Lived experience

Lived experience reveals the messy, unfiltered bits that connect us on a human level.

Embracing our work to be led by those who live it brings out the emotional, challenging, and positive experiences that shape a visually impaired person's perspective. Learning from and listening to lived experience enhances our collective capacity to comprehend, appreciate, and address the real issues experienced by a person who is born with no sight or little sight, or who is losing their sight.

We feel passionately that any social actions we take as charities are reflected in the living experience of visually impaired people. This is why we set up our Policy Group in 2022 which informs all of our policy and campaigns work so that the voice of blind and partially sighted people are heard by decision-makers. This is also why we are delivering, in collaboration with Visibility Scotland and Thomas Pocklington Trust, the first Sight Loss Councils in Scotland.

As Helen Keller says, “The only thing worse than being blind, is having sight with no vision.”

First of all, being asked to be co-chair on the new Sight Scotland policy group was a privilege. But after two years, to see the group grow, witnessing everyone feeling their life experiences, views and ideas are listened to, actions taken in the correct manner, being actively involved in meetings and campaigns - not sighted members of staff speaking for us, but us speaking for ourselves - the sense of self-confidence and achievement this has produced is something that more charities, organisations and workplaces should implement.

We may lack sight, but we make up for it with plenty of clear vision.

- Colette Walker

Lived experience