Biography.guide
Home › People › Educator › Daniel Kish
Portrait of Daniel Kish

Daniel Kish

b. 1966

American educator; expert in human echolocation

Educator World Access for the Blind
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Daniel Kish

Born 1966. Daniel Kish is an American educator and world Access for the Blind, known for Human echolocation.

Daniel Kish (born 1966 in Montebello, California) is an American expert in human echolocation and the President of World Access for the Blind (WAFTB), a California-registered nonprofit organization founded by Kish in 2000 to facilitate "the self-directed achievement of people with all forms of blindness" and increase public awareness about their strengths and capabilities. Kish and his organization have taught a form of echolocation to at least 500 blind children around the world.

Kish, who had to have his eyes removed before he was 13 months old because of eye cancer, is the first totally blind person to be a legally Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and to hold a National Blindness Professional Certification (NOMC). He also holds master's degrees in developmental psychology and special education from University of California Riverside. In another study, MRI brain scans were taken of Kish and another echolocation expert to identify the parts of the brain involved in echolocation, with readings suggesting "that brain structures that process visual information in sighted people process echo information in blind echolocation experts."

Kish was named an Ashoka Fellow in 2017. Fellows are leading social entrepreneurs recognized for their innovative solutions to social problems and potential to change patterns across society.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1966, Montebello
Birth century
Nationality
Known for
Human echolocation
Education
University of California, Riverside, University of California Riverside
Employers
World Access for the Blind

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Daniel Kish's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Daniel Kish?

American educator; expert in human echolocation

When was Daniel Kish born?

Daniel Kish was born in 1966 in Montebello.

What is Daniel Kish's occupation?

Daniel Kish is an educator and world Access for the Blind.

What is Daniel Kish known for?

Daniel Kish is known for Human echolocation.

What nationality is Daniel Kish?

Daniel Kish is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Daniel Kish

· Wikidata: Q5217808

· DBpedia: Daniel Kish

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Daniel Kish. https://biography.guide/daniel-kish/

MLA: "Daniel Kish." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/daniel-kish/.

Chicago: "Daniel Kish." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/daniel-kish/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:00 UTC