Vision magazine - RNIB



Vision magazine

December 2013/January 2014

Issue 63

Welcome

Hello and welcome to your December/January Vision magazine. I went to meet Andrea Begley, winner of BBC’s singing competition The Voice UK. Andrea, who was busy promoting her new album, has had lots of messages from other people with sight loss who have been encouraged by her success. You can listen to the interview and hear a track from her album on the free Vision podcast. This is a taster of the audio magazine, which is produced as a recorded radio-programme, at .uk/visionmagazine

Reading is a theme for this edition. We have a round up of all the fun reading-related events which took place for Read for RNIB Day in October. In the technology column, discover how to find the best ereader for you. While, Peter Robinson, author of the successful DCI Banks series gives tips on writing to help inspire you for this years’ writing competition. There’s still time to enter!

On a serious note, campaign news reveals a crisis in capacity at eye clinics which is resulting in many people losing their sight unnecessarily. We give you some information on your rights and how you can get involved, to help to stop this happening.

If you find you always have turkey at Christmas time - there's a recipe to help you use it up! Wishing you all the best for the festive season and a happy new year.

Clare Conley: Editor of Vision magazine

news

NICE approves treatment for VMT

NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has approved the use of ocriplasmin for the treatment of VMT (vitreomacular traction). This is an eye condition related to ageing that can lead to complications and vision loss. The decision by NICE follows months of campaigning by RNIB. Ocriplasmin offers a welcome alternative to the current treatment of surgery, which often requires the patient to lie immobile face down for up to a week after the operation.

Welsh Government launches eye health care plan

The Welsh Government launched its five year Eye Health Care Plan (EHCP) for Wales in September.

The document sets out plans for preventing avoidable sight loss and for improving eye health services and support for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Cymru played a key role in shaping the plan, which includes: a commitment to develop a public education campaign for eye health: vision screening in schools, and improving the links between hospital eye services and social services.

Tell us about service providers' attitudes to email

Many blind and partially sighted people have told RNIB that they now prefer to receive utility bills and other communications, by email. However, some service providers and Government departments are reluctant to communicate by email 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 campaign@.uk

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: .uk/sos or call the campaigns team on 020 7391 2123.

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 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, 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.

Read Man Booker 2013 winner and shortlist

The novel that won the Man Booker prize this year is available to read in unabridged audio, braille or giant print. Eleanor Catton, is the youngest winner at age 28 and her novel, "The Luminaries", is the longest novel ever to triumph in the award.

RNIB has also produced the other five novels that were shortlisted, in alternative formats. For the fifth year running it has been a condition of entry for the prize that publishers must provide RNIB with electronic files to enable this.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, Chief Executive of RNIB, said: "At RNIB we believe that blind and partially sighted people should have the same access to books at the same time as sighted people. We're very grateful to the Booker Prize Foundation for their continued support so that we can make the shortlisted books available to blind and partially sighted people as quickly as possible."

Can you help with alcohol and sight loss research?

The Thomas Pocklington Trust and Alcohol Research UK are carrying out a study to explore the links between sight loss and alcohol or other drug problems.

People dealing with sight problems can sometimes start drinking more alcohol due to feelings of isolation, loss or difficulties sleeping. It can then become a habit that's hard to break. The team of researchers from England and Wales want to hear from people with experiences of both sight loss and alcohol or other drug use – this may be now or in the past. If you can help us yourself, or if you are a family member or friend, please get in touch with Sarah Galvani on 07884 007 222 or sarah.galvani@beds.ac.uk Any contact is completely confidential.

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 canes and there is also a special sensory area.

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 Actionnaires clubs which provide opportunities to develop fitness and artistic skills while building self confidence and social interaction. Youngsters competed in a range of sports including sprinting, long jump and javelin.

Bailey Ashman, 14, a partially sighted athlete from Sheffield, who took part, said: "I had a great time. Last year's Paralympic Games made me want to do even more sport. I've met lots of other children today. Making friends and doing new things is what I love about Actionnaires and this event is the highlight of the year."

For more information about Actionnaires clubs, please visit .uk/children or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Do you have metamorphopsia?

RNIB campaigns team would like to hear from people in Scotland and England who experience distorted vision - known as metamorphopsia. This can be caused by a number of eye conditions including wet age related macular degeneration and other macular disease. If you have metamorphopsia or you experience visual disturbances including seeing straight lines appearing as wavy lines and you would be interested in helping us with research, please contact the Campaigns Team on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@.uk

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 Alone" report revealed that there's been a 43 per cent decline in care provision, which means that 25,000 fewer blind and partially sighted people have been receiving basic council support. The Care 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 on going 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 within 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.

Write to or visit your MP to make sure they understand how important these issues are. For more information please contact the RNIB campaigns team on 020 7391 2123 or visit .uk/campaign

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 together over the holiday

Over the festive holiday, Talk and Support will invite all current telephone group participants to take part in a range of special telephone groups. Groups will include social groups, one-off book club sessions and a festive music quiz. The groups are free of charge and we are able to offer them thanks to our wonderful volunteer facilitators who give their time to host the groups. The service will run throughout the holiday period including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Contact Talk and Support on

0845 330 3723 or email talkandsupport@.uk

Update on "More from RNIB"

If you have subscribed to the "More from RNIB" publication, we need to let you know that future editions have been cancelled. We have found that Vision Magazine is the best way to keep you up to date with RNIB’s news. If you have any comments or questions, please call 020 7874 1366 or email marketing@.uk

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 famous RNIB Members! She won the BBC1 singing competition, The Voice, this year and has now launched her first album, The Message. Andrea found time in her busy schedule to tell Vision Editor, Clare Conley, what it was like to record her first album and how committed she remains to volunteering for RNIB.

What sight condition do you have?

I developed glaucoma around the age of five and I now have about 90 per cent sight loss. Over the years, I saw various experts in Glasgow and London and had some operations but there wasn’t anything they could do. Thankfully in the past five years my glaucoma has stabilised to an extent. I won't get any vision back now but hopefully I’ll be able to maintain the small amount that I have for the future.

What made you decide to enter The Voice?

I had always had music in my life. My family are musical - my Aunt Philomena Begley, is a popular Irish country singer in Ireland. I’ve always played instruments, like piano and guitar and done some song writing. But I never really focused on making a career out of music before. The Voice appealed to me because of the blind audition set up and then suddenly one of my friends told me the scouts for the programme were looking for people to audition. So I decided to give it a go and said to myself that in the worst case scenario, even if I don’t get very far at least I’ll have met the coaches and given it a go.

Were there any aspects of the competition that you found more difficult as someone with sight loss?

I always knew that the staging and performance aspects were going to be challenging but I’d had to deal with that for years as a performer, so I tried not to focus on that too much. I hoped that the sight loss issue wouldn’t be too much of a factor and I didn’t want my situation to be perceived as a sorry story. I was very much there to participate as a singer and as a contestant on the same basis as everyone else.

How did you feel about the sort of media coverage you had?

I suppose I anticipated that from the media’s point of view it would be very much of interest that ‘blind person does blind audition’. Most of the coverage I got was fairly positive though. And a lot of people with sight loss contacted me to say that my progression through the show gave them great encouragement.

Danny O’Donoghue, from Irish rock band, The Script, was your mentor judge - what was it like working with him?

It was brilliant! I’ve always been a huge Script fan and I thought it would be absolutely fantastic to work with Danny but didn’t think it would actually happen. We got on really well and he was a great mentor to me and has been very supportive. He has given me advice about the arrangements of songs and the kind of feel he thought my album should have. So it gets his seal of approval!

How did you choose which songs to include on your album?

It was important to me, to give people a bit of a mix – there’s some jazzy ones, some with a country feel and some are more “ballady” or pop. I wanted to show the different sides to my personality and the kind of direction I intend to go in as a musician in the future. Some of the songs are from the show, some are covers of songs that I’ve just loved for years and I like singing and then the others are original songs.

Did you write any of the songs?

Yes, I wrote part of The Message and I also wrote another song on the album called Autumn.

I hear that you’ve also been busy writing a book?

Yes, I've written a book called, “I Didn’t See That Coming” - the title is deliberately a bit tongue in cheek! I'm very comfortable with my sight loss and I don’t take myself, or it, too seriously. The book focuses on my experiences of taking part in the show and what was going on behind the scenes. It’s pretty light and has quite a few anecdotes and funny bits in it.

You’re an RNIB Member and have done a lot of work on RNIB’s Northern Ireland Committee - are you keen to carry on your work with RNIB?

Yes, I'm keen to carry on as I feel very passionate about RNIB work. I’ve been involved with RNIB since I was about 19 when I volunteered to help with campaigning. Then when I started work, I took up a role on the committee and I really enjoy that and more recently I've been involved with the Read for RNIB Day campaign. RNIB has been a great source of support to me, in terms of equipment and advice that I’ve needed.

If there was one thing you could do to change the world for people with sight loss, what would that be?

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 - it’s not necessarily people being horrible or unkind, it’s simply that they don’t know how to handle your visual impairment if they’ve never come across it before.

Is there anything that has surprised you about people's attitudes to sight loss now that you are in the public eye more?

One reaction I get a lot is: “Oh, you don’t need glasses, you’re blind.” People don’t realise that vision impairment is a spectrum and that just because you’re registered blind, you may still have some useful vision that you need to make the most of. People are also surprised that I can use a mobile phone - I use talking software - and that I can use things like Twitter and Facebook! I hope that me being in the public eye will help to clear up some of those confusions.

More information

Andrea’s debut album “The Message” is out now.

Andrea’s book, “I Didn’t See it Coming” is available from RNIB as a talking book or in braille to loan from the library or to buy. Go to .uk/shop or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Listen to the free Vision podcast

Listen to Andrea Begley speaking to Editor, Clare Conley, and hear a clip from her new album on the free Vision podcast at .uk/visionmagazine

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 to highlight the fact that blind and partially sighted people still face a 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, held at Waterloo train station in London, had the goal of getting members of the public and celebrities into a makeshift studio to record a short passage from the Lewis Carroll classic, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". The voices of more than 400 people were gathered together for the talking book, the first of its kind, which will be available to loan from RNIB's National Library Service. Celebrities, including TV presenter Anneka Rice and footballer Frank Lampard went along to read on the day and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, stopped by too. While other well-known supporters, including comedian Caroline Quentin and Radio 4 presenter John Humphrys, recorded passages and sent them in.

Becca McRow, Campaign Manager for Read for RNIB Day explained what the aim of the day was. "We want to highlight the fact that there are only seven per cent of books that are fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people. And we want to raise money to make sure that this changes. Books should be accessible to everyone at the same time.”

Becca and her team were joined at Waterloo Station by volunteers who dressed up as characters from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to hand out leaflets and talk to people about the key messages of the campaign. And of course, they also invited people to go into the booth and record a passage!

TV presenter, Anneka Rice, went along to lend her support on the day. She said: "I've just read the very first words of the book in a little sound booth with the station tannoy going off in the background! I'm very aware of how important talking books are. My parents really relied on them when they began to lose their sight and the ability to hold a book.”

Reading related events took place around the UK including:

• A mass story telling event at Leeds train station, where people read 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 overcomes as a blind author.

• In Bristol, partially sighted author, Alan Brown, read from his book which chronicles the history of the Bristol Royal Society for the Blind.

• While RNIB Scotland also arranged a free digital workshop for people with sight loss, in partnership with North Ayrshire Libraries, to publicise the day.

• The VILD (Visual Impairment and Learning Difficulties) team in Kirkcaldy ran activities for some of the adults with complex needs who use the service, which included making hats for a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and a picture story telling session.

• In Ivybridge, Transcription Centre staff recorded and brailled “Just Another Day” by Adam Hart-Davis.

More information:

Read for RNIB reading related events will take place throughout the year, all round the UK. You can get a free fundraising pack, with ideas of how to raise funds to help us produce more talking books, at .uk or call 0845 345 0054.

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 Vision but you still have time to enter, as the deadline is 16 January 2014. The theme for this year is "a day in the life". You could choose to write about an unforgettable day from your own life or imagine the life of someone else - maybe a celebrity, or a character you’ve made up. And you can choose what form your entry takes - it could be anything from a short story, diary entry or a poem, for example.

Man Booker Prize judge joins our panel

Writer Natalie Haynes, one of the judges for the Man Booker Prize 2013, will be judging our competition this year along with some previous competition winners, RNIB Members and Trustees.

Winners will be published

The prize for the winner and two runners up is to have their entries professionally recorded by talking book narrators. Extracts from the top three entries will be published in your Vision magazine and broadcast on Insight Radio. And Read On magazine will feature a passage from the winning piece too. Everyone who enters will receive a recording of their work, by a volunteer, as a thank you for entering.

Guidelines for entering the writing competition:

• You need to be an RNIB Member to enter the competition but you can join as a member, in order to enter.

• Entries can be up to a maximum of 1000 words and the deadline is 4pm on 16 January 2014.

• Please clearly state your name, address and telephone number on entries.

• Entries should be typed and sent by email if possible to writingcomp@.uk

• You can also send them by post, on audio CD, tape or in braille to RNIB Members Writing Competition,

Talk and Support, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE.

• You can apply for full terms and conditions, by emailing writingcomp@.uk or by calling 0845 330 3723.

Peter Robinson, author of the popular DCI Banks series, gives some tips on writing.

Peter Robinson has written the DCI Banks crime series about a detective in North Yorkshire. The novels have been dramatised on TV and are also some of the most popular books in RNIB's National Library Service.

How did you start writing?

I started writing when I was a child, as soon as I could pick up a pencil and make words. When I was about 13, I wrote a science fiction novel and short stories. It was all rubbish and lost now! But then I got into poetry and focused on that until my early 30s when I got to the point where I didn’t know where to go next with it. At that time, I happened to be reading crime fiction, including Raymond Chandler, even though I hadn’t read any since I was a teenager when I read Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. I just thought “I’d like to do what they do.” So I gave it a try.

How did you research your DCI Banks books to make the stories sound realistic?

I didn’t do any research for the first few books! I didn’t know anybody connected with that world – police or other writers. So I just used what I learned from reading other novels. It’s a pretty basic formula - you find a body and there’s forensics going on in the background and then the stories are also about what's going on in Banks' life. It wasn’t too difficult to just miss out the procedural bits that I didn’t know and get on with the story. In fact, I think it helped in a lot of ways as too much research at that stage would have bogged me down in detail.

What would you say to any aspiring writers?

There are a number of factors. I’ve taught writing courses and over the years I’ve come across a lot of talented students who write very well. Some have been successful and have been published and those who haven’t, were not published because they didn’t write, they just didn’t do it! So my advice is if you want to be a writer, you need to keep writing every day and don’t stop. One of the other things is that you have to develop a thick skin – some people stop at the first sign that a publisher isn’t interested. It is a very personal thing and rejection hurts but you have to just send it out again and keep going.

Listen to the free Vision podcast

You can hear Peter Robinson speaking on the free Vision podcast at .uk/visionmagazine

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 this summer and found that many are being asked to do much more without increased resources and can barely cope with the demands placed on them. Clara Eaglen, Policy and Campaigns Manger for Eye Health, is leading the campaign. She said: "For patients, this means long waiting times for appointments, cancelled appointments and rushed consultations. And more seriously, unnecessary sight loss when patients fail to get the treatment they need in time."

RNIB's report: "Saving money. Losing sight." is based on research carried out with more than 170 eye clinic staff across England, including 91 ophthalmologists. In this report, capacity refers to staffing levels and budgets allocated to treat eye health.

90 per cent of clinics will not be able to meet future demand

Over the last decade, many eye conditions that would previously have resulted in blindness, are now treatable. While this is a welcome step forward, it also means that there is a much greater demand for eye care services. Shockingly, more than 80 per cent of respondents reported that their eye department has insufficient capacity to meet current demand and this increased to over 90 per cent for meeting future demand.

40 per cent of patients are losing their sight unnecessarily

This crisis in resources for eye clinics means that patients often have to wait weeks or even months for initial and follow-up appointments. Unfortunately, these delays can lead to permanent sight loss as many eye conditions progress rapidly and cause permanent damage to sight in a very short space of time. Infact, the report reveals that around 40 per cent of patients could be losing their sight unnecessarily because of capacity problems.

What is RNIB recommending to help solve this crisis in capacity?

1. Hospital trust managers and eye clinic staff must urgently meet to discuss capacity issues. Problems should be rapidly identified alongside resourcing requirements needed to address any issues. Once need is established, proper funding should be given to eye clinics to ensure that no patient loses their sight unnecessarily.

3 Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) should become part of every ophthalmology team. They can spend time with patients to offer emotional and practical support to help them stay independent. This will also free up clinical staff time.

4. NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) must bring forward the date for the introduction of its eye health clinical guidelines and quality standards on cataract, glaucoma and AMD. They will lay out timescales for diagnosis and treatment. NICE is not expected to develop these guidelines until 2018 and this is too long to wait for a problem that needs to be resolved right now.

What can you do to help?

1. Empower yourself by finding out what your legal rights are as an NHS patient. Visit: nhs.uk/NHSConstitution

2. If you have a sight condition, make sure that you know about the timescales of when you need to be treated. Contact RNIB's eye health information team to find out more, via the Helpline on

0303 123 9999 or at eyehealth@.uk

3. Share your experiences with RNIB as personal stories can help us with campaigning and media work to raise awareness of what's happening.

More information:

Visit .uk/campaign or call the campaigns team on

020 7391 2123.

know your 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 as blind or partially sighted in the UK but we know there are many more people with severe loss who would be eligible. Registration can provide a gateway to benefits and services for individuals with sight loss. It also provides important data about the causes of sight loss that now informs the way that the Government allocates resources for future eye health services.

Consultant Ophthalmologists are usually responsible for registering patients. So RNIB and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists have joined forces with VISION 2020 UK, the umbrella body for sight loss organisations in the UK, to run training roadshows for eye health professionals in England. The aim is to highlight how important it is that their patients are issued with Certificates of Visual Impairment (CVIs) or in Scotland, this is called a BP1 form. There is currently a lot of variation in the number of CVIs issued, which affects the accuracy of the data collected nationally. The CVI is also necessary for local authorities or social services to be able to "register" someone in one of two categories: severely sight impaired/blind or in the second category of sight impaired/partially sighted.

Richard Wormald, a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a senior lecturer researching into the causes of sight loss worldwide, is presenting information about the prevalence and predictions of future levels of sight loss, at the roadshows. He explained that some consultants can find it difficult to broach the subject of the CVI. "Some colleagues can see it is an admission of defeat. But actually, if you can deliver it in the right way, you are offering help and continuing support for patients to manage the sight they have left. Another important message to get across at these roadshows is to have the conversation with the patient early on. You can then let them know that if their sight does deteriorate in the future, these services are in place to help and patients usually find that enormously reassuring."

What happens when you are registered?

The consultant ophthalmologist assesses the severity of sight loss and makes a diagnosis of its cause. When someone's sight loss has reached a level that can be registered, the consultant can complete the CVI form with the patient.

Four copies of the CVI form are then produced:

1. One for the patient to keep.

2. One is sent to local social services.

3. One copy is sent to the patient's GP.

4. One copy is sent to Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, where data on the causes of sight loss is collated.

Social services should then contact the patient within two weeks to discuss their needs and to offer registration, which means adding the individual to a local register for blind and partially sighted people. You can decide not to be registered, even if you have a CVI, and you can still ask for help from social services. But being registered can help to give access more quickly and efficiently to a number of benefits or services. You can also still ask to have a CVI and to be registered, even if you lost your sight a while ago.

Benefits you are entitled to when registered:

If you are registered as severely sight impaired/blind, you are entitled to the following concessions:

• Blind person's personal income tax allowance

• A reduction of 50 per cent on the television licence fee

• Car parking concessions as part of the Blue Badge Scheme

• Free postage on items marked "articles for the blind"

You may also be entitled to:

• Free permanent loan of radios and CD radio cassette players from the British Wireless for the Blind Fund

• Help with telephone installation charges and line rental. Contact your local council's social services to ask if you qualify.

And if you are registered as either severely sight impaired/blind or sight impaired/partially sighted, you are entitled to the following:

• Free NHS sight tests and other NHS costs, which could include a voucher towards the cost of glasses if you need "complex lenses"

• Discounted rail travel

• Local bus schemes

• Leisure concessions, for example a free ticket for a person accompanying you to participating cinemas discounts to museums and exhibitions.

How can I find out more about the benefits or registering?

Go to .uk and enter: "registering your sight loss" into the search box at the top right hand corner of the page. Or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

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 column introducing eBooks and audio download books in the last edition of Vision, we take a closer look at ereaders.

Can you explain exactly what an ereader is?

An ereader is a specific device that you would read an eBook on. Kindle, Kobo and Nook are some of the well-known brand names of ereaders, for example.

How accessible are ereaders for blind and partially sighted people?

It really varies across the range - with some ereaders, you may only be able to enlarge the text while with others, you can also use synthetic speech to listen to the book. There are more devices to choose from if all you need is to enlarge the font for large print. There are less to choose from if you need synthetic speech.

How do you download books on to an ereader?

Again, it depends on the device. Some of the devices will be connected to Wi-Fi that you may have at home or you can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots when you're out and about. Some devices are automatically connected, depending on who you have your contract with. For example Kindle is connected through something called 3G, which means you're automatically connected all of the time to get your books. You can get eBooks at the same time for the same price as anybody else who's is getting an eBook.

How many books can you keep on your ereader?

Ereaders can hold thousands and thousands of eBooks and once you've got them on your device they are there until you decide to delete them. This means you can finish a book and then go back to it a year later if you want to.

Are there any ereaders that people with sight loss have told you they find particularly accessible?

There are a few on the market. Again it depends on your sight condition and level of residual sight as what may apply to one person, may not apply to another. We've had good reports from partially sighted people about the Kindle Paperwhite and the Kobo Glow - they both have a light built into them that you can use to brighten the text without getting glare. But neither of those two speak, so aren’t suitable if you have no sight. The devices currently on the market that have speech include the Kindle Fire and some of the other tablet devices, like the Google Nexus tablet and the new Tesco tablet, the Hudl.

Where can you try an ereader?

We did some mystery shopping with high street stores and found that assistants seemed fairly knowledgeable about what the products can do. We 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 for reading", which includes a checklist of things to consider before you buy an ereader. You can find it at .uk/technology or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 to get it in large print, audio or braille.

There are also a series of video tutorials available, including one on eBooks and download audio, at .uk/technology or you can request it on DVD from the Helpline.

And remember that when you've bought a new ereader, the Technology Support Squad of volunteers can help you get started with using it - you can contact them via the Helpline too.

Listen to the Vision podcast

You can listen to Vision Editor, Clare Conley, speaking to Anna Jones about ereaders on the free Vision podcast at .uk/visionmagazine

Audio book review: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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

I hadn’t actually read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland before and I was inspired to read it by Read for RNIB Day. I found that I really enjoyed listening to it. The talking book is just over three hours long. It starts when Alice falls asleep in the sun one afternoon and then suddenly finds herself falling very slowly down a deep hole into a series of adventures where she meets a completely whacky and zany bunch of characters. My favourite scenes were the croquet game, which is quite absurd 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 mind to get the most from it.

More information

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is available from RNIB's National Library Service as a talking book, narrated by Robin Holmes, and in giant print and Braille. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@.uk

You can buy a talking book boxset of The Lewis Carroll Collection, which contains this title and "Through the Looking Glass", for £11.95, from .uk/shop or call the RNIB Helpline.

Your letters and tips

Vision star letter

Photography brings lots of pleasure

I have enjoyed photography since I was a student. I’m 89 now and live in a retirement home in Kent. I have some mobility problems and deteriorating sight, which make it hard to get around, but I still get great pleasure from photography.

There is a small formal garden where I live and I enjoy 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 your loss of sight, why not take it up again? You can still do it and you can still enjoy it!

Ronald Hay, Kent

Star letter prize

Ronald wins a Communiclock radio controlled talking calendar clock. The star letter prize for the next edition is a set of RNIB Vocal talking kitchen scales.

My local gym is great!

I wanted to let people know about my local sports centre which is run by Virgin Active Health Clubs. All the staff are very helpful. I’m registered blind and they let my guide dog stay in the manager’s office.

I go to the gym every morning and do a different class every day including Zumba and spin classes, which are on stationery bikes. The staff gave me a one to one session to show me how to use the bike and they will demonstrate anything new, which makes me feel very independent. They always encourage me and I feel like I can do anything a sighted person 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

Are electric cars good for us?

Electric cars we are told, are good for the environment but are they good for us, blind and partially sighted people? I lost my sight due to diabetic retinopathy five years ago, and am concerned about electric cars. The Government is offering discounts to the public and encouraging public bodies, police forces and others, with incentives to purchase fleets of these cars - cars that are virtually silent. And while they are fitted with a noise generator to warn of their approach, they are also fitted with a switch that enables the driver to disable the noise generator. But even worse than that, when the car reaches 19 mph, it cuts out automatically anyway.

Europe couldn't agree on what the noise levels should be or what the sound should be, so it has been left up to the car makers to decide - and they're still taking about it. I understand that the sales of electric cars more than doubled last year and are set to double again this year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers. And if that's to be believed, the threat to us is increasing exponentially and it's scary.

Mike Hughes, Member Representative for West Midlands

RNIB is working with Guide Dogs to influence international regulations requiring that hybrid and electric vehicles emit a safe level of sound.

Cook with just four ingredients!

We recently went to Australia where we were recommended a very good cook book. It's called: "4 Ingredients" and I think there are a series of them now. The recipes in the book are very short and very simple and as the title suggests, they are mainly with just four ingredients. My twin sister Mary and I are totally blind and we have cooked a lot of recipes from this book. I don't think it has been written specifically for blind people but I think they are very suitable for anybody with sight loss.

Jane Phillips, Sutton in Surrey

“4 Ingredients” by Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham. You can get the books from amazon.co.uk or check out the “4 Ingredients” website at .au for sample recipes and videos.

Remember that as an RNIB Member, one of your benefits entitles you to get up to 300 standard print pages of free transcription a year, which includes transcription into braille, audio, large print or etext. You can request to use this service to have the basic “4 Ingredients” book, which is 238 pages, transcribed into your preferred format. Contact the Membership Team on 0303 1234 555 or

email membership@.uk to find out more about this and your other membership benefits.

Why we need ECLOs

I lost my sight about 10 years ago due to diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. I wasn't put in touch with an ECLO (Eye Clinic Liaison Officer) at that time and found it hard to get the help I needed - I had no-one to talk to and I didn't even know about talking newspapers or anything like that. ECLOs can help with support and information.

I'm now a Volunteer Campaign Coordinator for RNIB and Chair of the Rotherham VI group and I'm helping to campaign for more ECLOs. In Rotherham, we've been having problems as the ECLO is only funded for one year at a time and we have to keep campaigning for this to be renewed. We asked our local MP, Sarah Champion, to come along to the Rotherham eye clinic to meet some consultants, the ECLO and some patients who had benefitted from seeing her.

Sally Wilkinson, Rotherham

If you have benefitted from the support of an ECLO, or are simply keen to make sure these vital services are not lost as part of ongoing local area budget cuts, please contact the campaigns team on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@.uk

Send your letters of up to 150 words to:

visionmagazine@.uk

Vision magazine, RNIB,

105 Judd St

London WC1H 9NE

0845 330 4134

(answerphone)

Please note letters may be edited.

Recipe: Boxing Day turkey and chickpea curry

This is an excellent way to liven up leftover turkey (or you could use cooked chicken instead). It's delicious with a tomato, cucumber and onion salad. The recipe comes from Diabetes UK and you can find it along with other recipes at .uk

Ingredients for 2 servings:

1 teaspoon oil

1 onion, sliced

1 tablespoon medium curry paste

300ml (half pint) chicken stock

200g (7 oz) cooked turkey, chopped

400g (14 oz) can of chick peas, 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, chick peas and tomatoes and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

4. Stir through the yoghurt.

5. Serve with steamed rice and garnish with coriander.

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 sound, on the desktop magnifier when you get home.

If you want to use the sound option, Prodigi will talk you through the set up and instructions as soon as you plug it in.

Choose from three different options

• You can buy the hand-held tablet on its own which has a five inch portable HD magnifier and reader with touch screen. Prices start at £749.

• The Duo set offers an all-digital magnifier and desktop reading system 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 .uk/shop.

Your RNIB Membership 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: 8 February,12 May and 10 September.

East of England: 3 March, 17 May and 2 October.

East Midlands: 31 March, 30 July and 1 November.

North East: 8 April, 2 August and 12 December.

North London: 8 March, 5 July and 19 November.

North West: 29 April, 22 August and 29 November.

Northern Ireland: 1 March, 7 June and 9 October

Scotland: 22 March, 25 June and 11 November.

South East: 24 January, 1 May and 6 September.

South London: 8 March, 11 June and 28 October.

South West: 12 April, 2 July and 4 December.

West Midlands: 21 February, 31 May and 19 September.

Yorkshire and the Humber: 14 February, 14 June and 17 October.

If you would like to find out more about member forum events, call your membership team on 0303 1234 555 or email membership@.uk

Advertisements

Please remember that advertisements are placed by organisations independent of RNIB and their inclusion does not mean that RNIB has endorsed the products and services they offer.

Optelec sends you seasons greetings and a special offer!

Enjoy the best of both worlds with a combined magnification package for £1,995 (plus VAT if applicable). This special offer price is valid until the 31st of January 2014.

The combined package includes a ClearView Plus 22-inch widescreen colour desktop magnifier, designed for use at home. Also included is the Compact 4HD, a handheld video magnifier offering superior images in high definition.

To request further information and/or a demonstration please call Optelec on Freephone 080 8090 8090 or browse online at optelec.co.uk

Humanware launches Prodigi

Humanware is now offering Prodigi, the new ground-breaking touch controlled 2-in-1 Personal Vision Assistant.

Reading with Prodigi is how reading is meant to be - easy, comfortable and enjoyable. Simply tap, pinch or swipe the track pad. No need to move a tiresome XY table, infact all you need to move is your finger!

Prodigi's Portable Tablet means you can enjoy reading or listening to your documents anywhere, anytime.

The Prodigi is: simple, intelligent, portable, adaptable and affordable. Call Jessica, Kirsty or Maria on 01933 41 58 00 for more information or visit prodigi

Your Vision magazine

Send a letter to Vision magazine

If you'd like to send a letter to Vision you can either: post a letter to Vision magazine at RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE or email: visionmagazine@.uk OR telephone the Vision messageline on 0845 330 4134.

Vision magazine podcast and website

You can find out more about Vision magazine or listen to the free Vision podcast at .uk/visionmagazine

Would you like Vision in a different format?

If you'd like to receive Vision in a different format - it's available in large print (16 point), braille, CD or Daisy CD and email, please contact the Membership Team.

Advertise in Vision

To advertise in Vision, contact Landmark Publishing on 020 7520 9474 or email sharon@lps.co.uk

Your member benefits and membership team

Contact the membership team

If you'd like to renew your membership or for any other queries about your membership, you can contact the membership team on 0303 1234 555 or email membership@.uk

Your Membership entitles you to:

- your bi-monthly award winning magazine, Vision

- free telephone book clubs

- access to a private online Members' area

- seasonal special offers, exclusive discounts and competitions

- 10 per cent off breaks at Vision hotels and a five per cent

discount on Traveleyes holidays

- invitations to Member events and Forums

- spread the cost of RNIB products costing £150 or more with our Easy Pay instalment plan

- transcribe up to the equivalent of 300 print pages a year, for free

Contact details

RNIB's Helpline

is on 0303 123 9999 or by email on helpline@.uk

Contact RNIB's campaigns team on the Campaigns Hotline on 020 7391 2123 or email Campaign@.uk

Eye Pod tour

To find out more about the Eye Pod tour and get involved with

our “Don’t lose sight” campaign, visit .uk/sos

Study on sight loss and alcohol and drug problemns

For the study on sight loss and alcohol and drug problems, contact Sarah Galvani on 07884 007 222 or email sarah.galvani@beds.ac.uk

Read for RNIB Day

To get involved with Read for RNIB Day, visit .uk or call 0845 345 0054.

BridgeVis society

is at bridgevis.co.uk or call Julie on 01656 766 240.

Actionnaires clubs

visit .uk/children or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

Talk and Support

is on 0845 330 3723 or email

talkandsupport@.uk

More From RNIB publication

If you have any comments or questions about the cancellation of the "More From RNIB" publication, please call 020 7874 1366 or email marketing@.uk

Virgin Active Health Clubs

There are Virgin Active Health Clubs all round the UK, visit virginactive.co.uk or call customer services on

020 7717 9000 to find your nearest club.

Insight Radio

Listen to Insight Radio on 101FM Glasgow, Sky Channel 0188, Freesat 777, or online at insightradio.co.uk

Recipes from Diabetes UK

Recipes suitable for people with diabetes are available at .uk

Thank you to Vision volunteers

Thank you to Rebecca Rose and Indre Kusleikaite for volunteer support.

Copyright

Copyright RNIB December 2013.

Registered charity

Registered charity number 226 227.

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