PhotoED Magazine

OPHELIA CHAUVIN: A different way of seeing

Noémie was born blind. She suffers from Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a genetic disorder. At a party organized by the Foundation for the Blind of Quebec (FAQ), she dances with her friend Florence. Noémie wears glasses to protect her eyes, as she has no muscle reflex in her eyelids.

Montreal photographer OPHELIA CHAUVIN documented the daily lives of people with living with partial or total blindness. This work tells their stories and prompts reflection on the notion of "vision."

How to perceive the world differently.

This documentary project, whether featuring people who were born blind or those who lost their sight later in life, bears witness to the daily lives and resilience of individuals with partial or total blindness.

"This first chapter of my documentary led me to understand the realities and challenges faced by people with visual impairments in Quebec. I focused on various issues related to mobility and cultural, sports, and intellectual accessibility. I aimed to meet and tell the stories of individuals with different life paths and from various generations. It was also important for me to understand how these people cope with their disabilities and perceive their relationship with our modern and visual society. This project aims to bring them out of invisibility and to raise awareness of their resilience, with the goal of challenging some preconceived ideas."

Marc-André regularly attends a book club. This activity allows him and other participants to discover new authors through the voices of volunteer readers.

Marc-André (50) lost his sight at the age of 46 due to what is believed to have been poisoning from chemical aerosol products while living in Thailand. For him, it wasn't just about "losing his sight but also his entire way of life."

A true man of letters and avid traveler, Marc-André spent over 20 years living throughout Asia — from Japan to Thailand, with stops in Burma. Following his disability, he returned a few years ago to his native Montreal, where a new chapter of his life is now unfolding.

Today, Marc-André works as a development officer for the organization Le Bon Pilote and he is actively involved with numerous associations that promote accessibility and social connections for people with disabilities.

“What do you want? I'm not going to stay at home staring at the walls. Besides, I can't see them anyway,” he replies with his usual sense of humour when I comment on his busy schedule.

Marc-André can count on Hao Yu, his neighbor, friend, and guide, for daily assistance.

For Marc-André, having a trusting relationship with his guide is essential. Every Sunday, they go together to do their weekly grocery shopping. Marc-André selects his products by touch. Through habit, he recognizes the layout of the displays in the stores he frequents. Other blind individuals do their shopping online or ask for help from store clerks.

Marie (23) was born blind. Originally from Mascouche, she moved to Montreal on her own to pursue her studies. A Political Science student at the University of Montreal (UDEM), Marie aspires to work in diplomacy.

For the past two years, Marie has been assisted by her guide dog, Djenga. To obtain her care and support, she spent 6 months at a specialized school in the USA.

Since she switched from her white cane to Djenga, Marie feels much freer, more autonomous, and safer. Additionally, she has noticed that people are much more willing to approach her and socialize.

Marie will always remember the first time she walked the streets of New York with Djenga: she cried tears of joy!

In the face of her disability, Marie is constantly seeking autonomy and freedom. She prefers to use public transport or Uber, even though she is eligible for adapted transport services. Equine riding, dancing, swimming, music, and even DIY projects—Marie is a jack-of-all-trades, with great curiosity, sociability, and a critical mind. She truly feels "disabled" when society imposes accessibility limitations.

To study, Marie uses an electronic Braille reader connected directly to her computer. With this device, she can read her course materials, write, use Excel and PowerPoint, and navigate her computer.

In Quebec, there are nearly 100,000 people who are blind or visually impaired, with the vast majority living below the poverty line.

Many local organizations, such as the Foundation for the Blind of Quebec (FAQ), work daily to combat the poverty and isolation experienced by individuals with visual impairments, and to enhance social and community integration.

Each year, the FAQ pushes the boundaries of accessibility by offering a wide range of sports and recreational activities for ages 6-25 (including alpine skiing, tourism, tandem biking, hang gliding, cooking classes, music lessons, etc.). Given that over 80% of the information we receive is visual, these activities are crucial for helping young people develop their social and cognitive skills.