Fitz’s Story

My name is Fitz Martin, and I’m the Founder and CEO of Will Power Entertainment. The name says it all: where there’s a will, there’s a way! I’ve been proving that my entire life. 

I was born with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye condition that causes progressive vision loss, and I’ve never known what it’s like to have perfect vision. Growing up in Jamaica, my parents enrolled me in a school for visually impaired children from day one, and that early foundation changed everything. Learning to be independent, to read and write for myself, to do math — those skills prepared me for life in ways I’m still grateful for today. 

Fast forward to now: I’m an audio engineer in the music industry, working behind the board with all of the advanced audio equipment, producing tracks for artists, mixing songs, and running a company I built from the ground up in 1999. For years, I was the only person with a vision impairment in my industry, surrounded by sighted colleagues, completely disconnected from the blind community. I had to figure everything out on my own — how to use Pro Tools, the industry standard software, before it was accessible. I’ve been training on the new Braille Monarch—a multi-line braille tablet with tactile graphics—and was able to label the entire board in braille, putting every function right in my hands instead of relying on a screen. I refused to slip below the industry standard just because I didn’t see as well as everyone else. 

Years ago, I reconnected with Lighthouse Guild through their College Prep Program. Sitting in a room full of visually impaired young people who had the drive to go out into the world and make something of themselves reminded me why independence matters so much. It reminded me that I wasn’t alone. I met incredible people like Audrey, the teacher of the Braille Literacy Course at Lighthouse Guild, who’s blind and teaching complex subjects with such grace and skill.  

Now, I volunteer with Lighthouse Guild’s Braille Literacy Course, helping Audrey, giving back to the organization that helped me reconnect with my purpose. I want to help other visually impaired young people understand what’s possible — to show them that a vision impairment doesn’t define their abilities.  

Technology has been my best friend on this journey. I use Meta glasses, smart glasses that can help me identify my surroundings, and read buttons on my board when I forget where something is. I use a Mac with voiceover and a Polaris Braille notetaker, a digital braille typewriter, so I can work independently without always needing an assistant. Recently I’ve been training on the new Braille Monarch – a braille typing device that is changing the game for writing braille efficiently and quickly.  

My advice to anyone with vision loss? Know what you’re passionate about. Passion is the only thing that will carry you through obstacles. Don’t let your vision loss be the thing that holds you back.  

I’ve got the support around me to keep me on the path to success. I love helping people find that same desire, and realize their dreams the same way Lighthouse Guild helped me achieve mine.