Small Changes, Big Impact: A volunteer reflects on advocacy and change
At this year’s Sight Loss Councils Conference, delegates explored the theme Small Changes, Big Impact and reflected on the difference that lived experience can make.
For Tyne and Wear Sight Loss Council volunteer Beth Laskey, the weekend inspired a period of reflection. In this guest blog, Beth shares her experiences of self-advocacy, the moments that have shaped her journey, and why even the smallest actions can help create lasting change.
Beth’s reflections on Small Changes, Big Impact
“Earlier this Summer, I attended Thomas Pocklington Trust’s 2026 Sight Loss Council Conference. I have been a volunteer with Tyne and Wear Sight Loss Council (SLC) for a few months now. I listened to some thought-provoking speakers and attended workshops on the theme of “Small Changes, Big Impact”. It gave me a lot of food for thought and left me feeling more positive and motivated than I have in a long time.
I have been visually impaired since birth, gradually losing more of my sight over time. Like many disabled people, I have spent much of my life advocating for myself. As a young adult, I was passionate about changing the world. I wanted to challenge discrimination wherever I experienced it and educate people about disability and accessibility.
That passion has never disappeared, but over the years there have been many times when I have felt exhausted by it all. There have been times when I have thought: ‘Is anything really changing?’ The barriers are still there. The misunderstandings still happen. Sometimes you are having the same conversations you have had 10, 20, 30 years ago.
Sitting at the conference, I realised something. While the big battles are, and will always be, worth fighting, it prompted me to reflect on all the smaller moments that have had the greatest impact.
Th power of everyday advocacy
There have been occasions when a taxi driver has seemed unsure about accepting my guide dog but has then agreed to take me. By the end of the journey, they are often telling me that they didn’t realise how calm and well-behaved guide dogs are. That one positive experience may make them more confident about welcoming another guide dog owner in the future.
There have been times when I have contacted organisations to explain how their service affected me as a visually impaired customer. Whether discussing disability awareness with a bank or explaining how poor customer service left me feeling excluded, many of those conversations have been met with a willingness to learn and improve. I may never see the outcome, but perhaps the next blind or partially sighted customer will have a better experience because someone listened.
When small changes make a big difference
I have also benefited from others who have advocated for themselves and raised awareness. I remember standing anxiously at a bus stop when a driver recognised that I needed support because they had attended a Vision Awareness session, delivered through SLCs. In that moment, somebody else’s effort made my journey much less stressful.
I have seen the difference accessibility can make in healthcare too. A consultant ensured that information about appointments and my daughter’s care was provided in a font size I could read independently. It was such a simple adjustment, but it made a huge difference.
Recently, I visited the ‘Beyond the Visual’ exhibition in Leeds and, for the first time, felt able to fully access an art exhibition. Listening to speakers at the conference, I was encouraged to hear how examples of good practice like this are being shared and adopted by others.
Creating a ripple effect
Sometimes advocacy is exhausting. Sometimes I don’t feel like making another phone call, sending another email or explaining my needs one more time. But this weekend reminded me why those moments matter.
Every conversation, every request for accessibility, every challenge to a misconception has the potential to create a ripple effect. Sometimes simply showing up, living your life and being visible in your community can change perceptions.
Small Change. Big Impact.
Of course it doesn’t happen overnight or always in ways we can see. But together, those small changes can make a big difference in the years to come.”
Our thanks to Beth for sharing her experiences and insights. Her blog is a powerful reminder that small changes can have a big impact on accessibility, inclusion and the lives of blind and partially sighted people.
Join us
Passionate about making a difference? Want to influence positive change? Our Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, are recruiting new members. Join us today!
We use our lived experience to create positive change for others. Together, we tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
Join us to help ensure visually impaired people in your area can live the lives they want to lead.
Publication date: 03 July 2026