-like instrument

By Raye Deusinger Photos by Sandra Pearce

Blind 2012 OHS grad envisions dreams, then makes them real

‘Don’t ever give up on your dreams.’ ~ Omar Alvarado

Omar alvarado

opened the joy of music to such an extent that he continued playing it even after earning a spot in the Yearling Middle School band.

Omar followed a musical progression as he next learned to play trumpet while getting together with friends for jam sessions where he found that he loved to improvise. When asked how he learns different instruments and how he can pick up songs so readily, he said, “I experiment with every new instrument and I learn by ear and then memorize.” His recorder experience led him to trumpet, with which he continued throughout high school.

While in eighth grade, he was invited by his former elementary school to give a talk to the students on “living with blindness,” and since has encouraged many young people to explore their talents and overcome their misfortunes.

But it isn’t only young people he has helped. Recently, he heard from a friend about a blind man who had worked at blindness.org, where he pursued his skills as a software developer. Omar contacted him and urged him to submit an application to a particular company, which, three months later, hired him. Today, that man has a salary that has given his family a very comfortable lifestyle.

In ninth grade Omar joined the marching band. Marching band? Yes, marching band because, he said, “it was challenging and more demanding. Everyone in marching

okeechobeeYouth

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band has to memorize their music, but I knew positioning on the field could be a problem.” This also concerned band director Clint LaFlam. Omar’s brother Butch enjoyed track, so he became Omar’s marching assistant in field maneuvers, guiding him with a hand on his shoulder. “But I was responsible for the music,” said Omar. In his sophomore year, he even began to compose with a leaning toward classical and jazz.

Director LaFlam said: “Omar is amazing and talented. From the day I met him, I knew he was going to be a great musician. Throughout his high school years in band, Omar took every challenge that came his way head-on. It was an awesome experience to see Omar march on the football field. By the end of the year, he had the entire drill memorized so well he didn't really need a guide with him! Omar was an inspiration to all the members of the band. He motivated others to work hard. In turn, the band members took great care and loved Omar.”

Despite his progressive steps, Omar was almost never without physical pain and medical problems during his first 18 years. In his senior year at Okeechobee High School, he spent three months at Gainesville’s Shands Hospital. The doctors told his mother there was nothing more they could do for him, to take him home and just enjoy him.

He had been in bed, in pain, for a week when a friend, Karly Enfinger, came to visit. She asked Anita to bring Omar to hear an evangelist who was coming to her church. “We placed it ‘in God’s will’ and went,” said Anita. “It took four friends to get him into the car and take him to church. The evangelist prayed over him, and though he had never cried since the day he was born, Omar

70 | July/August 2015 OKEECHOBEE THE MAGAZINE

began to cry and said he ‘felt different.’ From that moment, he began to get better and has not been sick since that time.”

His health progressed rapidly, but he had those three months of his senior year to make up, which he did, gradu-ating in June 2012 with a 3.5 grade point average.

Not one to fear, at 18 he asked his mother if he would ever be able to drive a car. Always the encourager, his mom said, ‘‘Let’s go.” In the driver’s seat, with her beside him, he drove on a deserted roadway as she directed him. He stayed on the road with no problem. Around their home’s big yard, he also drives a four-wheeler.

Anita encourages experimentation. Knowing that skydiving was on Omar’s bucket list, they went to Sky Coasting Adventure in Orlando. Although she never wanted to fly, following a lifelong pattern, she suited up with him. Harnessed side by side, they were pulled to the top of a 300-foot tower. To begin the “fall,” you are instructed to pull the rip cord situated near your right hand; being in the right harness,

it fell to Omar to do so. With the pair suspended 300 feet up, it was time, but Omar couldn’t find the rip cord while Mom, who could see how far up they were, was petrified just hanging there. He found the cord, pulled it and recorded another successful adventure.

It was his uncle, Bryan Garrard, who got him into flying radio-controlled airplanes. Omar flies quadcopters, a type of drone, at the Agri-Civic Center where airplane enthusiasts meet and fly their creations. Omar, saying “every object in time and space generates sound,” uses it to maneuver his planes. He flies them in figure eights, and can pinpoint land within a 6-foot target. Though it took him six months to develop confidence and skill in flying, today he can even do acrobatics with his six quadcopters and two minicopters. Some of his work is posted on YouTube at exoticflightrc.

Joe Papasso, president of the Okeechobee Model Airplane Club, said: “I first met Omar when he came out to demonstrate to club members his ability to fly. We were all amazed that, being blind, he was able to master the pilot skills necessary for flight. Soon,

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GETTING SARA MARRIED-

Sara Hastings, an unmarried

lawyer in her mid-thirties, is

much too busy to get involved in

any romance. Her Aunt Martha

has decided to take matters into

her own hands to find her a

husband. Aunt Martha’s

methods, however, are quite

unorthodox, much to Sara’s

dismay, but to our funnybone’s

delight!

Mar. 4, 5, 11 & 12, 2016Material is in the Public Domain

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET-

A genial gentleman who claims

his name is Kris Kringle is hired

as Macy’s department store

Santa. When he’s declared

insane and put on trial,

everyone involved must

p e r s o n a l l y a n s w e r t h e

question: Do you believe in

Santa Claus?

Dec. 4 & 5, 2015Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

by James Valcq & Fred Alley

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Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

by Sam Bobrick GETTING SARA MARRIED-

Sara Hastings, an unmarried

lawyer in her mid-thirties, is

much too busy to get involved in

any romance. Her Aunt Martha

has decided to take matters into

her own hands to find her a

husband. Aunt Martha’s

methods, however, are quite

unorthodox, much to Sara’s

dismay, but to our funnybone’s

delight!

Mar. 4, 5, 11 & 12, 2016

Material is in the Public Domain

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET-

A genial gentleman who claims

his name is Kris Kringle is hired

as Macy’s department store

Santa. When he’s declared

insane and put on trial,

everyone involved must

p e r s o n a l l y a n s w e r t h e

question: Do you believe in

Santa Claus?

Dec. 4 & 5, 2015

Presented by arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

by James Valcq & Fred Alley

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a girl with a past. She finds work

and ultimately a new home in the

community’s only eatery. The

grill, and even the town, will

never be the same. It’s a musical

with an abundance of warmth,

spirit and goodwill. Engaging!

Nov. 6, 7, 13 & 14, 2015

“Spitfire Miracles!”

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‘We were all amazed that, being blind, he was able to master the pilot skills necessary for flight.’~ Joe Papasso, president, Okeechobee Model Airplane Club

Omar with Jeffery Kipfert guiding him in the OHS marching band in 2012.

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while flying with Omar, as his spotter, I became aware of both his acute sense of hearing, which is how he maintains spatial orientation with the aircraft, and his in-depth knowledge of the aircraft and systems which control it. I can honestly say in my 40-plus years as an RC aircraft instructor, I have never experienced a person so tuned into his aircraft and surroundings and his level of safety and understanding the risk in flying ‘blind.’ I am proud to have the opportunity to fly with Omar.”

His mom, Anita, tells of the day one of his planes landed in a tree. Always responsible for his own mistakes, and sure of finding a way to do what he wanted, Omar insisted on getting it down by himself. It took a whole day, but he did it.

Expanding his talents, today he does basic computer repair. He learned to type using a Braille keyboard and today is a skilled touch typist. He developed computer skills by bringing up articles on the computer and listening through a program that “reads” for him. When shopping for parts for his hobby interests, he memorizes serial numbers, part or model numbers and knows just what to ask for. Ultimately, Omar wants to attend Indian River State College to pursue a degree in information technology, but for right now he is enjoying working within the radio-control industry.

If he had a bucket list, what would be on it? Omar listed three things: fly an F-16 (he realistically knows it can’t happen), go “real” skydiving and meet a famous country singer. With his deter-mination, he probably will accomplish all three before he is 30. At 21, he has a long time ahead of him to prove to the world that blindness doesn’t need to hold one back. Omar’s philosophy is “Don’t ever give up on your dreams.”

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