The Road to Isolation
Losing your sight is a devastating experience. Robert’s journey with sight loss started with a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease meant the world he knew began to change, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. By 2021, his vision had deteriorated significantly, and the world became a much harder place to navigate.
Initially, Robert was reluctant to accept his condition. He found it difficult to be around people and felt a sense of isolation. His old routines, and getting out and about, felt impossible. Simple things, like catching a train or walking about, were filled with anxiety and danger. “Some people are horrible,” he admits, recalling the times people would fail to stop at crossings, leaving him feeling vulnerable, something a lot of us probably experience.
Robert smiling at the camera with a birthday cake.
Robert on a beach with his dog.
A Welcoming Community
Everything shifted in 2024. Following support from Oxfordshire County Council on using a cane and public transport, he was introduced to Devante and MyVision Oxfordshire which would change everything. Robert started going to the Didcot Green walks in April 2024, and has been to almost every one since. For the first time, he met other people living with sight loss in his area and discovered a new sense of a friendly community. MyVision has renewed his trust in people as well, knowing that there people in a similar situation, and who are there to support him. He has made new friends on these walks and has great banter with Devante.
“The team has been helpful and friendly, and has been able to help answer my questions, help me solve problems and kept me informed with new developments in technology and events. MyVision has also introduced me to some great people whom I can learn from and are willing to help me when I need it.”
Practical Support and Renewed Independence
MyVision’s support went beyond a friendly welcome. It was practical, too. Robert has enjoyed the Didcot sensory walks with Stuart, a wheelchair user who joins us to highlight access to the countryside and green spaces. These walks focus on using other senses to identify the natural world around us, like the smells and sounds of plants and birds. These walks have helped him discover new routes around Didcot that he wouldn’t have known about or walked before.
Robert (on the left) on one of the Didcot Green Walks with Stuart.
Robert on a Didcot Green Walk.
He also worked with Jamie, one of our Technology Officers, who helped him set up crucial shortcuts and audio descriptions on his phone and MacBook. Jamie helped him set up the magnifier on his phone and taught him how to use Siri. Jamie also helped him with the set up of his new Meta glasses, helping him make all of his devices as accessible as possible.
Thanks to the support Robert has had, he has regained a great deal of his independence. He now takes the bus to and from Didcot to Oxford and has the confidence to try to take the train, something he wouldn’t have attempted before. This renewed confidence and independence has been built through both the green walks and technology training.
A New Purpose
Robert’s journey with sight loss continues, and the support from MyVision has also given him a new sense of purpose. In 2025, he joined the Walk Oxford event, raising an amazing £540 for MyVision. He still enjoys going to football matches and the gym. He has been able to accept his sight loss, even naming his cane, Michael.
“Going to MyVision feels right” Robert said.
Robert with a friend on walk Oxford wearing a MyVision top.
MyVision Oxfordshire has not only provided him with essential tools and skills but has also helped him rebuild his confidence and find a supportive community. It has shown him that while losing his sight was a loss, going to MyVision felt like the right step forward. Robert’s journey with sight loss is a strong reminder that with the right support, life can be full of new possibilities.
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