Blind ambassador wants to make the world accessible

Nov 10, 2024 - 13:55

Claire Sisk says sight loss is a spectrum and less than 10% of people registered blind see nothing

Claire Sisk says she is "aiming high" and wants to "make the world accessible", after being announced as the latest celebrity ambassador for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The TV presenter, online content creator and disability advocate, from Hertfordshire, said she was shocked when she was offered the role.

Because she thinks of herself as "dorky and outspoken", she did not think she fitted the mould but was delighted to accept.

She wants to give other people who have lost their sight "hope" and says although it "sucks, it's going to be OK, you can still live a fun and fulfilled life".

Canseecantsee Claire Sisk standing outside St Paul's Cathedral in London, she is standing on a pavement, with both her arms outstretched. She is holding a walking cane, with a red top. She is wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, a pink denim jacket and has a bag across her body. A blue car and St Paul's Cathedral can see been behind her. — ***Claire said St Paul's Cathedral is her absolute favourite London landmark, and at night the dome lights up stand out beautifully against the dark sky, so she can still make it out***

Claire, known as CanSeeCantSee on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, has gained hundreds of thousand of followers, after posting about her sight loss and experiences online.

At the age of 29, in 2009 ,she had two strokes which led to her losing her sight, and is now registered blind with less than 4% vision.

"My main aim is to give others hope.

"When you have that title [ambassador] I feel like you have a bit more of a voice.

"I'm on social media, so I have a platform, I have a voice, but when you start adding the fact that you're a charity ambassador you're going to be taken a little bit more seriously."

Canseecantsee Claire Sisk, wearing a pink dress, with a gold knecklace. She has long, blond, straight hair, is smiling, with her head slightly to the right. She is sitting in a lounge, and there is a window, with the curtains open, behind her. Light is coming into the room. — ***One of the biggest misconceptions about sight loss is that people can't still see "light, colour, shape", Claire said***

She hopes to use her platform to be able to talk to people who are going through similar issues, as she said that was not available to her 15 years ago.

"You're not given a handbook, not that we can read it, to tell you how to be blind."

But her message is "you can do this" and this is what led to her "accidentally" creating online content.

It started with a video of her crossing a road that was shared with someone who was losing their sight who told her to post it on social media to help others, which led to more content and to "bust and and break down those misconceptions that are out there that".

She says you can still use a phone, you can cross the road, you can walk down the street.

"We just do it a little bit differently and there's a bit more planning involved, but we can still live a life."

Canseecantsee_ Claire Sisk wearing a bright, multi coloured top, with a blue denim skirt. She is smiling to the camera and she is slightly leaning to the right. She has her hands on a white cane and has a ring on her finger. Her blonde hair is tied back. She is standing in front of a green foliage and is outside. — *Clare uses a white cane to help her get about and has named it "Rick the Stick"*

Vivienne Francis, the charity's chief social change officer, said: "We need to drive a new conversation around sight loss – and Claire has been at the forefront of this.

"Claire has an incredible way of engaging with people and raising awareness about the challenges blind and partially sighted people face by sharing her lived experience."

Source: BBC