Background: East Harlem, New York, is a community actively struggling with diabetes and its complications, including vision-related conditions that can affect many aspects of daily life.
Objectives: Vision Voice was a qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR) study that intended to better understand the needs and experiences of people living with diabetes, other comorbid chronic illnesses, and vision loss in East Harlem.
Methods: Using photovoice methodology, four participants took photographs, convened to review their photographs, and determined overarching themes for the group's collective body of work.
Lessons learned: Identified themes included effect of decreased vision function on personal independence/mobility and self-management of chronic conditions and the importance of informing community members and health care providers about these issues. The team next created a documentary film that further develops the narratives of the photovoice participants.
Conclusions: The Vision Voice photovoice project was an effective tool to assess community needs, educate and raise awareness.