Blind Artist Richard Harlow on Tactile Painting, Accessible Cities and Running for Nanaimo Council
Double Tap

Blind Artist Richard Harlow on Tactile Painting, Accessible Cities and Running for Nanaimo Council

B1IntermediateOctober 13, 202656 min
  • Interview
  • About Canada

Richard Harlow lost most of his sight to LHON while studying at Emily Carr University. Today he is a blind artist and accessibility advocate, and he's standing for Nanaimo City Council on Vancouver Island. He tells Steven Scott how he rebuilt his art, his career and his confidence, and why disabled people belong in local government. Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy took Richard's central vision over six months when he was 20. A doctor told him he would never finish art school. He went on to finish a degree at Vancouver Island University, and he now paints large, high-contrast...

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0:00

Don't miss the U.S.L. Championship Final on CBS, November 21st at noon eastern. Will the Pittsburgh Riverhounds retain their crown, or will a new title winner emerge? Don't miss the conclusion to the 2026 season, Saturday, November 21st at noon eastern on CBS.

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Coming up, an artist who lost his sight at art school kept on painting and is now standing for election on Vancouver Island. This is Double Tap, where blind people talk tech. Here's Steven Scott and Sean Preece.

0:35

Riding solo today. Hey everybody, welcome to another Double Tap. I have got a great guest to welcome to Double Tap today. You know, if someone told you that a painter had lost most of their sight halfway through

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