This Disability Pride Month, discover how hands-on learning at SOVS is helping to build a more inclusive community for people who are blind or have low vision.
July is Disability Pride Month, and this year's theme, "The World Works Better with Us," reminds us that creating an inclusive community requires more than good intentions. It requires challenging barriers and assumptions that can limit participation and opportunity.
At the School of Optometry & Vision Science (SOVS), that message is reflected every day through our teaching, learning and engagement with the community. Our postgraduate programs in Orientation and Mobility and Vision Impairment equip graduates with the knowledge and practical skills to support Australians who are blind or have low vision to live and to participate, independently. Just as importantly, these programs help challenge stereotypes and increase understanding of vision loss across the broader community.
One of the most distinctive aspects of UNSW's Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility is its hands-on approach to learning. As part of their training, students develop advanced blindness travel skills by navigating the UNSW campus and surrounding community under simulated low-vision and blind conditions. This immersive experience helps students better understand the environments their future clients encounter and prepares them to deliver high-quality orientation and mobility services after graduation.
Students also share their knowledge beyond the classroom by delivering awareness sessions to students from other disciplines. These interactions encourage conversations about accessibility, inclusion and the everyday experiences of people with blindness or low vision, helping to build greater understanding across the university community.
Everyone has a role to play in creating an inclusive campus.
If you meet someone who is blind or has low vision on campus, remember they are here to study, work and move independently, just like everyone else. Rather than assuming assistance is needed, say hello and, if appropriate, ask “Would you like some help?" Respect their response and, if assistance is welcomed, ask how you can best support them.
You can also create a safer and more inclusive campus by keeping dogs on a leash and alerting a guide dog handler before passing with your dog.
Small actions like these replace assumptions with understanding, recognise capability rather than limitation, and foster a more inclusive UNSW community. By choosing respect, curiosity and inclusion, we can all play a part in creating a campus that truly works better with us all.