Meet Matt De Gruchy, a professional public speaker passionate about breaking down the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding blindness and disability. He is the owner of MDV Clothing. Matt captivates audiences with his charismatic personality and humour, a compelling story of adversity and lived experience.

After two years of countless eye tests, multiple misdiagnoses, and even being labeled a 'retard' by an optometrist, Matt was finally diagnosed with the rare and incurable 'Stargardt’s disease' at just 9 years old. Facing the daunting reality of losing 94 to 96% of his vision, Matt reflects, "For many years, what that optometrist said to me stuck. No one deserves to be called a retard, and at such a young, impressionable age, I believed it. After my diagnosis, it was like a switch turning off, and I lost sight rapidly."

Matt chose to hide his disability to avoid exclusion and bullying. He shares, "Back in the early 2000s, society looked down at people with a disability as a sympathy case or gave us a gold star for participation. I didn’t want that bubble wrap; I wanted a fair go like everyone else." This led to a decline in self-esteem and a struggle with severe anxiety and depression. Matt explains, "It was like lights are on, but no one's home. I wasn't present, so in my own head, I couldn't get out of my way and kept digging a deeper hole for myself. I had really lost hope."

At 18, a family intervention prompted Matt to seek help, ultimately guiding him towards accepting his disability. He says, "When I finally accepted my blindness, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off me. I used to avoid anything that confronted my reality of Stargardt's disease. The mention of vision would send me into a panic attack, and I would self-isolate and wish it would go away, and I could see clearly again. I had convinced myself into believing that I was a bad person for having something wrong with me, and that accepting it meant admitting defeat when, in fact, it allowed me to finally live."

From that dark place, Matt emerged as an inspiring advocate, encouraging others to embrace their visionary potential and live fulfilling lives. Over the past eight years, through his website mattdegruchyvision.com and on social media, Matt has tirelessly advocated for the rights of people with disabilities and shared his story to combat the isolation he felt as a child facing blindness.

In 2018, Matt expanded his impact by launching MDV Clothing, a platform to raise awareness for the blind and visually impaired while championing true diversity, equity, and inclusion. Matt's journey extends beyond speeches, taking him to various destinations, from hiking the Grand Canyon to scaling the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as he challenges perceptions of ability, highlighting ableism and limiting beliefs ingrained in society.

Reflecting on his transformative journey, Matt states, "It's a story of how I found myself. Through this platform, I aspire to motivate, and encourage, delivering a message of positivity. Every story is unique, and by amplifying the voices of those with lived experience, we create a more inclusive environment for everyone to live, go to school, work, and thrive. Together, we can harness our individual uniqueness and collectively grow beyond our challenge.

Motivational Talks & Workshops - Schools and Seminars

WHAT MAKES YOU VISIONARY? - Signature talk.

DISABILITY DOES NOT EQUAL INABILITY! - Matt’s story & Workshop

VISUAL SIMULATION GLASSES WORKSHOP - Stargardt’s disease and the spectrum of blindness