#TEDxCT speaker profile: Christopher Venter

Give us some background about yourself and your career/initiative?

Venter: I am a writer, adventurer, accessibility buddy and a vintage Vespa scooter collector and enthusiast. In 2013, as a way of creating a story to write about, I travelled all the way from Cape Town to Dublin on a little 150cc scooter. Unfortunately in the middle of Africa, I became very ill. Although I managed to complete the trip, once I returned home, I lost my sight. I have only been blind for just over two years now. Thanks to accessible technology, I have managed to become the travel and adventure writer that I aspire to be, I just never thought that I would become a blind travel and adventure writer.

Is this your first TEDx presentation and how are you feeling about it?

Venter: Yes, this is the first time that I will be speaking at a TEDx event. I have been an avid fan for many years. I have the privilege of being the first blind speaker to take to the TEDx stage in South Africa. The lead-up to the TEDxCapeTown event has been extensive, there have been many workshops and much support from the TEDx team as well as my speaking coach. I feel well prepared and excited to share my idea.

What is your interpretation of the theme Here / Hear to Listen?

Venter: As a person who has experienced recent, late and sudden sight loss, I have had to learn to focus on audio. Listening is the primary means that a visually impaired person gets to experience and interact with the world.

How will your presentation relate to the theme?

Venter: My talk touches on the accessible technology that is available to blind people to help them 'see' the world. Through my own experiences, I hope to show that in an accessible world a #BlindManCan do anything that a sighted person is able to.

What are you looking forward to the most about TEDxCapeTown this year?

Venter: I feel humbled to share the stage with amazing and talented speakers to share our #IdeasWorthSpreading I hope to make the audience stop and think about the challenges and abilities that a blind person has. You sometimes don't know how lucky you really are, until you are forced to find out.

TEDxCapeTown 2016: Tech-enabled to go green and enhance audience experience

For the first time since 2011, TEDxCapeTown is committed to a more tech-enabled team and delivery of the event. Audience members can expect to experience a web-enabled application, implemented by Accenture South Africa, allowing them to view the programme of the day, listed speakers and their bios and directly engage via the TEDxCapeTown social channels in-app.

For the second consecutive year, Accenture South Africa has decided to partner with the largest TEDx event on the African continent, to demonstrate and share contributions to innovation. Accenture strongly identifies with the ethos of TEDx which exists to discuss ideas worth spreading.

“Accenture and TEDx believe passionately in the power of innovation to change attitudes, perceptions and behaviours. In South Africa, Accenture remains committed to playing a strategic role in supporting our clients and helping to drive sustainable economic growth,” says Suren Govender, managing director of Accenture Analytics, part of Accenture Digital. “Our focus at TEDx this year really is to listen to the ideas local TEDx folks have and assist by translating these ideas – from strategy to outcome – into meaningful and actionable results that could contribute to job creation and growing the economy.”