Congratulations to our BTEC Graduates
A graduation ceremony for the participants of the BTEC Professional Diploma in Rehabilitation Studies (Vision Impairment) Level 4 was held in March at NCBI’s Rehabilitation Training Centre in Dublin. Twelve members of NCBI staff, community resource workers and IT trainers, participated in this course.
The course, which was delivered by a UK based company called Provision Solutions and accredited by Edexcel, ran from September 2009 to July 2010 and was carried out on a modular basis covering the following areas:
- Vision impairment and the use of low vision
- Holistic assessment of people with a vision impairment
- Adult rehabilitative learning and instructional skills
- Rehabilitative strategies for daily living
- Communication skills for people with a vision impairment
- Orientation and mobility skills for people with a vision impairment.
This course was as part of NCBI’s commitment to the continued development of the skill base and professionalism of our staff.
This story carries a photo of the graduates pictured with Des Kenny, CEO of NCBI. The caption reads: Back row (L-R): Toni O’Dwyer, Regional Manager, NCBI Mid West; James Aylett, Provision Solutions; Maura Barry, NCBI Mid West; Lisa Brown, NCBI South; Des Kenny, Chief Executive; Caroline Lane, NCBI Mid West; Francis Kane, NCBI West; Jude Maher, NCBI South East; Andrew Dobson, Provision Solutions.
Seated (L-R): Mandy Gibbons, NCBI South East; Michael Benson, NCBI South East; Sharon Lyons, NCBI Dublin; Geraldine Gallagher, NCBI South.
First accessible Wii game
For the first time, children with and without visual impairment can play Wii together on an equal level, thanks to the game called “The Explorer and the Mystery of the Diamond Scarab”. Royal Dutch Visio, Centre of Expertise for blind and partially sighted people in the Netherlands, launched the first Wii game for vision impaired, blind and fully sighted children at the end of March. The game is also available in English.
In addition to the positive effect of playing unhindered with peers on an equal level. This game also contributes to improving physical coordination.
In this game you play the role of Ben the Archaeologist who is searching for the Temple of the Diamond Scarab. Once he is in the temple he meets Tiri, an enchanting Egyptian princess. Going through a maze of underground passages they look for ancient Egyptian treasures and confront various challenges. The Guardian leads them step by step to the exit. The game is played on a balance board, a standard Wii accessory. With this you can move through the maze, find treasures and enter challenging situations. Since this is the first game in the world developed jointly for children who are blind or vision impaired, as well as fully sighted children. For more information visit www.visio.org/Wii-game.
Dun Laoghaire Access Sailing Programme 2011
An introductory day will be held on Sunday morning 19th June 2011 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. Sunday morning sailing will also commence on Sunday 26th June and continue each Sunday until 21 August, run by the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and the Motor Yacht Club.
Two 4 – day sailing courses
Tues 21 – Fri 24 June at National Yacht Club
Tues 2 – Fri 5 August at Royal Irish Yacht Club
For children aged between 8 and 17 years with sensory and physical disabilities.
No sailing experience necessary. To register interest or for more details please contact Ian French 087 2456834 or email ianafrench@eircom.net or phone Katy McGuinness on 087 2632220.
Lifelong Learning conference for children with vision impairments
Two parents’ conferences are currently being planned for separate venues in Dublin (Oct. 1st) and Galway (Oct. 2nd). These are aimed at parents of children where sight loss is the main disability impacting on the acquisition of skills required for learning, both within and outside of the education system.
NCBI are delighted to announce that Dr. Karen Wolffe will be presenting at both conferences. Dr. Wolffe is travelling from Austin, Texas, where she works with the American Foundation for the Blind, to speak about successful achievements in working with children with vision impairments.
Further details of the conference and a list of other speakers will be available shortly. For further information see www.ncbi.ie for updates or contact: 061 310818.