BAME Vision

19/09/2025

Thanks to all those who attended the Rehabilitation and Habilitation specialist-exploring some of the challenges of delivering Vision rehabilitation to ethnically diverse clients workshop, presented by our Chair and founder Bhavini Makwana and Chair of the Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network, Simon Labbett, at the Retina UK Professionals Conference. We hope you found it engaging as well as, insightful.

For any further enquiries, please do get in touch with us at [email protected]

# RetinaUKConf25


19/09/2025

Our chair, Bhavini Makwana and Paloma Leon all ready to welcome delegates to the for professionals.

08/08/2025

06/07/2025

06/07/2025

Glaucoma can run in families and you may be at higher risk if a close relative has it. This , start the conversation with your loved ones. Encourage regular eye tests for early detection.

Ask them to check their glaucoma risk – it only takes 30 seconds: https://glaucoma.uk/glaucoma-awareness-week/risk/

01/07/2025

This Disability Pride Month, we celebrate the resilience, creativity, and strength of Disabled people. Let’s uplift every voice, honour our diverse experiences, and continue fighting for inclusion, equity and visibility - for today and every day.

ID. A graphic with the headline “HAPPY DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH” in bold white text on a brown background. Below the text is the Disability Pride flag, which features diagonal stripes in red, yellow, white, blue and green over a black background. Underneath is the text “Visibility matters, celebrate our strengths” The BAME Vision logo appears in the bottom left corner on a gold background.

15/06/2025

Wishing all fathers and father figures a happy Father’s Day, today and all year around!

Here is a blog from one of our vision impaired fathers and a link to his vlog in the comments, to learn more about being a , his hobbies & interests, as well as learning about the assistive technology, adaptations and resources that have helped him along the way.

“Being a visually impaired working dad is like one big adventure!” – Krishna Seshasayee At BAME Vision, we are celebrating Blind and Partially Sighted parents from ethnic minorities, […]

06/06/2025

🌙✨ Eid Mubarak! ✨🌙

BAME Vision wishes a joyful and peaceful Eid al-Adha to all who are celebrating.

May this time of reflection, compassion and community bring blessings to you and your loved ones.

To everyone marking this special occasion, Eid Mubarak from all of us at BAME Vision 💛

ID. A navy blue night sky background with golden yellow graphics and writing. Text reads “Eid al-Adha Mubarak. May you be filled with gratitude and peace during Eid al-Adha”

17/05/2025

This Mental Health Awareness Week, BAME Vision is spotlighting the emotional impact of sight loss and the importance of culturally sensitive mental health support. The theme for 2025 is “Community and the positive impact of being part of a safe space on our mental health.” For many blind and partially sighted people particularly from ethnic minority backgrounds, finding that safe space can be difficult due to stigma, isolation, or lack of understanding.

In our webinar “Eye on Mental Health,” we bring together voices from across the sight loss and mental health communities. Speakers include advocate Sandeep Saib, mindfulness teacher Dr. Beverly Duguid, and Eamonn Dunne from Thomas Pocklington Trust. They unpack symptoms of poor mental health, coping strategies, the “stress bucket,” and how the sector is responding to mental health needs. Lived experience is at the heart of this conversation, with Perm Bachu sharing her journey through sight loss, counselling, and confronting cultural taboos around mental health.

We hope this conversation will break barriers, spark awareness, and let others know they’re not alone. Whether you’re facing anxiety, grief, or simply need a moment of calm we invite you to watch, reflect, and share.

Watch the full webinar here: “Eye on Mental Health” - https://youtu.be/RZ-RbLT7uqQ?si=qto2UbsLTYHHvLW7

Sandeep Saib - Mental Health aAdvocate, Dr Beverly Duguid - Mindfulness Teacher & Eamonn Dunne - Partnerships and Projects Development Manager, Thomas Pockli...

15/05/2025

Today marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025, a time to reflect on how far we’ve come - and how far we still have to go. This year’s theme, “Committing to Change,” is a call to action for individuals, businesses, and organisations to move beyond awareness and take real steps toward creating a digitally inclusive world.

At BAME Vision, we believe that digital spaces should work for everyone, including blind and partially sighted people, and we are committed to being part of the change.

Assistive technology makes independence possible - enabling people to access services, stay connected, work, shop, and thrive online. But when websites, social platforms, and digital content are not designed with accessibility in mind, it creates barriers and exclusion. As our Chair Bhavini shares in our blog, it can be isolating to be part of a group where images and gifs are shared with no descriptions, even when others are aware of her sight loss. Small changes like adding alt text or camel casing hashtags can make a huge difference. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about community, dignity, and inclusion.

Whether you’re a content creator, business owner, or ally - there is something you can do to support inclusion. We’ve shared some simple, practical tips to help you get started in our blog, including guidance on language, emoji use, and accessible formatting.

Read it here:

https://bamevision.org/global-accessibility-awareness-day

Image description. White text on a dark brown to tan gradient background. The title reads "Global Accessibility Awareneas Day" with text underneath reading "Inclusion starts with accessible design - commit to change today". To the right of the graphic is an image of a keyboard, with different disability symbols on some of the keys.

29/04/2025

Our Chair and Founder, Bhavini Makwana and committee member, Jayshree Vasani, attended the APPG for Eye Health & Visual Impairment Parliamentary Panel event, on the 10 year Health Plan.

It is important to address and include the inequalities faced by people from minority ethnic groups and ensure services are improved, by talking to those with lived experiences to shape changes. Far too long we have been identified as ‘Hard to reach’ but in fact we need a health care plan which addresses the gaps, the barriers and lack of research around people from various ethnicities.

We look forward to hearing more and what actually will be included in this plan.

02/04/2025

World Autism Awareness Day: Inclusive Eye Care for All 💙👁️

Access to quality eye care is essential for everyone, yet individuals with Autism often face unique challenges when visiting eye clinics. At BAME Vision, we’re committed to ensuring that cultural perceptions, stigma, and accessibility barriers do not prevent people from receiving the care they deserve.

In our webinar, we hear from SeeAbility, Moorfields Eye Hospital, a Dispensing Optician, and a lived experience speaker, who share:

✅ Practical tips & adaptations for making eye care more comfortable
✅ Best practices for professionals, families & carers
✅ How to break down stigma & cultural barriers

Together, let’s work towards inclusive and accessible healthcare for all. Watch the full discussion here:

https://youtu.be/WVR2m-KBN5I?si=R_5UI22pw80By03K

Eye care is important for everyone to access! We hear from SeeAbility, Moorfields Eye Hospital, a Dispensing Optician and a Lived Experience Speaker, who all...