Welcome to Visibility’s Spring/Summer Newsletter.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of our newsletter, and if you have a story or any hints and tips that you’d like to share in the next edition then we’d love to hear from you!
For now just sit back, relax, and we’ll begin…
Get to know your local Sensory Impairment Team!
When you are registered partially sighted or blind, the form that you sign at the hospital is posted to your local authority Visual/Sensory Impairment Team. This team is based within the local health and social care partnership. This specialist team will then get in touch to see what can be done to help to keep you as independent and safe as possible.
You do not have to be registered to make contact with your local team. The team can provide advice, information and practical support to anyone with significant sight loss. They can issue equipment free of charge that can help such as a liquid level indicator, talking clock, or symbol cane.
If required, they can provide mobility training to increase confidence in moving safely inside and outside the house and skills training to support everyday activities such as cooking, shopping, and using public transport. Additionally they can arrange a travel card (if eligible), give advice onbenefits and help you access talking books. If you are experiencing a significant sight loss remember your local authority Visual (Sensory) Impairment Team is there to help you. If you need the contact details for your local team please call Visibility’s Information Line on 0141 3324632.
Farewell Fiona
On 22nd September 1997, Fiona Sandford started as Chief Executive with Visibility. With only a small team of around 10 staff, Fiona and the Board of Directors had a vision to develop the organisation in order to provide support to even more people living with visual impairment.
During her 20 years, Fiona led the organisation with skill and passion. Her focus was always on the people the organisation was here to help, and she enjoyed chatting with visitors and dropping into the groups to say hello. Fiona led the rebranding from Glasgow and West of Scotland Society for the Blind (GWSSB) to Visibility with a new logo, colour scheme and literature.
Our strapline “listening and responding to people with sight loss” was very much Fiona’s mantra. Projects were developed to bring people together so that they could learn from and inspire each other, as well as have fun. Fiona even extended the geographical area when Visibility merged with Dumfries & Galloway Association for the Blind.
Fiona was involved at a strategic level with the Scottish Government, and was Chairperson of SCOVI (Scottish Council on Visual Impairment) for a term during her many years of involvement. She has worked with our board members in the governance of the organisation to build the excellent reputation that we have today. The staff and volunteers of Visibility are really sad to see her go and appreciative of everything she has done for each of us, and for the organisation.
We wish Fiona every success for the future as she takes on her new role of CEO with Visionary. We are also grateful to Jayne Stuart who we warmly welcome as she takes on the role of Interim CEO while we recruit. (Written by Arlene Croall, Chairperson)
Audio Description for your TV
Did you know your television has Audio Description (AD), an extra voice which will tell you what is happening on the screen? If you are watching a mystery show AD might say: “A man enters the room, he picks up a folder from the table and hides it”, helping you to follow the story.
You can find this free feature on all digital TVs, Sky, Virgin and Netflix.
Each TV is slightly different but the most common steps to turn it on are:
1. Press: Menu/Settings/Services.
2. Find the Audio Settings by selecting Setup/Audio/Accessibility.
3. Select Audio Description “On”. Or select the language as “Audio Description”.
Not all programs have AD but it is common for soaps, dramas and films. Most cinemas and many theatres also offer this service so be sure to ask before your next trip.
Celebrating our ‘Out and About Service’
Congratulations to our Out and About service, who welcomed their 40thvolunteer member at a celebration in March. The service across Nithsdale, Annandale and Eskdale, helps people with a visual or hearing impairment to get back out in their communities thanks to funding from Dumfries & Galloway Council.
Dumfries-based Arlene Croall, Chair of Visibility, said: "I remember Treena becoming one of our first volunteers for the service, so to see so many faces here today - from long-standing volunteers with decades of experience to those who have just completed their induction training - is fantastic. Reaching 40 volunteers is a real milestone and we're so grateful to everyone involved for giving up their time. Last year, our volunteers committed more than 1,800 hours of their time to this project and the work they deliver in their communities is the heart of our organisation."
With for more than 22 years volunteer experience, Visibility's first Out & About volunteer Treena Wylie still gets so much from the role. "I've learned a lot from each person I've been paired with," explained Treena. "You realise each person is unique and has an amazing story to tell. I feel very well supported by the staff at Visibility. They feel like part of my family after such a long time." If you would be interested in support from this service so you can get out and about, or if you would like to join the team as a volunteer then call Alison on 01387 267131 in our Dumfries office for a chat.
Information Days to put in your diary
Visibility will be at Clydebank town hall on Tuesday April 17th as part of the Clydebank Disability Group’s Big Open Day from 10am – 3pm! Come along and find out how Visibility could help you.
We will also be attending a Big Connection event on Friday 1st June at Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre, Daisy Street, from 11am - 2pm which will be organised by RNIB Connect and they’d love if you could come along. It is an informal drop-in session to let people know about Connect and what it can offer, but also a chance for people just to get together and find out about other local services.
Our Peer Support Groups
Annan: Queensberry Hotel, High Street, Annan on the third Tuesday of every month from 1:30pm – 3pm.
Castle Douglas: Community Centre, Cotton Street on the third Wednesday of every month from 2pm – 3:30pm.
Dumfries: The Usual Place, Academy Street on the last Tuesday of every month from 11am – 1pm.
Glasgow: Visibility, 2 Queens Crescent on Thursday 10th May and 12th July from 10:30am – 12 noon.
Helensburgh: Meeting Place, United Reformed Church, 35 West Princes Street on Friday 13th April, 8th June, and 10th August from 10:30am – 12 noon.
Lockerbie: Kings Arms Hotel, High Street on the first Monday of every month from 12:30pm – 2pm.
Oban: The Gallery Room, Kilmore and Oban Church Centre, Glencruitten Road on Wednesday 6th June and 1st August from 1:30pm – 3pm.
Newton Stewart: Cinnamon Café, Victoria Street on the last Monday of every month from 2pm – 3:30pm.
Stranraer: Burns House, Harbour Street on the first Tuesday of every month from 2pm –3:30pm.
We also have groups in Cumbernauld, Hamilton and Kirkcudbright but dates have yet to be confirmed for the summer, so please contact us if you are interested in attending. There are lots of other independent local blind groups across the country too that you might not know about. To find out if there is one near you, call us on 0141 332 4632 and ask for Audrey.
We’ve reached the end of our newsletter but there will be lots more news throughout the year that we couldn’t fit in to this edition! You can keep up to date by visiting our website or following us on Facebook or twitter by searching for @wearevisibility
Have a lovely summer, and if you need to get in touch with us, here are the full contact details for both our offices;
Visibility, 2 Queens Crescent, Glasgow,
G4 9BW.Telephone 0141 332 4632 or email
Visibility, Nithbank, Dumfries DG1 2SD. Telephone 01387 267 131, Text 07508 685 262 or email