Devon County Association for the Blind Newsletter Spring 2006

Hello everyone and welcome to the Spring edition of the Newsletter. Whilst writing this, we have had snow, hail, sleet, wind and sunshine so not sure if Spring has sprung yet or not! There are snowdrops and daffodils out so let's be optimistic and say Spring is definitely on its way and with it the lighter nights and longer days. I have some personal news to start this edition with and that is that David and I got married on 30th January, it was a lovely day and it was just us and two friends, we didn't tell anyone, not even close family! We weren't too popular with a few close family members but most people have been very kind and happy for us. I am now officially Mrs. Smith but think for work it is easier to keep Auton although I am considering using Auton-Smith which definitely got the vote when I visited Tiverton Club! What's in a name anyway, most people call me Sue so it doesn't really matter.

I know it's a little late but I must say a big thank you to all of you who sent in Christmas cards and donations which are much appreciated. Thank you also to those of you who continue to help us by using the standing order scheme, this is very much appreciated and it helps us a lot to know what we have coming into the bank every month. It makes Linda's job easier for budgeting purposes too (Linda is our treasured Treasurer!) I'm sorry to repeat myself but I think it worth mentioning that we receive no statutory help whatsoever and we rely entirely on investment income and donations and we are definitely NOT the RNIB, we are the LOCAL charity for visually impaired people in Devon. We have often been confused with the RNIB and in fact only recently we had a legacy which was for the RNIB but at our address here in Station House, the lady obviously meant it for us but was confused and thought we were the same people so we had to settle for only half and half went to the RNIB nationally. Please remember that we are not the same people and any money you send to RNIB will NOT come to us locally.

I'm off my soapbox now and will move on to more exciting news! We are very pleased to announce that our website is now up and running and if you would like to check us out why not log on, our address is www.devonblind.org.uk, we have lots of information about us as well as links to other organisations. You can even read this newsletter there if you would prefer! We are accessible with large print, good colour contrast and also are compatible with screen readers. If you get the opportunity to log on then please do and let us know what you think. If you don't have access to a computer, why not tell your family about the site so that they can see what we have available here as well.

Another exciting activity we have under way is that we now have a presence in Totnes. We are working with Optima who provide the low vision services for the whole of Torbay and South Devon and we now have a display of equipment and a member of staff on duty during clinic days which are Tuesday and Wednesday each week. We have a lovely lady called Carole who is working there for us from 9am Š 5pm. Those of you who live in South Devon and go back a few years may even remember Carole as she has worked for us before and was the Voluntary Visiting Co-ordinator in that area. If you live in the area, you are very welcome to go in and have a look at the equipment, Carole can take orders and we will despatch them from here straight away, it will save you coming all the way up to Topsham. Optima are at the very end of Ford Road on the industrial estate opposite Morrisons, their actual address is Dartside, Ford Road, Totnes, TQ9 5LQ. You don't have to have an appointment for a low vision assessment to visit Carole, just turn up anytime on a Tuesday or a Wednesday and she will be pleased to see you. The service people are receiving for low vision in Torbay and South Devon is now second to none, I am told, anywhere in the country. The low vision assessment is followed by an appointment with a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired and a chance to look at all the equipment we sell, and all under one roof, during one visit. We are very pleased to be part of this excellent service.

I am also very pleased to be able to announce that the trustees have decided to continue with the group holiday this year. There had been a question mark over it which is why I haven't mentioned it until now. We will be going to Weston Super Mare to the Action for Blind People Lauriston Hotel from Saturday 16th Š Saturday 23rd September. The cost of £410 per person will include coach travel from pick up points in Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Exeter, Cullompton and North Devon, half board accommodation in an en suite room, trips out during the week and insurance plus, if required, the services of a sighted guide. You do need to be reasonably fit to come on this holiday and you definitely need to be able to get on and off a coach without any physical assistance. You also need to be able to provide your own personal care and administer your medication. We can provide you with a sighted guide to assist you when we are out and about as well as very good company. Weston Super Mare is not too far away for those of you who complain when we go to somewhere further such as Llandudno or Blackpool and is a very nice place, lovely and flat with a nice prom and lots of shops in pedestrianised areas. We are planning some very nice trips out during the week so even if you go there on your own, it will be different if you come with us. Please give us a ring if you are interested and I will send you more details and a booking form. Rooms are going fast so don't delay, book today!!

Another date for your diary, also in September, now. The Annual Arts & Crafts Show and AGM will be taking place on Saturday, 2nd September at The America Hall, Pinhoe, Exeter from 10am for the Show and 3pm for the AGM. There are lots of classes to choose from so please try and enter something as we would desperately like to increase entries, which although of a very high standard, were down again last year. Schedules and recipes are available as well as entry forms so please give us a ring and we will pop them in the post for you. The limerick this year starts with the line "There was a young lady called Pat" so please see what you can come up with for this, we look forward to reading them! The class for a photograph was very low in entries last year so why not give it a go. You don't need an expensive camera and with the nicer weather coming it's an ideal time to get out and about and take photos. It can be of anything you wish so get thinking and snapping! In the Registered Blind section this year we have introduced a class for microwave flapjacks so if you use a microwave, why not have a go. There is also a class for a herb growing in a pot (please nothing illegal!) as well as all the old favourites. If you are over 90 on the day of the Show then please try and enter something in the open class as we have a trophy for the over 90 winner and it wasn't given last year because no one entered! There is also a class for a design for a Christmas card by computer so all you computer whiz kids, get designing! Please try and come to the Show/AGM as it is a very good day out. There will be home made refreshments available all day including lovely cooked lunches and it is a good opportunity to catch up with old friends from different parts of the county. If you attend a club, please try and encourage your leader to organise transport so that you can all come. We all look forward to seeing as many of you as possible during the day so make sure you put it in your diary now.

Before you put your diary away again, you may like to know that the Action for Blind People Mobile Exhibition Unit will be in Paignton and Torquay in October at our invitation. It will be in Paignton, outside Tescos in Victoria Square on Tuesday, 17th October and outside Woolworths in Lower Union Street, Torquay on Wednesday and Thursday 18th and 19th October, from 10.30am until 4pm at both venues. We will have a member of staff on duty each day so please come along and see us if you are in the area.

I know I've put this in previously, but I feel it is worth repeating as it is such a good service. If you are bothered by nuisance selling phone calls then a way to stop them and save you having to get up to answer your phone is to register with the telephone preference service, all you need to do is ring 08450 700 707, this is an automated line and all you have to do is confirm your telephone number, speak your name, post code and house number and you will be registered. It does take 28 days for it to become active but is well worth a phone call. You can also do it for mobiles if you are being bothered by unwanted or unsolicited calls on your mobile. If you have used this service before and are starting to get unwanted calls it is worth registering again just to confirm that you wish the service to continue.

I have had the pleasure, during this past quarter, of visiting Seaton, Tiverton and Exmouth Clubs and would like to thank them all for their hospitality. It's lovely to get around to the clubs and meet members.

The following have sent me in details of their recent activities:-

Anne Decent from Ottery St. Mary says "VISION-OM is now being co-ordinated by Simon & Annette Williams. Last year we were able to buy our own wheelchair, with partial funding from Ottery St. Mary Town Council, and this is available for members' use at any time, being kept and used at our Medical Centre, and also comes with us in the Friends' Ambulance when we go on our summer trips. Our membership is now 25, not as great as many of the groups I know but when I recall our first meeting in our dining room in 1999, I am delighted that we have grown to this extent, must be doing something right! We are most fortunate to have support from sighted guides, who make tea, bake cakes as well as help members when we go out and their help is an enormous asset to the group as they bring a breath of fresh air and are always cheerful. We had a talk from the RSPB in the autumn and learned the different bird songs through the use of a tape recorder. In November a member from the Heritage Society displayed objects from their collection for us to handle and try to guess what they were. Our Christmas lunch was very enjoyable at Escot, we thoroughly recommend this venue which, since our summer visit, has assessed better the needs of the visually impaired. Simon has introduced us to bingo and has also suggested that we donate £2.50 at each meeting to cover running costs. This should pay for the hire of the ambulance and the institute and go towards the cost of the trips he proposes to take us on after Easter. I am still going to have an input at meetings as I have all the information about help and services available and Simon passed me the Schedule for the Arts & Crafts Show so I plan to chivvy members regularly and think we should be able to compose a limerick as we have two "Pat" members! I extend my thanks to all the members for their support over the past 6 years and to Simon & Annette for their friendship and for so willingly taking on my role, I am confident that VISION-OM couldn't be in better hands" Thanks to Anne for that and many thanks to her for all her hard work in getting VISION-OM off the ground and to the position they are in now. I'm glad to know that she will still be involved with the club and wish her well for the future.

Doris Sexton, intrepid reporter for TIVERTON CLUB has sent me these accounts:- "Tiverton Blind Club started off the local Christmas parties with a very happy gathering at The Tiverton Hotel where a delightful lunch was served. They were able to have quite a pleasurable time chatting to each other, pulling crackers and receiving a welcome present. We were delighted to have Sue visit us in February as she brought a selection of equipment which could help us. She was also able to answer a lot of questions regarding craft work and holiday plans which kept us busy. We thank her for coming as we know she is a very busy person!" Thanks to Doris for that, I always enjoy a visit to Tiverton Club but I can't go too often as they always have delicious sandwiches and cakes which I just have to eat!!!

CULLOMPTON BLIND CLUB have elected a new Secretary and we extend a warm welcome to Jean Foster who we hope will enjoy her new role. Many thanks to Margaret Deeley who held the position for several years and it was a pleasure working with her, I'm glad to hear that she will still be attending the club and with Tom, will be arranging outings. Rosemary Lamyman, the programme organiser, has sent me the following:- "Cullompton Blind Club has enjoyed a series of interesting meetings which offered considerable variety. After our October Harvest Festival we had a constructive AGM and in December we had a fascinating account of the great Tiverton flood in 1960 ably described to us by Richard Fox. He told us how he had been a teacher at Blundells School at the time and that he and teams of boys had helped to rescue inhabitants of Westexe who might otherwise have perished in the rising waters. He had us spell-bound. Tom and Margaret organised a trip to the pantomime in Sidmouth in January which was much appreciated. The scene where the cannibals were boiling up their pot prior to cooking the unfortunate Robinson Crusoe was really thrilling! We went to The Parkway Hotel in Sampford Peverell for our post-Christmas lunch. The food was beautifully prepared and eaten in a spacious conservatory extension which overlooked the Culm Valley. We would definitely recommend this venue. The February meeting was taken by Robert Lamyman, my nephew, he gave a graphic description of a visit he made to Australia two years ago. He even demonstrated his didgeridoo with great efficiency, the rest of us were not so good at playing it! Our March meeting had a more serious note, Paul Curtis from The Children's Hospice South West gave a memorable talk about Little Bridge House and the facilities it offers. He also told us of the new Hospice, Carlton Farm, which it is hoped will be ready this summer. Future plans include a meeting describing global warming, blind welfare in Paraguay and Chile and the visit of not only one but possibly two guide dogs in June. We also have a further trip to the theatre planned. We are grateful to all who work so hard to make our club stimulating and friendly." Many thanks to Rosemary for this and congratulations to her on having such a varied programme for members.

Peg Jago from EXMOUTH BLIND CLUB has given me the following account of their Christmas events:- "Instead of having a party at Resthaven this year we decided we would go to Kings Nurseries for lunch which was on 8th December and was very successful. We had our annual carol service the following week in the Exmouth Chapel and the lessons were all read by either members or helpers and as usual, the last item before the last carol was done by yours truly telling one of her own tales and this time there was a grain of truth in it about one of our drivers who has a rescue dog who is absolutely gorgeous and is quadro coloured! At the end of the service we had a wonderful tea." Thanks Peg for this and sorry I had to cut your story short!

PAIGNTON BLIND CLUB are desperately seeking new members so if you are interested, they meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at The Paignton Day Centre, all ages welcome. They do have speakers and entertainers, they even had me once!! If you need more information, contact Paula on 01803 552325, she would be pleased to hear from you.

We have been continuing with our clear out here and have the following secondhand items for sale - Aladdin 14" B/W CCTV for just £25, this does not include postage and packing and we would prefer it to be collected. We also have a Robotron talking scanner for just £100ono, a Sony radio for £5, a Morphy Richards radio for £5, a Hunter pocket radio for £3 and a Roberts pre-set radio for £10. We also have a talking thermometer which is meant for a greenhouse at just £4, a Ross talking alarm clock for £3, a Cobolt talking colour detector for £10, a Dialatron large button telephone for £4, a BT Big Button Telephone (wall mount only) for £9 and a talking calendar clock for just £8. We also have an old Braille notetaker which would be free to a good home. Give us a ring if you are interested in any of these items, 01392 876666. There is an Aladdin Rainbow CCTV 14" colour available in Torbay and is being sold by Mr. Shipman, he says it is in good condition and he is asking £500 ono, please contact him direct on 01803 605283.

On the new equipment front, we now have the new monomouse which is available in high or low magnification and also the colour version and we have a fantastic new CCTV called Clearview which if you are interested in seeing, please give us a ring. Don't forget, we still have Chatterbox here which you are very welcome to come in and try. Chatterbox will read your bills, bank statements etc. to you thus allowing you to keep your personal correspondence personal. It is £1,000 but if you are interested, come and have a try, you will be under no obligation. The basic talking watch has now been reduced to just £7 from £10 and we also have in stock the new BT big button telephone which is now digital instead of the old analogue version, it also has a hands free option which the old one didn't have, this is available for just £25. Argos are selling it for £24.95 so for an extra 5p you can get it from us without having to queue for hours or we can even send it mail order to you! We also have the new cordless BT Freestyle 6100 in grey for £47, this is also digital. To clear, we have some old analogue phones which are brand new but obsolete now, the BT Freestyle 65 cordless with answerphone for just £25, additional handsets for this and the cordless without answerphone just £12, the BT Relate 3000 with digital display and hands free option just £25 and the small BT Dˇcor 210 for just £10. We are also now selling I-Caps for just £9, I know some chemists are selling them for £9.95. They have been recommended particularly for macular degeneration and although we don't have any evidence as to whether they work or not, they can't do any harm as they are basically vitamins.

If you enjoy reading you may be interested to know that the RNIB are now running telephone book clubs, they run in six monthly cycles, take place in small groups of no more than eight people, over the telephone. The sessions involve a mixture of discussions about the books they have chosen to read for the group, a chat with a guest speaker and open discussions about reading in general. Each group is hosted by a trained volunteer. They cost £2 per month which is payable in advance for the six months, a total of £12, if you are interested call 0845 330 3723 direct.

In the next edition I hope to be able to tell you more about some jewellery which is available, if required, with Braille on the back. We are hoping to stock some samples here and from what I've seen it is likely to be a popular range whether you want Braille on it or not. It is extremely pretty and is available in the whole range of pendants, ear rings, broaches, cuff links etc. Watch this space as they say!!!

If spring has got to you and you want to have a clear out, John Colley would be pleased to receive any old cassette tapes to re-use or re-cycle for the Torch Trust for the Blind. John would also like any old cassette recorders and would be happy to collect anywhere in Devon. John can be contacted direct on 01626 367489. If you have an old Perkins Braille machine which you no longer use a gentleman called Phil Chant would be pleased to hear from you. He is arranging to collect these machines and take them to Kosova for use by blind people there, Phil will collect from anywhere in Devon and can be contacted on 01548 856617.

You may be interested to know that there is a company who are going to be selling audio described films on CD, they are called Minds Eye Movies and are a division of The Web Access Project Ltd. They have sent me the following information which may be of interest to you. "To enable visually impaired people the opportunity to enjoy and be a part of the film entertainment experience, a film's soundtrack has to have an additional application known as audio description, which is a professionally scripted narration, a voice over, that, between the dialogue of the characters, explains what is happening during the scenes of a film, i.e. the actors facial expressions, their body language, the scenery, whether it's night or day and so on. In short, anything that helps to mentally visualize a film is explained by audio description. As you may be aware, some audio described films are currently available via the RNIB but they only carry a catalogue of about 150 titles and they are on VHS video cassette format which is being taken out of circulation this year. Some new release films on DVD are available with audio description, but using the menus on a DVD is impossible for the visually impaired people as you have to be able to see the menus in order to navigate them via the remote control. In effect, audio description on a DVD is like giving with one hand and taking away with the other! With the inherent problems of DVD and the fact that VHS video cassettes will soon be out of circulation, a huge void for film entertainment is developing for visually impaired people. We now have the solution for the above with distribution rights into the UK and Ireland for a catalogue of over 430 film titles with a further 1,000 titles scheduled for this year! The solution and fundamental difference to the catalogue of titles we hold is that the films are not on VHS or DVD but CD. There are no images on the CDs, just the sound files of the music, sound effects and the characters dialogue coupled with audio description. The benefits of supplying films on this media are endless not only because all that is needed is to insert a CD into a player and push play (no menus to contend with), they can be played anywhere, such as on a DVD player, computer, home hi-fi, personal CD player, or even in the car and they can be enjoyed by the whole family! We are currently contacting Library Authorities throughout the UK to encourage them to make these films available but the funding they have is only truly extended, for the benefit of visually impaired people, to talking books. Very few authorities make audio described films (in any format) available. With a little help from Associations and individuals we can make everyone know of what is available for visually impaired people to enjoy. In time, we can make these films available on the High Street but to do this we need to prove that there is a demand for them and the only way to do so is to make films available through libraries etc." There are already several films available with a further 1,000 titles scheduled later this year. It would be too difficult for us to stock them here but if you are interested, why not contact your local library or the company direct on either of these telephone numbers 07939 071173 or 01253 867033 or e-mail to Justin.mem@tiscali.co.uk. It seems like a good idea to me but a rather strange way of going about selling them. Let me know if you get to try one as it would be good to know what they are like.

Don't forget that from 1st April all disabled people will be entitled to free travel on buses throughout Devon and Torbay. The concession will be valid after 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends and public holidays. To apply for a pass you will need a completed application form, proof of eligibility, a passport sized photograph with your name written on the back and proof of residence such as council tax bill, utility bill or pension book. Forms can be obtained from tourist information centres, libraries, doctor's surgeries, Social Services and Exeter Civic Centre or by telephone on 01392 383688. You can also download the form by going to www.devon.gov.uk/bus_passes.

The RNIB Transcription Unit at Ivybridge can now put your books onto daisy format by request, there is a bit of a waiting list but they would be happy to help you, just contact them on 01752 690092 to discuss further. Many of you will be aware of The Living Paintings Trust but there is now a new similar thing called Art At Your Fingertips, this is a library based scheme formed to reveal historic art, in tactile form, to people with a visual impairment. Each picture is hand-made using materials, wool, threads and associated fabrics giving a clearly defined tactile image, true in colour and detail to the original. There is a special rate for individuals wishing to borrow pictures in their own home - £10 annual subscription to receive a picture three times a year to borrow for a week. I have application forms here or you can check out their website on www.artatyourfingertips.co.uk.

Are you, or do you know someone who is, a parent of a visually impaired child? If so, you may be interested to know of a parents support group. It has been set up by a lady called Lynsey Scott and she says that they have over 30 members now, parents of visually impaired children and blind adults wishing to support parents. It is friendly and lively and very informative and most parents feel it is the best support network they have because they feel empowered and can talk to people 24 hours a day through e-mails and someone always replies. It is a real community. They are happy to welcome new members and can be contacted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PVIC or Lynsey can be contacted by telephone on 01332 738 144.

I know I've mentioned this previously too but feel it worth saying again! If you have a sight problem you are entitled to use the BT free directory enquiry service. When you are registered all you need to do is ring 195 and quote your unique PIN number and they will find a telephone number for you free of charge, they will also put you straight through to the number but beware because you will be charged for this. To register for this service, ring them on 0800 5870 195 and they will send you an application form to complete. BT also do a free priority fault repair scheme, you need to register for this too, you can call them free on 0800 800 150. By registering it will mean that should you have a problem with your telephone line then you will be a priority for having it fixed.

Have you ever heard of Charles Bonnet Syndrome? It is the name used to describe the phantom images people see sometimes with the onset of a visual impairment. Almost a third of people with Macular Degeneration experience CBS at some stage of their visual impairment. A lot of people with a visual impairment are afraid or embarrassed to tell anyone that they sometimes see phantom images believing that it is a symptom of mental illness or senility. It is definitely NOT. CBS is a side effect of the visual loss and is not related to the persons mental health. The individual will "see" different "images" depending on their life experiences, however, the most common are patterns, people and faces, animals, flowers and plants. No one seems to know why CBS occurs but most people are able to cope with the effects once they know that the phantom images are a side effect of their visual impairment and NOT the result of mental illness. One way of understanding CBS is to compare the loss of vision with the loss of a limb. Many people have heard that someone who has lost a leg may sometimes experience the sensation of an "itchy toe" despite the fact that they have lost their leg. While the true visual message is not able to get through to the visual part of the brain, the perceptual part of our vision system is still operating and may superimpose a false image. If you do experience this, there are some strategies that may help. It may help to talk about the images with a relative or friend, think positively about the images, some people who see family faces or flowers report seeing the detail more clearly than in reality! If the images are disturbing or unpleasant, close your eyes and think of something pleasant to see - the pleasant image will often replace the unpleasant one. Whatever at least you know you are not alone and you are certainly not going mad!

Did you know that the deadline for using chip and signature cards has now passed? If you can't use chip and PIN you must contact your bank and get them to issue you with a chip and signature card or you will not be allowed to use your card. Shops will no longer accept a signature unless you have the special card which registers on the machine and alerts the operator to the fact that you can sign rather than put in your PIN number.

As it was recently the Chinese New Year I thought you may like to know what Chinese Zodiac Sign you are so if you were born in 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936 or 1948 you are a rat! 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937 or 1949 you are an ox! 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950 you are a tiger! 1951, 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939 you are a rabbit! 1940, 1952, 1904, 1916 or 1928 you are a dragon! 1941, 1953, 1905, 1917 or 1929 you are a snake! 1930, 1942, 1954, 1906, 1918 you are a horse! 1931, 1943, 1955, 1907, 1919 you are a lamb! 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1908 you are a monkey! 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1909 you are a rooster! 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958 you are a dog and 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959 you are a pig! If I havenÕt mentioned your birth year, give me a call and I will look it up for you if you are interested to find out what sign you are. Incidentally, I appear to be a monkey! Pat is a snake, Rod is a lamb and Carole an ox!

Don't forget, we are here to help you so if you need any advice or assistance, just give us a ring or pop in to see us. The shop is open here Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am until 1pm and we would be pleased to see you.

Good wishes from Sue, Rod, Pat & Carole