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News Snippets

The Abbey Announces the Release of Audio described Performances

The Abbey Theatre announce two audio described performances in their calendar this summer. The “Three Sisters” by Anton Chekhov in a version by Brian Friel will be shown on Saturday 26 July 2.30pm and “An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde will be shown on Saturday 20 September 2.30pm.

Audio description in theatre provides audiences with a live commentary of the visual elements of a performance through individual headsets. During gaps in a programme, an additional voice is inserted that explains visual plot points, enabling people who are blind or vision impaired to follow the storyline more fully.

We should take advantage of audio described theatre. More people attending audio described performances will greatly increase the number of accessible performances being produced.

Bookings

For bookings call the Abbey Box Office on
Tel: 01 878 7222, open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 7.00pm or log onto www.abbeytheatre.ie.

These services are provided by Arts & Disability Ireland, with funding from the Arts Council.

NCBI Signs Up to mycharity.ie

People wishing to make a donation or to raise funds for NCBI’s can now do so online. mycharity.ie enables people to setup online sponsorship cards for events they are taking part in or to simply make a donation.

mycharity.ie is dedicated to providing services to charities and fundraisers alike to make it as easy, simple and safe as possible to raise money for charity.

This website offers charities an online presence and the ability to take donations direct from the public online. Fundraisers can create their own unique fundraising page for any event, and raise money for charity in a way that is easy, safe and very secure.

mycharity.ie provides fundraisers with a unique way to publicise their fundraising efforts to their family, relatives, friends and colleagues.

Fundraisers can customise their page to their own liking and their page allows them to fundraise for charity without the need for keeping lists of sponsors, collecting and checking money, writing cheques etc. Everything happens online in a safe and secure environment.

To find out more and to start using this new service, please log on to www.mycharity.ie/charity/ncbi .

Temporary Closure of LUAS Stops at Connolly and Busaras

Abbey Street stop is the terminus for the LUAS red line service from June until early Autumn 2008. Connolly and Busaras LUAS stops will be temporarily closed during this period. This is to facilitate the on-going construction of the LUAS Red Line extension to The Point. LUAS operating hours, frequency and fares will not be affected.

For further information contact LUAS on Freephone: 1800 300 604, email: info@luas.ie, www.luas.ie or www.rpa.ie.

If you have a vision impairment and would like to receive mobility training on an alternative route, please contact NCBI on Locall 1850 334353 or info@ncbi.ie to request training from one of our Mobility Officers.

Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant (ATAG)

The Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant (ATAG) is an NCBI initiative which aims to help reduce the cost of assistive technology for people who are blind or vision impaired. The scheme is monitored by NCBI and advised on by the Visually Impaired computer Society of Ireland (VICS).

The ATAG is intended to help meet up to 25% of the cost of assistive technology which is not fully or partially funded by any existing grant arrangements and for which the cost is being borne by an individual who is vision impaired.
The scheme aims to assist those individuals who for a variety of reasons find themselves having to purchase screen readers, reading machines (including CCTVs), Braille printers or Braille displays.

How does it work?

  • The ATAG can be used to fund up to 25 percent of the cost of a single assistive technology product, provided the item’s price does not exceed €3000.
  • If a single assistive technology product costs more than €3000, the ATAG may cover up to €750 of the purchase price before the application of Value Added Tax (VAT).
  • All assistive technology products purchased on or after 1 June 2008 are eligible for funding.
  • Only one assistive technology product can be included on each application to ATAG.
  • Successful applicants are prohibited from submitting further applications for funding until 12 months have elapsed from the date of the previous successful application.
  • Access to the ATAG is limited to people who are blind or vision impaired and who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Recipients of funding from the ATAG are responsible for any maintenance and upgrades concerned with the assistive technology product purchased under the scheme.

How to apply?

Anyone wishing to avail of the ATAG must submit a completed application form to NCBI. You can download the form by logging onto www.ncbi.ie or alternatively contact NCBI to request the form in standard print, large print, Braille or text only on locall: 1850 334353 or email info@ncbi.ie.

All applications are considered on a case by case basis. NCBI reserves the right to exclude from funding any item of assistive technology which it deems does not conform to what it believes to be appropriate for this scheme.

When does funding come through?

Successful applicants are awarded funds from the ATAG, on submission of a purchase receipt for the product. If the assistive technology product is to be purchased through NCBI, and if the item has been approved for funding from the ATAG scheme, the cost of the item to the individual will be reduced accordingly. Where an eligible individual purchases through NCBI, NCBI will reclaim any VAT on the item on behalf of the purchasing individual and will reduce the price to be paid by the value of the VAT refund and the grant from the ATAG.

For more information, contact Stuart Lawler at NCBI on Locall 1850 334353