Peoria resident Donald Knowles is a Marine Corps veteran who graduated at the top of his class at Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree and then got a master’s degree from Western Michigan University.

Knowles, 65, was a project manager for a large commercial construction company in the Valley. He teaches woodworking, among other skills, at a center in central Phoenix, and is about to tackle the not-so-small feat of replastering his pool at home.

Oh, he’s also legally blind.

About 11 years ago, Knowles had a surgical accident that left him completely blind. But he said as a veteran, he went to the VA, where they held his hand, leading him to important resources, helping him to later become a certified vision rehabilitation therapist, and for more than two years, has been a no

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