David Owen, Chief Executive, Share the Vision, Stockport, shares his reflections on the Conference held in November 2005... "It is always a pleasure to visit the Emerald Isle and when you are invited "to travel over and stay the night on us" who can refuse? The sting in the tail is that you have to sing for your supper by attempting to synthesise the proceedings of this one-day conference held on 16th November in Ballymascanlon Hotel, County Louth and draw some conclusions. "Are we reading better?" was Deane Houston's challenge to me to keep awake all day and scribble copious notes.
On reflection, some three weeks after the event, I have to say that this was an excellent one-day event which attracted an audience of some 90 participants from a diversity of relevant professions from across Ireland. The programme contained an interesting mix of speakers on three main themes: speaking personally; better reading and technical innovation. The standard was universally high and generated considerable interest from the audience.
As I have heard three of the speakers previously [they are long time colleagues] the personal highlights were to listen to Professor Jon Jackson and Joe Bollard. It was a great pleasure to hear a medical specialist like Professor Jackson address his audience so enthusiastically in terms the lay audience could understand. I am sure that his ability to demystify the terminology of ophthalmology and optometry and to explain his work with children should be exploited for other audiences throughout Ireland and the UK.
Equally enthralling was Joe Bollard's account of his experiences since going blind at the age of two. I believe it is essential to listen to and learn from the experiences of blind people but rarely does one encounter such an accomplished orator who amuses and holds his audience spellbound with such ease. If ever one wanted to be reminded of the joys of reading, whether one is blind or sighted, Joe's your man but I would hesitate to enter any competition he is involved in as he confessed to fortuitously being able to cheat in the Braille Olympics in Manchester 40 odd years ago when representing his school, St Vincent's, from Liverpool. No wonder we don't hold Braille reading competitions any more.
BCNI and St Joseph's School should take pride in organising such a successful event. And, are you reading better? Yes in many ways but there is still a lack of sufficient books in alternative formats as in the rest of the UK and we all have a long way to go despite the new technological opportunities which were clearly outlined on the day. However, David Mann's presentation on the Right to Read Campaign put everything in perspective; only 4.6% of the nearly 150,000 titles published annually in the UK ever become available in an alternative format. No wonder Joe is a member of NCBI, NLB, RNIB and Calibre!"
David Owen 08.12.05

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June 2005

"WE NEED TO SEE CHANGE"

2005/6 will be a challenging year for our local society serving people with severe sight problems.
Blind Centre's Chief Executive Deane Houston addressing a group of Health and Social Service professionals recently, highlighted the success of the charity over the past 25 years, but added a note of caution:"We cannot sustain the wide range of direct programmes of care without a major injection of government monies. For far too long, service provision to blind and partially sighted people has been under funded and under valued. All too often we are the Cinderella of Social Care and never invited to the Ball!"
The Blind Centre is reviewing all its programmes of care as we gear up to a changing future. Blind and partially sighted people deserve more from the Statutory and Voluntary sectors:"We want to see change now and the right level of funding put in place before service provision to people with sight loss is forgotten. We cannot work on a shoe string any longer!, added Deane Houston.
The Blind Centre provides direct services to over 300 people living across Northern Ireland with varying degrees of sight loss.
"We urgently need to raise awareness of the work of our local society and of the needs of many older people, their families and carers, who think - erroneously - that loss of sight is an unavoidable aspect of ageing and nothing can be done", said Deane Houston.
The Blind Centre wants to see improvement in the quality of services which are currently being provided by a host of statutory and voluntary agencies. We want to see these services, not only help to compensate physically and practically for the loss of sight, but also to ensure that the disadvantages of visual impairment are relieved through the provision of specially designed and adapted services to facilitate all aspects of daily living.
For the past 26 years, the charity has worked tirelessly to improve services to an ever-increasing number of people who are blind or partially sighted. Services can and will improve, but for this to happen, Central government, Health Boards and Trusts need to work in partnership with the Blind Centre and colleagues from other voluntary agencies in the field of visual impairment, to eradicate the "postcode" lottery which affects the availablity and standards of service.

MORE RESOURCES REQUIRED
The Blind Centre have also adopted Vision 2020's objective to maximise the provision throughout the UK of resources for advice and service delivery to people with sight loss.
Deane Houston said, "The Blind Centre would like to improve our services at the first point of diagnosis. This in turn will mean developing Eye Help Desks at hospitals across Northern Ireland and strengthening our Welfare Rights programme".

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June 2005

LINK WITH LISBURN DISTILLERY F C

From April to June, Lisburn Distillery's Youth Development Officer, Raymond Alexander will be working with 30 Primary Schools in the Greater Lisburn Area on pupils' Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ).
With family support and sponsorship, the best children will be judged at an SAQ Final during one of Distillery's 2005/2006 pre-season matches.
For more details,
Contact Brian Hall -
Telephone: 02890 500 999
E-mail: brian@bcni.co.uk.

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May 2005

SPRING SALE SUCCESS

Over £375 was raised at our Spring Sale at the Blind Centre in Omagh on May 10th. Thank you to all who organised, helped and bought goods.
For more details,
Contact Ciara McKeown -
Telephone: 02882 250 220 or
E-mail: omagh@bcni.co.uk.

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April 2005

White Cane Walk, Omagh on Sat 2 October 2004

Some 95 walkers participated in the event! A total of £5444 has been raised from the day's exercise.
The 2005 Walk will take place around Omagh Town Centre on Saturday 1 October!
For more details, contact - Ciara McKeown - Centre Manager, 10 James Street, Omagh.
Telephone: 02882 250 220
E-mail: omagh@bcni.co.uk.

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November 2004

VI SOCCER

If you are aged between 11 and 18 and have a visual impairment, why not join our soccer team? Training takes place every Monday evening at the Cregagh Community Centre, Mount Merrion Avenue, Belfast.
For more details - contact the Blind Centre's Youth Services Officer, Lee McQuade -
Telephone: 02890 500 999 or
E-mail: lee@bcni.co.uk.

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New VAT Service!

The Blind Centre is developing a Vision Awareness Training (VAT) programme aimed at supporting the Statutory and Independent Sectors, wishing to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act - Services and Goods (Section 75).
Half Day Courses are tailormade and delivered in your premises.
More details can be had from -

Margaret Fusco, Director of Services,
The Blind Centre for Northern Ireland,
70 North Road,
Belfast, BT5 5NJ, OR
Telephone: 02890 500 999 or
E-mail: margaret@bcni.co.uk.

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...and in 2nd Place...

The Blind Centre in Omagh was awarded 2nd Prize in the Best Kept Building Category at the "Pride in our Town" Competition organised by Omagh District Council.
Many Congratulations to Ciara McKeown and her team in the Blind Centre,
10 James Street, Omagh!

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"Tales of Bygone Days"

This Book of Reminiscence captures the thoughts and memories of Visually Impaired people living in the Causeway area during the Second World War.
Available - on audio tape and priced at just £3 (IDEAL as a Christmas gift)
- from Janet Purcell/Tina Campbell,
The Blind Centre, 37 Abbey Street, Coleraine.
Telephone: 02870 320 333 or
E-mail: coleraine@bcni.co.uk.

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August 2004

Charity OSCARS

The Blind Centre has nominated Allied Bakeries Ltd and Newcastle Lions Club for NICVA Community Link Awards 2003/4.
Allied Bakeries have been corporate supporters of the charity since 1995 and Newcastle Lions Club were hosts of the Charity Golf Day in Newcastle in May 2004, which raised over £2,000 for the Blind Centre. Both organisations will be presented with their Charity Oscars by Paul Clarke (UTV) on 8 September.

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July 2004

SEEING BETTER IRELAND 2004

"Amazing technology..." "So informative". "Very busy". "So much to learn about".
Some of the reaction at Dublin and Belfast over the 4 days (1-4 June) of this unique Exhibition. Organisations and suppliers from as far away as Austria, United States, England and of course Ireland, North and South, gathered to present their services and products to a host of visitors. Key people from social services, health and education joined with blind and visually impaired visitors to find out the latest in assistive technology as well as new developments in resources and services. The Exhibition was hailed as a resounding success in both venues, by exhibitors and visitors alike.

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