Newsletters
Newsletter for Summer 2009:
This information is also available in Braille, on tape or, if you prefer, by e-mail. If you wish to receive your newsletter in any of these formats, give us a call on 01495 763650 and speak to Paula or Emma.
Newsletter Contents
Your View
Welcome to our summer newsletter. Please let us know if you would like a different format – just call 01495 763650 or email postman@gwentblind.org . Similarly if you have a contribution (a recipe, a story, a hint for other people with sight loss or anything) please use those contact points.
We’ve managed to secure a lottery bid that will help us to buy a new minibus (ours is over 17 years old!). It will allow us to get out and about amongst the various communities to help people in remote places who have lost their sight. If you think your area could do with a visit, please ring 01495 763650 and speak to Lissa.
In February we ran a brilliant conference aimed to break down the barriers ethnic groups face in respect of sight loss. For example, someone from an Asian background is 6 times more likely to lose their sight from Diabetic Retinopathy. Getting the message out to all those who are at risk will save people from losing their sight. If you know of any groups who’d like us to come and talk, please ring 01495 763650 and speak to Nirmala.
Finally, I’d like to thank all of you who sent wishes and prayers to my children and myself. The best thing about working in the voluntary sector is that everyone cares so deeply and we have been touched by your support. Thank you. Sharon Beckett, CEO
Sharon Beckett
Chief Executive
Saturday Opening
For a limited time only, starting on 18th July we will be opening on Saturday mornings 10.00 am - 1.00 pm. We plan to run a trial through the summer to see whether Saturdays is a popular time for people to come in – particularly for those who work in the week or live with carers that do. If you want to come along, you’ll be able to buy products, get some information, see what’s going on, use the computers with speech or magnification etc.
Of course, we’ll still be open Monday to Friday 9.30 am – 3.30 pm (and until 5.00 pm for phone calls and helpline). We look forward to seeing you.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of hereditary eye disorders. The retina controls the first stage of sight. Difficulties with night vision and peripheral vision are the first things that are noticed. As the disease develops, reading and colour vision are affected. The rate at which vision deteriorates is variable but it is generally very slow with changes occurring over years rather than months. In almost half of all cases there are other family members with RP.
Think of the eye as a camera, which has a lens at the front, the purpose of which is to focus light onto a light sensitive film inside the camera, towards the back. In the eye the retina is that light sensitive film and it lines the inside of the back of the eye.
RP can affect different parts of the retina such as the cone or rod cells but the basic problem remains that the retina’s ability to respond to light is affected.
The most common first symptom is difficulty in seeing in poor light, such as going out at night or in dimly lit areas. Normally the second symptom is a reduction of the visual field, in which sight is lost from the sides or from above and below. This is often referred to as tunnel vision.
In some cases the central vision is lost first. The first signs of this are difficulties reading print or carrying out detailed work. All cases are progressive but the speed varies from person to person.
For a thorough check on your eyes we always recommend that you visit a local accredited optometrist – these are high street opticians who have been on a special course to enable them to give a much more in-depth evaluation of your eye health. For your nearest accredited optometrist ring 01495 763650 or visit www.eyecarewales.nhs.uk . You can also contact your GP or the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society 0845 123 235.
GP Access Project
Simple and easy access to your local GP is crucial as a first point of contact for your health care and well being. However, the ability to get a convenient appointment, then visit the GP and deal with the actual consultation with a GP or health care professional, can be fraught with difficulties and obstacles for people with sight loss. By telling us about your positive and negative experiences of accessing your local GP practice, we hope to be able to share good examples and encourage those GP’s who are less accessible to think about how they might make their services better.
A survey is enclosed with this newsletter, although it is quite long please take the time to complete and return it to us. If you would prefer a copy in any other format please call and let us know. Any queries please contact Sharon Beckett on Sharon.Beckett@Gwentblind.org or telephone 01495 763650.
Elvis & The Memphis Mafia...
Stop Press ! Elvis & The Memphis Mafia
Elvis & The Memphis Mafia will be playing on Saturday 15 May 2010 at the Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. Do keep this date in your diary – and ring now for tickets 01495 763650. We are limited in the spaces we can have for this internationally known act, so don’t spend too long thinking about it – or you might be all shook up!
Disability Living Allowance increase
From 1st April 2011 people with severe visual impairment may be able to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The higher rate mobility component of DLA is currently targeted at those with most severe physical, mental health and learning difficulties. So when the Government extends the higher rate to people with sight loss, it will be focused on those with the most severe visual impairment.
Our understanding is that the basis on which eligibility will be decided will be a combination of visual acuity and field of vision. We believe that Department for Work and Pensions are looking to include the following people:
• People with no light perception or only light perception
• People who can only see hand movement in front of their face
• People who have 3/60 visual acuity (top line of an eye test chart from 3 metres away) and who also have a highly restricted field of vision.
People with severe visual impairment will be able to claim the higher rate mobility component of DLA from 1st April 2011.
Certification forms (CVIs) issued to newly certified blind people would provide the information required about visual acuity and field of vision.
People with severe visual impairment currently in receipt of the lower rate and wishing to claim the higher rate would need to complete self-assessment questions. They will also need to provide evidence of their visual acuity and field of vision. If you live in Newport or Caerphilly County Boroughs we can help you do this. We don’t currently have funding to provide the same help in the other boroughs, although you can speak to your Rehab Worker, who may be able to recommend someone.
Numbers: Regular Donations
At GAB we are surrounded by numbers. Our team of 12 staff & almost 100 volunteers work with over 4,000 blind or partially sighted people in South East Wales organising clubs and outings. We also help to rehabilitate people who have lost their sight, run our resource centre and train and teach about eye conditions with the aim of preventing sight loss.
We run Insight Courses where each place costs us around £60. We have donated specialist computers for blind children that cost £2,500 each. It costs around £8000 a year to run our Help & Advice Line, and a fully trained Rehabilitation Worker costs £32,000 per annum.
With the recession biting charities as much as any other organisation, we really need your help. Setting up a regular monthly donation to us direct from your bank, is a cost-effective way of supporting us, allowing us to keep our overheads to a minimum.
If you feel able to, please complete the enclosed form and return it to us in the self-addressed envelope, remembering to tick the Gift Aid box if you are a UK tax payer, so that each £5 donation, for example, would actually be worth £6.40 to us.
• £3 a month would help to transcribe our newsletter into Braille
• £5 a month would help us to pay for a training place on our ‘Insight Course’. These courses help newly diagnosed people with information and support to help them adapt.
• £10 a month will help us towards the costs of a child’s PC with special speech software.
It really does all add up and we really can’t do it without you.
RNIB merges with Cardiff Institute and Action for the Blind
On 2nd June RNIB took over Cardiff Institute for the Blind. RNIB also combined with Action for the Blind on 1st April 2009, and are currently in talks with Swansea Association and North Wales Society amongst others. These previously independent local societies are now subsidiaries of the RNIB.
Gwent Association for the Blind remains an independent organisation and this allows us to concentrate on what is important for people in our local area. We keep our overheads to a minimum, have no expensive London or city buildings to maintain (we lease our current building) and our staff benefits are considerably less than those of national charities, so our costs are lower.
However, the infrastructure of sight loss services in Wales has changed dramatically over the last 3 months and is likely to change further. Our AGM is coming up in July …… so let us have your views!
ICT Update
As many of you will know there has always been a free magnifier and narrator built into the Windows XP operating system, although it is basic.
The number of free programs for visually impaired people continues to increase. They are split into magnifiers and screen readers.
Magnifiers make everything on the computer bigger and screen readers read out what is on the screen. These programs need to be downloaded from the Internet but we are able to install them for you.
Here are some links:
The Thunder screen reader does not require any registration and will start automatically when you turn your PC on. www.screenreader.net
System Access To Go is becoming increasing popular as alternative to the most well known screen reader JAWS. You do need to register if you want to save your settings for each log on. www.satogo.com
I-Zoom requires a permanent internet connection as it runs off the web. It will only work from Internet Explorer. Once installed you click on it and everything is magnified not just the internet pages. www.issist.com
Lightning is the counterpart to Thunder. It works well but there is a catch. The server is reset at midnight every day and needs to be downloaded again every morning. It only takes seconds but you must have an internet connection. Purchase cost £99. www.xpscreenreader.com
Other magnifiers provide free trials so you can try before you buy. BigShot costs £75 but only goes up to 2X magnification. It can work well with a large monitor.
www.adapt-it.co.uk
If you have further questions or would like help in sorting your ICT needs out please contact Andrew Hillier at GAB or e-mail, Andrew.hillier@gwentblind.org
Tips for improving Accessibility
Each issue, we will give you a tip for improving accessibility when using Windows.
If double clicking is a problem or a strain on weak wrists, you can change your Windows settings to highlight items just by pointing and replace the DOUBLE-CLICK with a SINGLE-CLICK
For Windows XP/XP Home Users
1. Open the My Computer window
2. From the Tools menu select Folder Options
3. On the General tab, locate ‘Click items as follows’ and choose ‘Single click to open an item (point to select)’
After making this change, you will find that items highlight when you point at them (no need to click) and you only have to click once to open a folder or a document.
First Radio Station for the Blind and Partially Sighted Listeners
Insight Radio is the radio station of RNIB, broadcasting online. They also broadcast on Sky channel 0188 and 101 FM in Glasgow. In addition you can find them on Freesat. http://insight.planetwideradio.com/insightradio
The radio station for a blind or partially sighted audience offers everything from your daily newspapers, movie reviews, TV, events and job guides plus lots more.
There are hints and tips on everything from cookery, DIY, gardening and every day, there's an in-depth report on the problems faced by the blind and partially sighted community, be it medical, personal or political.
Emergency contact on ICE
We all carry our mobile phones with names and numbers stored. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the Emergency Services would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. There are hundreds of numbers stored on your phone but which one is the contact person in case of emergency?
Hence the 'ICE' Campaign (In Case of Emergency)
In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored as 'ICE'. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.
Sight Support Membership
Sight Support is our new trading arm. Set up to provide rehabilitation and support services to people with little or no sight in Wales. Sight Support will be trying to prevent people from losing their sight unnecessarily, helping them cope with sight loss, if and when it does happen and providing services that help people get on with their lives.
Would you like to become a member of Sight Support? As a not-for-profit organisation, it is looking for people to help make decisions about what services should take priority.
What will you get for being a member? Membership will cost £15 per annum and you will be entitled to a wide range of discounts on products purchased from the Resource Centre, you’ll get a regular newsletter and access to our Helpline. If you would like any information on Sight Support membership please contact us on 01495 763650.
Upcoming Events
The annual Wales Technology and Information Day is to be held on the 8th October at Cwmbran Stadium starting at 10.00 am finishing at 3.00 pm. You’ll be able to see all the leading edge computer and equipment suppliers – Dolphin, Sight & Sound, Force Ten, etc., as well as the providers of magnifiers and daily aids. There will be free give-aways as well as lots of information and the opportunity to listen to talks on the latest treatments for some sight conditions.
Sight Village this year will be held on 14th, 15th and 16th July at a new venue – the New Bingley Hall, Hockley Circus, Birmingham B18 5BE.
GAB is holding a charity concert with The Garndiffaith Gleeman Male Voice Choir. Come along and enjoy an evening listening to the voices of the valleys, with hymns and aria’s to suit all. The concert will be held at The Millennium Hall, Garndiffaith, Pontypool on Saturday 19th September 2009 at 7.00 pm. Tickets are now available, so buy or reserve yours now. For further information, contact Emma Richards on 01495 763650.
*It’s sure to be an evening of musical delight*
Sports Link
Are you interested in taking part in sporting activities and live in the Caerphilly Borough? Why not join Sports Link who have organised sessions for ten pin bowling, indoor bowls, swimming, gym and rambling on a regular basis. Suitable for all levels of fitness and we have an expert swimming coach for anyone who wants to learn to swim. You are welcome to bring a friend to join in the fun. Contact Bernadette Williams 01495 230105
Free insulation for British Gas customers
Free insulation for British Gas customers who are 70 or over, or receive benefits
Great news for British Gas customers who are 70 or over, or, are on qualifying benefits. You could get FREE insulation to help keep your home warmer this winter. It is all part of the British Gas Here to HELP programme which since 2007 has installed loft and cavity wall insulation in more than half a million homes.
The Here to HELP programme offers free loft and cavity wall insulation to British Gas customers who fall into the following categories:
• are homeowners or rent privately
• who are over 70, or,
• are receiving a qualifying benefit which include: Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit and Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance.
Under the initiative, British Gas will pay for further insulation to be installed in homes where the original insulation is very old or not up to modern standards. This is subject to survey.
Even if you already have loft insulation, it may be worth having a free survey from British Gas as if your current insulation is less than three inches thick, the chances are you will need a top up. If you live in a house or flat with a loft space, then you should be able to install loft insulation.
Simply call 0845 330 4897 to apply. If you qualify, British Gas will make an appointment with an approved installer to come around and assess your walls and loft. British Gas will install the insulation for free and that includes the survey, labour and materials. The work can be done at a time that suits you and it normally takes no longer than half a day.
Louis Braille (Article written by Hilary Lester, Newport)
This year marks Braille’s bi-centenary. Born in Coupvray, a small village near Paris to a poor family, his father was the village Sadler. One day Braille was playing in his father’s workshop and fell on an awl, a sharp instrument for making holes in leather and this damaged his eye. Later his other eye became infected and he was left blind at the age of four.
He was a bright boy and excelled at the local school. The local landowner offered a sponsorship for him to attend the school for the blind. As this was a boarding school his parents were not keen, but finally agreed. Louis went to the school at 10 years of age and life was tough as the conditions were damp and discipline severe. Practical things were taught to enable pupils to get a job. Reading was done using raised type made from copper wire. Although Louis learnt quickly he found it very frustrating and it meant he could not write.
In 1821 Charles Barbier, a captain in the Napoleonic army visited the school to demonstrate a system for night writing. Using a system of raised dots and dashes soldiers were able to send messages without speaking. Louis realized that the system could be useful but thought it too complicated. Over the next few years he worked on a system of six dots, a different combination representing each letter of the alphabet. Altogether he found he could make 63 different combinations. He also perfected a planchette slate which gave precise placing for the dots.
He spent the rest of his life teaching Braille, first as a student and then a teacher at the school. He also translated many books into Braille. He died in 1852 from tuberculosis, unaware that his system would eventually be used worldwide.
In 1952 his achievements were finally recognized by the French government. His body was exhumed and he was reburied with other French Nationals in the Pantheon, Paris. He has given the gift of independence and the joy of being able to read to thousands of visually impaired people.