Autistic Boy Is Blind And Sings “Lean On Me” On Stage In Front Of An Audience
You may or may not have heard of Christopher Duffley, a young man with autism, who is blind and possesses an amazing talent and passion for music. His story and amazing outlook on life both serve as an inspiration for so many people. It’s not every day that you get to hear an inspirational story about a little kid who has learned that a diagnosis can’t come in between what he loves to do.
“Music to me is for one thing: it brings joy to people. Singing is a gift that I share. Because I’m blind, I see people with my heart for who they truly are instead of what they look like on the outside,” Duffley has said. It was music that taught Duffley to communicate with others, and it’s a beautiful way of communicating if you ask me.
“It was the music therapy where we realized that he really had talent, that he had perfect pitch, that the harmonies we heard were definitely a gift that he had,” his mother said.
His singing career took off after he posted a now-famous video clip of the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” in 2011 on YouTube. That video has been translated into multiple languages and viewed millions of times. Everyone around the world is in love with Christopher’s voice and all that he stands for.
Since then, Duffley has performed in a variety of venues, both big and small, but fans agree that this particular performance of “Lean On Me” in Nashville, TN is his best ever. Though this young man can certainly command the stage all on his own, the addition of the World Outreach Church Kid’s Choir gave the performance a little something extra. The choir also set this performance aside from all of his others.
A song like “Lean On Me” lends itself to a group of singers, especially a talented group like this choir. “Lean On Me” is an anthem of friendship and of joining together to support one another. Though Duffley himself faces adversity on a daily basis in the form of his disabilities, he still spreads a message of hope, support, and love. We hope to hear much more from this young man!
Have you seen any of Christopher’s other videos? If so, which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Watch his performance in the video below, and please like and share Christopher’s inspiring story!