Jo Bannon invites local blind and visually impaired people to gather for coffee and cake at FABRIC’s Nottingham site, iC4C.

FREE to attend, Jo will host a casual and relaxed chat about the different experiences of visual impairment, sharing some of her thinking behind her current artistic work, Blind Magic.

As a visually impaired person Jo has noticed the skills, techniques, and workarounds she’s developed to navigate the world around her with reduced sight. The way she might talk to the person taking her photo so she can guess where the camera lens is. The way she will almost imperceptibly slow her pace as she reaches the top of the staircase as her hand reaches for the banister, or her habit of touching all the clothes on a rail, even in the posh shops.

She thinks of these tricks or life hacks as a form of learnt skill, a covert choreography performed in the real world, and if this doesn’t sound too grand, a kind of blind virtuosity, if you will.

She wonders if other blind and visually impaired folk share a similar experience? What skills, habits, ways of doing things they might have, which they may or may not be aware of. Jo is fascinated by the ways disabled people develop unique skills or ‘crip expertise’ as she calls it, and is interested in highlighting and elevating these valuable, knowledgeable, and ingenious experiences.

Jo welcomes blind and visually impaired communities to meet and share their stories over coffee and cake. You might want to share some of your experiences or be curious to hear from others. Both approaches are valuable and welcome.

Jo will share elements of her new show, Blind Magic to help provide starting points for conversation. With permission, participants’ responses will feed into her new work, as an important and valuable part of it’s development with us at FABRIC.

Access

We understand access needs are different for everyone and we’re committed to this event being an inclusive, accessible and supportive environment for all. We’d like to also share the following to help facilitate those wanting to come along:

• An access budget is available, and we can arrange taxis and assist with transport.
• We can provide sighted guiding to assist you finding and entering the venue.
• You’re free to come and go, rest or take part, as desired and needed during the coffee morning.
• A quiet space and various seating options (mats, bean bags, sofa etc) will be available.
• The studio is located at iC4C, which is accessible by lift and stairs. All our facilities are on the same level, including accessible toilets. More details about visiting iC4C available here.
• Companion/carer tickets are available.

If you want to discuss access requirements or you would like support with booking, you’re welcome to either email Jessica@fabric.dance or contact us via phone on 0115 924 2016, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30am and 6pm.

Header image description: A landscape photo of a group of people sitting around a table chatting and drinking tea and coffee.