Our Founder and Executive Director, Nidhi Goyal, was invited to speak at the virtual panel, “Navigating Life with a Retinal Condition,” at the International Youth Conference organised by Retina International on September 18, 2026. The session brought together 30 participants and explored the experiences, challenges, and possibilities of living with retinal conditions.
Nidhi was joined by fellow speakers Dr. Kenisha Coon, Director of Community Engagement at Eko Vision Foundation, USA; Jess McQueen, Vice President & Membership Coordinator, Retina New Zealand; Daniel Lewis, Secretary & Statutory Officer, Retina New Zealand; and Rishabh Gupta, writer and author of the book, ‘What I See Now,’ India.
Nidhi highlighted the importance of mentoring, support and community for young people navigating life with blindness. Drawing from her own experience, she spoke about the attitudinal, social, and infrastructural barriers within the education system that can limit access, and participation. Emphasising self-advocacy, she encouraged young people to first recognise and accept themselves, understand their needs, before advocating for themselves with others.
The panel offered an encouraging space for young people to reflect on their experiences, build confidence, and recognise self-advocacy as an important part of navigating life with a retinal condition.