Thorkild Olesen Biography

Thorkild’s career in the disability movement has been long and distinguished. In 1993, he became Chair of the youth organisation of the Danish Association of the Blind. He later served as Head of Department and Vice-Chair before being elected President of the organisation in 2009. During this period, he was also elected Vice-Chair of Disabled Peoples Organisations Denmark, and in 2014 he became Chair of the organisation. He holds a Master’s degree in History, with a minor in Religious Studies, from Aarhus University.

Thorkild was diagnosed with glaucoma at birth. Initially, he was visually impaired, but at the age of 21 he lost his sight completely.