Vision The award winning magazine for RNIB Members Issue 63 • December 2013/January 2014 • rnib.org.uk

Andrea Begley The Voice UK winner on singing, writing and RNIB! Write about a day Author Peter Robinson gives tips for our competition Choosing an ereader What questions to ask VIS63PRINT

Welcome Contents Hello and welcome to your 4 News December/January Vision magazine. I went to meet Andrea Begley, winner of BBC’s singing 9 Member news competition The Voice UK. Andrea, who was busy promoting her new album, 10 Andrea Begley: The Message has had lots of messages from other The Voice UK winner on her new album people with sight loss who have been encouraged by her success (page 10). 14 Read for RNIB Day 2013 You can listen to the interview and hear a track from her album on the free 16 Seize the day! Vision podcast. This is a taster of the Enter our members’ writing competition audio magazine, which is produced as a recorded radio programme, at rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine 17 Peter Robinson: getting started Writing tips from DCI Banks author Reading is a theme for this edition. We have a round up of all the fun reading related events which took place for 18 Campaign news Read for RNIB Day in October (page 14). Crisis in capacity in eye clinics In technology on page 26, discover how to find the best ereader for you. While 20 Find out benefits of registering on page 17, Peter Robinson, author of the successful DCI Banks series gives tips 22 Your letters and tips on writing to help inspire you for this years’ writing competition (page 16). 25 RNIB presents Prodigi There’s still time to enter! 26 Technology column On a serious note, campaign news How to choose an ereader reveals a crisis in capacity at eye clinics which is resulting in many people losing 28 Audio book review their sight unnecessarily (page 19). We Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland give you some information on your rights by Lewis Carroll and how you can get involved, to help to stop this happening. 29 Recipe Wishing you all the best for the festive Boxing Day turkey and chickpea curry season and a happy new year. Clare Conley 30 Your membership benefits Editor of Vision magazine

Contents • 3 news Welsh Government launches NICE approves eye health care plan treatment for VMT The Welsh Government launched its five year Eye NICE (the National Health Care Plan (EHCP) for Wales in September. Institute for Health The document sets out plans for preventing avoidable and Care Excellence) sight loss and for improving eye health services and has approved the use of ocriplasmin for the support for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB treatment of VMT Cymru played a key role in shaping the plan, which (vitreomacular traction). includes: a commitment to develop a public education This is an eye condition campaign for eye health; vision screening in schools, related to ageing that can and improving the links between hospital eye services lead to vision loss. The and social services. decision by NICE follows months of campaigning by RNIB. Ocriplasmin offers a welcome alternative to surgery, which often requires the patient to lie immobile face down for up to a week afterwards.

Technology for Life in Glasgow A bicycle using ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles was among the innovations on display at RNIB Scotland’s Technology for Life exhibition in Glasgow in September. The aim was to explore how new technology can transform the lives of people with sight loss. Delegates had the chance to try the Ultra Bike (pictured right) made by UltraCane, which allows people with sight loss to cycle independently; wear “smart-specs” that automatically focus light on undamaged areas of the eye, and learn about a tool developed by the Scottish company Optos which diagnoses health problems just by scanning the retina in the eye.

4 • News Read Man Booker 2013 winner Can you help with The novel that won the Man Booker alcohol and sight prize this year is available to read loss research? in unabridged audio, braille or The Thomas Pocklington giant print. Eleanor Catton, is the Trust and Alcohol youngest winner at age 28 and Research UK are carrying her novel, “The Luminaries”, is the out a study to explore the longest novel ever to triumph in the links between sight loss award. and alcohol or other drug RNIB has also produced the other problems. five novels that were shortlisted, in People dealing with sight alternative formats. For the fifth year running it has been problems can sometimes a condition of entry for the prize that publishers must start drinking more provide RNIB with electronic files to enable this. alcohol due to feelings Lesley-Anne Alexander, Chief Executive of RNIB, said: “At of isolation, loss or RNIB we believe that blind and partially sighted people difficulties sleeping. It should have the same access to books at the same time can then become a habit as sighted people. We’re very grateful to the Booker Prize that’s hard to break. Foundation for their continued support so that we can The team of researchers make the shortlisted books available to blind and partially from England and Wales sighted people as quickly as possible.” want to hear from people with experiences of both sight loss and alcohol or Do you have metamorphopsia? other drug use – this may be now or in the past. RNIB campaigns team would like to hear from people in If you can help us Scotland and England who experience distorted vision yourself, or if you are a – known as metamorphopsia. This can be caused by family member or friend, a number of eye conditions including wet age-related please get in touch macular degeneration and other macular disease. If with Sarah Galvani on you have metamorphopsia or you experience visual 07884 007 222 or disturbances including seeing straight lines appearing [email protected] as wavy lines and you would be interested in helping us Any contact is completely with research, please contact the campaigns team on confidential. 020 7391 2123 or email [email protected]

Photo © Janie Airey News • 5 Eye Pod tours 24 events in 2013 RNIB has taken the Eye Pod sight loss simulator to 24 events in England and Northern Ireland during 2013, including the Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast. A range of high profile figures have visited the Pod including Health Minister, Earl Howe. Inside the Pod, visitors experience digital simulations of common eye conditions using special digital screens. RNIB also raises concerns over the limited data that most councils hold on local sight loss, as part of our “Don’t lose sight” public health campaign. To find out more about the Eye Pod tour and get involved with our “Don’t lose sight” campaign visit: rnib.org.uk/sos or call the campaigns team on 020 7391 2123. BridgeVis wins international award BridgeVis society from Bridgend in Wales has won an International Innovation Award for their fully accessible allotment – beating 14 other countries in the process. The purpose- built allotment is built on a grid system to make navigation easier, with tactile numbers on the raised beds. There are high visibility markings and the ground is paved to ensure easy use of Clara Eaglen (RNIB), Sue Pritchard (NHS), Earl Howe canes and there is also a and Steve Winyard (RNIB). special sensory area.

6 • News Action hosts UK’s biggest athletics event for children with sight loss Around 150 youngsters with sight loss competed in the Boots Opticians Actionnaires Athletics Day, in Sheffield in September. The track and field event, which was organised by Action for Blind People, took place at the English Institute of Sport. The blind and partially sighted participants, aged 4–16, are members of Action for Blind People’s 27 Tell us about Actionnaires clubs which provide opportunities to service providers’ develop fitness and artistic skills while building self confidence and social interaction. Youngsters competed attitudes to email in sports including sprinting, long jump and javelin. Many blind and partially Bailey Ashman, 14, a partially sighted athlete from sighted people have Sheffield, who took part, said: “I had a great time. told RNIB that they Last year’s Paralympic Games made me want to do now prefer to receive even more sport. I’ve met lots of other children today. utility bills and other Making friends and doing new things is what I love communications, by about Actionnaires. This event is the highlight of email. However, some the year.” service providers and Government departments For more information about Actionnaires clubs, please are reluctant to visit actionforblindpeople.org.uk/children or call the communicate by email RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999. as they claim it could present security concerns. RNIB campaigns team is investigating this situation and we would like to hear your experiences of obtaining information and correspondence via email. Please get in touch with the campaigns team on 020 7391 2123 or email Coby, Lucas and Bailey Ashman [email protected]

News • 7 Help us defend social care for people with sight loss This is a crucial time for us to campaign to preserve social care, including rehabilitation services, for people with sight loss. In England, RNIB’s “Facing Blindness Write to, or visit, your MP to make sure Alone” report revealed that there’s been they understand how important these a 43 per cent decline in care provision, issues are. For more information please which means that 25,000 fewer blind contact the RNIB campaigns team on and partially sighted people have been 020 7391 2123 or visit receiving basic council support. The Care rnib.org.uk/campaign Bill entered the Commons to be debated by MPs during November and RNIB met with Care Minister, Norman Lamb. Now we need you to take action by asking your MP to write to the Care Minister to call for blind and partially sighted people to get a reasonable offer of rehabilitation and a fairer chance of getting ongoing social care. In Wales, a Social Services Bill is also being developed which will set national standards for assessment and eligibility processes. The RNIB Cymru campaigns team would like to hear from you if you live in Wales and have tried to access social services in the last couple of years. RNIB Scotland is also campaigning as the first stage of the Public Bodies (joint working) Bill, is due to be completed by 6 December this year. The Bill aims to provide more consistency in the quality of services on offer.

8 • News member news David Mann elected as Chair of RNIB Northern Ireland David Mann has been elected by RNIB Members as Chair of RNIB Northern Ireland for a three year term from 1 January 2014. David, 67, has been registered blind all his life. He worked at RNIB for over 25 years managing the Talking Book Service and then in lobbying and campaigning, until he retired in 2011. David has held various volunteer roles and currently sits on the Impaired Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee which advises the Government in Northern Ireland, on transport and mobility issues facing older and disabled people.

RNIB Talk and Support brings people Update on “More together over the holiday from RNIB” Over the festive If you have subscribed holiday, Talk and to the “More from Support will invite all RNIB” publication, we current telephone need to let you know group participants to that future editions take part in a range have been cancelled. of special telephone We have found that groups. Groups will Vision Magazine is the include social groups, best way to keep you one-off book club up to date with RNIB’s sessions and a festive music quiz. The groups are free of news. charge and we are able to offer them thanks to our If you have any wonderful volunteer facilitators who give their time to comments or host the groups. The service will run throughout the questions, please call holiday period including Christmas Day and New Year’s 020 7874 1366 or email Day. Contact Talk and Support on 0845 330 3723 or [email protected] email [email protected]

Member news • 9

Andrea Begley: The Message Andrea Begley, winner of The Voice UK, has recently launched her first album and written a book about her experiences.

Andrea Begley is one of our most singer in Ireland. I’ve always played famous RNIB Members! She won the instruments, like piano and guitar and BBC1 singing competition, The Voice, done some song writing. But I never this year and has now launched her first really focused on making a career out album, The Message. Andrea found time of music before. The Voice appealed to in her busy schedule to tell Vision Editor, me because of the blind audition set up Clare Conley, what it was like to record and then suddenly one of my friends her first album and how committed she told me the scouts for the programme remains to volunteering for RNIB. were looking for people to audition. So I decided to give it a go and said to myself What sight condition do you have? that in the worst case scenario, even if I developed glaucoma around the age of I don’t get very far at least I’ll have met five and I now have about 90 per cent the coaches and given it a go. sight loss. Over the years, I saw various experts in Glasgow and London and Were there any aspects of the had some operations but there wasn’t competition that you found more anything they could do. Thankfully in difficult as someone with sight loss? the past five years my glaucoma has I always knew that the staging and stabilised to an extent. I won’t get any performance aspects were going to be vision back now but hopefully I’ll be able challenging but I’d had to deal with that to maintain the small amount that I have for years as a performer, so I tried not to for the future. focus on that too much. I hoped that the sight loss issue wouldn’t be too much of What made you decide to enter a factor and I didn’t want my situation to The Voice? be perceived as a sorry story. I was very I had always had music in my life. My much there to participate as a singer family are musical – my Aunt Philomena and as a contestant on the same basis as Begley, is a popular Irish country everyone else.

Andrea Begley: The Message • 11 “I was there to participate as a singer and contestant on the same basis as everyone else.”

How did you feel about the sort of the different sides to my personality media coverage you had? and the kind of direction I intend to go I suppose I anticipated that from the in as a musician in the future. Some of media’s point of view it would be very the songs are from the show, some are much of interest that ‘blind person does covers of songs that I’ve just loved for blind audition’. Most of the coverage I years and I like singing and then the got was fairly positive though. And a lot others are original songs. of people with sight loss contacted me to say that my progression through the Did you write any of the songs? show gave them great encouragement. Yes, I wrote part of The Message and I also wrote another song on the album Danny O’Donoghue, from Irish rock called Autumn. band, The Script, was your mentor judge – what was it like working with I hear that you’ve also been busy him? writing a book? It was brilliant! I’ve always been a Yes, I’ve written a book called, huge Script fan and I thought it would “I Didn’t See That Coming” – the title is be absolutely fantastic to work with deliberately a bit tongue in cheek! I’m Danny but didn’t think it would actually very comfortable with my sight loss and happen. We got on really well and he I don’t take myself, or it, too seriously. was a great mentor to me and has been The book focuses on my experiences of very supportive. He has given me advice taking part in the show and what was about the arrangements of songs and going on behind the scenes. It’s pretty the kind of feel he thought my album light and has quite a few anecdotes and should have. So it gets his seal of funny bits in it. approval! You’re an RNIB Member and have How did you choose which songs to done a lot of work on RNIB’s Northern include on your album? Ireland Committee – are you keen to It was important to me, to give people carry on your work with RNIB? a bit of a mix – there’s some jazzy ones, Yes, I’m keen to carry on as I feel very some with a country feel and some are passionate about RNIB work. I’ve been more “ballady” or pop. I wanted to show involved with RNIB since I was about

12 • Andrea Begley: The Message 19 when I volunteered to help with registered blind, you may still have some campaigning. Then when I started work, useful vision that you need to make the I took up a role on the committee and I most of. People are also surprised that I really enjoy that and more recently I’ve can use a mobile phone – I use talking been involved with the Read for RNIB software – and that I can use things like Day campaign. RNIB has been a great Twitter and Facebook! I hope that me source of support to me, in terms of being in the public eye will help to clear equipment and advice that I’ve needed. up some of those confusions.

If there was one thing you could do More information to change the world for people with Andrea’s debut album “The Message” is sight loss, what would that be? out now. I think for me the critical thing is getting the message across to sighted people that just because you have sight loss, it doesn’t mean you can’t do things. There’s still a lot of misconception and misunderstanding out there and I think it would make life a lot easier for everyone with sight loss. I’m sure lots of people reading this will have had instances where people talk to the person they are with, instead of them. It’s just simple things like that which make a difference Andrea’s book, “I Didn’t See it Coming” – it’s not necessarily people being is available from RNIB as a talking book horrible or unkind, it’s simply that they or in braille to loan from the library or to don’t know how to handle your visual buy. Go to rnib.org.uk/shop or call the impairment if they’ve never come across RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999. it before.

Is there anything that has surprised Listen to the free you about people’s attitudes to sight Vision podcast loss now that you are in the public Listen to Andrea Begley eye more? speaking to Editor, Clare Conley, and One reaction I get a lot is: “Oh, you hear a clip from her new album on the don’t need glasses, you’re blind.” People free Vision podcast at don’t realise that vision impairment is a rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine spectrum and that just because you’re

Andrea Begley: The Message • 13 Read for RNIB Day 2013 More than 400 people read passages of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for a new audio book to mark Read for RNIB Day.

Every year RNIB holds a special day Caroline Quentin and Radio 4 presenter to highlight the fact that blind and John Humphrys, recorded passages and partially sighted people still face a sent them in. significantly limited choice of books in accessible formats and to raise funds to change this. RNIB is working with the publishing industry and electronic device manufacturers to make books more accessible, while providing a huge range of accessible books through our National Library Service. Read for RNIB Day took place on 11 October and there were events going on all across the UK. One of the events, Becca McRow, Campaign Manager held at Waterloo train station in London, for Read for RNIB Day explained what had the goal of getting members of the the aim of the day was. “We want to public and celebrities into a makeshift highlight the fact that there are only studio to record a short passage from the seven per cent of books that are fully Lewis Carroll classic, “Alice’s Adventures accessible to blind and partially sighted in Wonderland”. people. And we want to raise money to make sure that this changes. Books The voices of more than 400 people should be accessible to everyone at the were gathered together for the talking same time.” book, the first of its kind, which will be available to loan from RNIB’s National Becca and her team were joined at Library Service. Celebrities, including TV Waterloo Station by volunteers who presenter Anneka Rice and footballer dressed up as characters from Alice’s Frank Lampard went along to read on Adventures in Wonderland to hand out the day and Mayor of London, Boris leaflets and talk to people about the Johnson (pictured centre, above), key messages of the campaign. And of stopped by too. While other well-known course, they also invited people to go supporters, including comedian into the booth and record a passage!

14 • Read for RNIB Day 2013 TV presenter, Anneka Rice, went along sight loss, in partnership with North to lend her support on the day. She Ayrshire Libraries, to publicise the day. said: “I’ve just read the very first words • The VILD (Visual Impairment and of the book in a little sound booth Learning Difficulties) team in with the station tannoy going off in Kirkcaldy ran activities for some of the background! I’m very aware of how the adults with complex needs who important talking books are. My parents use the service, which included really relied on them when they began to making hats for a Mad Hatter’s Tea lose their sight and the ability to hold a Party and a picture story telling book.” session. Reading related events took place • In Ivybridge, Transcription Centre around the UK including: staff recorded and brailled “Just • A mass story telling event at Leeds Another Day” by Adam Hart-Davis train station, where people read (pictured below left). passages from Alice for 10 hours straight and raised more than £700. • In Northern Ireland, the Lisburn in Focus team organised a local storytelling event at the library where blind and partially sighted people read to local children, using braille and large print. • In Wales, the Glynneath Training Centre in the Valleys held a craft sale and invited local school children to the centre to find out more about sight loss. • At RNIB in Edinburgh, author Gordon Anthony spoke about his historical novels and the challenges he More information: overcomes as a blind author. Read for RNIB reading related events • In Bristol, partially sighted author, will take place throughout the year, Alan Brown, read from his book which all round the UK. You can get a free chronicles the history of the Bristol fundraising pack, with ideas of how to Royal Society for the Blind. raise funds to help us produce more • While RNIB Scotland also arranged a talking books, at readforrnib.org.uk or free digital workshop for people with call 0845 345 0054.

Read for RNIB Day 2013 • 15 writing competition Seize the day! Why not seize the day, then write about it! There’s still time to enter this year’s annual members’ writing competition. We launched your annual members’ writing competition in the last edition of Guidelines for entering the Vision but you still have time to enter, writing competition as the deadline is 16 January 2014. The theme for this year is “a day in the • You need to be an RNIB Member life”. You could choose to write about to enter the competition but you an unforgettable day from your own life can join as a member, then enter. or imagine the life of someone else – maybe a celebrity or a character you’ve • Entries can be up to a maximum made up. And you can choose what form of 1000 words and the deadline is your entry takes – anything from a short 4pm on 16 January 2014. story, diary entry or a poem, for example. • Clearly state your name, address Man Booker Prize judge joins and telephone number on entries. our panel Writer Natalie Haynes, one of the judges • Entries should be typed and sent for the Man Booker Prize 2013, will be by email if possible to judging our competition this year along [email protected] with some previous competition winners, You can also send them by post, RNIB Members and Trustees. • on audio CD, tape or in braille to Winners will be published RNIB Members Writing The prize for the winner and two runners Competition up is to have their entries professionally Talk and Support recorded by talking book narrators. 105 Judd Street Extracts from the top three entries will London be published in your Vision magazine WC1H 9NE and broadcast on Insight Radio. And Read On magazine will feature a passage • You can apply for full terms and from the winning piece too. Everyone conditions, by emailing who enters will receive a recording of [email protected] or by their work, by a volunteer, as a thank calling 0845 330 3723. you for entering.

16 • Writing competition “If you want to be a writer, you have to write!” Peter Robinson, author of the popular DCI Banks series, gives some tips on writing. Peter Robinson has written the DCI procedural bits that I didn’t know and Banks crime series about a detective in get on with the story. In fact, I think North Yorkshire. The novels have been it helped as too much research at that dramatised on TV and are also some stage would have bogged me down in of the most popular books in RNIB’s detail. National Library Service. What would you say to any aspiring How did you start writing? writers? I started writing when I was a child. I’ve taught writing courses and over the When I was about 13, I wrote a science years I’ve come across a lot of talented fiction novel and short stories. But then students who write very well. Some I got into poetry and focused on that have been successful and have been until my early 30s when I got to the published and those who haven’t, were point where I didn’t know where to go not published because they didn’t write, next with it. At that time, I happened to they just didn’t do it! So my advice is – be reading crime fiction, like Raymond if you want to be a writer, you need to Chandler, I just thought “I’d like to do keep writing every day and don’t stop. what they do.” So I gave it a try. You also need to develop a thick skin – some people stop at the first sign that How did you research your DCI Banks a publisher isn’t interested. It is a very books to make the stories sound personal thing and rejection hurts but realistic? you have to just send it out again and I didn’t do any research for the first keep going. few books! I didn’t know anybody connected with that world – police or other writers. So I just used what I Listen to the free learned from reading other novels. It’s a Vision podcast pretty basic formula – you find a body You can hear Peter and there’s forensics going on in the Robinson speaking on the background and then the stories are also free Vision podcast at about what’s going on in Banks’ life. It rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine wasn’t too difficult to just miss out the

16 • Writing competition Photo © Pal Hansen Interview with Peter Robinson • 17 campaign news Eye clinics reach crisis point People are losing sight unnecessarily due to the crisis in capacity in eye clinics.

RNIB surveyed eye clinic staff in England department has insufficient capacity to this summer and found that many are meet current demand and this increased being asked to do much more without to over 90 per cent for meeting future increased resources and can barely cope demand. with the demands placed on them. Clara Eaglen, Policy and Campaigns Manger 40 per cent of patients are losing for Eye Health, is leading the campaign. their sight unnecessarily She said: “For patients, this means This crisis in resources for eye clinics long waiting times for appointments, means that patients often have to wait cancelled appointments and rushed weeks or even months for initial and consultations. And more seriously, follow-up appointments. Unfortunately, unnecessary sight loss when patients fail these delays can lead to permanent sight to get the treatment they need in time.” loss as many eye conditions progress rapidly and cause permanent damage RNIB’s report: “Saving money, losing to sight in a very short space of time. sight” is based on research carried Infact, the report reveals that around out with more than 170 eye clinic 40 per cent of patients could be losing staff across England, including their sight unnecessarily because of 91 ophthalmologists. In this report, capacity problems. capacity refers to staffing levels and budgets allocated to treat eye health. What is RNIB recommending to help solve this crisis in capacity? 90 per cent of clinics will not be able 1. Hospital trust managers and eye clinic to meet future demand staff must urgently meet to discuss Over the last decade, many eye capacity issues. Problems should be conditions that would previously have rapidly identified alongside resourcing resulted in blindness, are now treatable. requirements needed to address any While this is a welcome step forward, issues. Once need is established, it also means that there is a much proper funding should be given to eye greater demand for eye care services. clinics to ensure that no patient loses Shockingly, more than 80 per cent of their sight unnecessarily respondents reported that their eye

18 • Campaign news 2. Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) What can you do to help? should become part of every 1. Empower yourself by finding out ophthalmology team. They can spend what your legal rights are as an NHS time with patients to offer emotional patient. Visit: nhs.uk/NHSConstitution and practical support to help them stay independent. This will also free up 2. If you have a sight condition, make clinical staff time. sure that you know about the timescales of when you need to be 3. NICE (the National Institute for Health treated. Contact RNIB’s eye health and Care Excellence) must bring information team to find out more, via forward the date for the introduction the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or at of its eye health clinical guidelines [email protected] and quality standards on cataract, 3. Share your experiences with RNIB glaucoma and AMD. They will lay as personal stories can help us with out timescales for diagnosis and campaigning and media work to raise treatment. But NICE is not expected awareness of what’s happening. to develop these guidelines until 2018 and this is too long to wait for More information: a problem that needs to be resolved Visit rnib.org.uk/campaign or call the right now. campaigns team on 020 7391 2123.

Campaign news • 19 campaignknow your news rights Why is it important to be registered as blind or partially sighted?

RNIB is running roadshows to inform eye health professionals about the benefits of CVIs and registration. Around 360,000 people are registered local authorities or social services to be as blind or partially sighted in the UK able to “register” someone in one of but we know there are many more two categories: severely sight impaired/ people with severe sight loss who could blind or in the second category of sight be eligible. Registration can provide impaired/partially sighted. a gateway to benefits and services Richard Wormald, a Consultant for individuals with sight loss. It also Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye provides important data about the Hospital and a senior lecturer researching causes of sight loss that now informs into the causes of sight loss worldwide, the way that the Government allocates is presenting information about the resources for future eye health services. prevalence and predictions of future Consultant Ophthalmologists are usually levels of sight loss, at the roadshows. responsible for certifying patients. He explained that some consultants can So RNIB and the Royal College of find it difficult to broach the subject of Ophthalmologists have joined forces the CVI. “Some colleagues can see it is with VISION 2020 UK, the umbrella an admission of defeat. But actually, if body for sight loss organisations in you can deliver it in the right way, you the UK, to run training roadshows for are offering help and continuing support eye health professionals in England. for patients to manage the sight they The aim is to highlight how important have left. Another important message to it is that their patients are issued with get across at these roadshows is to have Certificates of Visual Impairment (CVIs) the conversation with the patient early or in Scotland, this is called a BP1 form. on. You can then let them know that if There is currently a lot of variation in their sight does deteriorate in the future, the number of CVIs issued, which affects these services are in place to help and the accuracy of the data collected patients usually find that enormously nationally. The CVI is also necessary for reassuring.”

20 • Know your rights What is the process? which means adding the individual to The consultant ophthalmologist assesses a local register for blind and partially the severity of sight loss and makes a sighted people. You can decide not to diagnosis of its cause. When someone’s be registered, even if you have a CVI, sight loss has reached a level that can be and you can still ask for help from social certified, the consultant can complete services. But being registered can help to the CVI form with the patient. Four give access more quickly and efficiently copies are then produced: to a number of benefits or services. You 1. One for the patient to keep. can also still ask to have a CVI and to be 2. One is sent to local social services. registered, even if you lost your sight a 3. One copy is sent to the patient’s GP. while ago. 4. One copy is sent to Moorfields Eye How can I find out more? Hospital, London, where data on the Go to rnib.org.uk and enter “registering causes of sight loss is collated. your sight loss” into the search box at Social services should then contact the the top right hand corner of the page. patient within two weeks to discuss Or call the RNIB Helpline on their needs and to offer registration, 0303 123 9999.

Benefits you are entitled to when registered: If you are registered as severely sight local council’s social services to ask impaired/blind, you are entitled to if you qualify. the following concessions: And if you are registered as either • Blind person’s personal income tax severely sight impaired/blind or allowance sight impaired/partially sighted, • A reduction of 50 per cent on the you are entitled to the following: television licence fee Free NHS sight tests and other NHS Car parking concessions as part of • • costs, which could include a voucher the Blue Badge Scheme towards the cost of glasses if you • Free postage on items marked need “complex lenses” “articles for the blind” • Discounted rail travel You may also be entitled to: • Local bus schemes • Free permanent loan of radios and • Leisure concessions, for example a CD radio cassette players from the free ticket for a person British Wireless for the Blind Fund accompanying you to participating cinemas discounts to museums and Help with telephone installation • exhibitions. charges and line rental. Contact your

Know your rights • 21 letters and tips

Vision star letter Star letter prize Photography brings lots of pleasure Ronald wins a I have enjoyed photography since I was a student. I’m 89 Communiclock radio now and live in a retirement home in Kent. I have some controlled talking mobility problems and deteriorating sight, which make calendar clock. The it hard to get around, but I still get great pleasure from star letter prize for photography. the next edition is a set of RNIB Vocal There is a small formal garden where I live and I enjoy talking kitchen scales. taking photographs of the flowers, which the other residents enjoy looking at. And when I had some extras left over, I left them in the living room with a label saying “free” and they all disappeared! People like to send them to their friends and relatives. So now it keeps me extremely busy. I’m still able to take decent photographs, enlarge them using the computer and print them out. Having sight loss doesn’t seem to have stopped me because it’s easy to see on the screen of a computer. So if you used to take photographs before Letters should be up your loss of sight, why not take it up again? You can still to 150 words and may do it and you can still enjoy it! be edited. It’s not Letter and photo (below) from Ronald Hay, Kent possible to publish every letter we receive but your views can help us develop future magazine content. Send your letters to: Vision magazine RNIB, 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE visionmagazine@ rnib.org.uk 0845 330 4134 (answerphone)

22 • Letters and tips My local gym is great! Cook with just four 4ingredients.com.au I wanted to let people ingredients! for sample recipes and know about my gym, We recently went to videos. Clements Hall in Australia where we were Remember that as an Hawkwell, which is run recommended a very RNIB Member, one of by Virgin Active Health good cook book. It’s your benefits entitles Clubs. All the staff, called: “4 Ingredients” you to get up to 300 are very helpful. I’m and I think there are a standard print pages registered blind and they series of them now. The of free transcription let my guide dog stay in recipes in the book are a year, which includes the manager’s office. very short and simple with transcription into braille, I go to the gym and do just four ingredients. My audio, large print or a different class every twin sister Mary and I are etext. So you can request day including Zumba and totally blind and we have to use this service spin classes, which are on cooked a lot of recipes to have the basic “4 stationery bikes. The staff from this book. Ingredients” book, which gave me a one to one Jane Phillips, Sutton in is 238 pages, transcribed session to show me how Surrey into your preferred to use the bike and they “4 Ingredients” by Kim format. Contact the will demonstrate anything McCosker and Rachael Membership Team on new, which makes me Bermingham. You can 0303 1234 555 or email feel very independent. get the books from [email protected] They always encourage amazon.co.uk or check to find out more about me and I feel like I can do out the “4 Ingredients” this and your other anything a sighted person website at membership benefits. can do. When I was first registered blind and had to give up work, I became quite depressed and anxious. But I always feel happy when I’ve done some exercise, so it’s really a lifeline for me there. Jean Rice, Essex

Letters and tips • 23 Are electric cars good I understand that the I’m now a Volunteer for us? sales of electric cars more Campaign Coordinator Electric cars we are than doubled last year for RNIB and Chair of the told, are good for the and are set to double Rotherham VI group and environment but are they again this year, according I’m helping to campaign good for us, blind and to the Society of Motor for more ECLOs. In partially sighted people? Manufacturers. And if Rotherham, we’ve been I lost my sight due to that’s to be believed, the having problems as the diabetic retinopathy threat to us is increasing ECLO is only funded for five years ago, and am and it’s scary. one year at a time and we concerned about electric Mike Hughes, Member have to keep campaigning cars. The Government is Representative for for this to be renewed. offering discounts to the West Midlands We asked our local MP, public and encouraging RNIB is working with Sarah Champion, to come public bodies, police Guide Dogs to influence along to the Rotherham forces and others, with international regulations eye clinic to meet some incentives to purchase requiring that hybrid and consultants, the ECLO fleets of these cars – cars electric vehicles emit a and some patients who that are virtually silent. safe level of sound. had benefitted from And while they are fitted seeing her. with a noise generator to Why we need ECLOs Sally Wilkinson, warn of their approach, I lost my sight about Rotherham they are also fitted with 10 years ago due to If you have benefitted a switch that enables the diabetic retinopathy and from the support of an driver to disable the noise glaucoma. I wasn’t put in ECLO, or are simply keen generator. But even worse touch with an ECLO (Eye to make sure these vital than that, when the car Clinic Liaison Officer) services are not lost as reaches 19 mph, it cuts at that time and found part of ongoing local out automatically anyway. it hard to get the help I area budget cuts, please Europe couldn’t agree on needed – I had no-one contact the campaigns what the noise levels or to talk to and I didn’t team, who will put you in what the sound should even know about talking touch with your Regional be, so it has been left newspapers or anything Campaigns Officer. Call up to the car makers to like that. ECLOs can 020 7391 2123 or email decide – and they’re still help with support and [email protected] talking about it. information.

24 • Letters and tips products and publications RNIB presents Prodigi A new desktop and hand-held video magnifier system from Humanware offers an all-in-one vision assistant plus speech!

What is unique about Prodigi? Prodigi gives you a portable magnifier but can also convert into a desktop model as well. It has two bits of kit – you can take the portable hand-held video magnifier out with you and when you get home, you can dock it into the desktop unit and carry on reading. So, for example, you could capture an image when you’re at the shops then read it by sight using the high magnification, or by Choose from three different options sound, on the desktop magnifier when • You can buy the hand-held tablet on you get home. its own which has a five inch portable HD magnifier and reader with touch If you want to use the sound option, screen. Prices start at £749. Prodigi will talk you through the set The Duo set offers an all-digital up and instructions as soon as you • magnifier and desktop reading system plug it in. with monitor and detachable tablet. Prices start at £1,999. • Finally, you can choose the desktop version with no tablet at a lower cost. Prices start at £1,449. All work with “touch and tap” technology and the desktop models have either a 20 inch or 24 inch screen.

How to order Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or browse the shop at rnib.org.uk/shop.

Products and publicatons • 25 technology Which ereader is best for me? Anna Jones, RNIB Development Manager for Digital Media and Reading, outlines the basics of ereaders. Following on from the technology For example Kindles can be connected column introducing eBooks and audio through something called 3G, which download books in the last edition of means you’re automatically connected Vision, we take a closer look at ereaders. all of the time to get your books. You can get eBooks at the same time for Can you explain exactly what an the same price as anybody else who’s is ereader is? getting an eBook. An ereader is a specific device that you would read an eBook on. Kindle, Kobo How many books can you keep on and Nook are some of the well-known your ereader? brand names of ereaders, for example. Ereaders can hold thousands and How accessible are ereaders for blind thousands of eBooks and once you’ve and partially sighted people? got them on your device they are there It really varies across the range – with until you decide to delete them. This some ereaders, you may only be able to means you can finish a book and then go enlarge the text while with others, you back to it a year later if you want to. can also use synthetic speech to listen Are there any ereaders that people to the book. There are more devices to with sight loss have told you they find choose from if all you need is to enlarge particularly accessible? the font for large print. There are less There are a few on the market. Again to choose from if you need synthetic it depends on your sight condition and speech. level of residual sight as what may How do you download books on to apply to one person, may not apply to an ereader? another. We’ve had good reports from Again, it depends on the device. Some partially sighted people about the of the devices will be connected to Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glow Wi-Fi that you may have at home or you – they both have a light built into them can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots when that you can use to brighten the text you’re out and about. Some devices are without getting glare. But neither of automatically connected, depending those two speak, so aren’t suitable if you on who you have your contract with. have no sight. The devices currently on

26 • Technology the market that have speech include the There are also a series of video Kindle Fire and some of the other tablet tutorials available, including one on devices, like the Apple iPad, Google eBooks and download audio, at Nexus tablet and the new Tesco tablet, rnib.org.uk/technology or you can the Hudl. request it on DVD from the Helpline. Where can you try an ereader? And remember that when you’ve bought We did some ad hoc mystery shopping a new ereader, the Technology Support with high street stores and found that Squad of volunteers can help you get assistants seemed fairly knowledgeable started with using it – you can contact about what the products can do. We them via the Helpline too. also found that if the ereader on display didn’t have the facilities switched on, like speech, the assistants would usually find one in the back that they could bring out to demonstrate. So it is worth asking. How much do they cost? Devices can range anything from £50–£70 for some of the cheaper lower spec devices. Then the prices go all the way up into the few hundreds of pounds for the more sophisticated tablet computer devices that have speech and video capabilities. More information: RNIB has produced a new guide called “EBooks and download audio – options Listen to the for reading”, which includes a checklist Vision podcast of things to consider before you buy You can listen to Vision an ereader. You can find it at Editor, Clare Conley, rnib.org.uk/technology or call the speaking to Anna Jones Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to get it in about ereaders on the large print, audio or braille. free Vision podcast at rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine

Technology • 27 audio book review

Vidar Hjardeng, Diversity Manger for ITV News and RNIB Trustee, reviews Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

I hadn’t actually read Alice’s Adventures More information in Wonderland before and I was inspired “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” is to read it by Read for RNIB Day, which available from RNIB’s National Library had an Alice in Wonderland theme. Service as a talking book, narrated by Robin Holmes, and in giant print and I found that I really enjoyed listening braille. Call the RNIB Helpline on to it. The talking book is just over 0303 123 9999 or email three hours long. It starts when Alice [email protected] falls asleep in the sun one afternoon and then suddenly finds herself falling You can buy a talking book boxset of very slowly down a deep hole into a The Lewis Carroll Collection, which series of adventures where she meets a contains this title and “Through the completely whacky and zany bunch of Looking Glass”, for £11.95, from characters. My favourite scenes were rnib.org.uk/shop or call the RNIB the croquet game, which is quite absurd Helpline. with the king and queen and lots of characters from a pack of cards. And the mad hatter’s tea party is wholly ludicrous with the dormouse, the march hare and the mad hatter. The conversation at the party is completely barmy! This is an older RNIB talking book, narrated by Robin Holmes in quite a traditional way which is “of its time”. Nevertheless, the characterisation came across and that added to my interest and certainly held my attention. I listened to it in one go on a weekend afternoon. I think that’s actually how it should be read as it would be quite difficult to dip in and out of it as you’d lose the mood and you need to be in a certain frame of Illustration from Alice’s Adventures in mind to get the most from it. Wonderland © 1999 Helen Oxenbury courtesy of Walker Books Ltd

28 • Audio book review recipe Boxing day turkey and chickpea curry This is an excellent way to liven up leftover turkey (or you could use cooked Ingredients for 2 servings chicken instead). It’s delicious with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad. The • 1 teaspoon oil recipe comes from Diabetes UK and you • 1 onion, sliced can find it along with other recipes at 1 tablespoon medium curry paste diabetes.org.uk • • 300ml (½ pint) chicken stock • 200g (7oz) cooked turkey, chopped • 400g (14oz) can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 2 tomatoes, chopped • 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt • Coriander garnish Preparation 1. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan. Add the onion and fry for 2–3 minutes until softened. 2. Add the curry paste and continue to cook for 1 minute. 3. Add the stock, turkey, chickpeas and tomatoes and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. 4. Stir through the yoghurt. See more suggestions for easy recipes in letters and tips on page 23. 5. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with coriander.

Recipe • 29 Your member benefits: come along to a member forum event in 2014

At regional member forum events, you can meet other members, socialise, take part in activities and share your views with RNIB. All activities at member forums are carefully chosen by your local member representatives based on feedback from members. The events are free to attend, we provide lunch and we’ll be there on the day to meet you at the train station and guide you throughout the day. 2014 member forum dates: Cymru: Scotland: 8 February,12 May and 10 September. 22 March, 25 June and 11 November. East of England: South East: 3 March, 17 May and 2 October. 24 January, 1 May and 6 September. East Midlands: South London: 31 March, 30 July and 1 November. 8 March, 11 June and 28 October. North East: South West: 8 April, 2 August and 12 December. 12 April, 2 July and 4 December. North London: West Midlands: 8 March, 5 July and 19 November. 21 February, 31 May and 19 September. North West: 29 April, 22 August and 29 November. Yorkshire and the Humber: 14 February, 14 June and 17 October. Northern Ireland: 1 March, 7 June and 9 October.

30 • Your member benefits RNIB Membership • 0303 1234 555 • [email protected] Are you making the most of your membership? RNIB Members receive a range of great benefits, including: Keep up to date • News and views in our award winning Vision magazine. Exclusive offers and discounts • Spread the cost of purchasing a product, costing £150 or more, over 10 months, using our Easy Pay instalment plan. • Take advantage of product discounts and special offers, as well as exclusive access to competitions. • Transcribe up to the equivalent of 300 print pages a year for free. Get away for less • Take advantage of a 10 per cent discount for Vision Hotels and five per cent discount for Traveleyes holidays. Connect with other blind and partially sighted people • Meet other members and help to shape the work of RNIB at regional member forum events. • Share your love of reading with our free Telephone Book Clubs. • Discuss the issues that are important on your online members’ area.

Vision magazine is also available in braille, email and in audio as a 78 minute radio style programme recorded onto DAISY or CD. Listen to the free Vision podcast at rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine To advertise in Vision contact Landmark Publishing on 020 7520 9474 or email [email protected] • Adverts are placed by organisations independent of RNIB. Their inclusion does not mean that RNIB has endorsed the products and services they offer.

Vision is printed on 50 per cent recycled paper • Designer Rachel Dean • Volunteer support: Rebecca Rose and Indre Kusleikaite • © RNIB December 2013 • Reg charity no. 226227 • All rights reserved. Photos on pages 7, 9, 23 and 29 from Shutterstock.com. Picture credits are acknowledged only where requested. In some cases it may not have proved possible to trace ownership.

RNIB Membership • 31