Rose Bramble on the struggles of being visually impaired

I’m Rose; a singer, mum, former carer, and I am visually impaired.

For most, booking a doctor’s appointment is simple. For me, it’s the first hurdle in this digitally-inaccessible world.

Next is the journey to the doctors. I feel the familiar sense of dread, my palms become sweaty, and my breath gets faster. I question myself – am I a fool to even leave the flat?!

Shaky and anxious, I get my white cane, bag and open the door. The first obstacle is the main road. My heart pounds louder, I listen for the traffic, it seems quieter, I take a step on to the road. Suddenly, a car zooms out from behind a bus and nearly knocks me down, but I manage to reach the other side.

I hope I am getting on the right bus. People push past me, “get a move on” they say, but I can’t go any faster. I need to sit down, or I could easily fall over. No seats are available, and no-one sees me – they must be engrossed on their phones. I feel increasingly anxious; finally, my fear of falling wins. I ask someone, who grudgingly gives up their seat, making me feel awful.

Disembarking, I forget about the cycle lane. A cyclist brakes hard, just missing me. “Watch where you’re going” they shout. I feel panic and anger – how will others who are like me cope?

I make my way on the uneven pavement, negotiating bins, flowerpots, benches. I wish planners would listen to visually-impaired people when they have these great design ideas. Then, along come mums with buggies; one runs over my foot and blames me for being in the way!

I don’t want charity or sympathy – I want the simple dignity of living my daily life like anyone else, free from frustration and fear.

Rose is part of ‘Enable Not Disable’, the LocalMotion group that seeks to end exclusion for disabled people in Enfield

No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.  

More information on supporting us monthly or yearly 

More Information about donations