London, UK, 2nd March 2026 – Canon partnered with the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC), Dorton College, to deliver a bespoke Canon Young People Programme (CYPP) workshop, empowering visually impaired students to tell their stories through photography.
Canon Young People Programme partners with the Royal Society for Blind Children, Dorton College for an inclusive storytelling workshop
Image description: A group of people posing for a photo with the RSBC logo behind them
The immersive workshop brought together students with a wide range of visual impairments for a hands-on creative experience designed around accessibility, self-expression and inclusion to explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Reducing Inequalities.
Led by Canon Ambassador and multidisciplinary visual artist Elisa Iannacone, the session encouraged students to create portrait images centred on their favourite activities, using photography as a tool to communicate identity, emotion and personal narrative beyond traditional visual conventions.
Throughout the workshop, Elisa worked closely with each student to adapt photographic techniques to their individual needs, exploring alternative approaches such as touch, sound, texture and verbal storytelling to shape each portrait. The result was a deeply collaborative process that placed the students’ perspectives, choices and creativity at the heart of the image-making.
Elisa Iannacone said: “This workshop challenged the idea that seeing is the only way to experience or create an image. Working with these students reminded us that storytelling is multisensory, emotional and deeply human – and that everyone deserves the opportunity to express how they see the world, in their own way.”
Image description: A young male holding a gadget, with red and blue ropes around his upper body
By focusing on UNSDG 11, the workshop encouraged conversations around access, representation and equality, highlighting how inclusive creative spaces can challenge social barriers and create opportunities for underrepresented voices.
The workshop also welcomed Daniel Oluwatobi (db Captures), an award‑winning photographer and filmmaker, as a guest speaker to inspire and motivate the students. Daniel is partially sighted and lives with nystagmus – a condition that causes involuntary eye movement and affects visual clarity and depth perception. Drawing on his own experience, he spoke openly about navigating the creative industry with visual impairment and how he has built a successful photography career by embracing emotion, perspective and storytelling over traditional ideas of ‘perfect’ vision.
Speaking about his involvement, Daniel said: “I know first‑hand how powerful it is to hear from someone like you, doing what you love. Photography is about how you feel, how you interpret, and how you tell your story. I hope the workshop demonstrated to the students that their perspective is not a limitation, but a strength.”
Image description: A male delivering a talk, the RSBC logo behind him
Adam Pensotti, Head of Canon Young People Programme at Canon EMEA said: “This workshop with RSBC is a powerful example of how the Canon Young People Programme can adapt to meeting young people where they are. By placing accessibility and inclusion at the heart of this workshop, we’re demonstrating that creative education can play a real role in reducing inequality and empowering young people to show their creativity.”
The collaboration with RSBC and Dorton College forms part of Canon’s wider commitment to delivering meaningful social value through education, creativity and collaboration.
Reflecting on the impact of the partnership, Edith Windsor‑Stokes, Principal at RSBC Dorton College, said: “Partnerships like this make a real difference to our students. The workshop was thoughtfully inclusive and inspiring, giving our learners the chance to explore creativity in ways that work for them, their confidence and self‑expression. Opportunities like this show our learners that their voices matter and that creativity can be accessible to everyone.”
Through the Canon Young People Programme, Canon supports young people globally by providing access to imaging technology, skills training and platforms for storytelling – ensuring creative opportunities are available to those who need them most.
Visit here for more about the Canon Young People Programme: Empowering the next generation - Canon UK