Dave Steele - The Blind Poet
Meet Dave, an award-winning poet, author, speaker, singer and advocate for the blind. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2014, he is now severely sight impaired.
The impact of RP unfolded alongside challenges of unemployment and financial strain for Dave, his wife Amy, and their four children. He found support through social media, sharing his experiences and raising awareness about misconceptions and injustices faced by visually impaired people. His background in singing led to the creation of “Stand By Me RP,” a reimagining of Ben E. King’s classic, which he first performed at a meeting for those with RP and Usher Syndrome.
In 2015, Dave founded the “Stand By Me RP” Facebook page, now one of the largest global social media communities for people with RP. Writing two to three poems daily, Dave shared his journey and inspired others facing similar challenges.
Dave has worked with global brands and received several honours, including the 2018 Henshaws Impact Award and the Pride of Bury Community Hero Award. He was a finalist in the 2022 RNIB See Differently Awards for Social Media Impact and shortlisted for the 2023 National Diversity Awards as a Positive Role Model for Disability.
Now a Patron of Henshaws, Dave uses his poetry to give a voice to those affected by blindness and low vision. Through his work as The Blind Poet, he inspires others to turn challenges into achievements, proving that “disability isn’t an excuse to do less but a reason to be more.”
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Posted Jan 2025