Vision magazine
June/July 2014
Issue 66
Welcome
Welcome to your new and improved Vision magazine! We have
updated the design of the print magazine and the covers of our
braille and audio magazines, using the refreshed RNIB brand
style. We have also introduced some new sections, including the
“Information and services” guide, which you’ll find at the end of the
magazine, to make it easier for you to get advice and support. I
hope you will like the changes, please do let me know what you
think – you’ll find contact details for your Vision magazine in the
Information and services guide.
Some of you may recognise our cover star for this edition as
Mohammed Rashid who is one of our member representatives for
the West Midlands. Elections are coming up and we want to
encourage a wide range of people to stand – find out more about
what the role involves and also how all members can now vote by
telephone.
For this edition, as part of the commemorations of the centenary of
the outbreak of World War I, I interviewed Lord Michael Ashcroft.
Owner of the largest collection of Victoria Cross medals in the
world, Lord Ashcroft tells the inspiring story of Captain Buchanan,
affectionately known as “the blind VC”.
If you’re thinking about holiday activities, there’s an offer for
members of £100 off a Traveleyes holiday in Jersey, a summer
recipe and letters recommending cruise holidays, climbing and
rowing.
Clare Conley, Editor
Vision magazine: winner of best charity/membership
magazine MemCom Awards 2009
News
I am here campaign launches on TV and radio
Our new I am here campaign launched in April through TV, radio
and online advertising and in the news. The campaign aims to:
 secure more support for people who have been told they’re
losing their sight
 explain to people who are losing their sight how RNIB can help,
and
 raise money to pay for our work.
Sight loss advisers – also known as eye clinic liaison officers
(ECLOs) – offer emotional support and practical advice to people
who are losing their sight. Funding is precarious for existing sight
loss adviser roles, as many of the services have no guaranteed
funding after April 2015.
Put posters up and sign our petition
You can help by putting up I am here posters in your community
and signing our petition calling for sight loss support in every eye
clinic by 2019. Let us know what you think of the campaign and if
you would like to order a poster, sign the petition or listen to the
adverts, visit rnib.org.uk/iamhere or call 020 7391 2396.
Help us drive bus action in July
RNIB’s Stop for me, speak to me bus campaign will hold a UKwide fortnight of action in July from 17-31 July. The campaign aims
to ensure that:
1. Bus drivers should always stop at a bus stop and not rely on
someone to hail the bus.
2. Drivers should talk to passengers with sight loss so they can
check they are on the right bus, receive directions to an
empty seat and get off at the right stop.
In July, we will write to bus companies who have not yet signed up
to our “We’re on board” charter, which lays out 12 commitments to
make services better for blind and partially sighted passengers.
Mystery shop your bus service in July
You can help by using your local bus service and then telling us
what you thought of it in a short survey. We can then use your
feedback in our campaigning work with bus companies and other
stakeholders. Visit rnib.org.uk/bus or call the campaign hotline on
020 7391 2123.
New law brings tough penalties for attacks on
guide dogs
Owners whose dogs attack guide dogs could face up to three
years in prison under the new Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and
Policing Law.
Under this law, attacks on assistance dogs are now classed as an
“aggravated offence”. It also contains measures to force owners to
curb the behaviour of “out of control” dogs, which could also help
prevent attacks on guide dogs.
Guide Dog Chief Executive, Richard Leaman, said: “With an
average of 10 guide dogs currently being attacked every month,
we are now looking to the police to fully utilise their powers to deter
these attacks and prevent them from happening in the first place.”
NHS consults on accessible information
NHS England will carry out a consultation on its accessible
information standard this summer. The aim of the consultation is to
come up with a system which sets out how NHS services should
record and store your preferred format choices and accessible
information needs.
Give your views in the consultation
Have you had problems getting the information you need in a
format you can read about appointments, test results or anything
else from NHS England? Or perhaps you’ve had a good
experience which has made it easier for you to manage your
health independently? It’s important to take part in the consultation
to let NHS England know what a difference it makes to get your
confidential health information in a format you can read. You can
get involved and find out more about the consultation by visiting
england.nhs.uk or email england.nhs.participation@nhs.net
Or call the campaign hotline on 020 7391 2123
Mind’s Eye garden will inspire Redhill
development
RNIB had a sensory garden on display at this year’s Chelsea
Flower Show. It was inspired by a scheme to redevelop RNIB
Community Living Services in Redhill in Surrey
RNIB has teamed up with property developers, Countryside, to
plan the scheme that will create an integrated community building
homes designed for blind and partially sighted residents, alongside
houses available for private sale.
Aspects from the Mind’s Eye garden displayed at the Chelsea
Flower Show will be used for a sensory trail and gardens at the
Redhill development.
Make a noise in your library in June!
Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight (MANIL) 2014 will have a World
War 1 theme to tie in with the national commemoration of 100
years since the start of the conflict. It will run from 2-15 June.
MANIL aims to highlight how important it is for libraries to provide
accessible information including books, newspapers and
magazines. Many libraries will be running special World War 1
themed open days and drop-in events during MANIL fortnight to
highlight the accessible books and historical resources they offer.
How you can help
We need more blind and partially sighted people to visit their local
libraries during MANIL to get involved with events and tell staff
how important it is for you to be able to access information and
services. To find out more visit rnib.org.uk/manil or call Megan
Gilks on 0161 429 1980.
Obituary: author and RNIB supporter Sue
Townsend
Sue Townsend, author of the popular Adrian Mole series of books,
has sadly passed away after having a stroke. Sue, who was 68,
lost her sight in 2001 due to diabetic retinopathy and had various
other health problems. She continued to write after losing her sight
by dictating her books.
Sue was a loyal supporter of RNIB for many years and was a
strong advocate of the Talking Book Service. She said: “One day
the RNIB Talking Book Service contacted me and lifted me out of
the pit of misery and self-pity into which I'd fallen....it helped me to
realise that it was possible to be well read without print books”.
Eye health news: eye drops could
replace AMD injections in future
Simple- to-administer eye drops could replace monthly injections
to treat millions of people with age-related macular degeneration
(AMD) in the future.
A team of scientists at University College of London (UCL) has
found a way to deliver eye drops containing AMD treatment,
Avastin, to the back of the eye in trials carried out with animals. It
was previously thought that Avastin and Lucentis, which is also
used to treat AMD, have molecules that are too large to be
effectively transported in an eye drop. The team have explained
that in theory the technology could also be used for Lucentis in the
future but the timescales for developing treatments are dependent
on funding.
More than 540,000 people in the UK have AMD and around
30,000 injections a year are given to treat it in the UK. Matthew
Athey, Eye Health Information Manager at RNIB, welcomed the
development. However he said: “Studies are still at an early stage
and it could be years before the drops become available. The best
treatment for wet AMD currently is monthly injections of anti-VEGF
drugs like Lucentis.”
Find out more
Find out about the research at ucl.ac.uk/news
For more information on eye health and eye conditions visit
rnib.org.uk or contact the eye health information team via the RNIB
Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Lifestyle: The blind VC: a tale of
courage
Lord Ashcroft told Vision Editor, Clare Conley,
about his collection of 183 Victoria Cross
medals and the inspiring story of one particular
soldier.
As Britain marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, we
bring you a special interview with Lord Ashcroft. A Tory peer,
businessman, author, philanthropist and supporter of RNIB and
Action for Blind People, Lord Ashcroft owns the world’s largest
collection of Victoria Cross (VC) medals, now worth an estimated
£30 million. Lord Ashcroft has championed the rights of those
serving and leaving the Armed Forces - in 2012, he was appointed
to the Privy Council and was made the Government’s Special
Representative for Veterans’ Transition. He is also a military
historian, blogger and author of seven books including “Victoria
Cross Heroes”.
What inspired you to start the collection of VCs?
I was born in 1946, the year after the Second World War ended.
When I was about 10, I asked my father to tell me what he did in
the war. My father was wounded during the D-Day landings on 6
June1944. He described to me the feeling of fear, the metaphorical
smell of fear and the physical smell of vomit as they went in
landing crafts to the shores of France. The pinging of the machine
guns on the side before the ramps went down and then running up
the beaches - his colonel was killed by his side. My dad became
my hero and after learning more about Normandy, I discovered the
VC.
The Victoria Cross or VC, which was founded by a royal warrant
from Queen Victoria in 1856, is the most prestigious gallantry
medal awarded by Britain and the Commonwealth for gallantry in
the face of the enemy. It has been awarded more than 1,300 times
during the last 160 years. After reading about someone who had
bought a VC, I became interested in acquiring one of these
tremendous pieces of history and bought my first VC at an auction
in London in 1986. It had been awarded to Leading Seaman
James Mageniss. I remember as I held the VC in one hand and
read his citation, a particular frisson went through me that perhaps
only a collector can understand. That was the beginning of a
passion which has grown today into a collection that has 183 VCs.
Where is the collection housed?
My collection is housed with other medals - there are over 250
VCs and George Crosses - on display at the Imperial War Museum
in London. The display has interactive touchscreens, video
montages, animated graphics and sound clips to help bring to life
the stories of the men who were awarded these honours.
Who was “the blind VC”?
Last year I acquired the seven gallantry and service medals that
were awarded to Captain Angus Buchanan for his service during
the First World War. Captain Buchanan, a doctor’s son from
Coleford in Gloucestershire, was affectionately known as “the blind
VC”.
Buchanan was awarded a Military Cross (MC) for bravery at Helles
(now part of modern-day Turkey) in January 1916 when he
commanded V-Company in trenches east of the Gully Ravine.
Then on 5 April, he took part in the action for which he would
receive the VC when he courageously saved two wounded
comrades from no man’s land. King George V pinned the VC and
MC on to Buchanan’s uniform on 8 November 1917, at a
ceremony which was attended by thousands of people.
How did Captain Buchanan lose his sight?
He was wounded a number of times while fighting the Turks in
1916, but he received the most serious injury on Valentine’s Day of
1917. This was when he lost his sight in both eyes as a result of
being hit in the head with a sniper’s bullet.
What happened to Captain Buchanan after the war?
He went to St Dunstan’s (now Blind Veterans UK), the charity for
ex-service personnel with sight loss, where he learnt braille and
typewriting. Captain Buchanan then returned to Oxford University
where he studied for a law degree and became a member of his
college rowing eight. Textbooks weren’t available in braille at that
time, so they all had to be read to him by tutors and fellow
students. He qualified as a solicitor, setting up a practice with a
partner in his home town. Sadly he died in 1944, just 49 years old.
An obituary letter in The Times began with the words: “Few men
have faced adversity with greater cheerfulness and patience than
Angus Buchanan, known as ‘the blind VC’”. And it ended with the
words: “For him, there was no such thing as an obstacle in his
path”.
You and your wife have kindly supported RNIB and
Action for Blind People. Do you have any personal
connection with sight loss?
As a philanthropist I’m interested in causes that are close to my
heart. I have a connection with sight loss on both sides of my
family - my wife’s mother lost her sight towards the end of her life.
While my own mother, who has macular degeneration, has formed
a local group for others with sight loss to help each other through
this very difficult period in their lives.
Find out more: visit the Ashcroft Gallery
You will be able to visit the Ashcroft Gallery when the Imperial War
Museum, London, reopens in July, after being refurbished. Entry is
free and you can request a free audio described guide from the
information desk at the front of the museum. Visit
iwm.org.uk/heroes or call 020 7416 5000.
Find out about Lord Ashcroft’s medals online
Visit lordashcroftmedals.com for information on the VCs and the
stories of the people who were awarded them.
Read Lord Ashcroft’s books
A number of Lord Ashcroft’s books are available as RNIB Talking
Books and in other formats. Search in the RNIB library catalogue
on rnib.org.uk or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Listen to the interview on the Vision podcast
Listen to Lord Ashcroft speaking to Vision Editor, Clare
Conley, on the free Vision podcast at
rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine
Your community: listen, learn and help
other members
Would you like to help other members and build
your confidence and skills at the same time?
Now’s your chance to take part in elections for
member representatives.
Member representatives play an important role in representing
your views to RNIB. There are four representatives for each of the
12 member forum regions across the UK and they are elected for a
three year term, by members in their region.
The next round of elections for member representatives is coming
up this autumn. We really want to encourage a wide range of
members to stand. You don’t need experience of public speaking
or sitting on committees – we’ll provide training to help with that –
the main thing you need is to be a good listener and to want to
help other people with sight loss. You will need to attend member
forums in your region and to attend two national UK Forum
meetings a year, which are usually held in Birmingham or London.
In return, you get the chance to expand your skills, boost your
confidence and have the sense of achievement of providing peer
support for others with sight loss.
A member representative’s view
Mohammed Rashid is one of our member
representatives for the West Midlands. He is 33 and
has been registered blind since birth.
“After being a member of RNIB for a few years, I was interested in
becoming a member representative but was reluctant to try as I
didn’t feel very confident about speaking in front of large groups of
people. Also, I’m not someone who has sat on committees and
done things like that in the past.
Gradually as I went to member forums and saw what the other
representatives did and spoke to them, I decided to give it a go
and submitted my nomination and was lucky enough to be elected
by members in my region around a year ago.
I was a bit nervous of some of the responsibilities of the role at
first, like speaking at forums and conducting teleconference
meetings with members. However, I got support and training and
found ways to do things. Before my first teleconference meeting, I
gave myself a week to get my notes ready on my Braille reader
and then did a rehearsal with some family members. This really
helped me to grow my confidence and then I just did it and it was
fine!
Being a member representative has definitely helped me to build
my confidence and learn new skills. I feel as though I could stand
in front of the biggest crowd now and get my views over – I know I
have a much stronger voice. I would advise anyone who is
considering becoming a member representative, to please give it a
try. All the support is there and when you’ve done it, you’ll be a
completely different person. I would never have been what I am
now if I hadn’t taken that leap and stood as a member
representative.
Find out more about becoming a member
representative
You’ll find details of how to apply to stand for election as a member
representative in your member forum invitations. You’ll need to
send a biography of no more than 400 words outlining some
details about yourself and why you’d like to stand for election plus
the name of a member in your region who is seconding your
application, by 5pm on 25 July 2014 to elections@rnib.org.uk or
call 020 2391 2207.
If you’d like to request a copy of the full role description or to have
an informal chat about what the role involves, please contact the
membership team by emailing membership@rnib.org.uk or call
0303 1234 555. The membership team are also happy to contact
members you already know, to help you secure a seconder for
your nomination.
Vote for your member representatives
We also want to make it easier for all members to vote for your
member representatives in the future. To enable this, we are
making some important changes to the election process:
From July, voting at member forums will be replaced by telephone
and internet voting. Casting your vote will be easier than before,
and more accessible to members who aren’t able to attend their
regional forum meetings in person.
We will also be moving to a different voting system – a single
transferable vote system – where electors are able to rank
candidates in order of preference. This means that every vote will
count and will be representative of the views of all members taking
part in the election. The new system will enable all members from
across the UK to have a voice in choosing members to represent
their views at a local and national level. Information about your
candidates, and instructions on how to vote will be included in your
forum invitations. Or contact the membership team for information.
Exclusive offer for members: £100 off a
Traveleyes Jersey break
Traveleyes is pleased to offer members of RNIB an exclusive offer
of £100 off their Jersey: Charming Island of Destiny holiday.
The six day holiday will include a guided walking tour of St Helier,
a trip to the historic World War II tunnels and an optional visit to a
wine estate. The holiday usually costs £795, but members of
RNIB can get it for just £695. This includes fights and transfers,
three star accommodation, as well as breakfasts and evening
meals. The holiday is from 3 to 8 August 2014.
Traveleyes holidays are designed with blind and partially sighted in
mind and there will be sighted people on the trip to support you on
your holiday, providing descriptions about what is around you and
guiding you where necessary.
Contact Traveleyes
To take advantage of this exclusive offer for members of RNIB,
please contact Traveleyes on 08448 040 221 or find out more at
traveleyes-international.com
Your community: Meet Miriam Martin
Miriam Martin, the new Chief Executive of
Action for Blind People, outlined her key aims to
Vision Editor, Clare Conley.
Action for Blind People (Action) joined the RNIB group in 2009.
Miriam Martin who has worked for Action for 20 years, has recently
been appointed as its new Chief Executive. She takes over from
Stephen Remington who led the charity for more than 20 years.
Action has around 600 employees who provide services from 20
locations across England.
What will your role as Chief Executive of Action
involve?
I will lead Action, which is a member of RNIB Group, delivering
services in England for and on behalf of RNIB. Those services are
almost identical to the services that are delivered in Scotland,
Northern Ireland and Wales by RNIB (apart from the Vision Hotels,
which are based in England). I’m also responsible for the line
management of the RNIB country directors. This provides an
opportunity for all of us across all four countries of the UK to work
more closely together.
What would you most like to achieve in this new role?
There are three things that I want to focus on initially and I’m sure
that the list will grow! The three things are:
1. I really want Action to work in absolute partnership with blind
and partially sighted people.
2. I feel passionately that people who are newly diagnosed with
sight loss have the support that they need at that time. So
I’m absolutely delighted with the new strategic priority of
“being there” and the aim to ensure that there is an ECLO
there to support people at the point of diagnosis.
3. That the new group structure and strategy will enable us to
work more collaboratively as a group of charities.
What do you see as some of your career highlights?
I’ve worked at Action for 20 years now - I started as a Deputy
Manager in one of our care homes. It’s been a really interesting
career for me because I’ve been able to not just see, but also be
involved and lead, lots of the changes that Action has undergone
over the last 20 years. I’ve been particularly involved in the
development and evolution of our Action teams to develop them as
“multi-service, multi-disciplinary” teams rather than “single service”
teams. This means we can now help with a wide range of support
at each centre as each one can offer employment advice and other
services like advice on housing, welfare rights and access to local
services, for example. Rather than previously a centre might have
specialised in a couple of areas like IT and employment services.
How did your role change after the association with
RNIB?
In 2009 we saw the transfer of RNIB’s regional services in England
over to Action and Action transferred their fundraising team to
RNIB. So literally overnight Action grew in size by about 50 per
cent. We spent the first year working out how to shape and design
our services to make them better for blind and partially sighted
people.
What do you see as the main benefit of the
association between RNIB and Action?
Making it easier for blind and partially sighted people to access the
services they need. Before the association, we had a bizarre
situation where both organisations would end up competing for
contracts and we could be pushing the price down in a way that
wouldn’t benefit either organisation or the individuals with sight
loss who needed the service. The other thing - and this is probably
going to sound even more ridiculous - is that both organisations
used to compete for blind and partially sighted service users. This
is quite bizarre when there is just so much work to be done
From the outside perspective, wouldn’t it be easier for
everybody to be called the same thing now?
There are lots of people who may have that view. However, I think
in practical terms, there are many benefits to different
organisations being part of the group. Action has a long history
and is well known for delivering “on the ground” services and
working face-to-face with local people. This complements RNIB’s
national reach in terms of campaigning, innovation and product
development. I feel strongly that sight loss has such a devastating
effect on people’s lives that we have a responsibility to make sure
that the services and support that are needed are easy to access,
simple to navigate through, and provide what people need when
they need it.
Get support and advice
You can find out more about the services offered by Action in
England and by RNIB across the UK, by calling the RNIB Helpline
on 0303 123 9999.
Or visit actionforblindpeople.org.uk and rnib.org.uk
Make a difference: A for access making streets safer for you
Are you fed up with cars parked on pavements
and street clutter that creates dangerous
obstacles? Get involved with our new campaign
to make streets more accessible.
Many of you have told us that you have problems literally trying to
walk down the street because of “street clutter” - obstacles like
cars parked on pavements and advertising boards outside pubs,
cafes and shops. Some of you have already mounted some very
strong local campaigns about individual cases, with the support of
the campaigns team. However, a forthcoming national review of
local authority’s duties to provide an accessible built environment
means that we now have the opportunity to tackle this problem
with a national campaign. Our overall aim will be to ensure that
blind and partially sighted people feel more confident and
empowered to challenge inaccessible streets and areas and to
make local authorities more aware of their responsibilities.
Tackling the big six obstacles!
There are six big re-offenders that come up time and again:
 pavement parking
 wheelie bins
 random street furniture like lamposts and benches
 advertising boards shaped like “A’s” on the pavement outside
cafés, pubs and shops
 lack of safe crossing points
 shared spaces where vehicles and pedestrians “share” a flat
space without a curb to mark the roads
What is going to happen this year?
The Department for Transport is going to review national guidance
"A guide to inclusive mobility" that all local authorities should use
around the built environment – this includes roads, crossings and
pavements. The campaigns team will also conduct a Freedom of
Information request to all 152 local authorities in England to find
out more about their current policies on the built environment. This
evidence and your survey response will be used to produce a
campaign report and to shape a safer streets charter which we will
ask all local authorities to sign up to.
What is happening in Wales?
There is a new Planning Bill in Wales and RNIB Cymru and the
Welsh campaign supporters network will be working to influence
the legislation to make sure it ensures that developers take the
needs of people with sight loss into account.
What can you do to help?
1. Share your experiences of street clutter and the built
environment in RNIB’s survey at rnib.org.uk/campaigning or
call the campaigns hotline on 020 7391 2123.
2. Keep an “obstacles diary” for a week, noting the problems
you have encountered during your daily journeys.
3. If you have ever been injured by street obstacles or on
unsafe crossings and would be happy to tell your story for a
“case study” to be used in the campaign report, consultation
response and/or in the media to help us publicise this issue,
please also contact the campaigns team.
Make a difference: help us defend
social care for people with sight loss
We still need your help for our campaign to
make sure that blind and partially sighted
people are not Cut Out Of Care.
The Government is consulting on the regulations and guidance
which underpins the Care Bill in England. However, RNIB is very
concerned that proposed regulations and guidance for social care
and the eligibility criteria for assessments will still fail many blind
and partially sighted people and must be improved.
What changes is RNIB calling for?
1. Essential rehabilitation services should be free. They should
be available for as long as the person needs it and people
also shouldn’t have to wait for months to receive support.
2. Care assessments must take into account the unique It is
also crucial that blind and partially sighted people with care
needs, have their needs fully recognised. We know that
currently people are being failed, as the unique challenges
faced by blind and partially sighted people are not properly
identified in the eligibility criteria when assessing care needs.
Get involved with our Cut Out of Care campaign
We urgently need as many people as possible to respond to the
Government’s consultation on the Care Bill in England. Please
share your views and personal experiences on the unique
challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people and how
these need to be reflected in the questions and information
gathered at a social care assessment.
To find out more about the campaign and how to share your views,
visit rnib.org.uk/campaigning or call the campaigns hotline on
020 7391 2123.
What is the situation in Wales and Scotland?
Health and social care systems in each of the UK countries have
been devolved. This means that RNIB needs to take a different
approach to campaigning in each country and sometimes at a local
level, to tackle the issues involved. There is new legislation in
Wales and Scotland, which also affects health and social care
services.
In Wales, new social service legislation is also being developed.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Bill will shortly receive
Royal Assent and become law. Key decisions around eligibility
criteria and assessment processes will be made as part of the
process of developing the regulations that will sit under the Bill.
RNIB Cymru is working closely with Welsh Government and other
organisations to try to influence these and ensure that the new
system will adequately recognise the needs of people with sight
loss.
In Scotland, the Public Bodies Act gained royal assent on 1 April
2014. The Scottish Government says the Act is “a landmark health
and social care reform for Scotland and is the most substantial
reform to the country's National Health Services and social care
services in a generation. It will mean changes to the law which
requires Health Boards and Local Authorities to integrate their
services resulting in more joined-up, seamless health and social
care provision that will improve people's lives”.
The new structures must be in place by April next year. RNIB
Scotland is looking closely at how these can more effectively
support the needs of people with sight loss. Already in Ayrshire, a
joint sensory plan is being finalised to integrate health and social
care provision in this field.
Get involved with campaigning around the UK
Help make every day better for people with sight loss where you
live by getting involved with campaigning activities. It could be
anything from writing a letter to meeting your MP or going along to
an event.
RNIB Cymru
Email cymrucampaigns@rnib.org.uk
Call 029 2982 8500.
RNIB Scotland
Email james.adams@rnib.org.uk
Call 0131 652 3166
RNIB Northern Ireland
Email campaignsni@rnib.org.uk
Call 028 9032 9373
RNIB in England
Email campaign@rnib.org.uk
Call 020 7391 2123
Technology: find out what’s new from
Nokia and Apple
Robin Spinks, RNIB Digital Accessibility
Consultancy Manager, is partially sighted. He
reviews the Nokia Pocket Magnifier app and
updates for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod
touch.
What exactly is the Nokia Pocket Magnifier app?
RNIB and Nokia recently signed a major strategic partnership and
the first project of that partnership is the NPM app. NPM is an app
for Windows Phone smartphones which allows you to get instant
magnification for any purpose. It’s particularly useful for “spot
reading”, for example a label or a price tag in a shop, a menu or a
medication packet. It will only work for a low vision user at the
moment as it doesn’t have any speech capability.
Which phones can you use it on?
The good news is that the NPM app works on all Windows phone
handsets. These are priced from about £79, to over £600, so there
is lots of choice for handsets at different price points with different
features.
Where do you get the app?
Like any smartphone platform, the only place you can download
the app from is from the Windows phone app store. So on your
device, simply go to “app store” and if you put into the search
“Nokia Pocket Magnifier” it’ll take you straight to the download. The
good news is that the app is the best price of all prices – it’s
absolutely free!
How do you use it?
I’ve got the app on the homescreen of my phone. You can get to
NPM just by touching the app and the app opens, simple as that.
You’ve got four controls that are really large labels at the bottom of
the screen. Those controls allow you to do things like change the
background colours and if your phone has an LED camera flash,
you can also use as a light to give you a bit of extra illumination.
What are the improvements to the Apple operating
system?
Back in September last year, Apple launched iOS 7 for the iPhone,
iPad and iPod touch. Many people with low vision found it too pale
and difficult to see. Since then, many of the eye condition groups
have been in touch with us and we’ve been working to feed that
back into Apple. So the good news is that the iOS 7.1 update,
which has just been launched, contains a range of new features
which are designed to address those problems. For example, if
you turn on the bold text control now, the keyboard in iOS 7.1 is
much more bold and easier to see. There are some additional new
controls that allow you to darken colours and also to reduce the
intensity of whiteness of the screen – it’s a control called “reduce
whitepoint”. And there are various other small interface tweaks
which make the operating system easier to see.
Are there any changes with Siri?
Probably the most significant thing that people are mentioning is
that Siri, the digital assistant on iOS devices, has new UK English
voices. You can select a male or female voice by going into
Settings, General, Siri and selecting your preferred gender.
Get help with technology
For information and advice on technology, including “app of the
month” and beginners guides to using technology, visit
rnib.org.uk/technology or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Technology: guide to RNIB’s new
online shop
RNIB launched a new online shop in April at the same time the
main website was relaunched. The new online shop is easier to
use with six main categories to search in:

Clocks and watches

Canes and mobility

Children and learning

Braille

Reading

Home and Leisure.
Here are some useful tips to help you get the
best from the new online shop
Pay the right price!
Register and then always log on before adding items to basket this helps if you are registered blind or partially sighted and buying
VAT exempt products as you will automatically be charged the
price minus VAT.
Require braille or audio instructions?
Look in “Accessories” to check if instructions are available in
Braille or audio. Then click “Add to basket, where available, and
that way they will be part of your order.
How to search for a product
If you search using key words your search results should include
the item along with similar items or even accessories. If you search
using a more generic word you may get quite a lot of results. You
can then choose the “product type” that you are looking for in the
search result, located in the left hand part of the screen.
Search by price
You can refine your search by price. Again located on the left hand
of the screen and great if you have a maximum amount of budget.
You can also change the number of items displayed on the page
with the ‘View’ button option and choose to have the products
displayed in a grid style or list.
Shop and feedback!
Visit the online shop at rnib.org.uk/shop and your feedback is
welcome, please email shop@rnib.org.uk with your comments and
suggestions to help us improve, where we can.
Or call the Helpline to order
And remember that if you don’t have access to the internet, you
can call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 and they will help
find what you want and take your order.
Lifestyle: audio book review - Wilfred
Owen, “The War Poetry”
As part of our content marking the centenary of
the outbreak of World War I, RNIB Trustee Vidar
Hjardeng, has been listening to The War Poetry
of Wilfred Owen.
Wilfred Owen is one of the first world war poets. He enlisted in the
army in 1915 and the 49 poems in this collection are based on his
harrowing experience in the trenches between January and April
1917. After that he was invalided out of the army for a while with
what they called being shellshocked or we would say these days, a
post-traumatic breakdown. During that time, he met and was
influenced by another fellow poet, Siegfried Sassoon, and their
poetry was to change the way that people thought about war.
Owen returned back to service in September 1918 and was sadly
killed a couple of months later, just a few days before the armistice
aged just 25. During his short life, he didn’t have time to become
well-known, it was a couple of years after his death that his poems
started to see the light of day in a wider public context.
The poems in this collection are poignant and I think someone
used the phrase “grim to the point of brutality”, which I think sums
it up very accurately. They are also majestic, rather awe-inspiring
and they convey very graphically his thoughts, reflections,
observations of what must have been one of the most
unimaginable periods of international conflict in history.
This collection was brilliantly read by actor, Anton Lesser, and
that’s why I particularly wanted to share this version with you. As
I’m blind, I have to use the audio format but I find poetry much
more accessible when it’s read to me. It really helps to bring it to
life and convey what the poet was trying to say and convey.
Listen to “The War Poetry of Wilfred Owen”
Vidar listen to the unabridged version in the Great Poet series
published by Naxos Audio Books. Download it at
naxosaudiobooks.com for £6.00. Or you could order it on CD from
you local book retailer.
RNIB also has a collection of Wilfred Owen’s poetry and a
biography available – you can search in the library catalogue on
rnib.org.uk or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Lifestyle: recipe for roasted vegetable
and feta tart
Our recipe this time is perfect for a light summery meal or for
vegetarians if you’re having a barbecue! You can find this, and
other recipes, at diabetes.org.uk
Ingredients for 8 servings:
For the pastry:
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
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125g/4 and a half oz self-raising flour
50g/1 and three quarters oz oatmeal
75g/2 and three quarters oz butter
For the filling:












1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 yellow pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 courgette, sliced
1 aubergine, chopped
1 red onion, cut into wedges
Any other vegetables of your choice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
75g/2 and three quarter oz feta cheese, crumbled
25g/1oz pine nuts
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6.
2. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Stir in the oatmeal, then rub in
the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir
in a tablespoon of water to combine the mixture.
3. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to make a 20cm round.
Place on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment and
chill for 15 minutes. Then bake for 15 minutes, until a light
golden colour.
4. Meanwhile, place all the vegetables into a roasting tin,
drizzle over the oil and toss through the garlic. Place in the
oven and roast for 25-30 minutes until tender and slightly
charred on the edges.
5. Toss through the oregano and season well, spoon over the
pastry base. Sprinkle over the feta and pine nuts and return
to the oven for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted. Serve
warm or cold.
Your letters and tips
Vision star letter
I recommend tour of John Rylands Library
The John Rylands library, which was built in the 1900s, is part of
Manchester University. I went to a photography exhibition with my
sister and as I have very little sight, the curator asked if I would be
interested in an accessible tour. She took me to the very famous
reading room which is a really beautiful part of the building where I
was able to trace the wood carvings. They are of cotton flowers
and the red rose of Lancashire as John Rylands was a Lancastrian
who made his money from cotton manufacture. There were also
lots of carvings of birds and monkeys in the sandstone and I could
trace the detail. I thought the workmanship was incredible.
Even the sandstone on the walls of the staircase felt different in
places – some of it was very smooth like velvet and in other parts it
was rough and course. Apparently, it’s beautiful shades of pink
which I’m sure must be lovely. Overall I thought the visit was a real
success. I’d recommend it to anyone who has a love of history or
literature and there’s even a café, so it satisfies every one of your
senses!
Lilian Wickstead, Wigan
Visit the John Rylands library
The John Rylands library is open 7 days a week and offers a
programme of events and free tours including an explorer tour and
a photography tour. If you would like to book a free accessible
tour, please contact the library at least two to four weeks in
advance to arrange a tour.
Call Visitor Engagement Assistant, Kim Gillson on 0161 306 0555,
email jrl.events@manchester.ac.uk or visit
library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands
Star letter prize
For her star letter prize, Lilian wins a Doro PhoneEasy 110w
cordless phone.
The star letter prize for the August/September Vision is one of the
popular RNIB PenFriend labellers which can be used to record
audio labels for anything from food in the freezer to CD collections.
Climbing gives me a sense of achievement
I’m 40 and I have about three per cent sight due to retinitis
pigmentosa (RP) and I also have two hearing aids. I really enjoy
climbing as I’m in control of my situation and it’s all down to me.
The only part that I have to rely on for indoor climbing is for
somebody who is a sight guider who tells me what colour holds I
need to be going for and where they are on the wall. I also climb
outside, which I find a lot easier because I haven’t got someone
telling me off for not grabbing a yellow hold! I have no sense of
depth perception so for me it doesn’t matter whether I’m six inches
off the floor or six foot - it all looks the same to me! So from that
point of view it’s not scary at all.
I also do competition climbing and I’m currently on the GB
Paraclimbing team as a visually impaired competitor. I recently
came third in a competition in London. I wanted to share my
enjoyment of climbing with other members as I think there’s a
great deal of satisfaction and a sense of achievement in doing
something so well, since I’ve lost my sight. I would definitely
recommend climbing as an activity for blind and partially sighted
people - you get to meet loads of new people, always willing to
help you.
John Churcher, Birmingham
Sponsor John and read his blog
John is hoping to compete in the World Indoor Climbing
Championships in Spain in September and is looking for sponsors.
If you think you could help, please contact him via the RNIB
membership team. You can keep up with John’s activities by
following him on his blog at johnchurcherparaclimber.com
Rowing keeps me fit!
My husband has enjoyed rowing for many years and when he
retired I found he was going out rowing more and more so I
thought if you can’t beat them, join them! It took me a few years to
convince the club that I could row, just like anyone else, but I’m
now a member of the Royal Chester Rowing Club. I’m now in a
ladies crew – we’re all fit young ladies, no-one is aged under 50! –
and we go out twice a week. I sit in the stern of the boat, facing the
cox, and she gives me information about where we’re going and
who’s house we’re passing. I really enjoy the experience - there’s
all the different lovely smells as different restaurants open and the
sounds of the birds.
I’m not treated any differently to anyone else. I go into the boat
house to take the boat off the rack before we go out. Then when
we get back, I help take the boat out of the water and wash it
down. On one or two occasions I’ve gone to the wrong boat and
washed somebody else’s but there you go! After that, we all go off
for breakfast and we have a lovely time. You’re never too old to go
rowing, there are so many benefits – I’m 64 and I love every
minute of it.
June Jarvis, Chester
Try rowing or another sport
Visit britishrowing.org or call 020 8237 6700.
For advice on how to get involved with sporting activities, visit
britishblindsport.org. or call 01926 42 42 47.
Concerned about new pound coin
I note with some dismay that the present pound coin is to be
withdrawn and a new coin issued. I’m registered blind with myopic
macular degeneration. And I find the present pound coin is chunky
and easy to identify among all the other coins. I understand that
the new coin is going to be 12 sided, rather like the old three
penny bit and I’m concerned that we may get it muddled up with
the 50 pence piece.
Jill Ward, Herefordshire
Have your say on the new pound coin
The Royal Mint is proposing that the new pound coin, to be
released in 2017, will have 12 sides, be made of two different
types of medal and be roughly the same size as the current pount
coin. The Mint hopes that the new coin will be difficult to forge – it
estimates around three per cent, or 45 million pounds worth, of the
current pound coins are forgeries! It will hold a public consultation
over the summer, before the precise specification for the new
coins is finalised. Visit royalmint.com
Cruise holiday is perfect for people with sight loss
My wife and I are both blind and we have found that the Royal
Caribbean is a very “disability friendly” company to go on cruises
with. They give you an orientation tour and describe where
everything is; provide information including restaurant menus in
braille and allow working guide dogs on board. There are also
facilities for wheelchair users. We have also found that they have
been able to provide a member of staff to go on shore with us as a
guide for the land excursions. We’ve found that a cruise with all
these facilities is an ideal way for blind people to have a holiday
and visit places that we might not have gone to otherwise. The
ship is like a floating hotel which you can find your way round quite
easily. We’ve also made lots of new friends, so we would definitely
recommend this company for cruise holidays.
Adrian Rowe, Bexley Heath
Contact Royal Caribbean International
If you are interested in a cruise with Royal Caribbean International,
it’s best to let them know you have sight loss when booking and
you need to request the ship tour to familiarise yourself with your
surroundings, at least 45 days prior to the sail date. You need to
advise in advance if you want to take your guide dog and ensure
that you have the relevant documents. Portable hearing kits and
wheelchair accessible cabins are also available by request in
advance. All this information is included in a "Special Services
Requests and Information" booklet, which is available by emailing
specialservices@rccl.com or in the Frequently Asked Questions
section of the website at royalcaribbean.co.uk Or for bookings and
information call 0844 493 4005.
Your community: updates and events
You are invited to attend RNIB’s 2014 AGM
RNIB's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on 24 July
2014 in Birmingham. The AGM gives members an opportunity to
ask the trustees and management team questions about RNIB’s
annual report and accounts for 2013/14 and also about RNIB’s
work generally. All members of RNIB are entitled to attend.
If you would like to attend the AGM
The AGM takes place at 10.30am in the Aston Business School,
Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET.
Please contact Angela Flanagan on 020 7391 2359 or email
governance@rnib.org.uk. Please note that you need to confirm if
you would like to attend, by 1 July 2014.
Chair of RNIB Cymru moves to Macular Society
Tony Rucinski has stepped down as Chair of RNIB Cymru in order
to take up a new role as Chief Executive of the Macular Society.
During his four years as Chair of RNIB Cymru, Tony who is
registered blind, has been pivotal in campaigning for Lucentis for
the treatment of AMD and making eye health a public health
priority in Wales. He said: “It has been a privilege to have the
opportunity to spend time on RNIB-related work.”
Tony takes over at the Macular Society from Helen Jackman who
is moving to Canada as her husband has been transferred to the
Royal Canadian Air Force.
Growing your membership
We are now offering a free nine month trial membership to new
customers of RNIB. We have developed this offer after asking
members last year, about the best way to grow membership.
“Being a member gives you a sense of belonging. It’s nice to know
there are people who understand.”
Membership is a great way to get information and support. As a
member of RNIB, you receive:
Regular issues of Vision magazine – read the latest news and
real-life stories
Invitations to member events – come along and make new friends
Help from our dedicated membership team – get in touch with your
queries.
Do you know someone who would like to join RNIB?
If you know someone who could benefit from a free trial
membership, please tell them to get in touch with the team on
0303 1234 555 or membership@rnib.org.uk You can also find out
more by visiting rnib.org.uk/membership
Information and services directory
Your Vision magazine
Send a letter
If you'd like to send a letter to Vision you can either: post a letter to
Vision magazine at RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE or
email: visionmagazine@rnib.org.uk or telephone the Vision
messageline on 0845 330 4134.
Listen to the free Vision podcast
You can find out more about Vision magazine or listen to the free
Vision podcast at rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine
If you need to change your contact details or to receive Vision in a
different format - it's available in large print (16 point), braille, CD
or Daisy CD and email, please contact the Membership Team.
To advertise in Vision
To advertise in Vision, contact Landmark Publishing on 020 7520
9474 or email sharon@lps.co.uk
Member forum dates in 2014
Cymru: 10 September.
East of England: 2 October.
East Midlands: 30 July and 1 November.
North East: 2 August and 12 December.
North London: 5 July and 19 November.
North West: 22 August and 29 November.
Northern Ireland: on 5 June and 9 October.
Scotland: 25 June and 11 November.
South East: 6 September.
South London: 28 October.
South West: on 2 July and 4 December.
West Midlands: 19 September.
Yorkshire and the Humber: 14 June and 17 October.
Contact RNIB
The membership team
Get in touch with your queries, let us know if your contact details
have changed or request Vision magazine in a different format (it’s
available in large print, on CD, braille and email).
Call 0303 1234 555, email membership@rnib.org.uk or visit
rnib.org.uk/membership
Helpline
Get eye health information, emotional support, benefits advice and
product information. Call 0303 123 9999, email
helpline@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/ask
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.45am – 5.30pm and calls cost
no more than a standard rate call to an 01 or 02 number.
Fundraising
Find out how you can support our work. Call 0845 345 0054, email
fundraising@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/donate
Volunteering
Give a little time, make a big difference. Call 0845 603 0575, email
volunteering@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/volunteering
Campaigning
Campaign on the issues that matter to you. Call 020 7391 2123,
email campaign@rnib.org.uk or visit rnib.org.uk/campaigning
Free guides available from RNIB
We have a range of guides that you can order in your preferred
format free of charge. Call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email
helpline@rnib.org.uk
The “Understanding” series
is for people who want to understand more about their eye
condition. Titles in this series include: cataracts; Charles Bonnet
Syndrome; dry eye; eye conditions related to diabetes; glaucoma;
nystagmus; posterior vitreous detachment; retinal detachment;
retinitis pigmentosa.
The “Starting Out” series
is for people who have recently been diagnosed with an eye
condition. Titles in the series include: Benefits, concessions and
registration; Education; Emotional support; Help from social
services; Housing; Making the most of your sight.
The “Confident Living” series
is for people who want to make the most of living with sight loss.
Titles in the series include: Leisure; Living Safely; Managing your
money; Reading; Shopping; Technology; Travel.
Advertisements
Please remember that advertisements are placed by organisations
independent of RNIB and their inclusion does not mean that RNIB
has endorsed the products and services they offer.
Sight and Sound Technology: making life
clearer.
Sight and Sound is introducing the Blaze EZ which is
revolutionising the multi-media player. It has a wealth of
information at the touch of a button!
Carry the world in your pocket. It has an intuitive one button
operation for OCR, books, music, documents, podcasts and
recordings. An auto focus camera lens ensures high quality
accuracy of text recognition.
The Blaze EZ Slim design fits in your pocket. Take the power of
OCR everywhere and recognise printed material including books,
brochures, newspapers, restaurant menus and more.
Read text aloud using the high quality human-sounding voices.
The price of the Blaze EZ is £475 and as an introductory offer: if
you purchase the Blaze EZ before the 31st of July 2014, you’ll
receive a free AfterShokz Bluetooth Headset.
For more information call 01604 798070 or email
info@sightandsound.co.uk, quoting reference VISQ214. You can
also buy online at sightandsound.co.uk
Optelec is offering the Clear View Plus Speech.
Make reading easy again with the Clear View Plus Speech,
combining all the benefits of powerful magnification and true audio
text-to-speech playback in a single design.
You can use the touchscreen to scan a printed page and select a
paragraph to listen to. The Clear View Plus Speech also features:
Full page view
Point and read
High contrast photo mode
Upgrade your existing Clear View Plus to make it speech
compatible.
To request further information and/or a home demonstration, call
Freephone 080 8090 8090 or browse online at optelec.co.uk
Optelec: Life is worth enjoying.
Humanware is offering the Prodigi Desktop.
The clever new Prodigi will simply amaze you. Exciting modern
technology at one tap of your finger with magnification and speech.
At last, you can now read how reading is meant to be – easy,
comfortable and enjoyable. Prodigi is so smart, it displays scrolling
text for you to read. Alternatively you can choose to listen while
Prodigi reads it for you.
So affordable, Prodigi is available in three different versions:
Desktop, Duo and Tablet. Prices start from £749.
Diamond Edge Technology provides unbelievably sharp, clear text.
Call Humanware today to test drive a Prodigi and see the
difference for yourself! Speak with Jessica, Kirsty or Maria on
01933 41 58 00 to arrange your free demonstration or visit
humanware.com/prodigy
Copyright RNIB June 2014.
Reg charity no. 2226227
Ends