Neighbours Every Day is Relationships Australia’s ongoing campaign to encourage people to strengthen community ties and foster a sense of belonging around them.
Karan Nagrani is an ambassador for the campaign, as well as a passionate disability advocate, proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, blind content creator, and graphic designer.
When Karan was 11 years old, he was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, a rare degenerative and incurable condition leading to complete blindness and hearing loss. Now in his 30s, Karan has lost 97% of his vision and he’s a fierce advocate for social change, accessible workplaces, and an inclusive society.
We got the opportunity to chat with Karan about belonging and connection, and what it means to him.
Why is belonging important to you?
I feel like I’ve had to come out of two closets – the gay one and the blind closet, and before I came out, I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere.
Once you come out of the closet you realise that there are other people like you – it’s the best feeling ever.
You’re embraced and part of many different communities. How does that feel?
I love it because it’s what I wish I had growing up but I didn’t see. My aim is that everywhere I represent, someone walks out feeling like, “If you can do it, I can do it”.
After some gay or pride events I attend, I receive messages from people saying they wanted to introduce themselves to me, but their friends didn’t know they had a disability and were worried about their reactions. This sort of stuff still happens, so I’m trying to normalise being blind in a sighted community and being blind in the gay community.
Even in the gay community, there can be so much racism, internalised homophobia, and pressure to look a certain way. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is but we can try and change it as much as we can.
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How can people make you feel like you belong?
Now, people have really embraced me for who I am but honestly, I still have close family members who think I deserve less because I have a disability.
I think the biggest gift you can give someone is respecting them for who they are because you are who you are for a reason.
I feel celebrated when someone acknowledges that I’m different without making me feel like I’m different. As an example, you don’t have to treat me like I’m fragile or any differently to other friends.
When I’m catching up with friends, I appreciate when they call ahead to check how well lit a restaurant is or if we need extra candles. If it’s a special event, they might host it at their home so if I need a break, I can go into a different room. When people remember things like that, that’s when I feel truly embraced.
How do your relationships support your mental wellbeing?
I have to tell a little story to give you a good answer…
With my eye condition, it’s degenerative so I could wake up tomorrow and it’ll be worse than it is now. I currently have 3 degrees of eyesight and every little drop is noticeable. When it drops, I go into a depression because it’s a step closer to complete blindness.
In those instances, I allow myself three days to do whatever I want. If I just want to stay in bed, cry, be angry, watch sad films, or listen to Radiohead, I do it. On the third day, I get up. It’s not fun but by the following day, it gets easier.
Coming back to your question, you need to be around people who can understand what it’s like. Not someone who will say, “You’ll be fine” and also not people who will pity you. In that moment you need someone who says, “I know this sucks. There’s nothing I can say that will make you feel better, but I’m right here next to you”.
This is where I feel so blessed to have my husband, David, in my life who just knows what to say – and what not say – in these situations.
Are there little things you do to nurture your relationships?
I’m not going to lie, I don’t catch up with my friends as much as I wish. I travel a lot for work and as you can imagine, travelling with 3% eyesight is quite taxing.
My friends and I do catch-up once a month and I’ve also gotten to know my neighbours. As a blind person, if something happens in the middle of the night and my husband is away, I need my neighbours.
As a content creator, I’m also constantly in touch with people on social media and messaging someone helps me feel less lonely. Even though I don’t get to see my friends face to face as often as I’d like, we send each other messages and reels all the time, and it doesn’t feel nearly as long.
What’s your advice to anyone in a similar position to you who don’t feel a sense of community?
It’s definitely not easy and no one should pressure you into doing something that you don’t want to do because they don’t know your situation. Everyone is different but trust your gut.
No matter what’s going on for you, you’re not the only one. Whether you’re living in Tasmania or Perth or regional NSW, there will be someone like you, and you will find them. You’re not alone.
You can learn more about Karan Nagrani on his website or follow him on Instagram.
Join us for Neighbour Day 2025 on 30 March to celebrate and strengthen our communities. Visit the Neighbours Every Day website to learn more; including tips, ideas and free resources to help grow belonging this Neighbour Day – and every day.
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