Joshua Bratt/RNIBJoshua Bratt/RNIB
Dr Nicholas Bonne is a science communicator at the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, who lives with an eye condition called retinopathy of prematurity
Archer Clive Jones served for 12 years in the British Army before an attack left him blind in both eyes
One day among the hustle and bustle of his commute, photojournalist Joshua Bratt spotted a man using a cane on a train platform.
He had seen the man many times before, but realised he had been “seeing him for his disability, rather than for just going about his day”.
“I thought to myself that he’s got a story and he’s got a family… but seeing him I’d subconsciously, yet ignorantly, just seen his disability.”
Joshua, from Newport, decided to produce a new exhibition documenting the stories of 22 people with a visual impairment
He said each of the participants had wanted to show disability was “not who I am, [but] something I live with”.
Long-distance runner Louise Simpson – who has completed 126 marathons – was the first person to volunteer for the project.
She has retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a sight loss condition which has caused total blindness, and said the photoshoot was a celebration of reaching the 100 marathon milestone two days beforehand – just before she turned 40, and 10 years on from her first marathon.
Joshua Bratt/RNIB
Marathon runner Louise Simpson says she wants the exhibition to “dismiss negative views” people have towards people with visual impairments
“I hope visitors [to the exhibition] will dismiss any negative views of blind people and what we can achieve – sometimes with the help of others,” said Louise.
Writer, broadcaster and father-of-two Red Szell, who was also photographed for the exhibition, was the first blind person to climb the Old Man of Hoy – the tallest sea-stack in the Northern Hemisphere.
He said people with visual impairments were “natural problem solvers, because we have to be”.
“I hope that people will leave this exhibition with a greater appreciation of the wide range of jobs and activities that blind and partially sighted individuals can undertake – if we are given access and opportunity,” said Red.
Joshua Bratt / RNIB
Red Szell was photographed rock climbing as part of the exhibition
Jessikah Inaba, who became the first ever black and blind barrister in the UK three years ago, said she hoped people would “leave the exhibition feeling inspired and challenged in equal measure”.
“I want them to see that blindness – or any form of disability – does not diminish a person’s ability to achieve and contribute meaningfully to society,” she said.
“Ultimately, I want people to leave with a renewed sense of possibility.”
Joshua Bratt/RNIB
Jessikah Inaba says “diversity strengthens every community” and she wants everyone to feel capable of “breaking barriers”
Joshua said one of his standout moments was photographing Connie Evans, a 103-year-old Chelsea Pensioner who joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War Two and lost her sight in later age.
“Sadly, she died before we managed to finish the exhibition,” said Joshua.
“[But] she’s going to be living on through it.”
Joshua Bratt/RNIB
Chelsea Pensioner Connie Evans died before the exhibition was completed, but will “live on” through it
Anna Tylor, chairwoman of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), was also photographed as part of the project and said it was “a moving reminder that representation matters – not only in how people are seen, but in how we are heard, felt, and understood”.
RNIB Cymru director, Ansley Workman, said misconceptions could be “a huge barrier” to blind and partially sighted people.
“Joshua really challenges the ideas people can have about sight loss,” she said.
The exhibition, called Seen, which is running from 12-14 September, is being hosted at the RNIB’s accessible hub in London, with audio accompaniment and a tactile guide, and will also be available online.
The organisation said it was a “unique, opportunity” for people who might not normally think to attend an art exhibition to do so.
Joshua Bratt / RNIB
RNIB chairwoman Anny Tylor was born severely sight impaired and has been a life-long advocate of disability rights
Joshua said the experience had improved his work by making him think more about the person, “rather than just getting the job done”.
For those without a visual impairment, he said he hoped they remembered the photos “every time they see someone who’s different to them, whatever the reason”.
“And for the people who can’t see it, who go and experience it, I just hope they appreciate what we’ve done.
“All I want is for someone to come away from it with a smile.”
