An image of a woman wearing a red dress with black patterns and a black cardigan, stood in front of a poster for the Netflix show 'All The Light We Cannot See' written in both plaintext and braille. She is holding a white assistance cane in her left hand.

Seeing Beyond Barriers: Navigating Employment as a Blind Professional

Written by Siobhan Meade

Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal, and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.


As a blind person living in the UK, I am deeply familiar with the numerous hurdles we face in the employment market. This journey is not just about personal determination; it’s also a continuous challenge to prove that a disability does not diminish one’s professional capabilities.

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Navigating the World in Darkness: A Beacon of Light on International Women’s Day

Written by Siobhan Meade

Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal, and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.


Today marks International Women’s Day, a day earmarked to celebrate the indomitable spirit of women across the globe, I find myself reflecting on my journey, not just as a woman but as a blind woman navigating a world designed for the sighted. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the collective and individual strength of women, especially those of us within the disability community, striving to make significant contributions in our unique ways. 

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A person wearing blue jeans, boots, and a tan coat, walking in a park with a white stick held out in front of them. The white stick has two red stripes.

To The Edge of Despair and Beyond

Written by Siobhan Meade

Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal, and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.


24 years ago, I heard five words that will haunt me forever, “you’re never going to see again”.

This is how an Ophthalmologist at a Kent hospital broke the news to a distraught 16 year-old girl, who’s one remaining optic nerve finally gave up the ghost and snapped after I walked into a door at school.

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Guide & Assistance Dog Refusal

As a community of disabled people, we are well aware that assistance dog refusal happens frequently and is deeply distressing and damaging for disabled people who rely on the support of an animal. There is no excuse for refusing an assistance animal and it is of course illegal to do so. We are aware that disabled people with assistance dogs are often verbally and sometimes even physically abused when they try to exercise their legal right to take their dogs with them, and we unreservedly condemn any rudeness or abuse. Anyone who abuses a disabled person in Buckinghamshire for any reason can expect to hear from us!

As a charity, we have worked for over a decade to stop assistance animals being refused in Buckinghamshire. Our pre-pandemic project Fair4All Taxis successfully ended most assistance dog refusals by taxi drivers and our rapidly-growing Fair4All Card helps disabled people who use an assistance animal to assert their legal rights.

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