VI Talk

Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired people.We create exciting touring productions performed, directed and written by visually impaired artists, which are accessible to audiences without requiring additional audio description. We offer supported visits, ticket deals, touch tours and accessible workshops to help visually impaired audiences get the most out of our shows. We provide our tour venues with training in visual impairment awareness and accessible marketing to improve our audiences’ experience.Extant’s long-running youth theatre and adult participation programme for visually impaired people offer supportive and fun workshops, including: movement and dance (contemporary, street dance, ballroom, flamenco), script writing, creating a radio play, forum theatre, music, voice work and magic. We cater for ages 15+, and for all abilities ­­- from having a go to professional development - and support individuals looking for career progression through trainee roles.Extant offer training and consultancy to other organisations in the arts, education and beyond to improve accessibility. Our ongoing programme of research, including high tech solutions to accessibility, feeds into our unique methodology.TAKE PART!Try our fun taster theatre workshop at Sight Village: 11am, Wednesday 15 July. All abilities welcome (ages 18+), register on the ‘Seminars and Events’ page. Want to get active, improve your skills, or looking for activities for your group? From Autumn 2015, Extant have been funded to deliver our programme of performance-related workshops in the Midlands, and work with arts venues to help them become more welcoming to visually impaired audiences. We are actively seeking participants and groups to work with and would love to talk to you.Interested in career opportunities? Sign up for our ‘Train the Trainers’ course: Extant are recruiting more members to our skilled team of visually impaired facilitators to deliver our awareness training.Sign up to our mailing list to receive the spring 2016 tour dates of Extant’s next production, Ionesco’s The Chairs. Includes schools and colleges workshops about this classic drama text.Extant is a charity, supported by Arts Council England.Address The White House Oval House Theatre 52-54 Kennington Oval London SE11 5SW Telephone 020 7820 3737 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.extant.org.uk

We had the pleasure of talking to Sheila Armstrong, Who is the leader of Client Services at the Torch Trust about all the work this do and about what to expect at Sight Village this year For more information Telephone 01858 438260 Fax 01858 438275 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.torchtrust.org

Its great to welcome Lindsay back to talk about British Blind sport and what they can offer For more information please contact BBS on 01926 424247 Visit our website: http://britishblindsport.org.uk View upcoming events: http://britishblindsport.org.uk/events/

We speak to Chris Rose from Guide Dogs about there work and what people can expect at this years Sight Village

Michael & Jo speak to Kathryn Fielding all about Goalball, we start by finding out about what Goalball is and move onto how people can get involved and what to expect at sight village. For more information contact Gjoalball UK Telephone 0114 223 5670 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.goalballuk.com

All Formats based at Queen Alexandra College, provides a range of braille, large print and audio services. Transcription Services All Formats professional transcription services meets the needs of large and small organisations throughout the UK. Our expert staff include braille users who will ensure that information is produced accurately, efficiently and cost effectively. Braille and Tactile Signs All Formats are nationally recognised experts on the design and production of braille and tactile signs. Customers include local authorities, the health service, schools and colleges and commercial organisations. Building audits can be arranged. all formats also manufactures standard signs and banners in acrylic and vinyl. Contact All Formats transcription Tel: 0121 428 5018 Fax: 0121 426 635 Email: [email protected] All Formats braille and tactile signs Tel: 0121 428 5050 ext 5336 Fax:0121 428 5039 Email: [email protected] website: www.qac.ac.uk Contact Paul Hopkins Telephone 0121 428 5018 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.allformats.org.uk

For more information check out David's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StandByMeRP Where you can find out more about what he does. Here is the Poem that is read out as part of this Coffee Break My world is disappearing right before my very eyes and as the tunnel gets much smaller, another part of me now dies. Can't believe that this is happening, never thought it would be me, for all my trials that I've been through, in this life certain I'd see. But it seems I took for granted, all the days I had full sight, should have seen so many places, should have gone out more at night. Wish I'd looked more at the stars and all worlds most wondrous things, now rely on my imagination for the problems blindness brings. Still I'm grieving for the future, ever longing for the past, waking up each day and wondering if these sights will be my last. Know I'm cutting myself off from the world to spare the pain, find it hard to see in sunshine, find it hard to see in rain. Feel I've lost my place in line, all because I've fading vision, but I need to make this fine, need to make it my life's mission. Have to build a new foundation, new direction in my life, have to do it for my children, have to do it for my wife. I will stand up now for others, who's life's door has firmly shut, be my sisters and my brothers, no more days in comfy rut. Words will open heart and soul, by showing my example, focused now on every goal, feeling brave to take a gamble. So if days get hard you've played your cards and walls are closing in, hope these words make sense, pull down defence, and you never give in. Just stand by me and you will see and blind we'll fight as one, together sightless friend, always depend, long after visions gone. By Dave Steele

Blind Veterans UK provides free, lifelong support to ex-Service men and women who are battling severe sight loss, regardless of when or how they lost their sight. Through specialist practical and emotional support, at home, in the community and at the charity’s three centres, veterans and families are given vital help to ensure they are able to discover life beyond sight loss. If you, or someone you know, is a vision impaired veteran now battling severe sight loss, request Blind Veterans UK’s free, lifelong support by calling 0800 389 7979 or visit www.noonealone.org.uk.

As part of Countdown to Sight Village 2015 we had the pleasure of talking to Nicola Russell about all the things that calibre can offer including providing there books on CD USB and also their streaming service. For more information contact them Telephone 01296 432 339 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.calibre.org.uk

Sindhi Systems We provide access technology solutions to schools, higher education establishments, small to large businesses and provide the highest quality computer systems which are custom-built to meet your requirements. Sindhi Systems was founded in 2001 for people with visual impairments and learning difficulties. Our company is the first access technology provider in Leicestershire. Your first choice in I.T training and communications solutions. We specialise in providing hardware for the visually impaired such as screen reading software, Braille embossers, and much more... We also provide technical support contracts for small to medium businesses and organizations to meet their requirements. Sindhi Systems can also provide consultancy service and training on all the products we supply Sindhi Systems now provide talking mobile phones with contracts to businesses, organizations as well as for personal use. Products on display at sight village London. Software for pc’s and laptops. J-Say Jaws Window Eyes System Access Mobile phone software. Mobile speak pocket Mobile speak smart phone Mobile speak Talks Wayfinder Services Training Support Address148 London Road Leicester Leicestershire LE2 1ED Telephone0844 2488 110 / 01162 49 81 00 [email protected] Web Sitehttp://www.sindhisystems.co.uk Back to Sight Village Birmingham Exhibitors

Information from Lynn about ACTMy name is Lynn Cox and I’m a visually impaired entrepreneur who creates savvy reasonably priced services and products that I would find useful - I hope you find them useful as well!Arts Coaching Training covers these main three areas with a Braille labelling and Braille identity/business card service too.The Arts part of my business includes: tactile/scented greetings cards for all occasions including Birthday, Christmas and Valentine’s Day (designs include dog with ball, witch on broomstick, heart, roses, footballers and 20 other images ), prices start at £4.00. Tactile drawing papers with textured paper and yarns start at £9.60. Tactile/scented tree and animal badges start at £2.50. Large exhibition standard sculptures start at £80.00. I also run multi-sensory art workshops and talks in schools, museums, galleries and community settings, as well as exhibiting artwork Internationally.Coaching has been especially design for creative approaches to life or career coaching with the emphasis on assisting disabled or isolated people. Lynn’s Place is a telephone/virtual group isolating buster membership scheme which costs just £15 per month for 90 minutes of group discussions/assistance. Please ask at the exhibition about the Sight Village special offer for five or ten sessions. Mini quick coaching sessions for assisting with a particular problem are also bookable!Training mainly includes various equalities and adaptive techniques training where general inclusion to services are covered. Action learning facilitation via virtual and face to face options is also available to professionals working with visually impaired people.Braille labels, which you cut out and stick on yourself, for identity/business cards start at £20 for 50 labels and you can also have idenity/business cards Brailled for you.Please come and say hello and see if any of my services and products are suitable for you, or someone you know!Contact Details Lynn Cox Telephone 0208 544 9861 Email [email protected] Web Site www.artscoachingtraining.com

To talk to Lindsay about the upcoming day on the 11th of July being held at the King Henry 8th School in Coventry, where you can try out a range of sports suitable for the visually impaired. We also talk about opportunities for sport in the South West. For more information Visit our website: http://britishblindsport.org.uk View upcoming events: http://britishblindsport.org.uk/events/

Keep upto date with what's going on at VI Talk with our regular updates. You can contact us on 0161 298 8255 Email [email protected] of search VITalk on Facebook Twitter and Audioboom

ClearVision is a charity which runs a postal lending library of children’s books. All our books are dual format, with the print and braille together on the page so braille reading children can read with sighted family and friends, and braille reading adults can share stories –including the pictures!- with sighted children. Our collection includes board books for babies, picture books, short chapter books for newly-fluent readers and short stories for teenagers. We also offer tactile books for schools and V.I. Services to help children build their touch skills.Contact us at: [email protected] 0208 789 9575 www.clearvisionproject.org www.facebook.com/clearvisionproject Twitter: ClearVisionOrg

[email protected] 07581566690

Michael & Jo have the opportunity to speak to Phil Longworth who is the CEO from Bradbury Fields. Bradbury Fields is the local society covering the Liverpool area. Phil talks about the services and activities that they provide to blind and partially sighted people in the area. For more information you can contact them on Bradbury Fields The Bradbury Centre Youens Way Liverpool L14 2EP Tel: 0151-221-0888 Fax: 0151-221-0889 Email: [email protected]

Michael had the opportunity to sit down with Lindsay Armstrong from the RNIB and the recent North West Forum to talk about current campaigns being undertaken by the RNIB visit http://www.rnib.org.uk/campaigning for more information

#VI #VI

Sophia is back with an update on her pregnancy. She is now at 28 weeks so not long to go.

Michael talks to Glenn about Sight and Sound and some of the great new equipment that is new on the market, From Document readers to Software

#infosound

#infosound #guidedogs

@infosound

Chris Starts our series on rare eye conditions talking about he deals with Alström Syndrome and how it affects his life For more information on Alström Syndrome please see http://www.alstrom.org.uk/ for more information

This is the first part of a new series being brought to you from Kay Dear all about living on your own.

My name is Callum Stoneman, I’m from Bradford, was born completely blind and have been performing stand-up comedy in my local area for about a year now. My Twitter is @cal_stoneman and my Youtube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHAZbIDR311Tib4ho718rcA

Jo and Michael have a quick look at what is going on at VI Talk and what's coming up soon. Don't forget to get in touch [email protected]

We kick off this years Countdown To Sight Village #C2SV15 by Talking to Karen Easthope who is the Organiser of this years main event in Birmingham on the 15th and 16th of July