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97.  Be My Eyes; My Experience

15/4/2019

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A photo showing two mobile phones with different home screens for the Be My Eyes app; the first phone (Dave's) has a blue screen with white wording 'Call first available volunteer'; the second phone (Vicky's) has general information about the app.
I, Dave, know that I have spoken about apps for vision impaired people but I don’t think that I’ve done an actual review of an app for one of our Insights previously. Following a recent experience, I thought that I would share this with you…
 
I currently use an iPhone 8 and access it using the built-in ‘Voiceover’ (https://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision/) screen reader. Using a range of taps, swipes and gestures, I can access pretty much all of the phones built-in features as well as many apps including banking, shopping and social media apps.
 
I also have a folder that contains several apps specifically created for vision impaired people including Microsoft’s Seeing AI (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/seeing-ai?SilentAuth=1) and Soundscape (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/product/soundscape/), Be My Eyes (https://www.bemyeyes.com/), KNFB Reader (https://knfbreader.com/) and TapTapSee (https://taptapseeapp.com/) to name just a few.
 
Although I use a couple of these apps frequently (they all do a slightly different job), it was the Be My Eyes app that I used recently and the one that I wanted to share my experience of.
 
The Be My Eyes website describes the app as: Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
 
And that is exactly what happens… a few days ago, whilst working at home, my laptop started playing up before it stopped responding completely. Similar to my phone, I use a screen reader called Jaws on my laptop but when the screen reader stops talking to me I have no idea what is on the screen or where I am. With no-one else in the house, I tried some of the other apps mentioned above to see if I could work out if there were any error messages on the screen but they just didn’t work. Finally I resorted to the ‘Be My Eyes’ app and called up one of the sighted volunteers.
 
I was quickly connected to a lady (apologies for not getting your name if you ever read this) in Swansea. She was able, using the video connection, to direct me to point the camera to the screen and inform me that there was nothing on my desktop that was obviously causing my Jaws software not to speak. She was then able to escort me through shutting down the laptop using verbal prompts so that I could re-start it and continue with my work. The call took about 2 - 3 minutes and this included a short amount of ‘social’ chat where I found out that I was her first Be My Eyes volunteer experience, joked about her telling me that she had just got out of the shower (she quickly told me that she was dressed - not that I would have seen anything anyway) as well as me thanking her for her help.
 
This wasn’t my first experience of using the app but this was by far the most important time I have had to use it. Previously I have tried to get someone to read the bill in a restaurant or read a label on a tub of herbs but these were really for testing purposes to see how the app worked.
 
Currently there are 2,090,032 sighted volunteers who have downloaded the app and have signed up to be a sighted volunteer and just 124,087 vision impaired people who have signed up and use the app. This means that the chances of a sighted person actually being called up is slight but without the volunteers the app just wouldn’t work at all!
 
If you want to be a volunteer, then just download the app and register. The app is available for the iPhone (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/be-my-eyes-helping-blind-see/id905177575?mt=8)and Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bemyeyes.bemyeyes) platforms.
 
If you have a vision impairment and feel that you would benefit from using this app, then download the app (as above) and follow the steps for registering as a vision impaired person. Once registered you’re just 30 seconds away from getting sighted support! :-)
 
Read more about this amazing app at: https://www.bemyeyes.com/
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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96. So, what do they look like?

15/3/2019

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Photo of Vicky and Dave with sparkling lights above them
It can be hard as a sighted person to know how much of our visual word to describe (we’ve talked about this before in reference to describing scenes, etc – Insight no. 12 - https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/12-greyhound-in-the-roadcommunication-part-2) but following on from Dave’s post last month –‘What do you look like’ (https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/95-what-do-you-look-like) this is particularly relevant when talking about people.
 
I think, as a sighted person first meeting/working with someone with a vision impairment, you have to resist the feeling of responsibility to describe everything visual. In reality, that’s just not possible and also, in general, not helpful.
 
I, Vicky, think there’s 2 elements to consider:
 
1.    When describing someone (or anything for that matter), how much is your interpretation and how much is factual?
2.    How useful is the information you’re trying to give?
 
So, thinking of number 1, if I described someone as attractive to Dave, obviously that’s my opinion and, if Dave could see them, it might not be an opinion he shared. Which would suggest this is probably not the most helpful way of describing someone 😊 smiley face!
 
But, relating to number 2, if I just described the factual basics i.e. hair colour, eye colour, shape of face etc. of what benefit is this to Dave? Also, to be accurate, would I describe this person when they were standing right in front of us? – no probably not.
 
I think it’s easier to think about this in the way we do when demonstrating sight guiding - give the information people need to know, for example, if the grounds uneven, etc., not the colour of the walls you’re walking past! So, if we’re in a crowd and people are using a lot of facial expressions or gestures to convey their meaning, then I will describe this to Dave so that he doesn’t miss out on important elements of the social interaction, but I wouldn’t waste my time (or his) on describing the physical appearance of everyone around us. However, obviously it’s an individual thing and some vision impaired people may want more information than others so it’s always worth checking if you’re unsure. It also depends on the context.
 
Interestingly, I have never described myself to Dave. I don’t think physical appearances are that important to me anyway, although we have laughed previously, when I’ve been moaning about an element of my appearance I don’t like, about what visual image he has of me – he’s never said, which is probably a good thing 😊 smiley face.
 
As Dave mentioned in his post though, when he works as a Community Employment Specialist, a role I support him with, I do sometimes describe people if I think their appearance may affect their job seeking (this is not me being judgemental, just passing on visual information that employers would see). However, and I have been asked if I do this, I never describe every member of the group and how they look, it’s just not relevant. I might mention if someone looked really ill or fed up or struggled to make eye contact with anyone, as this might influence the way Dave interacts with them on that day and help him think about how best to assist them. That said, Dave picks a lot of this up from people’s voice, manner etc.
 
Taking Dave’s point about preconceptions based on appearances, I think my upbringing and the years in the different roles I’ve done have definitely proved to me not to pass judgement on people purely based on physical appearance (don’t judge a book by the cover and all that) but obviously there are things I will notice and which I may inadvertently form an opinion on (although for me, I’m much more likely to notice whether a person is smiley or not rather than the colour of their hair). I’m sure though, Dave also does this but forms an opinion from their voice, smell etc.!
 
Having said all of that, there are times when I just can’t help describing a visual image to Dave even when it’s not essential – there are just some things that in my opinion he shouldn’t miss out on. As an example, we were up in London crossing the road and I said to Dave “oh wow, I have to describe what I can see to you”. Basically, there was a lady walking a little way in front of us with some (very) tight Lycra trousers and an extremely wobbly bottom. We didn’t pass any judgement though, just had a bit of a giggle!
 
Dave - So, Vicky, what do you look like? Should I describe what I think you look like based on our previous conversations? :-)
Vicky – You can risk that if you’re feeling brave 😊 - smiley face
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
 
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95.  What Do You Look Like?

15/2/2019

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Image is of a photo showing a blurred picture of 2 people’s faces, not really distinguishable and the VIDA Training logo
Have you ever listened to the radio and subconsciously given the voice a face? Or have you read a book and, if the author hasn’t described what someone looks like, done this yourself? Well that’s what I (Dave) do nearly every day.
 
I can’t see any detail now but, on a good day and in the perfect conditions, still see a rough shape/outline of someone that I then build upon using their voice or from how someone might have described them. Or, if I have known the person for a while, I might even pull a face out of my memory from back when I could see them and fit that to the shape!
 
When I think about this though, I do wonder whether the picture I create is actually of someone as I remember them rather than what they look like now. Take my parents for example, I know they’re both in their 70s but am I remembering them from when I could last see them? And the answer is, probably but I don’t know. Perhaps they don’t look anything like I think they do!
 
Some sighted people stereotypically assume that I need to feel someone’s face in order to create a picture but I’ve never done this… well not seriously anyway. And, no matter how well someone describes themselves or someone else, I never really know how accurate my picture is of them.
 
Do I know what I look like? I have a memory of what I looked like when I was 30 and have an impression in my mind of what I look like now but I don’t really know. I’m told every time I have my haircut that I’m getting lots of grey hair but I’ve never seen them… so I can only think that people are joking with me J
 
So does it matter that I don’t really know what people look like? No, not really, in fact, I reckon I’m sometimes better off not seeing! J What I do know is that I don’t have any preconceptions of someone from what they look like. I get to know people from how they speak and behave and this has definitely helped when working with people in my other role as a Community Employment Specialist.
 
Is it useful to know what people look like? This depends on the situation. If I’m supporting someone with getting back to work then it is helpful to know some things, but this is usually more around appearance and not what they look like. For example, it is useful to know if someone has lots of tattoos or wears lots of jewellery or if they have an obvious impairment. I also like to know if someone has a tidy and clean appearance as this is important when seeking work. However, for most other situations, it really doesn’t matter what someone looks like.
 
Do I miss not seeing people? How do I answer that…? I miss not seeing and why wouldn’t I want to see what my wife and kids actually look like. However, it’s very unlikely that I’ll be able to see clearly again so, being the realist that I am, I don’t think about this very much. I live life with what I have and think I’m doing ‘alright’! (This is an ongoing joke as everything is just ‘alright’)
 
Ultimately my life is like a huge radio programme; lots of voices with no visuals… 
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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94. That’s not a guide dog – it’s not yellow!

15/1/2019

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A compliation of photos showing Deve's guide dog Errol; Des as a trainee guide dog along side his certificate; a black support dog puppy; a yellow Support Dos puppy, laying down in an oversized adult coat; the DES logo; the VIDA Training logo
Having shared the Facebook post about a woman with a guide dog being told by another passenger to get off a bus as her dog couldn’t be a guide dog as it wasn’t yellow (yes I know, unbelievable but sadly true) – I, Vicky, thought it might be a good time to write a blog about assistance dogs and their different roles. It also happens to coincide nicely with the book I’m currently reading called ‘Dogs with Jobs’ by Laura Greaves – about all the different roles dogs undertake.
 
Assistance Dogs UK is an umbrella organisation for 8 Assistance Dogs charities in the UK. Their roles are different and varied – just like the dogs themselves! The 8 organisations are:
·      Canine Partners
·      Dog AID
·      Dogs for Good
·      Guide Dogs
·      Hearing Dogs
·      Medical Detection Dogs
·      Support Dogs
·      The Seeing Dogs Association
 
Canine Partners (www.caninepartners.org.uk) provide dogs who assist people with physical disabilities and impairments with practical day to day tasks that may otherwise be difficult to perform. They also provide increased confidence, independence and social interaction. Their dogs wear a purple coat to identify them.
 
Dog AID (www.dogaid.org.uk) empower people with physical disabilities to train their own pet dog to assist them with daily tasks which are tailored to the individual. These dogs wear a red and fluorescent yellow coat.
 
Dogs for Good (www.dogsforgood.org) assistance dogs support adults and children with a range of disabilities and also younger children with autism. They also provide a Family Dog service that gives advice and support to help families with a child with autism get the most out of their relationship with their pet dog. In addition they train and support community dogs and their specialist handlers to work in activity and therapy in communities and schools. Their trained dogs wear a green coat.
 
Guide Dogs (www.guidedogs.org.uk) provide dogs who will guide adults and young people who are blind or partially sighted. Qualified guide dogs wear a white harness with yellow fluorescent strips.
 
Hearing Dogs (www.hearingdogs.org.uk) provide dogs for adults and children with a hearing impairment. These dogs are trained to alert deaf people to sounds they would otherwise miss, such as doorbells, alarm clocks, fire alarms etc. Qualified hearing dogs wear a burgundy jacket.
 
Medical Detection Dogs (www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk) have dogs that are trained to detect the odour of human disease. This is used both for Bio Detection dogs and also Medical Alert Assistance Dogs who support people with complex health conditions and use minute odour changes in a person to alert them to take preventative action. They wear a red coat.
 
Support Dogs (www.supportdogs.org.uk) are dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions. They have 3 specific programmes: Autism Assistance Dogs for young children, Seizure Alert dogs for people with epilepsy and Disability Assistance Dogs. Their trained dogs wear a blue coat.
 
The Seeing Dogs Alliance (www.seeingdogs.org.uk)
Training dogs to guide blind and partially sighted people. Qualified dogs wear a yellow coat.
 
As you can tell from this list, assistance dogs’ breeds and roles are widely different and varied. However, all qualified assistance dogs can be identified by the coats or harnesses they wear when working which, although different colours all have the name of the organisation clearly shown too. These assistance dogs shouldn’t be disturbed when working so please don’t stroke or feed them. If they are relaxing, then you can ask the owner if it’s okay to say hello to the dog.
 
Legally guide dog and assistance dog owners have important rights under the Equality Act 2010 (EA). This Act ensures people with disabilities to have the same right to public services as everyone else.
This includes taxis and minicabs unless the driver has a medical exemptions certificate from their GP. And yes, this law applies whatever the colour of the assistance dog!!
 
In the past there have been negative comments on social media about these dogs being trained to be slaves, all I can say in response to that is that Dave’s guide dog, Errol always looked so proud to wear his harness, standing up straighter whenever the harness was readied for him (and just for the record, Errol was a black dog – a German Shepherd crossed with a Golden Retriever). Also, Guide Dogs and I’m sure all assistance dog charities, regularly monitor the health and well being of the dog and their focus is that it has to be right for the dog, not just the owner.
 
In reading the book ‘Dogs with Jobs’ which covers a whole range of different roles that dogs undertake, from being assistance dogs, pat therapy dogs, a dog who acts (from his own choice) as a guide dog for another dog, dolphin detector dogs and a dog whose role it is to keep the Seagulls away from the Australian National Maritime Museum, I think what struck me most was each owners immense respect for what their different dogs could do. Some had been trained, but many had a natural instinct for the role they undertook. And when the dog decided it wanted a break or to stop working, then that was respected to.
 
And, just as an aside, in one of the other services Dave and I run, the Disability Equipment Service (www.disabilityequipmentservice.co.uk), we have been proud to sponsor a guide dog (aptly named Des), through the first year of his training. We have just raised enough money to do this again and will then also hope to start supporting Support Dogs too! This money is raised through kind donations of both money and disability equipment, which we then sell on to support the running costs of the website with 25% being donated to an Assistance Dog charity. Find out more about Des on our Disability Equipment Service Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/disabilityequipmentservice/. And if you want to read more about Dave’s lovely guide dog, Errol, Dave wrote a heartfelt tribute to him when he sadly passed away in June 2017 - https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/archives/06-2017
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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93.  Braille, the Basics: in honour of #WorldBrailleDay

4/1/2019

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Photo is of RNIB’s Braille Alphabet card and an example of an information booklet provided in Braille.
To celebrate World Braille Day today (4th January), I thought that I would write an Insight about the reading and writing language created specifically for people with a vision impairment.
 
Louis Braille was born on 4 January 1809. He invented the unique Braille method of reading and writing in 1824 which we still use today.
 
There are different levels of the braille language with the standard being known as non-contracted (grade 1) and contracted (grade 2). Non-contracted braille is the simplest form of braille with words being made up of individual letters or braille cells. Contracted braille uses some cells for groups of letters such as ‘th’, ‘ing’, etc.
 
Each braille character or ‘cell’ is made up of 6 dot positions, arranged in a rectangle comprising 2 columns of 3 dots (like the number 6 on a die). A dot may be raised at any of the 6 positions or any combination making 64 combinations.
 
The dots in each cell are numbered 1 – 6, 1 through 3 from top to bottom on the left and 4 through 6 from top to bottom on the right.
 
The braille alphabet is listed below with the dot arrangement for each letter, for example, A = dot 1 and B = dots 1 and 2.
 
a       1
b       12
c       14
d       145
e       15
f        124
g       1245
h       125
i        24
j        245
k       13
l        123
m      134
n       1345
o       135
p       1234
q       12345
r        1235
s       234
t        2345
u       136
v       1236
w       2456
x       1346
y       13456
z       1356
 
RNIB produce a braille alphabet card. This is a simple card showing the letters of the alphabet in both print and embossed dots and can be used by sighted and touch readers to learn the braille alphabet. The card also has numbers and some basic punctuation signs. It is free to order at: https://shop.rnib.org.uk/braille-alphabet.html
 
RNIB also have a self-learn package for learning braille. It is called the Fingerprint Braille course and is designed to help you learn contracted (grade 2) braille. It costs £39 and can be purchased at: https://shop.rnib.org.uk/fingerprint-braille-course.html
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.

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92.  So, how was 2018 for you?...

26/12/2018

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Image shows a compilation of photos from the year – Dave and Vicky at Sight Village South East, Vicky and Kath at Run in the Dark, Dave demonstrating the long cane technique to Chantry Centre staff, Des the Guide Dog we have sponsored through the Disability Equipment Service, the Dans Le Noir logo and the VIDA Training logo
Happy Boxing Day everyone – and to keep you in the Festive Spirit here’s our final VIDA Insight of this year 😊 (smiley face)
 
Dave and I (Vicky) have been really pleased to provide Vision Impairment Awareness Training days to new Sight for Surrey staff, Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness training days to maintenance, cleaning and security staff at the Chantry Centre in Andover and Vision Impairment Awareness sessions for staff at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. We also did some 2-2 work with a vision impaired person and their PA assisting with some practical solutions and Sighted Guide Techniques. In addition, we’ve undertaken product design discussions and testing for Unforgettable and the University of Surrey. And we went on our annual trip to Sight Village South East – read last week’s blog about this.
 
It was Dave’s turn to visit Dans Le Noir this year with his family (read his blog - https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/86-dans-le-noir-daves-experience) whilst I took part in the Run in the Dark event with a friend (more about Run in the Dark and the Mark Pollock Trust is mentioned in my blog - https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/83-optimist-realist-or-something-else)
 
We’ve also been busy with our other service – the Disability Equipment Service (www.disabilityequipmentservice.co.uk) and are really proud to be on the brink of sponsoring our second guide dog puppy who we hope to call Errol in memory of Dave’s wonderful guide dog who sadly died last year. Our first guide dog puppy, Des, has just completed his first year of training and is now officially a trainee guide dog. We’re really proud to have received a lovely photo of him in his new harness. Read more about him on our DES Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/disabilityequipmentservice/photos/a.243234659204367/843872349140592/?type=3&theater
 
And just to let you know, we’re changing things around a bit next year – we’ll still be doing regular insights but on a monthly basis with additional insights on particular days throughout the year and adhoc ones as the mood takes us 😊 (smiley face). Watch out for these - our regular ones will be on the 15th of each month.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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91.  Sight Village South East: What we thought this year…

19/12/2018

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Dave and Vicky standing at the entrance to Sight Village South East with the event banner behind us
Back on 6 November, Vicky and I took our annual visit to the Sight Village South East exhibition at the Kensington Town Hall in London. Organised by the Queen Alexandra College (QAC) from Birmingham, The Sight Village exhibitions are held across the country and are the largest exhibitions dedicated to vision impairment in the UK.
 
As always, Vicky and I set off early to ensure that we got to the venue as the doors opened so that we could spend as much time looking around the exhibition and chatting to the exhibitors as we felt necessary. After a friendly welcome from the QAC team, we were quickly signed in and directed in to the exhibition halls.
 
We didn’t have any particular product or service that we wanted to find out about so just methodically took our way around the exhibits. There were many exhibits that we knew about but we enjoyed catching up with some of the staff and volunteers at some of these stands including TravelEyes, Metro Blind Sports, Retina UK, Sight and Sound, VocalEyes and the ‘My Guide’ team at Guide Dogs.
 
We also caught up with Stella at the Macular Society stand. Stella used to work with me at the RNIB and we’re still good friends. I also was tracked down by another former RNIB colleague called Andrew. Andrew still works for the RNIB as an Employment Officer. We chatted for a while about what we’re up to and I’m hoping to catch up with Andrew again soon in the New Year to discuss some potential joint working ideas.
 
Another stand that we visited was Computer Room Services. Steve Nutt runs this service, predominantly a website selling products for vision impaired people but also website design, management and hosting as well as training and tech support. I had met Steve several years ago and we’re both on an email list for blind self-employed people (UKVISE) so it was nice meeting up with him again and introducing Vicky to him. We discussed websites mainly and the accessibility with regard to updating one. Steve was really helpful and no doubt we’ll be back in touch with him for more advice when we’ve some spare time (as if we get any of that ha ha).
 
Another exhibit that was interesting was Oxsight (Oxsight smart specs). In brief, Oxsight produce a pair of smart glasses that have a camera with a prism lens that enables people that have tunnel vision to be able to see a wider angle image on the LCD screens within the glasses, thus being able to see more without the need to scan the area. Although I have tunnel vision, my central vision is pretty poor so these glasses wouldn’t work for me, however, I have heard podcasts about these specs and apparently they are really clever and work really well. The downside is that they come with a hefty price tag of over £2,000!
 
There were many other stands that we visited and there really is some great work going on but there was one stand that really stood out for me (and Vicky I think). This was the Aira stand and we chatted through the service with the very informative Director of Sales, Marty Watts. Aira, in my opinion, is going to be the largest growing service for vision impaired people over the coming years. Basically, Aira is a remote support service using video communication with a human agent. It works by the vision impaired person signing up to the service (charges apply) and using either the Aira App on a smart phone or the Aira smart glasses, connecting to an Aira agent who will be able to, in real time, provide support through a video call. The agent can help with providing instructions, reading signs, navigating around an obstacle, finding a product or the counter in a shop, describing a scene, take photos and email them to you and much more. Already Heathrow has signed up and now provide Aira access for free to all customers passing through the airport and it is hoped that other airports and shopping centres will follow suit. I can see me using this service in the future and it’s just another app that I’ve added to my blind person’s toolbox!
 
We like attending the Sight Village exhibitions and would recommend that, if you have a vision impairment or live with or work with someone that has a vision impairment that you make an effort and attend one of the exhibitions next year. No doubt Vicky and I will be back at the South East one again next year.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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90. Anytime, Anywhere…

12/12/2018

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Photo of Vicky’s car with the VIDA Training logo displayed
No, not a follow on from Dave’s Doing it in the Dark post last week!!
 
I (Vicky) read a brief post by Martyn Sibley the other day, about how to change the world by just keeping on! Martyn describes himself as a regular guy who happens to have a disability called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). In his words ‘This means I cannot walk, lift anything heavier than a book or shower myself.  Nonetheless I run Disability Horizons, am the author of 'Everything is Possible', I have a Degree in Economics & a Masters in Marketing. I love adventure travels (including an epic visit to Australia), I have great people in my life (including my soul mate), I drive my own adapted car, run my own business, have flown a plane, enjoyed skiing & SCUBA diving, and live independently on earth’. His brief post http://martynsibley.com/2018/10/how-to-change-the-world-keep-turning-up/ mentions how conversations help make changes. I appreciate it’s different for me as I (Vicky) don’t consider myself to have an impairment, and I don’t for one minute think I’m changing the world 😊 (smiley face), but I do have the VIDA Training logo on my car and obviously chat to people about my work and so I always need to be prepared to have that conversation, which is fine for me because I love what I do.
 
As I’ve mentioned before, we’ve had a few interesting conversations on the train and obviously we chat to people on our training courses but below are 2 examples of some unexpected chats.
 
One of these was at my son’s local football club where I got chatting to an ex-para who happened to be setting up a website to provide buddy support for ex-service men and women who had experienced trauma. He happened to be talking to someone who had lost their sight as a result of their work and, having seen my VIDA Training signs on my car, he asked what I did and we chatted about available options for supporting the person. Had I not had the VIDA Training signs on, we wouldn’t have had this conversation but neither would I have found out about what he did.
 
Even more unusual was a long conversation I had with someone who came to my house to measure up for some curtains. She started off asking about my VIDA Training car signs but when I explained what I did and that my business partner was blind, she said ‘oh aren’t you wonderful’ – (I can hear Dave spluttering as he laughs with shock!!) Obviously I corrected her on that statement, went on to describe fully what I do, how I love my job and talked more about Dave and our equal working relationship!! After a long chat which covered guide dogs, disability in general (and mentioning people’s reactions to the ‘what an inspiration’ comment) she spoke about her infrequent contact with people with impairments and disabilities and also commented that her initial response will be different in the future.
 
So, I think Martyn’s right, it is about being prepared to have these conversations, wherever and whenever and with anyone. We can all learn from each other.
 
Dave – sorry still spluttering… wonderful… Vicky… not something you often hear in the same sentence! Only joking, Vicky is great; guess she has to be to put up with me as a business partner, colleague and friend.
 
Vicky is right, we’re often asked questions about what we do and you never know what questions people are likely to ask. What does become quite apparent is that the general awareness around disability is low which is why we do what we do. Sadly the TV adverts and often TV programmes portray people with disabilities as being unable to do anything, that they don’t go out and usually don’t work. Yes, there will be some people who fall in to this category but there are people who don’t have a disability that probably fall in to this category also. I’m often referred to as ‘inspirational’ but I’m not; I’m just living my life as best I can whilst raising disability awareness.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
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89. Doing it in the dark…

5/12/2018

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Image shows the VIDA Training logo and then a very dark photo of Dave putting away a bowl in the kitchen and then a much lighter photo of Vicky washing up
Well, who would have thought that I (Dave) would write an Insight blog on this subject?? It’s a subject that I’ve touched on previously but not one that I’ve dedicated a blog too and maybe for good reason!! :-)
 
And it’s at this point that I might disappoint some of you… it’s about how I manage tasks in the dark and not that naughty stuff that you thought this blog was about!!
 
I touched on some of this in one of our recent Insight blogs – number 72. I thought you were blind? Part 1(https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/72-i-thought-you-were-blind-part-1) but thought that I needed to expand on it a bit further.
 
Having little sight nowadays means that I usually do most tasks in the dark or without the lights on. I’m already noticing this as the mornings are darker and the evenings are drawing in and the lights are being turned on more often in our house.
 
I rarely think about the lights and carry on with my tasks regardless; it’s not until Kelly (my wife) reminds me that she and the kids like to see what they are doing and will put some lights on. I’m usually the first adult up in our house and will take my shower in the dark, dress in the dark and then head downstairs to prepare breakfast – yes in the dark. There were several occasions last winter where Kelly walked in to the kitchen at breakfast time and commented that the kids might like to have lights on when they’re having their breakfast!!
 
Thinking about this now that I’m writing this blog, I guess that light doesn’t make much of a difference to me any more so why should I bother putting the lights on. I’m sure I wind Kelly up as I walk around the house turning off the lights just like I do when I keep turning the heating thermostat down!!
 
It has also reminded me of a section In a BBC Ouch podcast that I listened to recently called “Echoes put me off: How blind people choose a new home”. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06l50b3) It was presented by Damon Rose and Beth Rose (not related) with their guest Lee Kumatat and the section went as follows (copied directly from the transcript):
 
LEE - Ah, I am really worried about leaving the lights on, yeah I am. And I do it all the time. And having just got this new guide dog one of the instructors said to me, I walked into my room at one point and it was dark, and she said, 'oh do you not turn the lights on for the dog?' and I said, 'no, never have and they seem to be fine'. And she said, 'well it is advised that you do turn the lights on for the dog'.
 
BETH - Really, turn the lights on for the dog?
 
LEE - Yeah.
 
BETH - Okay, I would never have thought that.
 
LEE - I know. So, now I am making a conscious effort. So, I turn the lights on for her but I forget to turn them off again.
 
They then go on to talk about smart homes to turn lights on and off and then the need to close and open curtains… or not in the case of Beth who doesn’t bother with curtains or blinds and says ‘that’s the risk I take” when asked about being seen getting dressed!
 
I know of some people who, even with the very small amount of vision they have, still like to turn all the lights on as they say it helps them see. Personally I wonder whether this is them hanging on to the little vision they have rather than embracing darkness… Maybe I’m just tight with my electricity!
 
Getting around and completing tasks in the dark isn’t that difficult (well I guess I’ve just got used to doing things this way) but it does mean that I need to know where everything is, be organised, have strategies for completing tasks and rely on my memory. All of this leads to fatigue – linking nicely back to our VIDA Insight Number 79.  Yawn – though hopefully not whilst reading this blog! (https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/79-yawn-though-hopefully-not-whilst-reading-this-blog)
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Additional text for Facebook
This post is No. 89 of our regular VIDA Insights and is also on our website blog page https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Visit our website - www.vidatraining.co.uk to read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
[Image shows the VIDA Training logo and then a very dark photo of Dave putting away a bowl in the kitchen and then a much lighter photo of Vicky washing up]
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88. Do you forget Dave is blind?

28/11/2018

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A selfie photo of Vicky and Dave smiling
I, Vicky, got asked this on a training day the other day and had to think carefully about my response. I touched on this in blog no.73 ‘I thought you were blind part 2’ (https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/73-i-thought-you-were-blind-part-2) but when I was asked the question directly the other day I had to carefully consider my answer and have thought about it more since. The honest answer is ‘No, I don’t forget’ as Dave’s blindness is an important part of him and is an essential part of our working together. However, I’m always concerned that by saying I don’t forget some people will take from that that’s all I think about Dave - this is definitely not the case. So, I thought about it and decided the honest answer is no I don’t forget, but then I don’t forget he’s male, 6 foot tall, is married with 2 kids and has a slightly risqué sense of humour either 😊 (smiley face). And although it’s very much a part of our working day, it’s not our only focus – obviously food is a much more important consideration for both of us!
 
And that’s the explanation I will use going forward! And to add that I don’t expect Dave forgets he’s blind either but that he too thinks about other things 😉 (winking face) – again with food being the main one of course!
 
There’s an interesting article by Jen Pearlstein’s on The Mighty website that we mentioned before https://themighty.com/2017/06/when-people-say-they-forget-about-my-disability/#_=_desribes which details how she now doesn’t find it a compliment when people forget she has a vision impairment and actually finds it offensive when they could assume it is a compliment. It’s a really interesting article and well worth a read.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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87. Accessible TVs – in honour of #WorldTVDay

21/11/2018

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Image shows a picture taken behind a person facing towards a TV with a blurry screen resting on a cabinet. To the right of this picture is the VIDA Training logo
“In December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day commemorating the date on which the first World Television Forum was held in 1996.” (from Wikipedia).
 
With it being World Television Day today, Wednesday 21 November, I (Dave) felt it appropriate to write about televisions and in particular how they have progressed in recent years to be much more accessible for vision impaired people. I am also considering upgrading my 13 year old Sony TV with a new, more accessible one so this VIDA Insight has become a bit of a research project at the same time! J
 
TVs have generally been poor when it comes to accessibility. Some sets used to enable you to change the contrast of the text in the menus but that was pretty much it. Panasonic worked closely with the RNIB and released a TV in 2012 that spoke the channel number and programme title when you moved through the stations but it didn’t read the full electronic programme guide (EPG). There have been a few set-top boxes that have had screen reading capabilities with the most popular being the TVonics set-top box with built-in hard drive for recording TV programmes. I actually still have one of these and it still works well and is fully accessible but they were discontinued several years ago and can now only be bought second hand. They sometimes come up on the Disability Equipment Service website (www.disabilityequipmentservice.co.uk) – another service that Vicky and I run and also via places like eBay.
 
However, things are progressing and there are now several TV manufacturers that are selling TVs with built-in screen reading facilities. I’ve yet to go to a store to test them out but, from digging around on the internet and from listening to podcasts, know that some are now available.
 
I’m not going to go in to too much detail in this blog as it would just go on and on and on…. So I’ll mention below some of the leading manufacturers and provide a direct link to their website where you can read more information about their particular accessibility features. They are in no particular order and I’m not in a position to recommend one, however, as a Sony fan I will be looking at their range to see how good it is. It will need to be very good as the features offered on the Samsung TV’s appear to be very impressive.
 
Sony – offer 3 main accessibility features that they are calling:
·      Vision Assist - Easy to see / convert to sound -
·      Hearing Assist - Easy to hear / convert to text -
·      Action Assist - Easy to use / support operation -
https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/accessibility/
 
Samsung – Have included a range of features including Voice Guide, Audio Description, High Contrast, Enlarge, Colour Inversion and Greyscale. They also have a few features for people with a hearing impairment as well as very smart learning tools including Learn Remote and Learn Menu.
https://www.samsung.com/uk/accessibility/tv/
 
Android – There is now a screen reader called Voiceview available on smart TV’s running the Android operating system as well as on the Amazon Fire Stick. Similar to the above, Voiceview will read aloud screen menus, programme information, etc.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205454
 
Apple TV – All Apple products now have a built-in screen reader called Voiceover. This is also the case for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV set-top box - you can navigate all of the menus without seeing the screen.
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205454
 
Panasonic – Although Panasonic have sold TVs with voice guidance since 2012, I can’t find any information about their newer TVs doing much more. Voice Guidance reads the on-screen text (channel and programme title) and volume levels but doesn’t read the full EPG. Sadly I couldn’t find a quick link to the Voice Guidance on the Panasonic website as it wasn’t that accessible with my screen reader and a Google search didn’t reveal much other than stories from 2012 when the Vieira range of talking TVs was launched!
 
In addition to surfing the internet, I have listened to a few podcasts about accessible TVs. The best ones were from the RNIB’s Tech Talk podcast. RNIB Tech Talk is a podcast and radio show (RNIB Connect Radio) for vision impaired people who are interested in accessible technology.
 
There have been discussions about accessible TVs recently on episodes 242, 243 and 249 during the weekly 1 hour Tech Talk programmes hosted by Steven Scott, Shaun Preece and Tim Schwart. They were talking about the Sony and the Samsung in particular and went in to some detail about how some are better than others when it comes to accessibility of the apps on smart TVs.
 
You can listen to all of the RNIB Tech Talk podcasts at:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/rnib-tech-talk/id1151878596?mt=2
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
​
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86.  Dans Le Noir: Dave’s experience

14/11/2018

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Image is the logo for Dans Le Noir – All set on a black background it shows a place setting with a plate, knife and fork besides which are the words Dans Le Noir in capital letters. Underneath that is some braille, which spells out the word Noir. Beneath all of this is the words Restaurant Bar Lounge
Back in August 2017 Vicky wrote an Insight blog on her visit to the Dans Le Noir restaurant – VIDA Insight Number 19 - Celebrating at Dans Le Noir. Well, back in July this year, I (Dave) visited the same restaurant in London (http://london.danslenoir.com/en/home/) with my family and thought that I should share my experience of the evening.
 
Unlike Vicky booking the private function room (Vicky – well it was for my husband’s 50th birthday!!), we booked a table in the main restaurant for our party of 8. Overcoming train cancellations and delays, we managed to arrive in good time and were greeted by the front of house team. We went through our menu choices, confirming whether we were having the Red (meat), Green (vegetarian), Blue (fish) or White (chef’s surprise) menu and had our drinks order taken that would be later served to our table.
 
We were then introduced to Trevor, one of the restaurant’s blind waiters, who was to be our waiter for the evening. We all followed Trevor line astern (one behind the other) with our right hands holding on to the shoulder of the person in front. We went along a narrow corridor, through several thick blackout curtains before entering in to the restaurant. As with Vicky’s experience, the room was in complete darkness and I was told by my dad that he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. My son spotted a very small red light which we assumed was a CCTV or smoke detector but this light didn’t help with seeing!
 
We were seated 1 by 1 by Trevor. He took our names at this point and I was most impressed that he remembered them for the rest of the evening. He described the table to us and informed us where we would find our cutlery, glass and a bottle of water to share. He later served our drinks order, providing us with a glass with drink in it or, in my case, an empty glass and a bottle of cider that I had to pour myself.
 
Interestingly for me, the room didn’t feel dark; in fact I continued to have the stars and flashing lights that I usually have, with these remaining with me throughout the evening. Thinking and talking about the experience with Kelly (my wife) afterwards, I was disappointed that I didn’t get some time off of having the flashes and flickering… it would have been quite calming if I had!
 
What did become apparent as the evening went on was my dad getting quieter and quieter. I managed to swap seats after the main course so that I could sit next to him and found out that he was struggling, due to his hearing loss, to follow the conversation. He told me that it made him really appreciate what it must be like for me living with little sight all the time.
 
What was quite funny was that, before I had moved, I was sitting between Kelly and my father-in-law. Kelly kept feeling for my arm for some reassurance that I was still there. I switched with my father-in-law to sit next to my dad but forgot to let Kelly know so she was very surprised and confused when she felt her dad’s arm and not mine!! J
 
As for the food, we all had a 2 course meal and I had the red (meat) menu. My meal was split in to 3 small portions and I thought that this consisted of some steak, some duck and another meat that I couldn’t place. The dessert was moussey with a fruit sauce but I didn’t know what it was.
 
After the meal, we were all lead out of the restaurant to the reception area where we were shown photographs of the meal and told what we had eaten. I can share this with you all now as they were changing their menus in September… we actually had sirloin steak, a wild boar pie and guinea fowl. The dessert was a deconstructed trifle (nothing like the sherry trifles my nan used to make!).
 
Overall it was a great experience and I’m really pleased that we went. I’m sure that I’ll visit again at some point and would recommend this restaurant as a place to visit for something a bit different.
 
Vicky’s write up of her and her family’s experience is available on our blog page - https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/19-celebrating-at-dans-le-noir
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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85.  World Diabetes Month

7/11/2018

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The image is the logo for World Diabetes Day. Set on a white background, at the top, centre of the image is a circle, ringed in blue. Underneath are the words World Diabetes Day in black except for the word diabetes which is in blue. Underneath is the text 14th November in blue
November is World Diabetes Month, with World Diabetes Day next Wednesday on 14th November.
 
The theme for this year and next year is ‘The Family and Diabetes’.
 
The international Diabetes Federation (IDF) website explains that a two-year timeframe has been chosen to best facilitate planning, development, promotion and participation. Materials and actions that IDF will develop over the two years of the campaign will aim to:
·      Raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected.
·      Promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabetes.
 
World Diabetes Day was jointly introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation and was introduced due to concern over an escalation in the number of people with diabetes. It is celebrated on the 14th November because it marks the birthday of one of the men who co-discovered insulin, Frederick Banting.
 
Each World Diabetes Day famous buildings and monuments all over the world are lit up in blue. This powerful and striking image helps to spread the message about World Diabetes Day to diabetics and non-diabetics alike. Famous buildings that have been lit up in the past on World Diabetes Day include the Sears Tower, the London Eye and Brisbane City Hall.
 
To find out more about World Diabetes Day and month visit https://www.worlddiabetesday.org/ and https://www.diabetes.co.uk/World-Diabetes-Day.html
 
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness and can lead to a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy.
 
Diabetes can affect your eye in a number of ways, although not everyone who has diabetes develops an eye condition. For people with diabetes, regular eye tests and diabetic retinal screenings are essential.
It’s important that the changes diabetes causes in the eye are picked up early because if treatment can be given at the right time, it can help prevent sight loss.
 
Diabetic retinopathy is the most serious eye condition associated with diabetes and occurs when the tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye become blocked and leak. There are different types of diabetic retinopathy but in some cases this condition will lead to severe vision impairment.
 
Advice provided on RNIB’s website to reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, or help to stop it from getting worse, is as follows:
·      Control your blood glucose level (also known as blood sugar level).
·      Tightly control your blood pressure.
·      Control your cholesterol levels.
·      Keep fit and maintain a healthy weight.
·      Give up smoking. Nerve damage, kidney and cardiovascular disease are more likely in smokers with Diabetes. Smoking increases blood pressure and raises blood sugar levels, which makes it harder to control Diabetes.
·      Attend regular retinal screening.
 
There is also treatment available for diabetic retinopathy if it is picked up early enough. For further information about diabetic retinopathy and the support available, visit https://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health/eye-conditions/diabetes-related-eye-conditions
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.

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84.  Sight Village South East

31/10/2018

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A photo of Vicky and Dave at last year’s Sight Village
Queen Alexandra College (QAC) are once again bringing their Sight Village exhibition to London.
 
QAC say “The Roadshow allows visitors to come and find out more about the latest technology, equipment and support services available to people who are blind or partially-sighted. If you or a family member have a visual impairment it could be of great help to visit the show. We also welcome a wide range of professionals that support people with visual impairments and businesses looking to better meet the needs of their employees and customers.”
 
Vicky and I already have pre-registered and will be attending on Tuesday 6th November. We had a great time last year, meeting many of the exhibitors and updating ourselves on the latest equipment and services available for vision impaired people and we’re hoping to do the same again this year. Of particular interest to us, AIRA will be present this year and with this service about to roll out in the UK, it will be good to see first-hand how this really works. The new OrCam is also meant to be a great device so it’ll be interesting to see this compared to last year’s version.
 
If you’re heading to the exhibition on Tuesday 6th November then keep a look out for Vicky and I; we’ll have our VIDA shirts on so will be relatively easy to spot for most of you!
 
The exhibition specifics…
 
Date & Times
Tuesday 6 November, 10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday 7 November, 10:00 – 15:30
 
Venue
The Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX.
 
Food & Drink
Refreshments are available for purchase throughout the event.
 
 
For more information about the exhibition and to pre-register, visit: http://www.qac.ac.uk/exhibitions/sight-village-southeast/3.htm
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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83. Optimist, Realist or Something Else?

24/10/2018

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[Image shows a screenshot of the TedTalk video showing Mark Pollock and Simone George during the talk]
Following on from our ‘Will my sight be restored in the future?’ VIDA Insight blogs over the last 2 weeks (https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/80-will-my-sight-be-restored-in-the-future-worldsightday-11th-october; https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/82-will-my-sight-be-restored-in-the-future-part-2), I, Vicky, came across this fantastic TEDTalk by Mark Pollock and Simone George called ‘A love letter to realism in a time of grief’.
 
We’ve followed Mark’s story since last year when Dave and I participated in the London #RunintheDark event, helping to raise money to find a cure for paralysis (https://www.runinthedark.org/london/). It’s happening again this year on 14th November if anyone is interested in joining in (Vicky is hoping to run it this year :-o).
 
We were particularly interested to watch and listen to this #TEDTalk as it seemed linked to the thoughts and discussions we’d written about in our 2 previous Insights. It didn’t disappoint, hence why we're sharing it with you.
 
It’s nearly 20 minutes long, and is, in our opinion, well worth taking the time to listen to…
 
Our title ‘Optimist, Realist or Something Else’ is the title of a blog Mark mentions during the TEDTalk.
 
https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_pollock_and_simone_george_a_love_letter_to_realism_in_a_time_of_grief#t-1150103
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
Additional text for Facebook
This post is No. 83 of our regular VIDA Insights and is also on our website blog page https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Visit our website - www.vidatraining.co.uk to read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
[Image shows a screenshot of the TedTalk video showing Mark Pollock and Simone George during the talk]
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82. Will My Sight be restored in the future? Part 2

17/10/2018

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Image is of an old fashioned set of scales on the left and the VIDA training logo on the right
Vicky: In reading Dave’s post last week it struck me that there must be a fine balance between getting on with life and learning to live with sight loss/vision impairment but also wondering if there is a chance that vision may be restored in the future. I guess it’s the same with a lot of different impairments. Last year Dave and I took part in the Run in the Dark event in London for the Mark Pollock Trust, funding research into a cure for paralysis. Mark Pollock is blind and had a spinal injury following a fall from a hotel room and now pioneers research into potential cures for paralysis.
 
On the other side of the coin, Dave and I have read articles before by people with vision impairments who say they wouldn’t accept a cure for blindness should one become available to them as they have ‘accepted’ being blind and that it has shaped their lives and makes them who they are. I have also read similar comments from people who are wheelchair users.
 
However, there are many others who say they haven’t ‘accepted’ their condition but learnt to live with it the best they can, making the best of life as Dave said in his blog last week but who certainly wouldn’t turn down a cure if it was offered to them.
 
It’s a difficult one to get our heads around if we don’t consider ourselves to have an impairment. I guess none of us really know how we would feel, cope or respond if we’re not in that position. I know a colleague of ours who is a wheelchair user, was told by someone (in quite a patronising tone) that he was ‘such an inspiration’ and responded, politely, that he has little choice and was just getting on with his life.
 
At the other end of the spectrum though, a recent discussion on a Facebook group called ‘VI Talk’ included comments that people with vision impairments had received from those with sight. One of these was ‘I would rather die than be blind’. One person said they had responded to this comment by saying ‘Why wait?’ which made me smile.
 
So no easy answers apart from getting to know someone or ask them rather than making assumptions or passing judgements. I saw an adaptation of the saying ‘never judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes’ which read ‘Don’t judge me till you walk a mile in my shoes or spend a day in my life’. I think it’s a good maxim to live by!
 
Dave:
I think there is a fine line here and it definitely depends on the person and their situation. I do remember talking to a vision impaired lady many years ago and her saying that having no sight was easier than when she had just a little bit. I couldn’t get my head around this and still can’t really as I feel that even a little vision is helpful. However, I do lots in the dark so maybe the little vision I have isn’t needed all the time – maybe I’ll write an Insight on that soon!
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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81. In honour of #WhiteCaneDay – today 15th October

15/10/2018

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Photo is of Dave demonstrating using a white cane on one of our training sessions
White cane day isn’t celebrated in the UK as much as it is around the world but we thought that we would give it a mention… #WhiteCaneDay.
 
As a white cane user myself (Dave), the white cane is the one item that I can’t leave the house without (obviously other than my clothes and shoes!).
 
Simple yet effective, the white cane allows me to have a reasonable level of independence and, if the sweeping technique is used correctly, it enables me to detect steps, kerbs and other hazards such as lamp posts, A frames and cars parked on the pavements.  What it doesn’t detect is overhanging objects such as trees and bushes. This is one of the reasons why I wear my sunglasses nearly all the time as they protect my eyes from being poked or scratched from these things. If you have a pavement outside your house, please ensure that you keep your trees, hedges or bushes well-trimmed.  
 
Here are 5 facts you might not know about the white cane:
1.    To suit the shortest children to the tallest adults, canes come in all sizes, some as long as 6ft (1.85m) tall.
2.    Some people tap their canes for the audio feedback, while others keep continuous contact with the ground.
3.    Canes can have dozens of different tips: plastic, metal, round, flat, soft, hard and rolling. All serve a different purpose and are appropriate in different environments (depending on the floor surface).
4.    The majority of canes fold up but some are telescopic and some are rigid.
5.    Although the international white cane is white in colour, you can get canes in different colours or with bright patterns on. These are sometimes preferred by children and teenagers and it is felt that it is better for them to use a cane to get around safely than not use one because it is white.
 
If you see me or anyone else out using a white cane, please remember these 3 things…
 
1.    Acknowledge that you’re there. Most vision impaired people are tuned in to their environments and can hear you coming towards them. Hiding in a hedge or jumping out of the way makes you look silly; just say ‘Hi’!
2.    Getting around without sight can be daunting and we do have to concentrate on where we are all the time. It is therefore appreciated if you, the sighted person, moves out of our way when we’re approaching. You can see where you’re going; we’re likely to get lost if we go off our memorised route or can get disorientated if we need to turn to avoid you.
3.    If you see someone with a White Cane  waiting to cross a road, rather than assume that we need help, ask us if we would like some assistance with knowing when it is safe to cross – we don’t usually bite!! J
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.

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80.  Will my sight be restored in the future? #WorldSightDay (11th October)

10/10/2018

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Image for World Sight Day (courtesy of Vision UK). At the top are some dots in varying shades of blue, these represent the braille for WSD (World Sight Day). To the bottom right of these is the text 2018 in pale orange. Underneath these are the words World Sight Day in capitals with each letter on a new line. These words are right aligned and in a darker orange.
I’m (Dave) very much a realist when it comes to my sight and live each day as best I can using the limited sight that I have. I’m regularly asked if there is any treatment or operations that I could have to improve or restore my sight and my simple answer to these questions is ‘No, not really’.
 
However, I have spoken to my consultant at Moorfields about the research in to my condition (Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)) and have had discussions about retina implants and in particular the Argus II ‘bionic eye’ developed by American company Second Sight Medical Products, as this is the most advanced treatment currently available for RP in particular.
 
“Surgeons at Manchester and Moorfields Eye Hospital made history by delivering the world’s first trial of the Argus II Bionic Eye implants in RP. Specialists at both Hospitals initially supported early studies, which demonstrated that the Argus II restores a degree of visual function to patients who have suffered complete blindness due to the condition.” (https://www.england.nhs.uk/2016/12/bionic-eye-surgery/)
 
Currently my small amount of vision is probably better than what I would get from the Argus II and I don’t have to wear camera glasses or charge batteries, etc. so this treatment isn’t on my radar just yet. However, I do believe that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel (I couldn’t help myself with this pun) either via a bionic eye or with stem cell treatments.
 
A story broke recently that pricked my interest about a bionic eye that had been printed using a 3D printer. I read an article on the Daily Mail website that covered the story quite well…
 
“Scientists have taken another important step towards building the world's first bionic eye, which could give millions of blind people the chance to see again.
 
In a world first, a team of researchers have built a three-dimensional artificial 'eyeball' capable of detecting changes in light levels.
 
The bionic eye, which mimics the function of the retina in order to restore sight, works in tandem with an implant to convert the images it sees into electrical impulses for the retinal cells, which carry image signals back to the brain.
 
By using 3D printing, scientists were able to produce the prototype much faster than previous efforts – sparking hope this could be a viable commercial solution in the future. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6109589/One-step-closer-creating-worlds-bionic-EYE-Scientists-3D-print-prototype-eyeball.html).”
 
It is the 3D printing that took my interest in particular and the ability to print light detecting electrodes on a curve. I remember attending an exhibition in London 6 or 7 years ago that showcased 3D printing and what you could do using this new technology. Items ranged from candle stick holders and small ornaments to remote control cars through to some pretty cool stuff like personalised printed electric guitars and drum kits. Back then they were talking about 3D printing being available in the home in 10 – 20 years with the future being that you’ll be able to download a template and print your own parts – circuit boards for washing machines for example. I certainly didn’t think back then that this technology, particularly in such a short time period, would be printing a bionic eye or could be the answer to restoring my sight!
 
As I mentioned at the beginning, I am a realist and am not expecting my vision to be restored before I die, however, I am excited by this kind of developments as it demonstrates that work is being done and there could be hope, if not for me, for people in the future.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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79.  Yawn – though hopefully not whilst reading this blog!

3/10/2018

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Image on a black background shows a photo of a large brown bear laying on a rock and yawning. To the right of the photo is the VIDA Training logo
In a recent post – “Playing to our strengths” (http://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/70-playing-to-our-strengths), we briefly touched on fatigue. I, Vicky, think this is something people frequently forget when considering the impact of many different impairments/disabilities unless they can actually see/imagine it for themselves. So, when watching someone self propel a wheelchair up a slope, people can see and therefore imagine the physical impact and that it’s potentially quite tiring (although for some fit wheelchair users, probably less tiring than walking up the same slope would be for others!).
 
However, people don’t usually consider fatigue when thinking about other conditions and impairments and it’s another one of those hidden impacts we have mentioned in previous blogs (like our one for World Alzheimer’s Day – https://vidatraining.weebly.com/blog/77-a-huge-hug-for-september-worldalzheimersday).
 
For example, on a recent training course, Dave mentioned that he experiences fatigue as his vision impairment means he has to keep a mental picture in his head of where he is, the layouts of rooms, orientation for when he’s out etc. and that this is tiring.
 
One of the participants on the course who is a Deaf sign language user, agreed, saying that for him the additional level of concentration required every day is exhausting.
 
It was also mentioned recently in a blog by Wendy Mitchell, who writes about her life with dementia. Wendy’s blogs are about her everyday life and often discuss the huge amount of meetings she participates in, the book she has written and a wide variety of interviews etc that she undertakes. However, this post touched on the fatigue of living with dementia. Wendy writes:
‘For me, having a shower in the morning is exhausting. I’ve always had a shower before going downstairs for a cuppa tea and I see this now still as important. My cuppa tea is my reward for this exhausting process. When the brain is still waking; when the process of working out what to do takes so much; when the simple act of breathing while water is streaming over your head is a mission. Having a shower is exhausting for so many reasons….
‘I often say how exhausting it is to have dementia. Imagine how physically exhausting it would be to swim in the sea against the tide, being carried away by the current and fighting your way back to shore. Well that’s what it feels like mentally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Thinking distance has been swum yet still no further to shore or swept away with the current further than you thought.’ - https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/2018/06/28/dementia-can-be-exhausting/.
 
Wendy ends this blog by saying ‘Can you imagine living in our world……?’
 
The answer for most of us is probably no, but we can all raise our awareness…
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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78.  National Eye Health Week: 24 – 30 September 2018

26/9/2018

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image shows a simplistic image of an eye with grey outline and blue iris. Above the eye is the wording National Eye Health Week: 24 – 30 September 2018
I, Dave, have decided to write a sensible Insight for National Eye Health Week. There are no jokes in this one as this is a serious subject and one that you should take note of.
 
I have been registered blind now for 21 years. I have 2 conditions that have caused the deterioration to my eye sight; these are Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Retinal Telangiectasia. Both of these are inherited eye conditions that I had when I was born but, due to the nature of them, they weren’t detected and diagnosed until I was 16.
 
As a child growing up, I thought that my sight was ‘normal’. I went through main stream schools, rode a bike, played video games (on an old Atari console for those that remember these), enjoyed playing sports and games with friends and all the other ‘normal’ things that kids did back then. I was never a strong reader but could read newspapers and magazines and I remember having extra bright lights on my bike to do my morning paper-round as I used to find riding my bike in the dark pretty difficult. Once I was diagnosed, I realised that reading and riding my bike in the dark (not together as this would have been stupid) were probably more difficult for me due to my sight conditions.
 
During the past 21 years, I have had many discussions with my eye consultants at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London about prevention and what I can do to slow the deterioration of my sight down. Ultimately there wasn’t anything that I could do to stop it but I was advised that the following would help:
 
  • A Healthy Diet; this should include lots of green vegetables, oily fish (which I really don’t like) and fruit; basically anything that contains lots of vitamins
  • Drinking Water – they suggested that adults should drink around 2 litres a day. Eyes require lots of water (keeping your body hydrated) to remain healthy
  • Vitamin & Omega 3 Supplements – These were suggested if my diet wasn’t including them
  • Avoiding High Contact Sports and  G-Forces – This was to prevent any further damage being caused to my retinas; they particularly mentioned avoiding playing rugby, boxing and things like rollercoaster rides at theme parks and head banging at raves!
  • Not smoking – there were/are some strong links with smoking causing or affecting sight conditions as well as it being unhealthy for you
  • Wearing Sunglasses – with RP particularly, the sun can cause the sight condition to deteriorate more quickly. Wearing good quality sunglasses will help prevent unnecessary damage to the rods and cones on the retina as well as making bright days more tolerable by reducing glare.
 
I attend Moorfields approximately twice a year depending on whether there are any changes to my sight that have to be checked more frequently. During these examinations they check the eye pressures and my general eye health to ensure that nothing else is about to kick off.
 
My sight loss is due to the for mentioned conditions, however, there are some sight conditions that can occur at any time such as Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Cataracts. These conditions can be treated quickly if detected early and this is why everyone should have a sight test at least every 2 years.
 
A sight test doesn’t just check to see whether you need glasses for reading, they look for any signs of change. Usually they will take a photo of your retina and then use these photos to compare at your next visit. In addition, other conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can be detected from a simple eye test.
 
I really can’t stress enough how important your sight is. My sight loss isn’t avoidable but yours could be. Please do your best to keep your eyes healthy and REMEMBER to have your eyes tested every 2 years. If you notice any changes in-between these tests go back and get them checked out; the earlier something is detected the more likely it can be treated or prevented from getting much worse.
 
Don’t delay, book today!
 
Vicky: Not much to add to this blog, just that both of my parents had their sight conditions diagnosed only through their routine optician check ups – my Mum found out she has AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) and my Dad has Glaucoma. Neither had recognised any deterioration in their sight prior to these visits but both have since had further checks, advice and treatment as well as regular monitoring. So, please do make that appointment to the opticians even if you have no need for glasses and then keep going regularly!
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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77.  A Huge Hug for September #WorldAlzheimersDay

19/9/2018

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Image is on a black background, showing on the left an emoji with 2 hands outstretched (sign for a hug). On the top right hand side is white text, saying 'A huge hug for September, in honour of #WorldAlzheimersDay, with thanks to Wendy Mitchell' in the bottom right are two leaves in orange and brown for autumn colour.
In honour of World Alzheimer's Day – 21st September, I (Vicky) wanted to share some of a recent blog by Wendy Mitchell called a Huge Hug for the Arrival of September. Thank you to Wendy for agreeing to us using this.
 
In her blog, Wendy talks about how August is her least favourite month of the year, “when routine changes, my calendar goes quiet and I’m filled with dread of what dementia might do to me.”
 
There’s a lot mentioned, quite rightly, to raise awareness about hidden disabilities (i.e. those disabilities and impairments that aren’t obvious to others – for example Crohn’s Disease) but in our training we also talk about the hidden impacts of any disability or impairment and Wendy’s blog highlighted this again to me.
 
Whereas for many of us August brings something different in a positive way – it’s holiday season, the kids are off school, we can relax a little – this is not the same for everyone. It also reminded me of the many conversations I’ve had with Dave and other people with vision impairments about finding going on holiday hard – the change of environment meaning, usually, a loss of independence due to being in an unfamiliar place and therefore having to be more reliant on those around you.
 
Back to Wendy to explain why August is not her favourite month:
“It’s the disappearance of routine that is the hardest element. The lack of children walking to and from school to signal the time of day; the DJs on the radio going on holiday; my calendar lacking in its usual business. For me it’s a strange month as I come to love just sitting. I live upstairs during the day when I’m at home. Snuggly sat in my bed with my iPad and everything I need around me and the large window which looks out onto the tree tops offering a birds eye view of the world. But, as nice as that is, I can hear dementia laughing at me, rubbing its hands with glee at being given the opportunity to filter through the peace and settle down beside me………”
 
To read Wendy’s blog in full, go to https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/a-huge-hug-at-the-arrival-of-september/.
All of Wendy’s blogs can be accessed via her website ‘Which Me Am I Today’ - https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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76.  VIDA - Vision Impaired Daredevil Act

12/9/2018

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Image of: to the left the VIDA training logo with the words Vision Impaired Daredevil Act followed by two question marks; to the right a photo looking towards the top of a circus tent showing a man balancing on one arm on top of a high pole.
That’s right folks, we’re venturing out and now entertaining thousands of people with our new blind trapeze act, demonstrating how good our balance is whilst under blindfold!
 
Only joking… but in celebration of National Balance Week (16 – 22 September), I thought that I would talk about balance and how this affects me (Dave) because of my sight loss.
 
It is quite common for blind people to suffer with poor balance and this is because good balance generally requires 3 things…
1.    Your vision
2.    Your ability to feel your feet and sense the position of your body in the environment or surroundings
3.    Your capacity to tell if you are really moving through space.
 
On the whole my balance is good. I sometimes go a little off kilter as a result of being caught out on uneven surfaces (or as a result of a few too many beers) but even then I’m able to correct myself usually before I end up on the floor!
 
I don’t do any exercises to aid this but I’m aware that there are some exercises that blind people can do to strengthen their other senses to compensate for a lack of vision. For anyone interested in what exercises you can do, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) have some very clear ones: http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?SectionID=67&TopicID=313&DocumentID=3470
 
I guess, now that I think about it, I have to concentrate more on moving around when it’s very noisy or in crowded places. Whether I’m concentrating to ensure that I don’t get disorientated or to keep my balance, I’m not sure but I expect a bit of both.
 
I remember talking to a physiotherapist on one of our training courses a while ago and her asking how I managed to stand all day and her commending me on my posture and ability to stand still. She had worked with several blind people who really struggled to stay upright or who sway and wanted to know how I did it… I couldn’t answer her, I just can!
 
I’m no doctor (nor am I a scientist, therapist or brainbox) but from reading some of Dr Google’s results, it would seem that there is a link with people who have poor balance due to vision loss and people who have inner ear disorders such as Meniere’s disease and Labyrinthitis. It would seem that the same part of the brain uses these senses to perform perfect balance and if one of them doesn’t communicate with the brain as expected it causes balance problems.
 
Whilst writing this Insight I discovered, via searching online, that, earlier this year, during the filming of America’s Got Talent, there was in fact a trapeze act involving a blind guy. However, vision impaired Tyce dropped his wife Mary on their first attempt!! You can watch it all happen, just Google AGT blind trapeze! Maybe it is a sensible decision for us to stick with the Vision Impairment & Disability Awareness training after all!! 😊 (smiley face)
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.

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75.  First hand experiences!

5/9/2018

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Image shows a selection of the books we have read that are mentioned in this post
Vicky: In honour of Read a Book day tomorrow (6th September) I started out to write another short post about the various books we’ve read that have a link to vision impairment.
 
However, when I started to think about our favourites, one thing became obvious to me. The ones we’ve both really enjoyed have been written by a person who is themselves vision impaired or co-written by one person with a vision impairment and one person who is sighted.
 
They may be factual accounts (Touching the Rock by John M Hull; The Blind Man of Hoy by Red Szell; A dog called DEZ by John Tovey), novels (Blind Trust by Red Szell) or tales about adventures undertaken (Touching the World by Cathy Birchall and Bernard Smith; The Windhorse by Elaine Brook and Julie Donnelly) but somehow the stories, be they fact or fiction, just ring truer and don’t have so many jarring elements (why in novels about blind people do they always mention people counting their steps when they’re out and about? No wonder members of the public have so many misconceptions!).
 
What comes across in all of them is that being blind is a part of life, giving rise to different challenges but not being the only thing going on! The interactions between people (and DEZ the dog) makes the books even more fascinating.
 
I think it would be fair to say that top of our pile so far of all of these is Touching the World, about Cathy and Bernard, who undertake the challenge of a motorbike adventure across 25,000 miles of the world. It’s a great book for so many reasons (the adventure itself, the relationship between the two of them and the humour all make it well worth a read).
 
As well as writing blogs about them (read our previous blogs to find out more) we also discuss and recommend these books on our training sessions. Thinking about the books we’ve enjoyed also highlights why we both undertake these training sessions – we know that having Dave talk about his personal experiences and the impact sight loss has on him as a person is invaluable. We also know people witnessing us working together in an equal partnership provides another dimension, underlining what we talk about on our training sessions. Both are things people comment on the most in our feedback. That and our constant references to food, our great sense of humour and our wonderful personalities of course! 😊 (smiley face).
 
Dave: I have only really got in to books as my sight has deteriorated. I tend to use RNIB’s talking book service for my audio books but occasionally purchase books from Audible if they are unavailable through the RNIB. Fortunately I have been able to read the books that Vicky has mentioned and have really enjoyed them for the same reasons. Elements of each of the books have made me smile as I relate to the situation or the responses given by the blind person from questions or observations made by sighted people.
 
If you’ve read a book written by a vision impaired person that we’ve not mentioned then please let us know. Vicky and I are always trying to source new books to read but think that we’ve exhausted our options! 😊 (smiley face)
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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74. I thought you were Blind? Part 3

29/8/2018

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Image shows a photo taken in a railway station showing the platform and the tracks going off into the distance with a low sun shining on them both. Also in the image to the bottom right of the photo is the VIDA Training logo
Following on from the last 2 blogs reminded me (Vicky) of 2 recent train encounters and how you just never know!! I guess it also relates to the RNIB’s campaign mentioned last week #HowISee, as well as bringing to mind that Awareness raising should be a full time job!!
 
Back in April, 3 of us were travelling up to Naidex, Europe’s largest exhibition for disability equipment held at the NEC in Birmingham, in relation to the other service Dave and I own/manage called the Disability Equipment Service (www.disabilityequipmentservice.co.uk). The other person with Dave and I also has a vision impairment. The three of us were all sat at a table on the train and, at some point along the journey, another passenger asked if he could sit with us. After a short while we got chatting about what he did and where he was going and as his job involved the train services, one of us asked him whether he’d ever driven a train. To which he replied, ‘No my vision’s s*** [not very good!!]’ to which our colleague replied, ‘I bet it’s not as bad as ours’. We then got chatting more about this to find that the man has RP (Retinitis Pigmentosa) the same sight condition as Dave. However, his sight hasn’t deteriorated to the same level as Dave’s and he did not require any additional aids or support (aside from screen magnification). If we hadn’t have got chatting to him, we never would have known, as wouldn’t any other passenger on that train. It also highlights that although both Dave and he have the same sight condition, the effects on their day to day life are at the present time, very different.
 
I was then on another train a few weeks later (again sitting at a table) with another colleague from a completely separate organisation, who also has a vision impairment. She and I were chatting about the potential impact vision impairment can have on your enjoyment of holidays and the gentleman beside me said ‘I’m sorry, I wasn’t meaning to listen but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation about sight loss. I have Macular Degeneration myself’. We then got chatting about that, as well as where he was travelling to/from. After my colleague had left the train, we carried on chatting and he mentioned that his daughter also has a vision impairment and that she was concerned that she might have to give up work. I asked if they had heard about Access to Work (not surprisingly, as it is DWP’s best kept secret, he hadn’t) so I gave details about it and the various ways his daughter (and her employer) might be able to receive support. I also gave him a VIDA Training card in case he needed to get in touch in the future.
 
Although I’m tempted to say it’s a small world, I don’t think it’s that, it just highlights that you never know until you talk to people (and therefore shouldn’t make assumptions!!).
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
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73. I thought you were Blind? Part 2

22/8/2018

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Image shows Vicky and Dave walking along a pavement with Vicky SIght Guiding Dave
Following on from Dave’s blog last week, I (Vicky) thought it would be good to mention again the RNIB’s set of mini films called #HowISee – available on Social Media, YouTube and also on their website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/rnibconnect/how-i-see. These are short films by people with vision impairments talking about the way their vision impairment specifically affects them. It also attempts to change some of the misperceptions people have about vision impairments.
 
Whilst reading Dave’s blog prior to posting, I was reminded of Jen Pearlstein’s article on The Mighty - https://themighty.com/2017/06/when-people-say-they-forget-about-my-disability/#_=_desribes which details how she now doesn’t find it a compliment when people forget she has a vision impairment and actually finds it offensive when they could assume it is. It’s a really interesting article and well worth a read. It also outlines to me 2 important things:
 
Firstly, a very common theme from our training about how everyone is different. Get to know someone or ask them rather than making assumptions. So, as in the case of this article, as a sighted person, don’t assume that a vision impaired person would want to be thought of as sighted – that may be your viewpoint but one they don’t share.
 
And secondly, that it can be a fine line between supporting someone appropriately who has a vision impairment versus only registering that person as someone with a vision impairment or ignoring their vision impairment completely. As Jen says in the article, ‘although it is flattering that [her colleague] does not see me as defined by my disability, my vision loss is a core piece of my identity that impacts how I live my life.’
 
So, to highlight this within our own VIDA training partnership and our other working roles, I couldn’t ‘forget’ that Dave is blind and walk off not sight guiding him in an unfamiliar place. However, I also acknowledge that he is taller than me and so can reach things for me and is also stronger and therefore better at, for example, lifting our training suitcases out of the car. I might need to give directional prompts for these things to be achieved successfully but although Dave’s vision impairment is an important element of his life and impacts how we work together, there are other factors about both of us that we need to take into account too. If you’re interested to read about this further, we recently published a post entitled ‘Playing to our strengths’, which was our Insight at the beginning of this month - No. 70.
 
We’re always interested to know about other people’s experiences and thoughts. Please share these by commenting…
 
Interested to learn more about VIDA Training? Read about our Training and Consultancy packages, specialising in Vision Impairment and Disability Awareness, Communication and Team Building or contact us for further information.
 
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    Our VIDA Insights...

    Following our experiences from delivering our Vision Impairment Awareness training days over the past couple of years, we know that there’s loads more that we could talk about and examples we could have shared. Whilst these won’t be a substitute for our training, they will give you an insight (hence the name!) into our thoughts, observations and experiences from each of our perspectives - Dave’s living with sight loss and Vicky’s from being a sighted person and working alongside and supporting people who have sight loss.
     
    We recognise some of you won’t agree with us or will have your own opinions or comments – after all, as we say loads during our training, everyone is an individual! If you have any comments or thoughts about our ‘Insights’ in particular that you’d like to add, we would love you to share them with us!

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