Read Amrit's story of advocacy and challenging misconceptions

After getting involved with Connect Radio, Amrit discovered her love of presenting and advocacy, particularly for those with vision impairment within the South Asian community. Since then, Amrit has taken on a number of public speaking roles, continues to pursue different routes of advocacy, and speaks of her passion for challenging herself, and the misconceptions of what blind people can and can’t do.

“I’ve been registered blind since the age of five. So, I've been passionate about getting involved with specialist organisations for disabled people from a young age, but especially during my teens and early adulthood.”

Support from RNIB

“I was introduced to RNIB when I was about twelve years old. Since then, I have received a huge amount of support and guidance from the Helpline and the Volunteering team in particular. So much so that I used to call the Helpline three times a week.

After my two children started secondary school, I had a lot more time on my hands and didn’t know what to do with it. I got in touch with the Helpline that put me through to a Volunteer Community Coordinator called Samantha. She went through lots of databases with me to explore different clubs and interests I could pursue. She then introduced me to RNIB’s Connect Radio, where I had an interview about my experience of vision impairment and motherhood. This led to me a volunteering role as a disability speaker and media volunteer for the charity, Leonard Cheshire. I’ve since appeared on the BBC and Radio 5 Live. If you told me a few years ago that I’d be live on radio, I wouldn’t have believed it. But I feel like I found my absolute love; presenting, public speaking, and advocating for those with similar experiences.”

Advocating through vlogging and podcasting

“In South Asian culture, there’s a general lack of awareness around vision impairment. There’s often a belief that those who have a disability may have done something in a past life that they are now being punished for. It’s absolutely devastating for anyone to have to live under that kind of prejudice. This motivated me to set up a YouTube channel talking about sight loss, in both English and Punjabi, to help, in what way I can, to end the stigma around sight loss in our community.

Some of the advocacy work I did with Leonard Cheshire involved speaking on a regular podcast about my experiences with other people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and I continue to do that. We currently have a piece that we’ll be recording in December about how we celebrate Christmas, not only within our communities but as someone with a disability. We give tips about how to make celebrations more accessible, share funny memories, and talk about what it means to us.”

Exploring voluntary roles

“I often speak at events for the local borough council with the Sensory Equality team. Generally, it follows a specific theme, and has a panel which the audience ask questions. Recently I led an art workshop with them for children with vision impairment. This came about after I donated them some canvases of my gemstone art.

I’d always been creative, but when I started losing my light and colour perception, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make art anymore. It was really frustrating for me, as I’ve always found it such a positive outlet. I’d never considered the tactile element of art until one day my daughter suggested I try experimenting with some different materials, which is when I discovered gemstones. It was really lovely to share this with the children as it wasn’t something a lot of their parents had thought of, that these tactile objects could be used to create images in a way that paint, pastels and watercolour just can’t.

I’ve also become a speaker for Guide Dogs. One of the roles that I’ve just undertaken through them is to visit Brownies and Scouts groups to lead awareness training about vision impairment. When my children were in school, they never learned anything about vision impairment or disability. So, I’m really passionate about raising awareness to the younger generation, as they are the future employers and leaders.”

Working as a sight loss counsellor

“I’m now also a sight loss counsellor with the Thomas Pocklington Trust. We work on campaigns that generate awareness around the barriers that those with vision impairment face. One that we have been working on recently is focused on the retail environment. We ran a store in Shepherds Bush Westfield Shopping Centre and spoke with retailers and the general public about ways in which they can be more mindful of shoppers with vision impairment. We showed them various apps that enable those of us with vision impairment to read products and find items in shops. We also had boards up with information on how to approach and assist us while shopping; things like simply asking us whether we need assistance and how to make sure pathways are safe for us to navigate around.”

Challenging misconceptions

“I think it’s just been in my nature with being visually impaired that I set myself these goals and I have to prove something to myself and others. Just because I’m visually impaired, it doesn’t mean that I can’t do these things.

I want show others that just because I’m visually impaired, doesn’t mean I can’t do anything I want. So, I do dance classes at a studio and took part in a competition in Westminster, where to my surprise, I received the People’s Choice Award. I’ve also started singing with a charity called Eye Matter. We’re putting on a Christmas concert in December, in which I’ll be doing a solo. It can be scary, but you need to put yourself in these situations to grow in confidence. I often think people, especially those in my culture have this misconception that if you’re blind you can’t do things like dance or create art. So, I love to prove this wrong, and that’s the drive behind everything that I do.”

Looking forward

“I often call up the RNIB Helpline, whether it's for employment advice, looking for a volunteer, or support with technology. I always come away from the call feeling listened to and supported and with some great advice. It’s been a real lifeline for me. People with vision impairment need to be made more aware of all the support that is available to them through RNIB. In all my voluntary roles and public speaking opportunities I spread the word where I can.

Before having my children, I went to a specialist College and then studied Sociology at a mainstream University, followed by a postgraduate course in counselling. I really love the work that I do as a sight loss counsellor on a volunteer basis at the moment. So, I would like to use my degree in counselling to continue to work with schools to raise awareness in the younger generation.”