A BRADFORD teenager has become the face of a national campaign highlighting the achievements of people with visual impairments, and show that they can still live fulfilled, happy lives.

Yasar Atta, 17, will be featured on posters, online adverts and a film for the Royal National College for the Blind as part of a campaign called I Can Belong.

He will talk about how he has not been held back by his condition, and attempt to break down the stigma associated with being blind.

The new campaign has already been given a big boost by Bradford City FC, which shared a film in which the Bantams fan talks about his love of football. He hopes to take part in a work placement at the club next month.

Yasar, of Great Horton, started at the college in September. Before then his condition - Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy - meant he faced many difficulties in fitting in, and was even bullied.

But since he started at the college in Hereford he has come into his own.

His condition meant that at age 14 he began to lose his sight.

Yasar said: "I was at mainstream school when I lost my sight.

"None of my mates really understood what I was going through. They didn’t believe I couldn’t see properly and I ended up falling out with them. I got bullied by others and just didn’t want to be at school anymore.”

He began spending much of his time at home, and his isolation from other people his age started to upset his family.

After starting at the specialist school, he re-ignited his love of sports, and quickly made new friends. He is studying sport and recreation and plays football in the RNC Sports Academy.

He added: “You get to know everyone and they are all happy to talk to each other. I didn’t know anyone in Bradford with a visual impairment, but here everyone is like me.

“I had great fun making the film with my mates. I’ve put it up on my own social networking page and have had lots of encouraging messages.

"It makes me feel good because there were still a lot of people back home that didn’t know I was visually impaired and I’ve gained respect because of this campaign. I’m really confident now in the things I can do and just wanted to share that with everyone.”

Yasar’s film is on the RNC website and on YouTube and is already drawing attention, including from Bradford City, which offered its support by sharing it with its social media followers.

To the football-mad teenager’s delight, the club is also considering offering him a work placement in next month.

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