Tragedy inspires a film full of hope

THREE years ago, Colette Kennedy was having trouble focusing on her college work.

“I didn’t know what was happening. I thought maybe I was just struggling to concentrate but I just couldn’t focus on the words on the page,” says Colette, from Wakefield

She went to her optician who confirmed there was something wrong with her vision and referred her to hospital.

“I didn’t think for a minute there was anything seriously wrong with me, so I went by myself. But then they told me that I had a genetic disorder which meant that I was going to lose my sight.

“It was surreal. I didn’t believe it. I asked for a second opinion but they said the same thing. All I could think about was that I had planned to go to university to do biology and become a teacher and that I wouldn’t be able to do that any more.”

Colette has Rod-Cone Dystrophy, a broad term for a visual impairment which leaves her unable to see faces and struggling with colours.

Despite scores of tests, doctors have been unable to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with Colette and exactly how quickly or badly her sight will deteriorate.

But now, aged 22, she is really struggling to see and is registered as blind.

“My eye sight is pretty bad at the moment; I have started to bump into things and it is a struggle.”

Despite the devastating prognosis, Colette has remained very positive with the support of family and friends. What continues to frustrate her, however, is the attitude of others to her disability.

“I can go into the supermarket and struggle with my shopping and people laugh at my when I bump into things. I do understand it as I don’t use a stick, but when I tell people I am visually impaired they just don’t believe me.

“But I really wanted to try to make people aware of just how difficult it can be for people with a visual impairment.”

Colette saw an advert for ITV Fixers and was accepted onto the scheme to produce a film about her condition. In the film, a friend, Richard, wears visual impairment simulator goggles while trying to do everyday tasks, including buying an outfit, ordering a meal, and navigating around a busy shopping centre.

“At one stage in the film, Richard asks for help from some students, and they just laugh at him. It seems very shocking but it is the sort of thing that happens all the time.

“Richard couldn’t believe how difficult it was. He says he has new respect for people with visual impairment.”

Colette wants to show her film to businesses, at places of work, and in banks. She hopes it will make people reconsider their attitudes toward the visually impaired.

She hopes her film will make talking about visual impairment less taboo, and help other young people suffering from the condition. She will be showing her film at schools, colleges, to visual impairment groups and businesses, to make people reconsider their attitudes toward the visually impaired.

She has even sent a copy to David Cameron.

“I decided if I wanted to change people’s attitudes then I should start at the top. I got a letter back thanking me for the DVD. The film has been fantastic for me as it has given me access to schools and talking to kids who have visual impairment,” says Colette.

“It’s great to encourage them so they don’t feel like sight loss is the end of the world. It’s been wonderful to make a difference.”

Colette has now been made vice-chair of Wakefield District Sight Care, which has enabled her to support other young people with sight problems. She now plans to go to university to study to become a counsellor, helping people with sight problems.

Colette’s project won an ITV Fixers’ award presented by disabled actors David Proud, formerly of EastEnders.

He told her: “With my disability, it’s very obvious; you do get people asking if they can help you in the street. But you have a double barrier of trying to explain to people exactly what you need and then, once they know, it’s a very hard thing to overcome.”

FIXERS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

ITV Fixers, with vinspired.com, is a major campaign created by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, giving people between the ages of 16-25 the opportunity to tackle any issue that they feel strongly about.

What they choose to do is up to them as long as it benefits at least one other person.

The fixers are given all the resources they need to make their chosen project a success, with creative help from media professionals to make their own promotional material, from DVDs to websites.

Support is on hand for the duration of the project, and a broadcast production team produces features about the fixes for ITV regional news.

* www.itvfixers.com