Newsletter December 2013
Lisburn in Focus
Lisburn in Focus
Rawdon House
45-47 Market Square
Lisburn
Co Antrim
BT28 1AD
Tel: 028 9260 0388
www.rnib.org.uk/lisburninfocus
www.facebook.com/lisburninfocus
Contents:
Lisburn City Centre pavement works 2
Claim a Christmas Present from Lisburn in Focus 3
Finding Your Feet 3
Letter to Santa 4
FREE Coffee (or tea) in Twinbrook 5
Cervical and Bowel Screening information sessions 5
Omniplex Lisburn 6
RNIB NI Shop Update 6
RNIB NI Products and Technology Update 7
Technology Volunteers Request 8
Circuit Training November - February 8
One to One Mobility Support 8
Boccia Sessions 9
React 9
Outlook News 10
Visit to Belfast Christmas Market 10
Outlook Annual General Meeting 10
Changes in the eyesight standards for driving 11
Tandem Group News 12
Audio Described Performances 13
Lyric Theatre 13
Grand Opera House 13
Braille on domestic appliances 14
Civil Aviation Authority survey 15
Lisburn City Centre pavement works
Lisburn in Focus is up-dating the Talking Newspaper on a weekly basis regarding the Public Realm works in the city centre. If you do not currently receive the Talking Newspaper we would recommend you contact us - or email them directly - to be added to the distribution list.
Throughout the works TAL (the contractor) can be contacted on 028 9262 2345 and in the event of an emergency there is a 24 hour number: 075 5337 8113.
Claim a Christmas Present from Lisburn in Focus
Santa and his helpers have arrived early at the Lisburn in Focus office and delivered a selection of products specially designed to help blind and partially sighted people.
To claim a Christmas present from the following list please contact the project team on 028 9260 0388 or pop into the office at Rawdon House, 45-47 Market Square, Lisburn, BT28 1AD.
Coloured Chopping Boards, safety vegetable peelers, keyring talking clocks, felt-tip pens, talking calculators, pocket and A4 diaries, wall calendar, mixed bumpons, tactile tape measures, Braille/large print pill organisers and liquid level indicators are all up for grabs!
Finding Your Feet
Finding Your Feet is a specialised residential programme run by RNIB for blind and partially sighted people who are finding it difficult to come to terms with losing their sight. It allows those involved to explore, discuss and better understand the impact of sight loss.
The programme offers a range of practical and emotional peer support designed to help people deal with the specific challenges that might occur with sight loss. Information and support are provided through a number of different interactive discussion groups and tailored workshops.
The Finding Your Feet programme is suitable for anyone over the age of 18, who is coming to terms with sight loss, at whatever stage in their life or diagnosis. A family member, partner or friend affected by the issues of sight loss, are also encouraged to attend.
This three day residential is free however participants do have to make their way to the hotel. This is our second Lisburn in Focus Finding Your Feet residential and will take place on Tuesday 25 – Thursday 27 March 2014 in the La Mon Hotel, Gransha, Belfast.
For more information and an application form, contact the Lisburn in Focus office on 028 9260 0388 or email . Completed application forms need to be returned by Friday 14 February.
Everyone who applies will be contacted at the beginning of March to be advised if they have been successful in securing a place or whether they are on a reserve list for the course.
Letter to Santa
RNIB is again offering kids the chance to write to Santa and receive an answer in the accessible format of their choice. The link below will take you to the web page with all the details of what to do. So why not act as a Christmas elf, spread a little joy and pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested in this.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/livinglearning/pages/letter_from_santa.aspx
A word of advice though, don't let the kids ask Santa for a jet pack they'll just end up disappointed.
Ho Ho Ho…
FREE Coffee (or tea) in Twinbrook
Lisburn in Focus is keen to meet local blind and partially sighted people and get an opportunity to tell you about the things we are doing. During 2014 we are going to host a series of coffee mornings throughout the Lisburn Council area. Free coffee/tea and scones and buns are provided!
The first one will be on Wednesday 8 January in
The Coffee House Bistro located at 126 Stewartstown Road, Belfast next to Lidl Supermarket. We will meet at 11am. If you live nearby and can make it please come along - it would be great to see you!
Ring us on 028 9260 0388 if you have any questions.
Cervical and Bowel Screening information sessions
Lisburn in Focus in partnership with RNIB NI have set up two information sessions in early 2014.
Wednesday 30 January - cervical information session
Tuesday 4 March - bowel screening information session
Both sessions will be in the Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn at 11am. If you are interested in attending one of them ring Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388.
Omniplex Lisburn
If you have tried to book cinema tickets in advance or even tried to find out what film/s are being audio described at the Lisburn Omniplex, I am sure it has been frustrating.
We are well aware that the phone number they asked us to promote is rarely answered and there is currently no information about audio description on the website.
It seems that there is no quick or feasible way of getting the information onto the website as it currently exists so the Omniplex have suggested that people email on a Thursday to find out which film or films are being shown with audio description for the week ahead.
I appreciate not everyone uses email but while the website is being re-designed it is the only practical way to get clear, up to date information.
RNIB NI Shop Update
Get your gifts this Christmas with the RNIB NI shop. Grab a bargain with many products on sale on the lead up to Christmas; particularly phones, watches, and sensory toys. Give that friend or family member who is frustrated with tiny buttons on their mobile, small print in their diary or calendar, or struggling to see their watch, a thoughtful gift this Christmas and help make their new year that bit easier.
Don't forget you can also get tactile Christmas cards for friends and family at the shop. Packs of six are only £1.95.
Also, please note we will be closed from 1pm Tuesday 24 December and will reopen at 9am Thursday 2 January. We wish you all a lovely Christmas with many happy memories!
RNIB NI Products and Technology Update
The first round of iPad taster sessions ended on Tuesday 26 November. Over 50 blind and partially sighted people or parents of children have now had the chance to get an introduction to using the iPad. Several have reported they have since been flying with their iPad - which previously sat unused or was a frustration.
We would like to thank all those who have made these sessions a success, in particular our new technology volunteers who allowed invaluable one to one assistance to take place in each session.
More taster sessions are due to start in Derry/Lderry in the New Year, and places are filling up for the progressive iPad training courses starting in March 2014. RNIB's 'Switch On to Technology' sessions are also to be delivered again in the New Year in various locations.
These sessions will give you the opportunity to learn about various new technologies such as mobile phones, ebook readers and computer tablets for reading, making calls, and getting on the internet. We will secure dates in 2014 and circulate these.
Technology Volunteers Request
We will need more volunteers in the new year as we expand this technology taster and training service. If you would like to talk about the possibility of volunteering for this varied and exciting new role please contact Joanne Williams on 028 9032 9373.
Circuit Training November to February
The Circuit Training class (in Studio 2 at the Lisburn Leisureplex) started at 10.30am on Thursday 14 November.
Feedback from participants, from the first couple of sessions, has been really positive. Charlene is tailoring the class to meet individual fitness levels - so come along and have a go! We will meet at the Reception and head on down to Studio 2 from there. Bring a small towel and drink with you.
There is no session on 12 December as Outlook are having a visit to the Continental Market in Belfast. There will be a session on 5 December and 19 December and then eight more in the New Year - starting back on Thursday 9 January. To book a place ring
028 9260 0388 or email
One to One Mobility Support
Are there places you would like to walk to that you can't because you feel unsure of the route? Lisburn in Focus can offer you one to one support via Guide Dogs Mobility Instructors. You do not need a Guide Dog! The mobility instructor will spend time with you reinforcing any routes that you already know a little bit but are not 100 percent sure of when on your own.
Ring us on 028 9260 0388 to request this service.
Boccia Sessions
A series of weekly Boccia sessions began on Monday 11 November in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church Hall in Market Square, Lisburn. We meet at 10.30am until noon each week. The sessions start with some basic skills and work up to a game.
If you are interested in taking part please call the office on 028 9260 0388 to book your place or, just turn up!
React
Fobs for the React units are available FREE to any local blind or partially sighted people. React is an audible signpost system designed by RNIB for people who are blind or partially sighted. Each speaker acts like a signpost, letting the person who triggers it know where they are.
For anyone outside of Lisburn Council area they can be bought from RNIB for £25. They are also available to borrow for the day from the Lisburn Tourist Information Centre in Lisburn Square, Lisburn Bus Centre Reception and Lisburn Train Station Reception.
The Lisburn in Focus team are keen to arrange trials of the system if you would like to walk it with one of us. Please call the office on 028 9260 0388 or email
Outlook News
Visit to Belfast Christmas Market
Outlook is going to the Belfast Christmas market at 11am on Thursday 12 December. If last year’s experience is anything to go by, we shall be treated to an informative tour of the market and given the opportunity to sample a number of things to eat and drink.
If you would like to attend, please contact
David Mann on 028 9260 7894 or email
David plans to travel up on the 10.08am train from Lisburn, but if anyone wants to go by another route a rendezvous point in Belfast will be agreed.
Outlook Annual General Meeting
The Outlook AGM took place on Thursday 21 November in The Wallace (formerly The Point).
Twenty five people came and heard short reports from Katie Leach (Chairperson), David Mann (Secretary) and James Judge (Treasurer). There was then an opportunity for those attending to give feedback and or suggestions for the coming year before the Committee stood down and the election process took place.
There are eight Committee members for 2013-2014;
Katie Leach, David Mann, James Judge, Audrey Kempton, Joanna Toner, Margaret Mann, Geraldine Dougal and Lesley Kirk. Office bearers will be elected at the first Committee Meeting.
The Committee welcomes feedback at any time regarding their activities so please do not hesitate to get in touch with Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388 and we will pass it on.
Changes in the eyesight standards for driving
Are you aware that new minimum eyesight rules were introduced in March 2013? Before you drive or ride a vehicle you must meet the new standards. Good eyesight is crucial for driving and if you can’t meet the standard in your driving test you will fail and DVLA will revoke your licence.
The NHS advises you to have a sight test every two years. However in some circumstances your optician may advise you to have more regular tests, for example if you have diabetes, are 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma or are 70 or over.
Drivers are encouraged to have their eyes tested every two years and must always wear glasses or lenses if needed. You MUST tell DVLA if you have a problem with your eyesight.
Group 1 – Cars and Motorcycles – Drivers must
· Be able to read a car number plate (with the aid of glasses or corrective lenses if needed) from a distance of 20 metres.
· Have a visual acuity of at least Snellen6/12. This means that the driver can read, from 6 metres away, characters which a person with normal (or Snellen 6/6) vision can read from 12 metres away and
· Have a horizontal field of vision of at least 120 degrees. This means, when looking straight ahead and without turning your head or eyes, a driver must be able to see 60 degrees to both the left and right.
Group 2 – Buses and Lorries
· For these drivers, there will be a new less stringent visual acuity standard for the “weaker eye” when each eye is separately examined. This means a Group 2 driver must have a visual acuity of at least Snellen 6/7.5 (see above) in the better eye and of at least Snellen 6/60 in the other eye.
· If you need to wear glasses to reach this standard they must not have a corrective power greater than plus (+) 8 dioptres.
If you are in any doubt that you can meet the eyesight standards it is essential that you arrange an appointment with an optician