Working Together Across London for People with a Visual Impairment

‘working together across London for people with a visual impairment’

LVIF E-Bulletin: 8th May 2017

This Bulletin is also available on our website: http://lvif.co.uk/category/news-bulletins/

2017 meeting dates can be downloaded here: http://lvif.co.uk/2016/10/lvif-meeting-dates-2017/

Please send articles for inclusion to: [email protected]

NB: The views and opinions expressed in this bulletin are those of the contributors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the LVIF or its members as a whole.

Introduction

Welcome to the latest edition of the LVIF Bulletin! This edition contains even more exciting medical developments, as well as some useful technology updates, such as an ATM Locator app and a new Braille e- reader. Don’t forget to check out this edition’s “And finally…” section to learn about the last 100 years of eye health and sight loss history!

Item1: Canute: World’s first multiline digital Braille - a 360 cell e-reader for the price of an iPad Item2: Advance notice of publication: Women and Equalities Committee to publish report on Disability and the Built Environment Item3: Tech4Good Awards 2017 Item4: GOC publishes Strategic Plan for next three years Item5: New report indicates shortage of ophthalmologists for next generation Item6: Prevalence of visual impairment in those with dementia generally higher than the overall population according to research from College of Optometrists Item7: How does laser therapy compare to eye drops for reducing pressure in the eye? Item8: New test may spot glaucoma before symptoms begin, study says Item9: GOC publishes guidance on gaining valid consent Item10: Heart failure drug could save the sight of patients with once-untreatable eye condition Item11: Apple Users Can Now Download and Read Books from Bookshare in iBooks Item12: Moorfields’ Top tips for managing hay fever symptoms Item13: ‘Please offer me a seat’ badge and card now available Item14: LINK ATM Locator App Item15: Supermarkets survey

EVENTS

Event 1: Science Museum VIscovery day Event 2: Deafblind Awareness Day Event 3: Guide Dogs Annual Awards 2017 Event 4: Accessible climbing at the Reach Event 5: Aquabats Programme – May to August 2017 Event 6: VI Flamenco sessions in Greenwich Event 7: VI Friendly Games Session in Hackney Event 8: Learn to Swim Event 9: On Your Marks: Disability Swimming

And finally…

Item1: Canute: world’s first multiline digital Braille - a 360 cell e-reader for the price of an iPad

Affordable Braille is essential for blind literacy, education and employment, yet Braille use has been declining for decades due to stagnant technology. Bristol Braille Technology is building a revolutionary and radically affordable Braille ereader for blind people called Canute, designed with and by the blind community.

The Canute is the world’s first multiple line Braille ereader — forty characters per line by nine lines — and we intend to distribute it for the price of a Perkins typewriter or iPad Pro. That’s about twenty times cheaper per cell than existing digital Braille devices. Read more

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Item2: Advance notice of publication: Women and Equalities Committee to publish report on Disability and the Built Environment

The Women and Equalities Committee will publish its Ninth Report of Session 2016–17, Building for Equality: Disability and the Built Environment, HC631, on Tuesday, 25th April 2017. The inquiry asked what more could be done to make the built environment more accessible for disabled people. Areas the inquiry has covered include:

 Government leadership in improving access and inclusion in the built environment, including homes and commercial premises;  The effectiveness of UK legislation, policies and standards on accessibility in the built environment;  Design and management of the public realm;  Involvement of disabled people in decision-making.

The full text will be available on the Committee’s website on the day of publication. For news of the report you can also follow us on twitter: @Commonswomequ

If you require the report in a format not available on the Committee’s website, please contact us at: [email protected] or on 020 7219 6123

The VISION 2020 UK response to this enquiry is available here

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Item3: Tech4Good Awards 2017

The Tech4Good Awards celebrate the amazing people who use digital technology to make the world a better place. This year’s categories include digital health, digital skills and young pioneers.

Entry is free of charge and open to any business, charity, individual or public body in the UK – just submit your details here.

Past winners include a volunteer who uses digital custard to help children with special needs, a new system to help blind people navigate the tube network, a charity that helps disabled children play computer games and a startup that uses 3D-printing to produce affordable prosthetic limbs.

The Tech4Good Awards are organised by AbilityNet.

Full information is available here.

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Item4: GOC publishes Strategic Plan for next three years

The General Optical Council (GOC) has today published its Strategic Plan for 2017/20, with a strong focus on the future of education in the optical professions.

The GOC’s strategic objectives for the next three years are: the learning and development of optical professionals, a targeted approach to regulation, and organisational transformation. GOC Chair Gareth Hadley said: “It should be no surprise that education is at the heart of our strategic plan. The professions we regulate are changing fast and new technology could render obsolete some of the ways in which our registrants have worked for decades. At the same time, an ageing population and pressures on NHS services mean there is more demand for eyecare services than ever.

“Optometrists and dispensing opticians can play a major part in meeting these demands by taking on new roles, but only if they have the right education and training to support them with these changes. This is why we have placed education at the heart of our plans for the next three years. “We have received a positive response to our recent Education Strategic Review call for evidence and are committed to making sure that optical professionals are ready to face the challenges of the future.”

In the Strategic Plan the GOC also commits to driving forward improvements to the way it carries out its core regulatory functions. The GOC pledges to build on the progress it has made in modernising its fitness to practise function, together with activity across the organisation including processes and customer service.

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Item5: New report indicates shortage of ophthalmologists for next generation

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has last week published findings of the Workforce Census 2016 report that looks at the current clinical resource within hospital eye departments in the UK.

The report encapsulates data from 75 per cent of the UK’s hospital eye clinics.

Key findings:

 departments are struggling to provide the service required by their population  around a half of the units have unfilled consultant and/or Staff and Associate Specialist (SAS) positions  over 90 per cent are undertaking waiting list initiative surgery or clinics

With an ageing population and new treatments available to NHS patients, the pressure on eye clinics has increased rapidly over the last seven years.

In addition, research undertaken by the Way Forward Project looking at prevalence of disease and population projections suggests an increase in demand over the next 10 years of 25 per cent for cataract services, of 30 per cent for medical retina services and of 22 per cent for glaucoma services.

Presently, there are 1,306 consultant ophthalmologist posts in the UK and this increase in demand will require an increase in consultant numbers of at least 326 over the next 10 years.

Indeed, over 90 per cent of eye departments estimate that they require between one and five additional consultant ophthalmologists over the next two years.

The RCOphth continues to lobby for additional training numbers (there have been many more applicants than available posts since run through training commenced in 2012), but the current government position is to freeze the number of training posts for the next ten years.

With almost a quarter of ophthalmologists over the age of 55 and nearing retirement age, appropriate measures should be planned to provide for the next generation of eye doctors.

Read the full report.

Back to top Item6: Prevalence of visual impairment in those with dementia generally higher than the overall population according to research from College of Optometrists

Research led by The College of Optometrists found that prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in those with dementia is generally higher than for the overall population, highlighting the importance of sight tests in this group of people. The College’s research also found that almost 50 per cent of those living with dementia and VI were no longer classified as visually impaired when wearing their up-to-date spectacle prescription and that VI was approximately 2-2.5 times more common for those people with dementia living in care homes than for those living at home.

The research, entitled the Prevalence of Visual Impairment in People with Dementia (PrOVIDe), was led by the College of Optometrists in collaboration with City, University of London, University of Birmingham, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Alzheimer’s Society, University of Newcastle, Trinity College Dublin and University College London and was funded and published by the National Institute for Health Research. The project also benefitted from in-kind support from The Outside Clinic.

The study aimed to measure the prevalence of a range of vision problems in people with dementia aged 60-89 years to determine the extent to which their vision conditions are undetected or inappropriately managed. The study’s key findings were:

 5 per cent of people with dementia had visual acuity (VA) worse than 6/12 (the legal standard for driving) and 16.3 per cent had VA worse than 6/18 (a commonly used international standard for defining when someone is ‘visually impaired’). These figures are generally higher than in comparable data from prevalence studies on the general population (after adjustment for age and gender).  Almost 50% of those with VI were no longer classified as visually impaired when wearing their up-to-date spectacle prescription  22 per cent of participants reported not having had a sight test in the previous two years, including 19 participants who had not been tested in the last ten years.  VI was approximately 2-2.5 times more common in those living in care homes than for those living in their own homes, even after age and gender had been controlled for.  Once refractive error was accounted for: o Cataract was the primary cause of VI in those with VA worse than 6/12. Cataract is treatable with surgery in suitable patients. o Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was the primary cause of VI in those with VA worse than 6/18.  16 per cent of participants could not read standard newspaper-size print with their current spectacles, however almost two thirds of these participants could read this print wearing a prescription given following a dementia-friendly sight test.

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Item7: How does laser therapy compare to eye drops for reducing pressure in the eye?

Glaucoma is a common cause of irreversible sight loss due to optic nerve damage. It affects over half a million people in the UK, of whom 1 in 2 are aged 65+.

Sight loss happens over many years in glaucoma but can be slowed or stopped at any stage with treatment. The only risk factor for glaucoma that can be changed is fluid pressure in the eye.

Eye drops are used widely to lower eye pressure and can work well. But the drops are expensive and have many unwanted side effects that can make them unpopular and hard to keep up with. The treatment needs to be monitored closely and requires many visits to hospital.

An alternative to eye drops is a surgical procedure called ‘laser trabeculoplasty’. It involves a single, painless application of a laser to the eye’s fluid drainage system (the trabecular meshwork).

Laser trabeculoplasty is not often used in the UK. But a clinical trial is underway to find out how well it works as a first option for treatment compared to starting with eye drops. In this project the research team will analyse data from the clinical trial, which is known as LiGHT (for Laser in Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension).

At the end of the project we should know how well laser surgery lowers eye pressure compared to eye drops, how glaucoma progresses in people having either treatment, how well patients tolerate each treatment and be able to compare safety and side effects. The results could provide evidence for recommendations to use laser trabeculoplasty more widely in the UK. Read more

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Item8: New test may spot glaucoma before symptoms begin, study says

Prof Francesca Cordeiro, from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, told the BBC News website: “For the first time in humans we have a test that identifies [glaucoma] disease activity before the disease develops. “We are possibly talking five to 10 years before it would normally be identified.”

Bethan Hughes, from the Wellcome Trust, which funded the research, said: “This innovation has the potential to transform lives for those who suffer loss of sight through glaucoma, and offers hope of a breakthrough in early diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases.

For more information from the BBC please go to: Glaucoma Test

For further information from UCL please go to: Diagnosing Apoptosing Retinal Cells: Diagnostic for Glaucoma & Alzheimer’s Disease

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Item9: GOC publishes guidance on gaining valid consent

The General Optical Council (GOC) has today published guidance on obtaining valid consent to assist registrants in meeting its standards of practice.

The guidance reflects patients’ rights to determine what happens to their own bodies and to make informed choices when purchasing optical appliances and services. Obtaining valid consent should be seen as part of an on-going discussion and decision-making process between a healthcare professional and their patient.

Marcus Dye, GOC Head of Standards and CET said, “Gaining valid consent is a fundamental part of optical practice, but it was clear from the consultation on our standards of practice that registrants wanted further guidance on how to meet this requirement in their day-to-day work. “We consulted closely with a range of stakeholders, including patients and the public, registrants, professional bodies, employers and insurers, to develop further guidance in this particular area. “Our new guidance helps to clarify our standard relating to obtaining valid consent and supports our registrants in meeting it in their daily practice.”

The guidance on consent, including the legal framework on assessing capacity to consent for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, can be found on the GOC website here alongside the new guidance on the professional duty of candour published in March 2017.

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Item10: Heart failure drug could save the sight of patients with once- untreatable eye condition

A drug used to treat heart failure is at the centre of a £1 million study to establish whether it can save the sight of patients with a currently untreatable eye condition.

Central serous chorio-retinopathy (CSCR), which is a type of macular degeneration, affects mainly people aged in their 30s and 40s and occurs when fluid gathers under the retina and damages the tissue. Now doctors believe that the drug eplerenone could be used to treat the disease.

Professor Andrew Lotery, a consultant ophthalmologist at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, is leading the study, which will involve 104 patients at 20 sites across the UK.

He said: “This is a really important study because a number of patients suffer permanent vision loss as a result of this condition, the cause of it is unknown and there are currently no proven treatments for it.

“Recently, a small number of patients have responded to treatment with eplerenone and that is exciting, but information on the long-term benefit and safety is lacking, so we hope this landmark trial will establish the first scientifically proven therapy for CSCR.”

Every year, there are 10 new cases of CSCR diagnosed per 100,000 men and two per 100,000 women in the UK.

While some cases spontaneously resolve, others persist for years and recur or affect the second eye with a third of patients suffering permanent vision loss. Prof Lotery said although the cause of the condition was unknown, it can occur in families and some genetic changes have been found.

He said: “As part of our research, we will also collect blood samples for use at a later date to allow us to study proteins and chemicals in the blood stream and patients' DNA.

“Once this first stage of testing the effectiveness and safety of the drug is complete, we will seek to determine what genetic variations are more common in CSCR patients and which proteins or genetic variations help predict who best responds to treatment with eplerenone.”

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Item 11: Apple Users Can Now Download and Read Books from Bookshare in iBooks

Now that Bookshare is offering their books in an epub format, you can now download and read their books in iBooks on both MacOS and iOS.

Click here to read Cool Blind Tech’s guide to reading Bookshare material in iBooks

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Item 12: Moorfields’ Top tips for managing hay fever symptoms

Mr. Badrul Hussain, consultant eye surgeon at Moorfields, shares his top tips for beating hay fever this summer.

Top tips for reducing symptoms:

 Wearing wraparound sunglasses can help reduce pollen contact with the eyes.  Shower, wash your hair and change your clothes after spending time outdoors to remove any pollen from your skin and hair.  Dry washed clothes indoors during the peak pollen season.  Stay indoors when the pollen count is high – different types of pollen can affect different people, although there can be a crossover. A pollen forecast can be viewed at the Met Office.  Alcohol may increase allergy symptoms and should be avoided when your hay fever is at its worst.

When to seek medical advice: If your symptoms don’t improve after using over-the-counter anti- histamines, make an appointment to see your GP. They may be able to recommend other treatments, such as anti-histamine drops that are only available on prescription.

On occasions, marked allergic reactions may need review by an eye specialist and treatment with medication that dampens down the immune reaction such as steroids.

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Item 13: ‘Please offer me a seat’ badge and card now available

On 28th April TFL launched the ‘Please offer me a seat’ badge and card for people who find it difficult to stand when using public transport. The badge and accompanying card were created following requests from customers who struggle to get a seat, as their need is not immediately obvious. The badge and card remove the awkwardness of customers having to explain their need for a seat to others.

Last autumn, TFL held a six week trial with 1,200 people to test the new badge and card. More than 72 per cent of journeys were found to be easier as a result of the badge, and 98 per cent of people taking part said they would recommend it to somebody who needed it.

As a result, TFL is now introducing the ‘Please offer me a seat’ initiative permanently. The free badge and card are now available through their website or by calling on 0343 222 1234. There are no qualifying criteria - applicants do not need to provide a GP’s note or their medical history. The badge and card can be used across their network, on London Underground, London Overground, Buses, Docklands Light Railway, TfL Rail, Trams and River Services.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Peter Fletcher Communications and Engagement Manager – Accessibility | Campaigns, Communications and Engagement | Public Affairs | Transport for London 11th Floor, Windsor House, 50 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0TL 020 3054 7208 (int 87208) [email protected] www.tfl.gov.uk

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Item 14: LINK ATM Locator App

Leading sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has been working with LINK on a fully accessible smart phone app which will enable visually impaired people to locate ATMs more easily.

LINK, the UK’s cash machine (ATM) network, has launched a GPS-enabled ATM locator app which is designed to help people with visual impairment and other disabilities to easily locate ATMs based on their access needs. TPT was embedded in the app development process with LINK, providing expert feedback to the developers at each stage to ensure the app would be fully accessible.

The charity also organised extensive testing to ensure the app was accessible with VoiceOver and TalkBack screen readers on both iOS and Android platforms.

The app allows users to set up filters to find ATMs that cater to different needs, including ATMs with audio assistance, that are wheelchair accessible, dispense £5 notes, provide mobile recharge services, enable pin management and are free to use.

It also enables people to find ATMs close to their location and perform postcode-based searches in order to find ATMs at another location. Users can send feedback via the app and report ATMs that do not offer the services stated in the app, allowing LINK to keep the database up-to-date and to fix issues.

Marsha de Cordova, Engagement and Advocacy Director at TPT, commented: “I am thrilled that LINK chose to engage and work with us on the development of their new app. It is vital that technology is accessible. LINK involved us at every stage of development ensuring accessibility remained a priority and they have been open to all of our suggestions and feedback. We hope other organisations follow in LINK's footsteps to make sure apps are accessible to all.”

John Howells, LINK’s CEO said: “LINK is committed to financial inclusion and the independent LINK Consumer Council has been fully behind this exciting initiative. Cash remains an essential part of our lives and is still the most attractive payment option for many of us in lots of situations. The new, free app will make finding an ATM more convenient for everyone and, with its search filters, make it easier for vulnerable consumers to draw out their cash safely, and for anyone who wants to find ATMs that dispense £5 notes.”

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Item 15: Supermarkets survey

Thomas Pocklington Trust wants to find out how accessible supermarkets are for people with sight loss, both in store and online. To help us, we would like to hear about the shopping experiences of people with sight loss, the support received and how accessible supermarkets are.

We are doing a new survey to find out about people's experiences.

Click here to take the survey

If you need support to fill in the survey, please contact Sophie Huggins, from the TPT Engagement & Advocacy Team, to arrange a time to help them on 020 3761 3650 or 07964 456699.

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EVENTS

Event 1: Science Museum VIscovery day

The Science Museum is holding a VIscovery day on Saturday 20th May 2017 where events will be held for families with members who are visually impaired, partially sighted or blind.

All events will be free and suitable for children aged 5 and over.

The day is going to have a technology theme and we are very excited to announce that Microsoft will be hosting some of the events on the day! The full timetable will be finalised shortly, but we are looking to hold:

 Physical coding workshops using project Torino. You can find out more here  Robotics themed workshops  Computer Surgeries with a blind Microsoft engineer; this will be your chance to ask an expert any computing questions.  Object handling session

Events will be individually bookable so that families get the most personal interactive experience possible.

If you have any questions please contact: [email protected] or familyprogrammes@sciencemu- seum.ac.uk 02079424756

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Event 2: Deafblind Awareness Day

As part of Deafblind Awareness Week, we would like to invite you to a Deafblind Awareness and Information Event on 27th June.

Come along and share your information with those who have combined sight and hearing loss, their friends and families and other organisations.

We are expecting around 100 people to drop in throughout the day, providing an ideal channel to promote your services.

· Meet potential clients or service beneficiaries · Network with other organisations · Learn more about dual sensory loss

The Deafblind Information and Awareness Event will take place on Tuesday 27th June between 11am and 2pm at:

Deafplus Trinity Centre Key Close Whitechapel E1 4HG

Spaces are filing up fast so if you would like to exhibit at this event, please contact Sue Sintonsmith on 07940 836882 or [email protected].

Deafblind Awareness Week will take place from Monday 26th June to Sunday 2nd July, so if you are unable to make the above event but would like to get involved in another way, please let us know.

Back to top Event 3: Guide Dogs Annual Awards 2017

The Guide Dogs Annual Awards celebrate partnerships and people who have taken extraordinary steps to make a difference to someone living with sight loss. When you lose your sight it is life changing. But, so is the amazing partnership of a guide dog or My Guide volunteer.

Unsung heroes also work tirelessly in communities to break down barriers and fight for changes that make a huge difference to people who are blind or partially sighted.

The Guide Dogs Annual Awards 2017 will take place on Wednesday 17 May at the Hurlingham Club in Chelsea, London.

As always, the red carpet will be attended by celebrity supporters, guide dog heroes and puppies in training.

To book a table please visit the table booking page.

For more information and to view the list of finalists, click here

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Event 4: Accessible climbing at the Reach

Just a quick reminder about our upcoming sessions at the Reach Climbing Centre.

Our recent climbing sessions at the Castle Climbing Centre went so well that we thought you we better get a move on and book some more oppor- tunities in other locations. We are now partnered up to deliver these new sessions with South East London Vision.

Climbing is an amazing way to build your confidence and get a full body work out. Why not come and give it a go with the experts down at the Reach Climbing Centre in Woolwich. Remember these sessions have lim- ited capacity and we already have half of the spaces taken.

Click here to follow the link to a lovely short clip we filmed recently at one of the sessions: Climbing Video

Venue: The reach Climbing Wall, Unit 6, Mellish Industrial Estate, Harrington Way, London, Woolwich, SE18 5NR

Dates (Thursdays): May: 4, 11, 18, 25 June: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July: 6, 13, 20

Time: 11am - 12.30pm

Communication: We endeavour to make our sessions as inclusive as possible, but regret we are unable to provide BSL or other language interpreters, therefore advise you to ensure you have support available to attend your chosen sessions if needed.

Guide Dogs: Assistance dogs are welcome at any of our sessions, however coaches and staff do not have provision to supervise dogs, therefore they may be left un- supervised to the side of the session. A suggestion is to bring along toys and/or food to help prevent boredom. If you have any queries or concerns, regarding this please contact us further.

To book onto the activity please follow this link to the Registration Form that needs to be completed and returned to:

Taylor Huxster Regional Sports Coordinator [email protected] Telephone: 02070149365 (Tuesday - Thursday)

View the upcoming and current activities on the Sense website

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Event 5: Aquabats Programme – May to August 2017

25 May Boat trip: Please meet at Royal Albert D.L.R on the Eastbound platform at 6.30pm leaving at 6.45pm. We will be eating afterwards in the upstairs Chinese restaurant which overlooks London City Airport.

8 June Walk at St James’s Park (the Election walk): Please meet at 6.15pm leaving at 6.30pm at St James’s Park Underground at the east end of the station. If you would like to attend evensong at Westminster Abbey prior to the event please let me know. The service starts at 5.00pm and you would need to meet us at the West Door of the Abbey at 4.30pm. Sighted assistance is available.

15 June Narrowboat trip: Please meet at Angel (Northern Line) at 6.15pm leaving at 6.30pm.

22 June Swimming at Parliament Hill: Please meet at Gospel Oak (London Overground) at 6.20pm leaving at 6.35pm. We usually visit a pub afterwards called the Southampton Arms which is about five minutes’ walk from the Lydo. Sighted assistance will be available for this swimming event.

6 July Barbecue at Laburnum Boat Club: Laburnum Street, Hackney London E2 8BH. Please meet at Hoxton (London Overground) at 6.15pm leaving at 6.30pm. The club is about five minutes’ walk from the station. Alternatively you can make your own way. Please bring your own drink but all food is provided. If you are coming along for the first time and are vegetarian please let us know by 30 June.

20 July Swimming at Parliament Hill: Details as above. Sighted assistance will be available.

Friday 4 August Fundraising swim in the Serpentine: This is a daytime event. Please meet at Lancaster Gate (Central Line) at 10.30am. We will swim a minimum of ten lengths of the Serpentine swimming area. Cost is £3 to enter minimum donation.

10 August Bellboating at Shadwell. Please: Meet at Shadwell D.L.R at 6.15pm leaving at 6.30pm. Sighted assistance is available.

17 August Walk at Finsbury Park: Please meet at Finsbury Park at the BR Station exit at 6.15pm leaving at 6.30pm. We will be heading for the Coronet 338-346 Holloway Rd LONDON N7 6NJ 020 7609 5014 afterwards from 8.00pm. Contact information: Keith de Jersey Tel: 020 8805 6578 Email: [email protected]

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Event 6: VI Flamenco sessions in Greenwich

Join South East London Vision for another four Flamenco sessions in Greenwich!

Dates and times: Friday 12th May, 2.30 – 3.30pm Friday 2nd June, 6-7pm Friday 7th July, 12-1pm Thursday 3rd August, 11am-12pm

Where: Greenwich West Community and Art Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8JA Two minutes’ walk from Greenwich DLR and Rail station. Buses 177, 180, 199 and 386 all stop close to the centre. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a meeting point. Join us for these fun sessions. Learn sequences of rhythmic foot stomping, clapping and arm movements to traditional Spanish music ** Please wear comfortable clothing. You will need to wear shoes with a hard heel, no trainers.

For further information or to register your place please contact Jess Beal T: 0203 815 3660. M: 07866 926668. E: [email protected]

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Event 7: VI Friendly Games Session in Hackney

Tuesday 6th June 2017 10am-1pm

Come along and try a variety of games such as Braille Chess, Dominoes, Playing Cards, Connect 4, Scrabble, Computer Games and games which you can play on your smartphone, plus more… We will also have Voldi Gailans, from the Braille Chess Association, as a guest speaker to talk about how you can get involved in playing chess, whether you're a total novice or have been playing for years.

Where: Navarino Mansions Community Hall, Dalston Lane, Hackney, London, E8 1LB

Meeting point: Hackney Downs station. Bus 30 and 56 also stop there (Stop N).

Costs: Free, Refreshments will be provided.

To sign up, please get in touch with Bhavini Makwana on: Email: [email protected] Call: 07976448824 or 020 3697 6464

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Event 8: Learn to Swim

30 minutes 1 - 1 coached swimming lessons for blind and partially sighted beginners.

Cost: £20 for 4 lessons, usually £95.40 subsidised by Metro Blind Sport. When: Available sessions Monday and Wednesday between 12.00 – 12.30 and 12.30 – 13.00, term time only.

Where: Everyone Active Northolt Leisure Centre, Eastcote Lane North, London, UB5 4AB.

Directions: Nearest tube station – Northolt Underground Station. Nearest bus route/stop – 282; Northolt Swimming Pool stop J/F. 90, 120, 140, 282, 395; Northolt stop A/B. Guide dog owners welcome.

How to Book: Contact Ian Francis on 07814751643 or [email protected]

Participants must be a current Metro member.

You can join online at www.metroblindsport.org or click here http://bit.ly/2oOrsTq

Back to top Event 9: On Your Marks: Disability Swimming

Suitable for vision impaired participants

Sessions are delivered by qualified swim teachers, available to teach from within the water. Adaptive and accessible changing facilities are available.

Cost: £2.50

When: Every Tuesday during term time 11.00 – 12.00

Where: Everyone Active Northolt Leisure Centre, Eastcote Lane North, London, UB5 4AB.

Directions: Nearest tube station – Northolt Underground Station. Nearest bus route/stop – 282; Northolt Swimming Pool stop J/F. 90, 120, 140, 282, 395; Northolt stop A/B.

Contact: Email [email protected]

Tel No. 020 8423 7436

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And finally…

When do you think the white cane was first used?

Did you know the white cane was first used in 1921 when a photographer painted his walking stick so motorists could see him more clearly? Look back at RNIB’s 100-year timeline to see what were the biggest landmark events from 1917 to 2017

Click here to view the timeline

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