|
|
Sylw!The Bulletin of Wales Council for the Blind.
No. 33 - July 2006.Submit an article...You may have something you wish to publicise or know of something which may be of interest to our readers. If you do, please use our submission form at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/sylw/sylw_submissions.htm . WCB Services.Wales Council for the Blind offers Awareness Training and Transcription Services. If you or your organisation are in need of these services please contact us on 029 20 473 954 or email nicola@wcb-ccd.org.uk or richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk respectively.. Contents.1) WCB update.Online diary of events.Don't forget to let us know about events relevant to visual impairment. Using the calendar on the WCB web-site will help the network to avoid clashes [http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Events/diary.htm]. Please email richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk to send in dates for the calendar. WSRAVI AGM update.This has been postponed until 22nd October. For more information 'phone Nicky Malson on 029 20 473 954 or email nicky@wcb-ccd.org.uk . 2) Consultations and lobbying.Wet macular degeneration treatment withheld from NHS."A major drug company is blocking access to a medicine that is cheaply and effectively saving thousands of people from going blind because it wants to launch a more expensive product on the market." Read the full article at Guardian Unlimited: http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1799832,00.html 3) Reports and publications.Living Paintings bring books alive.The Living Paintings Trust has recently launched its 100th book. The charity was started 16 years ago with the aim of making books and artwork available to visually impaired children. Children can explore books and paintings using their fingers to glide over a series of raised images called thermoforms. Audio is also used to explain the images. A free pack is available from Living Paintings by ringing 01635 299771. Further information is available from the website, www.livingpaintings.org . Early Years Factsheets.As part of the RNIB's Early Excellence Partnership project, a series of factsheets has been produced for parents and professionals who support young children with a visual impairment. They comprise: A charter for families of young children with visual impairments; Supporting children with sight problems in therapy sessions; An introduction to Treasure Baskets; Sensory development resource boxes - easy, portable ideas for a young child with a sight problem; Eye Clinic appointments - a guide for parents and Grants and Allowances for children with a sight problem. The factsheets are available from Sarah Holton by ringing 0113 274 8855 or emailing sholton@rnib.org.uk . Our Vision Too: Improving the access of ethnic minority visually impaired people to appropriate services.A research review, funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust and conducted by De Montfort University, had highlighted significant ethnic differences in the prevalence of sight loss and related diseases most notably in diabetes and hypertension. Thomas Pocklington Trust subsequently funded a second project, published in 2005 investigating how to deliver services more effectively to black and minority ethnic (BME) communities with sight loss. Focus group discussions involving nine different ethnic communities were conducted by trained community-based fieldworkers. An action research model was adopted, and Sight Loss Information Fairs were presented to communities discussing sight loss and services available. All this work was evaluated. The findings of this research validated the importance of appropriate and effective communication, the relatively low awareness of eye conditions and of services and confirmed the needs of people with sight loss from the BME communities generally reflected the generic needs of people with sight loss. A further project “Community View” funded by the Lottery, led by Birmingham Focus on Blindness, and building on the Pocklington research is commencing in Summer 2006. Further details and key recommendations are in Pocklington Research Findings 8 which is available from www.pocklington-trust.org.uk 4) Events.GAB Open Day.Gwent Association for the Blind is holding an open day on the 24th July for visitors to look around the new Resource Centre. Rehab workers will be on hand to answer questions and the volunteer coordinator will be available to talk to anyone who would like to volunteer for the Association. Contact GAB on 01495 763 650 for more information. Access for music students.Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is hosting "Access to FE/HE for visually impaired/blind students (with particular focus on musicians)" on Thursday 13th July, 2-4pm. It is presented by Musicians in Focus. For further details contact Patricia Keir - Head of Junior Music & Access Studies - on 029 2039 1366 or email keirp@rwcmd.ac.uk . 5) Technology.Soccer Sight Project.The Soccer Sight Project is a three year project aiming to bring quality football commentary to blind & partially sighted people at the professional clubs in England & Wales, with the help of RNIB, Halifax Bank of Scotland, the Football Foundation & the BBC. As a result of the project, new radio transmission equipment and headsets will be installed at Cardiff City and Swansea City by September 2006, enabling blind and partially sighted people to sit anywhere in the stadium and still receive a full, 90-minute commentary. It is hoped that, in the future, the project can be developed further, to cover all kinds of sporting event. Young people's resource centre gains accessible IT.The Hideout in Port Talbot is a resource centre working with young people, aged 11-21, supporting them to access information via the internet, leaflets, workshops and activities. The centre worked with RNIB to install specialised equipment to improve access for people with a visual impairment. For more information contact Nigel Evans, Manager, via nigelevans@hideout.org.uk Keystroke Korner.Our technology officer will be providing us with a useful keyboard shortcut each month. For a number of v.i. computer users may need to access functions within Office and Windows-based applications using the keyboard alone. This month's shortcut enables the user to quickly and effectively decrease and increase the font size in Word documents without going through the menu system. Highlight the text you wish to change (by holding down the shift and cursor keys) then hold down the left control key (Ctrl) and then press the right square bracket key to increase the font, or the left square bracket key to decrease it. Try it to see how quick and easy it is. Contact Owen if you have any tips to suggest or need to know a shortcut for a particular function. Email owen@wcb-ccd.org.uk and we can include in next month's edition. New bus information system in Newport and Monmouthshire.A number of bus stops in the Newport/Monmouthshire areas will boast screens indicating the number, route and expected arrival times of buses. An infrared fob is available at £3 which activates an audio message at the stops. They can be purchased from Gwent Association for the Blind or the Newport Transport Office. Contact GAB on 01495 763 650 for more information. 6) Opportunities.Volunteering in Wales Fund seeks applications.WCVA's volunteer development fund is seeking applications for its next round of grants for the year 2007/2008. The grants are intended to help voluntary organisations recruit new volunteers and provide them with support and training. Grants of up to £25,000 are available for the first year with second and third year funding of up to £12,500 and £6,250 respectively. Application forms and guidelines are available from WCVA's helpdesk on 0870 607 1666 or email help@wcva.org.uk 7) Other resources.Describe Online.Describe Online is a website which publishes text guides to public premises. At present, there is little information about places in Wales, but the site does include an on-line guide to Sight Village 2006, which is taking place from 18-20 July in Birmingham. The guide describes how to reach the exhibition, the venue and location of stands, seminar schedule and arrangements for guide dogs. The website address is www.describe-online.com . Tate Online's iMap resource.Tate Gallery has extended its iMap resource with an additional section exploring the works of six twentieth century artists. Using a combination of raised drawings and the online texts, iMap creates a greater understanding of visual art works for people with little or no sight. Visit http://www.tate.org.uk/imap to find out what's on offer. Mobile eye screening units in Caerphilly.People with diabetes will be referred to a new diabetic retinopathy screening service operating through mobile units located at hospitals and community locations throughout Caerphilly. For more information contact Chris Evans on 01443 863 697. HEES Wales.The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme offers grants of up to £2,700 to provide eligible householders with central heating, cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and other kinds of home improvements aimed at energy saving. Qualifying householders include those receiving disability-related benefits. For more information call free on 0800 316 2815. Website for voluntary youth sector.CWVYS, The Council for Wales Voluntary Youth Service has recently developed a website to further their aim of representing, supporting and giving a collective voice to their diverse membership of national and local organisations. The website is an informational tool for both CWVYS members and non-members. It explains about CWVYS – what they do and offer to the Voluntary Youth Sector. It's at http://www.cwvys.org.uk Email Support Group for Parents of VI Children.Lynsey Scott, parent of a visually impaired child, has set up a Yahoo private members email support group for parents in this situation. The group discuss topics related to visual impairment, everyday life and education from a parent's perspective, and is looking for new members. The web address is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PVIC/ There is also a related website for Parents of Visually Impaired Children at www.geocities.com/lynseypvic/ . It contains information on topics such as eye conditions, early support and recommended books, although parts of the site are still under construction. Cancerbackup produces first range of cancer information on audio tape.Cancerbackup, the UK’s leading cancer information charity, has recently launched the first nationally available audio tapes series for people affected by cancer. The tapes are free of charge to anyone affected by cancer, their families, carers and friends. Based on the same information that currently appears in their award-winning booklets, these new materials will support anyone who requires an alternative to print. The series includes a range of titles which can offer support for all aspects cancer, such as managing fatigue or pain and coping with the emotional and physical effects of cancer, as well as containing an extensive range of titles on specific cancers. A full list of audio titles and details on how to order is available from the Cancerbackup website www.cancerbackup.org.uk or by calling Cancerbackup on 020 7696 9003. The Cancerbackup support service can answer any question about cancer. The freephone number is 0808 800 1234 or you can call 020 7739 2280. Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-8pm. CBeebies-Pages for VI Children.The CBeebies pages for children on the BBC website contain some information specially designed for visually impaired children and their families. This includes games which can be played by VI children, and articles by parents describing their experiences. The website address is www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/special_needs/blind/ . 'Sort It!' Website.'Sort It' is a website for 11 to 16 year olds with a sight problem. Run by the RNIB, it provides information on leisure activities, and advice on school work and equipment. It also contains a message board where young visually impaired people can make contact and exchange messages. The website is at www.sortit.org.uk . Gateway website gives accessible format advice to librarians.Gateway's helpdesk (0845 075 0089 local rate) is single contact point for library staff and visually impaired people for enquiries about the whole range of library services, reading materials and useful technology. The service has been extended to include a website which will enable library staff to answer a range of enquiries regarding access to reading materials in libraries. It's at http://www.gateway-uk.org . 8) Miscellaneous.Mental health in the workplace.Healthy Minds at Work provides support to workers and their employers in matters related to stress, depression and anxiety in the workplace. The website is at http://www.heathymindsatwork.org.uk . The confidential, free 24 hour helpline is on 0800 028 1514. Visually impaired BT customers can save on "Call Return".Visually impaired customers of BT who are registered with the free Directory Enquiries service can also get a reduction when using the 'Call Return' service. 'Call return' allows a customer to check the last number that called by keying '1471', and return that call immediately by keying '3'. Normally there is a connection charge for using this facility, but this charge can be waived for visually impaired customers. VI customers of BT should ring '195' to find out whether they are entitled to this saving. Please note that normal call charges apply once the call is connected. New home for Swansea Vale Resource Centre.The Resource Centre for visually impaired people that was based at Heol y Gog in Gowerton has relocated to Swansea Vale. The new address is Swansea Vale Resource Centre, Fford Tregof, Swansea Vale, Swansea, SA7 0AL. The telephone number is 01792 785020. Cerebra Grant Scheme.Cerebra, a charity for brain-injured children and young people, has increased its budget this year to give grants to children aged 16 or under who have disabilities because of a brain-related condition or injury. The equipment or resource requested must improve the child's quality of life and not be available from statutory agencies such as social services or the NHS. Examples of grants made are touch screen computers, holidays and sensory toys. An application form can be obtained by ringing 0800 328 1159, by emailing debbieg@cerebra.org.uk , or by downloading from the website www.cerebra.org.uk . 9) Reminders.Dale Fort residential visits.There are some visits to Dale Fort field studies centre for under 16s. This is a residential visit on August 3rd to 5th inclusive. We are also looking for volunteers to support staff in the daytime and to work with the children in evenings after the course. Support/training will be provided. 'e-Access '06' - Technology For All.14 September 2006: 'e-Access'06', the UK's leading annual event on access to
all technologies, including internet, PCs, mobile phones and digital TV and
radio, by people with disabilities and people of all abilities. The conference
focuses on how digital technology is enabling people with disabilities to
achieve greater independence. It also looks at the problems people face with
access to technology including accessible banking and broadcasting. Sight Village.QAC Sight Village showcases all the major suppliers of technology and services for people with visual impairment. 18th-20th July inclusive. http://www.qacsightvillage.org.uk Database updating.Please help us to keep our contact details up-to-date. Contact emma@wcb-ccd.org.uk or telephone 029 20 473 954 to make any changes to the information we hold about your organisation on our database.
|
