Kion admits that until a few years ago he was a very different person. “I was frightened to talk to people so I kept myself to myself. I wouldn’t go out with anyone except my Mum and even then, not very far.
“Now you can’t keep me in. I go out all over. I can do routes on my own, I go on the bus, down to the shop. I am on the waiting list for a Guide Dog. I have lots of confidence now and I have a laugh with everyone, I’m a right torment.
“I’m very determined not to go back to where I was then. Even if people tell me I can’t do things, now I ask why not?”
Kion credits the change in his attitude to life to his long-standing PA Simon who he has nicknamed Captain. But he also says he wouldn’t be where his is today without his other PA Emma, who has the same tastes in music, and his mobility officer who has helped him ever since he was born.
And of course there’s his Mum Kerry who also runs a charity for other families who have the rare Alstrom Syndrome which Kion has.
“I have got to the point where I don’t really care about being blind. The only thing that I really regret is that I will never have a driving licence and I love cars and bikes. I always ask people what car they have.
“I have a big Honda Goldwing bike that one of my Grandads takes me out on. And my other Grandad bought me a personalised number plate for the car when I was about three or four. I love going fast. If I won the lottery I’d buy an Audi 8 and a 1960’s VW split screen camper van.”
Football is another of his hobbies: Captain got him into that too. Now he has a Rotherham United season ticket, travels a lot to matches and has been to Wembley several times.
I absolutely love music as well, every T shirt I own has a rock band on it.” His all-time favourite album is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
Kion is talking about his life to encourage other people with visual impairment to take the step of going to Rotherham Sight & Sound and find new friends and hobbies.
“I used to be so worried about going into public places and people seeing me when I couldn’t see them. I used to hide behind Mum. If people are interested, I would be happy to talk to anyone who is thinking of joining and tell them what I was like before and what I am like now. There’s a lot wrong with my body, but my tongue’s ok,” he jokes.