Summary: A broad range of activities are both accessibile and enjoyable to those living with a vision impairment. NCBI can facilitate in engaging in these activities.
Computers
The Visually Impaired Computer Society of Ireland (VICS) is a voluntary organisation providing information, training, support and advice to blind and visually impaired individuals in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
An all-island organisation, VICS is made up of over 100 members from all parts of the country, and is proud to have among its ranks some of the sharpest minds in Ireland’s ICT industry. The organisation is run by a committee which is democratically elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.
VICS facilitates the sharing and exchange of experiences, opinions and knowledge in all aspects of technology for the visually impaired, and through regularly organised events it provides an opportunity for members to try out this technology for themselves.
Contact information:
Chairperson: Joan Ann Brosnan
Email: chairperson@vicsireland.org
Secretary: Dr Esmond Walsh
Email: secretary@vicsireland.org
Website: VICS Ireland
Cookery
Practice, good organisation and some practical hints and tips can help you to continue to cook. NCBI’s community resource workers can give you some specialist advice. Contact your local NCBI office to speak with a community resource worker.
There are also special aids and appliances to help you in the kitchen. For example, a talking kitchen scales or a talking microwave are available from NCBI’s shop. Recipe books are also available in an accessible format from our talking library service.
Knitting
Many people with a sight problem continue to enjoy knitting. Some useful products available from the NCBI shop include self-threading needles, an automatic needle threader and a tactile tape measure. Contact the shop on LoCall 1850 33 43 53. You might consider contacting our talking library service to obtain books on knitting.
An information pack on Knitting and Needlecraft is available from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) in the UK. The pack includes information on aids and equipment and on how to obtain large print / Braille / tape knitting patterns.
To obtain a Knitting and Needlecraft information pack contact: RNIB Export department, for export prices and to place orders.
Tel: 00 44 1733 375 000
Email: exports@rnib.org.uk
Gardening
Gardening is a popular activity for many people who are vision impaired. For gardening enthusiasts, NCBI’s library service produces audio copies of the monthly magazine Irish Gardens, which keeps you up to date with what needs to be done in the garden.
The RNIB have produced a booklet called Getting on with Gardening and a catalogue of products for gardening.
To obtain this booklet, please contact RNIB Export department, for export prices and to place orders.
Tel: 00 44 1733 375 000
Email: exports@rnib.org.uk
‘Thrive’ provides information and advice for gardeners with a disability. It has a tape library, tape magazine called Come Gardening and a telephone helpline. Thrive also produce a number of publications such as Indoor Seed Sowing Made Easy.
Address
Thrive,
Geoffrey Udall Centre,
Beech Hill,
Reading RG7 2AT
England
Tel: 00 44 118 988 5688
Fax: 00 44 118 988 5677
Email: info@thrive.org.uk
Website: Thrive
Indoor games
NCBI’s shop has a selection of board games that have been modified for people who are blind or vision impaired. These include Scrabble, Monopoly, Ludo and Chess. Also available are large print and Braille playing cards, and large print crossword puzzles and quizzes.
NCBI’s Library
The NCBI Library has available for loan talking books, Braille books and large print books, for both adults and children. It has a collection of over 16,700 titles in stock and access to over 250,000 titles through interlibrary loans. Genres range from romances and thrillers to biographies and history. The Library catalogues are available in large print, on disk and on NCBI’s website.
For a free copy of the catalogues, LoCall 1850 33 43 53 or email“library@ncbi.ie”:mailto:library@ncbi.ie
Talking magazines & newspapers
NCBI provides a range of Irish-published magazines and newspapers on CD. Titles include: Woman’s Way, Ireland’s Own, RTE Guide, The Irish Times and the Sunday Independent. There is an annual subscription fee of €10.
NEWSTAPE
NEWSTAPE is a fortnightly 90-minute CD of articles taken from the national newspapers covering current events, sports, reviews, interviews, etc. A subscription costs €5 per year. If you would like to receive a sample issue, please provide your name and address to NCBI’s library service.
Music
Most local libraries run a music lending system. National Music for the Blind in the UK issues music programmes presented in radio style.
Address:
National Music for the Blind,
Radio Churchtown Studios,
2 High Park Road,
Southport,
Merseyside PR9 7QL,
England
Tel: 00 44 1704 228010
Website: http://music4blind.multiply.com/
DVDs
The NCBI Shop has audio-described DVDs available to purchase. No special equipment is needed, just a regular DVD player.
Television
The NCBI Library produces an audio version of the RTE Guide, which contains television and radio listings for the week ahead.
Sky
Sky provides an audio-description channel for customers with vision impairment. Audio description helps people understand the programme or film. It offers an additional soundtrack around the original programme sound and provides descriptions of facial expressions, body language, actions, scenery and costumes. For more information contact Sky’s Special Needs Helpline.
Tel: 0818 719 809 (Republic of Ireland)
Email: Accessiblecustomerservice@bskyb.com
Website: http://www.sky.com/accessibility
Saorview
Saorview is Ireland’s first free digital television service and by the end of 2012 will replace the current free analogue television signal, which you receive through an aerial.
Saorview is a digital terrestrial television service, which means the TV signal is received through a standard aerial on your roof paired with either a set-top box or a new integrated digital television (iDTV).
How to Switch
Most outdoor or rooftop aerials will be able to receive the Saorview signal. Unlike analogue television, Saorview requires a set-top box with your existing television or an integrated digital television to decode the signal that comes through your aerial. You do not need to buy a new television but if you are buying a new TV, there are Saorview-approved iDTVs available. These have a built-in receiver, which means you will not need a set-top box.
Further Information
For more information on Saorview or on the equipment necessary to receive the Saorview signal, please visit www.saorview.ie. An information booklet is available to download in clear and large print. To request a Braille or audio copy LoCall 1890 222 012.
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Your Local Community Resource Worker
NCBI’s community-based staff provide a nationwide service to people with vision impairments. Your local community resource worker can give advice on particular leisure activities in your area. In some areas, community resource workers are involved in organising and running social events and activities such as craft classes, day trips or holidays for children, adults and older people.