Culture And Memory

Vision through Time

We will capture the rich social history of sight loss in the Black Country and South Staffordshire by interviewing up to 250 blind and partially sighted people. Led by individuals with sight loss, we’ll train them in oral history skills, empowering them to document personal stories and key historical events. In partnership with local archives, we’ll make this heritage accessible through braille, tactile displays, and oral histories, while also improving the accessibility of archive services through sight loss awareness training and low vision aids. We’ll produce impactful reports, exhibitions, and public discussions, fostering greater understanding of the challenges and achievements of visually impaired people while using findings to establish how visually impaired people can be better supported in the future. Ultimately, we seek to preserve and share their experiences, creating a lasting legacy for future generations as Beacon celebrates its 150th anniversary of helping people live well with sight loss.