Dave Steele

Condition: Retinitis Pigmentosa

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1. What is your profession and why did you decide to choose this field?

I am a poet, author, public speaker, and advocate for the blind community. I began to write poetry when I began to lose my sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa almost 7 years ago. I found that people connected with my poetry as a way to help them feel less alone and use my words as a tool to communicate to their loved ones how they feel about their own journeys with low vision and blindness. 

2. What is the most rewarding thing about what you do? 

The way people around the world find comfort and support through my poetry is something I’m so proud of and never take for granted. Every day I try to find ways to help more people through my words. 

3. What is your advice to all the other VIPs around the world who don't believe they can be successful in the area of their interest because of their disability?

My advice to others who don’t believe they can be successful due to their disability is to know that dealing with anxiety and times of darkness are perfectly natural, but we can take our biggest challenges in life and turn them into our greatest achievements.