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Sylw!The Bulletin of Wales Council for the BlindNo. 8 - May 2004This edition is dedicated to the memory of Jo Harrison as a tribute to her hard work over many years as an advocate for visually impaired people. If links or contacts are not available in the items below, please contact WCB on (UK) 029 20 473 954. Removal/subscription instructions are given at the foot of this page. This bulletin is produced without any direct funding. You can
help us by making a donation. Go to http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Donations/donations.htm
to find out how or go straight to Contents1) WCB updateWCB Volunteer gets awardMary Ings, a WCB Awareness Trainer and long serving volunteer, has deservedly won third place in the Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards run by WCVA. Mary is a retired schoolteacher who has volunteered for WCB for over seven years. She is now combining her own experiences of visual impairment and teaching to train new volunteers for the WCB Awareness Training programme. She will receive her award at the ceremony to be held at the National Assembly in June. Sports Strategy Implementation GroupStrIG has set a date for its next meeting. The group was established to look at the implementation of WCB's Sports Strategy of 2001. At the June meeting the group will receive presentations from the FDSW and PE in Schools. Representing WCB - British Wireless Fund for the BlindTerry Ottewell, member of the Breconshire Association for the Blind, has agreed to represent Wales Council for the Blind on the Board of this charity. He used to work for R.N.I.B. but is now retired and living in Brecon. He is a potter and is also active in the local Association. Terry attended his first meeting on April 14th in London and was impressed with the organisation and the progress it is making. His report can be read on the WCB web-site at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Additional/british_wireless.htm I.T. for Visually Impaired People - Consumer PanelWe are recruiting v.i. volunteers who have access to e-mail and the Internet to take part in consumer testing web-sites. We get requests frequently to review the accessibility of web-sites and whilst we can comment on the technical aspects, it would be better if we could also report on how easy they were for v.i. people to navigate and use. This is something you can do at home at your own convenience. If you are interested, please contact Richard at WCB to find out more. richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk Sports ProjectsRead the latest on projects running across South Wales: Voluntary Sector Partnership CouncilA reminder of what the V.S.P.C. is - a key way of maintaining regular dialogue between the voluntary sector and the National Assembly. The next meeting of the V.S.P.C. will be at the Pembrokeshire County Hall in Haverfordwest on May 27th starting at 12.30 and finishing at 2 p.m. The public are welcome as spectators. The meetings are located in a wide range of venues around Wales. If you live in Pembrokeshire and want to know what this is about, this is a good opportunity to come and find out. More at VSPC page: http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Political/vspc_meetings.htm BenchmarkingSupported by the Assembly and all 22 local authorities, this project is now well under way. The collection of data on local Social Services to v.i. people is almost complete and work has started on writing Good Practice Guides. Working drafts have already been compiled on the provision of information and the referral and assessment process. Coming sessions will work on rehabilitation and the service for children and young people. It is hoped to focus on two further aspects of services. All drafts will then be submitted to representatives of the services of all 22 authorities for discussion and approval. The final document should be complete by the autumn. Funding boost for WCB Awareness TrainingWCB has been awarded funding from the WCVA Volunteering in Wales Scheme to assist with the recruitment and training of new volunteers. The volunteers will mainly be active in delivering Awareness Training courses. It is the WCB policy to ensure that people with a visual impairment lead the courses and influence and review the content. If you have a visual impairment and would be interested in this kind of work please contact Nicola Jones on 029 20 473 954 or email nicola@wcb-ccd.org.uk . 2) Consultations and lobbyingJune ElectionThe campaigning for the June election is beginning in earnest and you will find politicians keen to talk to you and hear your views. So this is an opportunity to lobby for better services for visually impaired people - and not just specialist v.i. services but access to all services on an equal footing. Read more at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Political/lg_elections_2004.htm Campaign for Access to the Election ProcessVision Foundation in Ebbw Vale started early on lobbying their local authority Returning Officer about access. They invited him and his staff to visit them at their Resource Centre in March and this has resulted in a much raised awareness about the needs of visually impaired voters in Blaenau Gwent. We would encourage other voluntary organisations to approach the Returning Officers in their own counties to point out the v.i. issues. You can use the checklist in the Wales Disability Reference Group leaflet as a guide or contact WCB for a copy by e-mail or in large print or on tape or look at the checklist in the Polls Apart report . VI Strategy for Health and Social Care in Wales - The ConsultationYou still have time to participate in the consultation leading to the writing of a Strategy. As this is supported by the Minister and the Welsh Assembly Government, it is certainly worth putting in your point of view. It's important to get it right so make sure that your voice is heard. Contact WCB: phone: 029-20-473-954; free phone line: 0800-975-3366 (10 - 12 every weekday morning); e-mail: strategy@wcb-ccd.org.uk : to offer to take part in a telephone interview or conference; Read more about the consultation at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Consultations/hsc.htm. National Assembly Regional CommitteesA useful way of learning about the Assembly's work and making your voice heard directly by Wales' politicians is to attend a meeting of one of the Regional Committees. These are open to the public not only to listen to the presentations and discussions but also to put questions and sometimes to comment on the discussion. These meetings are arranged at various and varied venues to increase accessibility. They usually focus on one or two subjects each time. The next meeting of the South East Regional Committee will take place in the Penyrheol Community Centre, Caerphilly, on Friday, 7th May. The subject of the meeting will be 'Patterns of care on release from hospital'. If you are interested, contact the Assembly booking line. Ask for any papers in your preferred format. The more times v.i. people attend these meetings, the more visual impairment will play a part in political thinking. Call on 029-20-898-477. Arts and DisabilityThe Arts Council of Wales recently consulted on an arts and disability strategy. They produced a report applied to the Assembly for additional funding to implement the strategy. This application was rejected. They also proposed abolishing their special disability arts grant-aid scheme. As ACW is funded by the Assembly, this issue was raised at a meeting of the voluntary sector preparing for the meeting with the Minister for Culture. So WCB, as part of the Wales Disability Reference Group, has co-written a paper with Arts Disability Wales to go to the voluntary sector meeting with the Minister on May 17th asking that the Minister require ACW:
Review of the Voluntary Sector SchemeThe Government of Wales Act which set up the Assembly requires it to have a Voluntary Sector Scheme and to review how it has carried out that obligation after every election and, if necessary, to redesign the Scheme. Edwina Hart, the Minister with responsibility for the voluntary sector, decided to implement a review by setting up an Independent Commission. Their Report was issued at the end of March and will be available on the Assembly web-site at http://www.wales.gov.uk/themesvoluntarysector/index.htm . It concludes primarily that the Scheme is a groundbreaking innovation, that it is highly valued by both the voluntary sector and the Assembly, that it is fit for purpose and should not be remade but that it is very much a work in progress and there is more work to do. We will be discussing the detailed recommendations both within the voluntary sector and with the Assembly over the next months and will report back. Also, comments are invited by the Assembly: Deadline Monday 28th June. Send to Neal Kinnersley, email neal.kinnersley@wales.gsi.gov.uk . Sports and Physical Recreation - Examples of Good PracticeWCB's Sports Development Officer is seeking examples of good practice in organising sports and leisure activities in order to gain a better picture of the work being done in Wales by and for visually impaired people. Contact Nicky Malson on 029 20 473 954 or email nicky@wcb-ccd.org.uk for more information. Survey of IT useAndrew Lewis is a librarian conducting research for a Masters Degree in Library and Information Studies and is seeking responses to a survey aimed at "anyone who has a visual impairment, and who has some experience of using computers, the Internet, automated self service systems, or similar technology". He can be contacted via email: 0106801@rgu.ac.uk . 3) Reports and publicationsFacts and MythsThe DRC has published a report which attempts to counter myths about threats to heritage sites arising from the new access laws. 'Facts and Myths' is accompanied by a media hotline 'aimed at providing an authoritative response to any new myths that may arise'. 'Rather than posing a threat the new access laws only require heritage sites to do what is reasonable. The legislation provides an opportunity for them to be genuinely open for all and to benefit from the £50 billion annual spending power of disabled people.' The Open 4 All Media Hotline is 020 7543 7041. Housing GuidesLinda Rees, RNIB, is seeking a person with sight loss who has adaptations made to his/her home who would be willing to be interviewed as part of the publicity to launch a Housing Guide. Read more at: http://www.rehabwales.org.uk/calls_and_notices.html 4) EventsArt History Residential Weekend Summer Schools for VI PeopleThe Centre for Access and Communication Studies at the University of Bristol will be running 2 art history courses in June and October. Contact Kate Thomas, Organising Tutor, Centre for Access and Communication Studies 0117 954 5718; email kate.thomas@bristol.ac.uk Driving and Low VisionThe 1st International BiOptic Driving Conference takes place on 18-20 June 2004 at the Charles Kingsley Conference Centre, Chelsea Hotels, Fulham Road, London. Over 36 States in the USA, as well as Canada, South Africa and other nations already accept that using specialist optical devices can enable many people with visual impairment to gain or re-gain their driving licence. This conference is a great opportunity for those people with a visual impairment - who retain sufficient vision, to benefit from BiOptic spectacles - to learn more about the potential benefits. For further information on the Conference or BiOptic Driving in general please visit http://www.BiOpticDriving.org.uk . National Low Vision Services - Implementation Group Conference27th May, Whirlow Grange Conference & Training Centre, Sheffield. A draft programme is available. Delegate fees from £50 - £90. Contact Mary Bairstow, RNIB, on 0121 665 4248 or email mary.bairstow@rnib.org.uk Audio Described Theatre PerformancesNew Theatre, Cardiff: "84 Charing Cross Road"; "Blood
Brothers". Tel: 029 2087 8889. Audio Described CinemaFor listings of audio described cinema showings visit http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/ad or email ad@yourlocalcinema.com 5) Other resourcesAccess Technology Primer - National Library for the BlindFree online training for anyone who supports visually impaired computer users. Choose from a range of free online tutorials: Introduction to access technology; training for v.i. people to use computers; windows keyboard commands etc. Ideal for library staff, rehab officers and educational support staff. Visit: http://atp.nlb-online.org DawnbugThe Disability Advice Welfare Network Blind Users Group has established a website containing advice about the use of computers. It can be found at http://www.dawnbug.org.uk Fingertips 'read' text messagesA way to read text messages just by touch has been developed by researchers in Germany - and it's not braille or Moon. Read about it at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3649093.stm 6) MiscellaneousBenefits and VolunteeringPeople on benefits are often concerned that doing voluntary work will jeopardise their benefits. However, people on benefits can do as much voluntary work as they wish as long as they continue to satisfy the conditions of entitlement for the benefit(s) they receive. For benefit purposes, voluntary work means work done for a non-profit-making organisation, or anyone other than a member of the claimant's family. A leaflet called "JSAL7 - Financial help if you are working or doing voluntary work" is available from Jobcentre Plus or social security offices. Rugby Commentators on TVIt has been pointed out to us that with the score being shown on the screen the commentators frequently fail to announce it. This is clearly very frustrating for v.i. rugby fans and we have written to the B.B.C. to point this out. Thanks to our member for the original comment and we will report on the response. Nystagmus Network Open DayAn Open Day was held on Saturday, April 24 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Nystagmus network. Nystagmus is an incurable eye condition estimated to affect between one in 1,000 and one in 2,000 people and the Network promotes information and understanding of the condition. For more information, contact Paul White, NN Information and Development Manager. Tel: 01636 627004; email info@nystagmusnet.org ; website www.nystagmusnet.org Jury ServiceWCB Volunteer, Ruth Bending, reports on her experience of jury service as a visually impaired person. Read her report at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Additional/jury_service.htm 7) RemindersRehabilitation Officers' Seminar11th May 2004. Booking forms and programmes have now been sent out. Deadline Monday 3rd May. Third Annual Seminar for Rehabilitation Workers and Managers5/6 May 2004 - NOVOTEL, Wolverhampton Under the DentistWCB has been given an opportunity to speak to a conference of dentists later this year so we would like to hear from anyone who has any experiences, good or bad, to relate. This is a chance to focus dentists' minds on visually impaired patients - so get in touch! Contact vanessa@wcb-ccd.org.uk Representing WCBWe are still looking for a representative on Wales Council for the Deaf. This involves two meetings a year and would interest someone with experience of voluntary committees and an understanding of hearing impairment issues. Contact WCB on 029 20 473 954 or email vanessa@wcb-ccd.org.uk Local Government ElectionsIf you have any ideas or strong points of view that you want to put to future councillors, make sure that you let WCB know by the beginning of May. Contact WCB and ask for Vanessa or leave a message to call you back. Service Users' ExperienceIf you haven't already received a copy of the WCB report, it can be accessed on the WCB web-site at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Consultations/hsc_survey.htm and is also available from the WCB office in print, tape, braille or e-mail. Get it onDisability arts workshops in May with writers and performers Chris Tally Evans and Maggie Hampton. For more information and to book a free place contact Arts Disability Wales, Sbectrwm, Bwlch Road, Fairwater Cardiff, CF5 3EF. Telephone/textphone: 029 2055 1040. Fax: 029 2055 1036. Email: arts.disability@btconnect.com. Places are limited so please book early.
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