Young Adults Online Winter Social

We at Retina UK are striving to grow our Peer Support Network across the UK and provide support to all those who are living with inherited sight loss such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

Would you like to meet peers of a similar age to share tips, hints and information such as Further Education to Employment, Leaving Home to First-Time Buying as well as forming long term friendships?

If you are a young adult living with an IRD who are finding their feet in this crazy wide world, whether you have been losing your vision since childhood or have been recently diagnosed and you are interested in connecting with like-minded people, then this event would be perfect for you.

For our first meeting of 2025 we are delighted to welcome along PhD student Zein Oweis.

Zein Al Maha Oweis (Zee) is a PhD researcher at the University of Glasgow. Her research interest is in disability representation in the Media. Zein was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and was diagnosed between the ages of 4-6 years old. She has degrees in Communications and Journalism. When not stuck behind her computer screen you can find her trying out new coffee shops with friends or adventuring somewhere in the Scottish Highlands with her guide dog Mitch.

Zein will be sharing with us her recent experience of working on an audio book called “Today and Tomorrow; Living with Vision Impairment in the UK” – an uplifting account of how to navigate key life transitions when living with a vision impairment.

A group of 21 young people, working with academics at the University of Bath and Audiobook Productions, created personal chapters based on their experiences of important transitions such as moving home, starting secondary school, playing sport and advocating for yourself.

The authors come from all four countries across the UK and were aged 16-28 when they started working on the project, which was funded by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. As well as sharing their experiences, they offer practical tips and advice, and hope that it will be valuable guide for other young people living with vision impairment in the UK and beyond.

Please come and join us to share your stories and experiences as a young adult who is living with progressive sight loss, catch up with old friends and make some new ones too.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Venue

This meeting will be held online via Zoom.