Sight Loss in the South Asian Community: The 1iCollective

By: Neisha Mitchell

Nav Dhillon knows first-hand that advocacy can create change. A passionate and driven advocate in both the sight loss and artificial eyes communities, Nav left her job in the corporate world and founded 1iCollective – a not-for-profit organization that aims to challenge the stigma associated with disability and advocate for supportive services for people who have experienced ocular adversities.

Nav hopes to use the platform of 1iCollective to amplify the stories and experiences of South Asians living with sight loss and the voices of people from other diverse communities.

As a strong voice in the South Asian community and a CNIB Community Engagement Volunteer based in the Peel Region, Nav has partnered with CNIB to launch a Peer Support Group in Brampton, Ont. The group aims to address the unique needs and lived experiences of people with sight loss who identify as South Asian and provide ongoing support and access to services and resources. 

We recently talked to Nav on CNIB’s The Lens: Living Diverse podcast about her mission for greater representation in the sight loss and South Asian communities. Listen to Nav’s episode. 

To learn more about 1iCollective, please visit www.1icollective.com or email info@1icollective.com. 

If you want to join the South Asian peer support group, please email sharon.kanhai-johnston@cnib.ca.