Tom Williams had to cope with losing his sight in his late teens, but it hasn't stopped him from pursuing his dream of becoming a chef.
The 27-year-old from Kirkby was just a toddler when family members realised he couldn't see them waving in front of them.
The Everton-supporter was diagnosed with Bardet Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic condition that is said to affect one in 100,000 people.
But despite this he is able to cut, prepare and cook recipes confidently in the kitchen.
Tom, who trained at Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate, uses a range devices such as a PenFriend - a voice labelling system which scans ingredients and plays back descriptive recordings - as well as levellers in jugs, talking scales and more whilst cooking.
So far his dream of breaking into the catering industry and eventually owning his own cafe has not yet been realised - but he isn't giving up.
Tom said: "Catering is my passion and I just want people to give me a chance.
"I like prep. I've done catering, young enterprise, cooking, mobility. I've got a Level One and Level Two food hygiene award. I've got an award in kitchen and presentation.
"I go and do talks to companies and tell them about how I live my life.
"I'm trying to get myself out there and show people what I can do."
After discovering a passion for cooking at school, Tom lived in Harrogate for just over five years to further his education in catering.
He spent most of his time there training and gaining work experience, before returning to Kirkby to be closer to family and friends.
Along the way Tom was told to be more "realistic" and that he could only be "a common chef or a dishwasher" - something he and his family have never let stand in the way of his dream.
Janet Amos, Tom's mum, told the ECHO: "His night blindness started when he was about two-and-a-half.
"He was coming up the path and couldn't see somebody waving in front of him.
"Over the years his eyes were deteriorating, it's quite emotional still thinking about it now.
"We were told Thomas would lose his sight by the time he was a teenager.
"That was something I just couldn't accept. I think I only started to accept it a few years ago when I saw him getting on with things at home."
But Tom has been determined to work in catering, she added.
Janet said: "It's been an ambition for him since a very young age to get a job. He won't let any disability stand in his way.
"His dream is to open a cafe and for other people with disabilities to work in there with him.
"I'm so proud of him. I just someone want somebody to say 'you are capable'."
A few weeks ago, Tom also set up a YouTube channel to give an insight into his life and create food tutorials showing how he works in the kitchen.
The videos have already got an overwhelming amount of response on social media and has led to one kitchen reaching out to offer experience in Tom's quest to find a job.
Tom's sister Vicky, 32, said: "He's very independent, he can do whatever he sets his mind to.
"I think the YouTube videos for us are like a video demonstration really of a CV, as you can see in the videos himself he cooks himself, he uses the oven himself, he cleans up himself."
Vicky said: "I can honestly say I moan and gripe about things but when reality kicks, I think of what my brother has been through and you never hear him moan about anything.
"People don't often think about how someone who can't see lives.
"It's educating and showing people that others who are blind or partially sighted can do things."
