For Neil Atkinson, sport has always been a significant part of his life. Now, as a Community Connection Coordinator for RNIB Scotland, he uses his experiences to help improve accessibility and awareness for blind and partially sighted individuals across the country, the most recent example being sight loss awareness training for golf coaches at St Andrews.
Neil, who lives in Armadale, was born fully sighted but began losing his vision due to Stargardt’s Disease around the age of six or seven. He was eventually registered as blind in his teenage years. Despite the challenges, he believes his sight loss has benefitted him.
“I feel my lived experience of sight loss has helped me in all of my career and education pathways,” Neil says. “I graduated from university with a BSc in Sports Coaching, became a Personal Trainer, and eventually found myself at RNIB in a role entirely focused on improving the lives of people in Scotland who live with a visual impairment.”
His role as a Community Connection Coordinator involves improving awareness of sight loss in various sectors, including public services and organisations. “It could be working with leisure facilities to improve staff awareness of sight loss or advising on additional support measures at a local art and craft group,” he explains.
Neil’s passion for sport began in childhood, with encouragement from his parents to try different activities. He took part in martial arts and swam at local clubs before eventually focusing on football. He played mainstream football until his twenties before transitioning to visually impaired futsal in the British PS Futsal League. Today, he continues to play mainstream futsal in Scotland.
Having spent years as both a coach and a player, Neil understands the barriers that people with sight loss face when trying to engage in sports. “Transport, locating venues, travelling independently, and anxiety around social isolation are all significant challenges,” he says. “There’s also the concern over whether the right support will be available.”
Through RNIB Scotland, Neil delivers sight loss awareness training to sports clubs and leisure facilities, helping to bridge the gap in understanding. “Many clubs are open to making their activities more accessible but don’t always know how to do it,” he notes. “Some don’t realise that blind people may have some useful vision to participate in non-adapted sports, while others underestimate the importance of competition - many people want to improve and compete, not just take part.”
Neil encourages anyone with sight loss interested in sports to reach out. “There are so many accessible opportunities out there - it’s just about finding the right support and creative solutions.”
