Staff Blog.
On this page...
- First class
- Launch at the Senedd
- A field full of daisies.
- LVA Design Award
- Nystagmus Open Day
- Yesterday's news is tomorrow's beer mat.
- Farewell to Sophie Dyment
- Backroom Boy
- Welsh Low Vision Service Training Day - Wrexham and Flintshire
- How accessible is work experience?
First class
As Alan Partridge would say, “First Class”
As part of WCB assessment service our officer carries out educational assessments as part of the Disabled Students’ Allowance grant. The allowance can provide sight impaired students with items of specialist equipment such as video magnifiers, reading machines, screen magnifiers and screen readers. Non medical helpers, such as a note-taker or reader can also be provided, as well as extra travel costs you have to pay because of your disability. Other costs, Braille paper for example, can also be paid for.
Two students, who have been supported by WCB, have contacted our assessor to thank him for his support and assistance throughout their studies and to inform him that they have been awarded a “first class” honours degree in their subject – “congratulations…”
Launch at the Senedd
We all enjoyed ourselves at yesterday's launch of the Wales Vision Strategy Implementation Plan (phew!). And I quote "The Wales Vision Strategy Implementation Plan 2010 to 2014 sets out the Welsh commitment to deliver against the three priorities within the UK Vision Strategy."
Those priorities are: improving the eye health of the people of Wales; eliminating avoidable sight loss and delivering excellent support to people with sight loss; and inclusion, participation and independence for people with sight loss.
WCB staff are gearing up for delivering our contributions, particulary on the third priority where we already carry out work to 'enable and empower' people with sight loss through accessible information provision, ICT support, awareness training and more.
The turnout at the launch was wide ranging and numerous and alongside the 'formal' presentations there was a great musical performance from children in the UCAN project: they were really funny, talented and entertaining. And the food was great. Loved it.
A field full of daisies.
Just got an email from a local authority inquiring about DAISY books. We don't do a LOT of that here at WCB, but we do a few each year. I wanted to send back a potted outline of what DAISY books are so I looked at daisy.org for a definition. This led me to get a fresh look at the resources out there for producing and reading the things.
There's a wealth of software out there, including plug-ins to turn Word documents into DAISY format and some open source projects as well. I'd like to give some of these a go since I'm always keen to find tools that are free to use instead of the often costly commercial products.
If anyone has used non-commercial products for DAISY, either as producers or readers, then please let me know what you thought of them via richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk.
LVA Design Award
The application deadline is approaching for the low vision aids design award. Submissions need to be in between 1st and 14th May.
More information can be found at the website www.lvadesignaward.co.uk.
It's a great opportunity to push the design of LVAs towards a more stylish product, and away from the conspicuously unattractive designs typically found today.
Nystagmus Open Day
I think it would be fair to say that the highlight of the Nystagmus Open Day at Cardiff School of Optometry was a demonstration of the newly purchased Tobii System. After couple of talks regarding work at the Research Unit for Nystagmus, including an outline of the methods used for tracking eye movement in people with nystagmus, we were shown the latest system recently acquired by the Unit. This expensive device was purchased thanks to funding from the Nystagmus Network.
There are few places in the UK where eye tracking can be used for diagnosis of the condition. As is often the case, the development of technology like this comes from another world altogether: market researchers use eye-tracking devices as a tool to work out where people focus their attention in adverts, on web pages, when viewing television and so on. But it is also an invaluable tool for tracing the activity of the eyes of someone with nystagmus.
Eye-tracking has been around for some years. However, there were a number of problems with the technology used. The subject would need to wear headgear with sensors placed in front of the eyes. This became uncomfortable with prolonged use. Also, the head would need to remain static throughout the testing period. These requirements would not be very manageable when studying an infant, for example. Furthermore, horizontal motion could not be measured at the same time as vertical motion.
In contrast, the Tobii System works non-invasively - which is to say it is not physically attached to the patient - and it works without the restrictions on movement demanded by the old system. As a proof of this, attendees at the open day were priveleged to witness the first trial in the UK with a toddler with nystagmus.
The device, situated just beneath a computer screen, was quickly calibrated while the child was sat on his mother’s lap. Then, various images – some moving, some static – were shown on the screen as the child’s eye movements were being tracked by the device. After the test, the mother was shown different representations of her child’s gaze, superimposed over the images he had been following.
All this happened with a minimum of distress for the toddler, which is important when gathering data about nystagmus because the condition is thought to worsen in stressful situations.
Perhaps one of the most positive by-products of the system is it quickly demonstrates to the parent that her child is actively seeking objects in his field of vision; a strong indication that there is some useful vision and that it is less likely that there are other, more worrying, conditions.
For Wales, it is good news that it hosts the one centre in the UK that currently has this system. This, along with the Unit’s development of the groundbreaking ‘Cardiff test’, marks Wales as a leader in this field.
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's beer mat.
Believe it or not, I still produce audio cassette recordings for service users. I say 'believe it or not' because there is a general perception that the world has moved on from the humble cassette since the introduction of CDs in the 'eighties.
Put bluntly, producing tapes is a drawn-out business in comparison to digital media and there are few benefits to the user from an accessibility perspective. Poor navigation, degraded sound quality, tapes getting chewed all add up to a less-than-perfect user experience.
But that's not the whole picture.
A lot of the material transcribed at WCB is stodgy stuff: annual reports, consultations, policy documents and the like, and it doesn't have much of a shelf life. Should we be committing this to CDs when tapes can be recycled?
Also, some people prefer cassettes. One user contacted us to discuss transferring his digital media over to cassette because he felt more comfortable, more in control, when using tape.
On the other hand, some service providers assume their clients want cassettes when a courtesy call reveals a preference for CD or DAISY.
I guess it's all about getting the balance right between delivering an accessible product that best fits the individual needs and preferences of the client and taking a responsible approach to managing your own resources.
Farewell to Sophie Dyment
This week we said goodbye to Sophie from the team at WCB. Since joining us only just over a year ago Sophie has become well known in the V.I. sector having produced a brilliant piece of work on comparing the different types of electronic pocket magnifiers for young people.
The good news is that Sophie has moved to a new post in the RNIB and the knowledge she has gained about v.i.services and access technology will continue to be put to good use.
Sophie - we'll do our best to continue the work you had started for people in Ceredigion. You will always be welcome to call in for a "real coffee" any time you want - but bring the CAKES
Backroom Boy
I've been busy wrangling with PHP code and the website tool, Dreamweaver, to build a site for the Welsh Rehabilitation Officers Forum. I was lucky enough to do a course in coding PHP at Cardiff University which, alongside the usual array of books and online resources, has put me in a position to get some interactivity on the site so that registered users can add their own content.
Interactivity is standard practice for most websites these days and we've come to expect it as a matter of course, but it still a headache for the web designer. What looks and feels pretty ordinary to the site visitor can be the result of hours of tinkering and tweaking in the back room.
Anyway, web design is part of WCB's new package of services to its members, so remember to get in touch with us if your organisation would like a site, or even a few pages on our site, designed by us here at WCB. We're here to support you in getting your work promoted through the internet.
Welsh Low Vision Service Training Day - Wrexham and Flintshire
We are now half way through our series of training events across Wales. Undeterred by the British weather, we headed up to the Erlas Centre in Wrexham on Friday to complete our 5th day. It was a smaller group than in some of the other areas we have visited but there was a good range of attendees :educational professionals, social care and optometrists.
The day went well and we had a lengthy debate around electronic low vision aids in relation to social acceptability. We talked about methods to help erode the stigmatism that some feel is associated with the use of lva's and also worked through some of the modules in the Low Vision Toolkit - produced by the Children's Low Vision Advocate for Wales.
All in all the day was a great success, although it has meant a 06.30am train journey back to Cardiff . . . so the container marked "coffee" in the office may need re filling by the end of the day.
How accessible is work experience?
Work experience - a young person's first taste of employment and what it might be like to have a job. However, how meaningful is a placement to a young person with sight problems if they have no access to assistive technology whilst on placement?
Unbelievably, there is no specific provision of equipment for those on placement. This means that young people often go on work experience without any access to screen magnification, electronic magnifiers, CCTV's . . .
Without access to such technology, how are young people supposed to make the most of their placement? This lack of access to equipment can mean that young people are unable to carry out the simplest of tasks. Not only does this reflect badly on them but it also means that they are unable to experience what a week in work would really be like.
Beyond this, a bad experience on placement can have a detrimental effect on a person's confidence.
So, what can we do to improve the access to equipment available on placement? How can we ensure that young people experience a meaningful and worth while placement ? Should there be a specific funding stream or pool of equipment available to young people on placement?
Bringing technology to children in Neath
Many children with sight problems have access to a range of assistive technology within school but this is not always the case at home. Children are often not allowed to take equipment home and the cost of things such as screen magnification software and electronic magnifiers means parents are unable to afford them. This creates difficulties for young people, both in terms of their educational progression and social life. Whether it's being unable to access Facebook or download tracks on to their Ipod, these barriers to accessing technology have a real impact on the lives of young people with sight problems.
However, a fantastic project in Neath Port Talbot is bringing technology to young people. The Hideout is a resource centre and now includes fully accessible equipment and a cyber cafe. It's open four evenings a week, on a drop in basis, to all young people aged between 11 and 21 from Neath Port Talbot borough.
In addition to the cyber cafe, which has free internet access, you can also find information on issues such as benefits, housing, education, health and relationships. Young people are able to participate in a programme of workshops and training in relation to sexual health, global citizenship and healthy eating. If that's not enough to tempt you to pay a visit, there are also opportunities to take part in social and recreational activities such as rock climbing and graffiti art.
The Hideout is really helping to address a lack of access to technology. It is breaking down barriers that far too often result in young people with sight problems being isolated from their peers. I'd strongly recommend a visit. I would love to pay a visit myself but unfortunately, I'm too old!
Call Nigel Evans on 01639 879003 to find out more.
Cardiff Central Library
Cardiff Central library has undergone great changes in the last year and I recently paid my first visit to the new library building.
For many people the new library building has been a difficult place to attempt to visit due to the large amount of construction work taking place in the area as it was turned from well used shopping access road, into a pedestrainised area.
I was impressed with the new library building, mostly as it did not feel like a library. Even now people when thiking of a library think of silence and squeeky chairs and a matron type librarian repeating SSSHHH its a library to anyone doing more than coughing.
Most impressive of all though was within the section of talking books, where I learned that when new novels are recorded for the library they are not done so on something called 'Playaway' which is a small easy to use MP3 player with the entire book recorded on to it. The library even supplied a battery for its use, another nice feature is that you can use your own headphones so you do not have to concern yourself with someone elses earwax.
The 'playaway' has to be greatly preferable to carrying home a box of 15CD's for an unabridged version of the popular novel Catch 22. What is further impressive about this is that when you turn the player on it continues from where you last finished reading up to, so you do not have to line it up as you do with CD's.
Perhaps the best thing of all though was an lovely large comfy armchair on the 2nd floor where you can sit and relax while reading your book. If you are not into talking books, or even the library, I would recomend going to the library to to try out the chair.
Nathan
Staff night out at the 10-pin bowling
Just to show that we are human (almost) here are a couple of pics of WCB's night out in Cardiff Bay. It all started off fairly normally but the weirdness kicked in towards the end of the night.
Minister for Disabled People visits UWIC
Last month Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disabled People, visited the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) to discuss the support available to people with sight problems through the Access to Work Scheme. Access to Work provides equipment and support to help visually impaired people in employment. The Minister heard about ways in which Access to Work has been of benefit to visually impaired people and the group then went on to discuss support within education. It was a very enjoyable morning and a great opportunity to speak directly to the Minister, who was very interested and responsive to everyone’s comments.
Low Vision Aid Design Competition launch to celebrate World Sight Day
The Low Vision Aid Design Competition has today officially been launched. For more information on the competition visit www.lvadesignaward.co.uk.
World Sight Day
Today is World Sight Day: an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on visual impairment. The focus this year is on eye health and equal access care.
Globally, sight problems are most prevelant in people over the age of 50 and whilst the majority of the eye conditions these people suffer from are easily treated, in many parts of the world this treatment is not available. This means that these conditions often lead to un - necessary suffering and vision loss. There is therefore a real need to ensure that people across the world receive eye care services on an equal basis.
As well as focusing on the need to ensure access to equal levels of health care globally speaking, World Sight Day this year is also focusing on gender in relation to service provision. Vision 2020 has found that in many places, men have twice the access to eye care as women, another inbalance that needs to be rectified.
World Sight Day aims to focus global attention on issues such as these and encourage those working with sight loss to develop ways to improve the assistance available to those across the world.
Preparing for World Sight Day
Tomorrow is World Sight Day and to celebrate, we will be launching our Low Vision Aid Design competition. Look out for any information regarding this and feel free to visit the website to find out more.
To see more please visit www.lvadesignaward.co.uk. Entries are welcome from anyone. Try your hand at designing a new optical magnifier.
Welsh Low Vision Service and Children’s Low Vision Project
Well, I’m back in the office after our first two days of training. We spent Monday at Carmarthen and Tuesday in Ceredigion and both days went very well.
I did a brief talk in the morning which addressed the whole group: optometrists, social care professionals and educational professionals. I talked about the “Reading with confidence” report which reviewed all of the electronic pocket magnifiers on the market and recommended five to be put forward to tender for the Low Vision Scheme. I explained that from our recommendations, the Compact+ from Optelec was the “winning” product and Chantel Rhodes from the Low Vision Service went on to talk about the Compact+ in detail. The Compact+ was dispensed to all low vision accredited optometrists who attended which means that they are now available free of charge. If anyone feels they may benefit from using an electronic magnifier and lives in either Carmarthern or Ceredigion, book a low vision aid assessment at the first opportunity and take advantage of this extension in provision.
I conducted a session in the afternoon with educational professionals in which we discussed the use of hi tech low vision aids. We discussed the use of a range of hi tech assistive technology: including screen magnification software, portable and desktop CCTV’s and much more. The majority of the session was centred on electronic pocket size magnifiers and optical aids and we had an interesting talk around low vision aids and the confidence and ease with which young people feel able to use them.
Following the training sessions, the Compact+ will be available to all people with sight problems through the Low Vision Service which inevitably means that electronic devices such as these will become far more commonly used. At the training sessions I showed educational professionals a wide range of electronic magnifiers available on the market and gave them an opportunity to use different models. They said that at present, products such as these are not commonly used but were very pleased to hear that the free provision of this technology will enable children to have access to these extremely useful devices.
WCB at Newport University
Phil and Dilwyn attended a student work placement event at Newport University today.
There was a fair bit of interest in some of the project ideas put to the students and we'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll have some extra help on hand soon.
Low Vision Aid Design Competition
The research that I conducted this year suggests that children across Wales are not using their optical low vision aids – or handheld magnifiers as they are more commonly known. Research by Cardiff University earlier this year stated that the main reason for their disuse is their distasteful designs.
We recognise the importance of optical magnifiers – they are a crucial piece of equipment for any child who has sight problems and it is imperative that young people feel confident enough to use them in front of their peers.
As a result of our review of all of the electronic magnifiers available, feedback from children across Wales encouraged manufacturers to alter their designs. Many comments they made were really taken on board and influenced the designs of new electronic magnifiers. In the same way, we want to encourage the manufacturers of optical aids to improve their designs and we are running a competition to encourage this.
The competition is open to people of all ages and asks entrants to design a new optical magnifier. There are cash prizes to be won but most importantly, the competition aims to raise awareness about the fact that suppliers need to work to improve their designs – so that people with sight problems, and especially children, feel confident enough to use them as and when they need to.
So get thinking creatively and submit an entry. There will even be an award ceremony next year to celebrate the winning design.
To see more about the competition visit www.lvadesignaward.co.uk.
Grand opening of the Wales Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre
Yesterday I attended the grand opening of the new Postgraduate Centre. It was a very exciting moment and First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, was there to officially declare the Postgraduate Centre open. Its opening represents an exciting development for the optometric profession and is further evidence of the collaboration between Cardiff University and the Welsh Assembly Government in the development of eye care services across Wales. There were three singers from the Cardiff International Academy of Voice who followed their opera performances with a belated surprise rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the First Minister to congratulate him on his 70th birthday the previous day.
Training days for Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired and other educational professionals.
On Monday and Tuesday of next week (5th and 6th October) I will be running the first two of ten training sessions for educational professionals as part of the Welsh Low Vision Service and Children’s Low Vision Project.
I will be running sessions focusing on hi tech low vision aids and have a wide range of the latest electronic magnifiers to demonstrate. Hands on, practical sessions will give educational professionals the opportunity to look at the latest hi tech low vision aid technology and share opinions and experiences of their use in the classroom.
As well as covering how to use the technology and discussing which devices are most suitable for certain needs we will also discuss low vision aids in terms of their social acceptability and the way that children and young people feel about using them. The group will discuss the advantages of electronic magnifiers over optical low vision aids and the benefits of the forthcoming extension in provision through the Low Vision Aid Scheme in Wales.
The first two training days will take place in Carmarthen and Ceredigion, before moving on to work in numerous places across Wales between now and February 2010.