As the year draws to a close, we take a look back at the highlights of 2008. It would be a hard task to cover everything that happened during the year, but we have managed to capture just a few of the highlights and events that kept us busy during 2008.
January: International Braille Day
January 4th, the birth date of Louis Braille who invented Braille, marks International Braille Day around the world. Braille literacy is the key to social and economic opportunity. However, NCBI expressed concern at an over-reliance on technology among younger people who are blind or vision impaired, some of whom may not feel they need to learn Braille as technology has come such a long way. NCBI used this opportunity to highlight the importance of Braille and to encourage greater use of Braille amongst this sector of the population.
February: Launch of NCBI Fundraising Programme
The NCBI fundraising team announced a very ambitious and exciting programme for the year with a launch on 8th February at the Old Jameson Distillery. Among the highlights of the varied programme of events included the Ski Challenge, the Thailand MTB Cycle the Granard Cup, the Holmpatrick Cup, rounding off the year with the Antarctic Expedition in November. NCBI are always looking to recruit new participants so if you, a relative or friend or a service user you are working with would like to get involved, please contact the NCBI fundraising team for more information.
March: World Glaucoma Day
NCBI and Pfizer Ophthalmics got together and marked the first ever World Glaucoma Day by running a glaucoma screening programme in the Medical Room at Leinster House. The screening raised awareness of the condition amongst our politicians. The results picked up approximately 10% of those screened as being at risk of the disease who were subsequently referred to an eye specialist for a follow up appointment.
April: VISPA Launch
The Vision Impaired Service Providers Alliance (VISPA) was launched in the Mansion House. The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney lead the proceedings and lent her support to the new umbrella group comprised of the four main organisations that work for and with people who are blind and vision impaired.
Margaret McDowell also took over as NCBI’s new Chairman.
May: Kerry Goes to Clare
As part of their annual respite holiday, some NCBI service users from Kerry ventured to Ennis for a three night stay. As well as visiting the Liscannor Stone Story, the Burren Perfumery and Michael Cusack Centre, the group visited the Cliffs of Moher and the new visitor centre there.
June: Accessible TV
NCBI’s Centre for Inclusive Technology team played a lead role in a series of accessibility tests held by RTE as part of its preparations for the switch over to digital television. The accessibility trial was a technical and audio test of an Audio Description (AD) service, a service which is designed to enhance the enjoyment of television for people who are blind and vision impaired. The results of the trials will assist the national broadcaster to ensure that its services are accessible to everyone when digital television is introduced in 2012.
July: President Hosts Disability Forum
President McAleese hosted a forum at Áras an Uachtaráin on the theme of ‘Disability – Access & Attitudes’ and invited people with disabilities and representatives of key organisations working in the sector to address the forum for a few minutes. NCBI’s Chief Executive, Des Kenny, was among those to address this auspicious event, as did Joe Bollard who edits NCBI’s audio magazine “Focus”.
August: Dublin Billboards
NCBI raised serious concerns over the erection of new advertising billboards in Dublin City that posed a threat to the safety of people who are blind or vision impaired.
September: AMD Week
AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) Week ran from September 21st to 27th. NCBI collaborated with Fighting Blindness and Novartis to run a radio advert informing people over the age of 50 of the importance of getting their eyes checked and alerting them to AMD. A new website www.amd.ie was launched and screening took place throughout the country during the week which found that approximately 1 in 10 people in this age group were showing symptoms of the condition.
October: VISPA Conference
The inaugural VISPA Conference was held at St. Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired on World Sight Day, 9th October. Professors Jonathan Jackson and Colm O‘Brien launched the co-authored report entitled “Eyes on the Future: A study into the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment in Ireland”. A number of other leading figures also presented on a range of topics which addressed some of the challenges that service providers face now and in the future.
November: Antarctic Expedition
After years of discussion and research, the Antarctic expedition has finally become a reality for NCBI. During the month of November, more than 20 fundraisers took part in our first ever trip to Antarctica to explore the uninhabited wilderness of the vast continent.
We hope everyone involved enjoyed what was a trip of a life time!
December: Dublin District Motorcycle Club Fun Ride
The annual Dublin District Motorcycle Club Fun Ride takes place on 26th December in Slade, Co. Dublin. For over 50 years, the club has been a staunch supporter of NCBI, raising funds for the Wireless for The Blind Fund. The amount of €10,300 was raised at the club’s Fun Ride last year. NCBI would like to thank the Dublin District Motorcycle Club for their ongoing support.