Every morning, Blaise Bryant starts his day the best place he knows how: on the airwaves at 107.3 The Voice.
“Radio is word theater; it’s a word picture, theater of the mind,” Bryant said during a commercial break. “It’s the only medium I can truly appreciate.”
Hosting a community radio show from the comfort of his living room, Bryant has a daily in-house audience of one: his black Lab, Flash.
What You Need To Know
- Throughout the month of May, animal lovers are celebrating National Pet Month
- Albany resident Blaise Bryant's service animal Flash helps him live and work independently
- While he's worked from home throughout the pandemic, Bryant relies on the black Labrador to get around the community
“Flash does occasionally come up on the show,” Bryant said with a smile. “He’s kind of like that figure that makes sure I don’t do anything the FCC or station manager doesn’t approve of.”
Like any pet and owner, there is a natural bond, but Flash is far more than a best friend or radio sidekick. For nearly seven years, he has helped the 29-year-old Bryant, who was born completely blind in both eyes, get around and live independently.
After more than a year of working from home, Bryant headed out recently to his other job, which he does full-time after wrapping up on the radio. After putting on Flash’s harness, the two head out the door.
“He showed me we’re at the top by pausing,” Bryant said, as he and Flash stopped at the top of the stairs in their two-story apartment building.
After all this time together, the duo had had no trouble making it down from the second floor.
“Goodness knows it’s easy to miscount or miss a step and whatnot, so having him makes it a lot easier,” Bryant said.
After a quick ride from a friend, Bryant and Flash arrived at Consumer Directed Choices for only the second time in a year. At the Albany agency, he helps seniors and others living with disabilities create their own plans for living independently, but this afternoon was mostly about catching up with coworkers.
“Actually, we’re more excited to see Flash!” program associate Lisa Wolf joked as Bryant and Flash walked into her office. “Blaise comes along with a package. No, we love Blaise and we love Flash, too.”
In addition to working here for the past couple of years, Bryant also receives services from the organization. An hour or so after arriving, Bryant and Flash wrapped up their visit.
It marked another end to a day for the partners who rely on and cherish each other.
“I don’t know if I could put into words how grateful I am to have Flash,” Bryant said. “It literally has been a whole world for me that I wouldn’t even imagine wanting to change.”