USH Ambassadors for Indiana - Rick and William

Rick Poplin

L- White woman grey hair pulled back, large sunglasses, rests her head on Rick's shoulder. Rick, (R), greying beard and mustache, close shaved head. A body of water is behind them. They are making funny faces into the camera.

Rick has been an USH Ambassador for Indiana since December, 2023. He wanted to be an ambassador to add to his knowledge, and to no longer feel alone. He wanted to help and meet others like himself. While the diagnosis of Usher syndrome (he has type 2A) can be devastating, it has been a powerful motivator, and has put him into places where he never would have been or gone. 

When he's not volunteering with the Coalition, Rick works as a senior commercial lines insurance underwriter, focused on the West and Pacific Northwest. More importantly, he's a dad and husband. :) 

Rick hopes to share his experiences with others so that they, too, know to embrace the experiences and the power of the human mind and body.

You can contact Rick at: ambassador.in@usher-syndrome.org 

William Laramie

Bio coming soon!

You can contact Bill at: ambassador.in2@usher-syndrome.org

Resources for Indiana

  • The USH Trust is the largest international contact database of individuals with Usher syndrome. Created and maintained by the Usher Syndrome Coalition, it is our most powerful tool to connect and inform individuals living with Usher worldwide. The USH Trust allows us to get to know and serve the community better, and to do what we do best: identify, build, support, and connect the community, both within the Usher community and with the research community. We do this via email, telephone, videophone, social media, webinars, local social events, our USH Connections Conference, and the many resources on our website. Come, join us!

  • Individuals with Usher syndrome who are passionate about research have a new data collection platform to join. The Usher Syndrome Data Collection Platform, or USH DCP, is hosted by RARE-X, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating research. By entering your health information into this secure platform, you will become part of a global database of de-identified information available to researchers worldwide. That means that only you can see your data. Only you can change your data. Your personal information (name, date of birth, address, etc.) will not be shared without your permission. As the DCP grows, more researchers will become aware of Usher syndrome. This can lead to the development of clinical trials, new treatments, and new therapies. YOU hold the key to unlocking future research discoveries.

  • Project Reach provides technical assistance, information, and training to address the early intervention, special education, related services, and transitional services needs of children with DeafBlindness and enhance state capacity to improve services and outcomes for children and their families.

  • Program and services for youth and adults with combined vision and hearing loss.

  • Provides free telecommunication evaluation, equipment, and training to children and adults with significant vision and hearing loss who qualify. iCanConnect is a national program authorized under the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program.

  • A national volunteer organization created to empower the voices of families of individuals who are deaf-blind and to advocate for their unique needs.