2008 News January - June
Update on transport to social clubs for vision impaired people in Tameside
Getting support at a crucial time
New Lottery money helps to expand services
Have your say
20.5.08
TBA intends to establish a user group to enable people with a vision impairmemt to comment on the services they receive from the Association and have an input into future planning.
It is anticipated that meetings will take place on a quarterly basis, or as and when required.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact Philip Singleton (0161 343 4090/6903) for more details.
TBA can help
20.5.08
Don’t forget that TBA is able to help you with a range of services including information on many subjects, befriending, escort/guiding, social and leisure activities, odd jobs, digital television and radio and computers.
Call 0161 343 6903/4090 for more information.
Travel news
20.5.08
From 26th July 2008 it will be illegal for a travel agent, an airline, or a tour operator to refuse a booking on the grounds of disability, or refuse to embark a disabled person who has a valid ticket and reservation.
Update on transport to social clubs for vision impaired people in Tameside - Health and Social Care review continues
1.5.08
At a recent meeting held at Tameside Blind Association’s HQ between TBA committee members and Jayne Stokes and Christine Craig from Tameside MBC’s Health and Social Care Department (HSC), it was confirmed by the HSC staff that the overhaul of transport services for people with disabilities is still underway.
TBA committee members passed on the concerns of TBA members who use the transport provided by HSC. Assurances were given by the HSC staff that individuals have been kept informed throughout the process.
The HSC staff also stated that now new referrals for transport can be made to the Visual Impairment Team on 0161 330 7028.
HSC staff plan to visit all the Blind clubs to discuss the implecations of the transport review.
TBA staff are interested to hear your experience.
Getting support at a crucial time
1.5.08 by Rhona Thomas of TBA
Some people lose their sight gradually such as in macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, cataracts or glaucoma. For others it is more sudden, perhaps due to a head injury, brain tumor or stroke.
Of course the effects of sight loss can be devastating, no matter what the cause. Tameside Blind Association is concerned that when people are given the news by their consultant that their sight may not improve and they may be eligble to be registered blind or parially sighted, they are not always offered appropriate support.
Health and Social Care staff are sometimes available at Eye Clinics to give further information or offer counselling but unfortunately there os no trigger to let organisations such as Tameside Blind Association know that someone may need support at this crucial time. We have to rely on trying to make ourselves known to potential service users by publicising the organisation oe receiving referrals from Health and Socvial Care staff, family, friends, etc.
Even when a consultant certifies that someone is blind or partially sighted there os a long delay before Health and Socvial Care staff are able to offer a low vision assessment; in Tameside this is currently six months.
Tameside Blind Association feels this is too long!
We’d love to hear your experiences. Do you feel you would have benefited from contact by an organisation such as Tameside Blind Association in those early days? What would you have wanted - someone to talk to, perhaps someone who had already experienced what you were going throigh, or practical help?
Let us know what you think.
New Lottery money helps to expand services
1.5.08
Volunteers receive certificates of thanks for their contribution to TBA
Many of the services which TBA offers to people who have a vision impairment are provided with the invaluable help of volunteers. Currently there are thirty-five volunteers registered with the Association. Each of these people bring to TBA skills, experience and a willingness to help blind and partially sighted people in a practical way. Volunteers are involved in projects such as befriending, escorting and guiding, advocacy, social and leisure actinities, the walking group, odd jobs and in other ways that help the Association support its members.
The recently gained lottery funding has enabled TBA to expand its range of services and thus more volunteers have been recruited to help TBA to reach even more people living with serious sight loss. Since October 2007 eight new volunteers have joined the ranks; all have sucessfully undertaken a one day training course at TBA. Some of the new recruits are now fully fledged volunteers, whilst others await Criminal Records Bureau checks.
The Trustees and Community Support Project staff extend their thanks to all volunteers for their continued dedication and hard work and look forward to working with the latest recruits.
Get Set for Digital
1.5.08
Digital television and radio are now being transmitted offering benefits to eveyone and particular features for vision impaired people. Already some parts of Tameside can receive digital broadcasts and when the switchover takes place in Autumn 2009 they should be able to be received throughout the whole of the Borough.
Currently subscribers to Sky TV are able to receive audio described commentaries on digital television programmes using some models of digital televisions. The Logic LDRV3, available from Currys, is a set-top digital box alowing access to a similar facility via Freeview.
Brian McKenzie, a registered blind member of TBA, has been evaluating the new digibox and reports favourable results. Brian says:
“It’s got easy channel control, has a useful beep when the buttons are pressed and the audio description can be switched on and off with one button on the remote.”
Brian enthuses about audio description as it has enhanced his television viewing enjoyment, especially the action films, soaps and documentaries he likes to watch.
A demonstration of the service can be arranged at TBA’s office in Dukinfield.
As switchover time approaches, help is on hand to support vision impaired people to upgrade one television to digital reception via the National Digital helpline and assistance service.
You can contact them on 08456 01 01 01
Registered people will be contacted directly.
You might like to visit Digital UK Ltd for more information; or you could give TBA a ring.