Sights Unseen
UK Advocacy
More than 20 blind and visually impaired members of the African Caribbean population in South London have been trained to use a digital camera and document their experiences through sensory photography techniques by UK charity PhotoVoice through the Sights Unseen project (for more information click here). Workshops were held at The Organisation of Black African and Caribbean People (OBAC). For many, this was a fantastic experience to gain a new creative skill, and a chance to share experiences and memories with family and friends. For others, this was an opportunity to speak out about issues that affect them and other visually impaired people in their community.
Gary, a blind man living in Lambeth, has decided to use his new skills to document the obstacles and barriers he faces daily while trying to negotiate the streets in his locality, using the work to raise awareness amongst local residents and shopkeepers of the problems faced by him and other people with sensory and mobility disabilities, and to encourage everyone to take responsibility for keeping pavements clear and safe.
"I stumbled across the idea - it actually happened on my doorstep. There is always a red car blocking my way. Walking around it in the road, I became frustrated, and it just so happens I was involved in the PhotoVoice photographic course. These elements came together in my mind. One photo led to another..." Gary
Gary states that on his journey he comes across, in his words, "temporary situations that are permanent problems". Repeatedly encountering these unnecessary and dangerous situations has caused increasing frustration, and Gary wants to form an ongoing photographic archive to highlight how personal difficulties navigating his daily journeys are shared by so many others. Since Gary photographed a car that was often parked across the pavement near his house, and placed a photo on the windshield with an explanation of the problems it caused him, the neighbour has parked only on the road. Gary has joined a sighted photographic community/network and hopes that organisations and individuals will contact him via his photo blog in order to discuss issues and propose alternatives/solutions to problems.
A. Johnson, a photographer with retinitis pigmentosa - an eye condition that affects 25,000 families in the UK – has been documenting the problems posed to blind and visually impaired people by carelessly managed roadworks and pavement repairs. He is presenting a slideshow of images to the Highway Agency, utilities providers and building contractors to draw their attention to the importance of strict guidelines to avoid temporary works becoming hazardous obstacles to those with sensory disabilities.
Vanessa, another participant, has designed and produced a book demonstrating the difficulties faced by visually impaired people trying to use the bus network in London and calling for improvements. Copies of this book will be circulated to the Mayor's Office, TFL and to disability rights organisations who can use it to campaign for change.
BELIEVE YOUR EYES
Alongside these personal advocacy projects, photos by the photographers trained through the Sights Unseen project are fuelling a campaign targeted at those of African and Caribbean origin in London, highlighting the increased risk they face of developing certain conditions responsible for preventable sight loss. 50% of people who lose their sight in the UK do so unnecessarily, as had their conditions been diagnosed and treated early enough their sight could have been saved.
People of African and Caribbean origin are five times more likely to develop glaucoma, a group of eye conditions that cause pressure to build up in the eye that can eventually damage the optic nerve and cause irreparable damage to eyesight. Regular eye check-ups can ensure this condition is caught early, before symptoms develop that mean the damage has already begun.
The same demographic are also much more vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy, which can also cause blindness. This can usually be prevented if caught early enough with laser treatments, or prevented by careful control of diabetes. It is once again vital that it is caught early as sight damage caused by the condition cannot be healed.
A selection of photos by blind and visually impaired photographers trained through the Sights Unseen project have been reproduced as posters and postcards that are being disseminated throughout Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Hackney, highlighting the importance of regular eye tests as a means of preventing sight loss.
The same materials are available as e-postcards that can be forwarded to anyone to whom the message applies. Click the links below, and then click on the 'Share' link in order to post to your Facebook Profile, email the page, Tweet a link, or many more options.
PhotoVoice is grateful to the following online networks for helping to spread the campaign message to the Afro-Caribbean community.
