Newsletter October 2013Lisburn in Focus

Lisburn in FocusRawdon House45-47 Market SquareLisburnCo AntrimBT28 1AD

Tel: 028 9260 0388lisburninfocus@rnib.org.ukwww.rnib.org.uk/lisburninfocuswww.facebook.com/lisburninfocus

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Contents:

Walk My Way - 10 October, Lagan Valley Island....2One to One Mobility Support...................................4Read for RNIB in Lisburn Library.............................4Swimming sessions in Lisburn Leisureplex.............5Disability Action Transport Scheme (DATS)............5React.......................................................................6Outlook News..........................................................7

Meal and Cinema evening....................................7Coffee Morning.....................................................7Outlook Annual General Meeting..........................7Outlook goes to the Panto!...................................8

Would you have time to Volunteer with us?............8Walking Group.........................................................9Tandem Group News..............................................9

Weekly Session....................................................9Audio Described Performances.............................10

Lyric Theatre.......................................................10Grand Opera House...........................................10

Guide Dogs News and Events...............................11VisionZone exhibition............................................12Run in the Dark for RNIB NI..................................13Difficulty accessing websites.................................13Personal Transcription Service - use it, it's yours!.14

How does the RNIB personal transcription service work?..................................................................14How can I access personal transcription?..........14

Disability Sport NI Events......................................15NI Open Swimming Championships...................15

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Walk My Way - 10 October, Lagan Valley IslandLisburn in Focus is hosting an important event in partnership with Guide Dogs on Thursday 10 October in Lagan Valley Island.

With the major revamp of Market Square and Bow Street (officially called the Public Realm scheme) starting soon and estimated to last for up to 18 months, it is vitally important that the Council, it's contractors, Roads Service and Traders are aware of the need for clear and regular communication with residents. Especially those residents who will face greater difficulty moving safely around the city centre.

This is why we would like blind and partially sighted people to be present on the day. Not to complain before things happen, but rather to highlight the importance of clear communication and good practice when regenerating public spaces.

This half day event aims to highlight the many challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people as they negotiate their town and city centres and will cover issues such as the expansion of pavement cafes, A-boards, tactile paving, parked cars on pavements amongst a range of other issues.

The day, starting at 9.30am, will entail a number of presentations followed by a panel discussion involving people with a disability. Attendees on the day will include representatives from; Lisburn City Council’s Development Committee, Lisburn City Centre Management; Lisburn Chamber of

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Commerce; DSD; Roads Service; Imtac; Disability Action and Shop Mobility.

We do hope that you will be able to join us on the day and share how we can work together in helping create a modern, attractive but accessible Lisburn City Centre.

If you are able to attend please confirm your attendance by email to claire.patience@rnib.org.uk or phone 028 9260 0388.

One to One Mobility SupportAre there places you would like to walk to that you can't because you feel unsure of the route? Lisburn in Focus can offer you one to one support via Guide Dogs Mobility Instructors. You do not need a Guide Dog! The mobility instructor will spend time with you reinforcing any routes that you already know a little bit but are not 100% sure of when on your own.

Ring us on 028 9260 0388 to request this service.

Read for RNIB in Lisburn LibraryOnly seven percent of printed materials e.g. books, information leaflets or documents are produced in accessible formats such as braille, large print or audio?

To highlight this issue, Lisburn in Focus is having a children's story telling event on Friday 11 October at 3.30pm in Lisburn City Library. A variety of children's story titles including, 'We're going on a Bear Hunt'

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and 'The Gruffalo' will be read via Braille and large print by storytellers who are blind or partially sighted.

Come along and support us, everyone is welcome! Admission is free but pre-booking is essential.

To book a place or for further information, please contact Lisburn City Library on 028 9263 3350 or email lisburncity.library@librariesni.org.uk

Swimming sessions in Lisburn LeisureplexWould you like to learn to swim or become more confident in the water?

Lisburn in Focus has organised an 8 week beginner's swim class in Lisburn Leisureplex starting on Tuesday 22 October.

Each hour long session with start at 9am sharp and two instructors will be there for 30 minutes. After 9.30am you can either leave the pool or remain for another 30 minutes with Lisburn in Focus volunteers.

Places are limited so if you are interested then ring us on 028 9260 0388 or email lisburninfocus@rnib.org.uk

Disability Action Transport Scheme (DATS)If you live within the Lisburn City area and have difficulty using public transport, why not try a local urban transport service for people with disabilities.

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Disability Action in conjunction with Lagan Valley Rural Transport run a transport service for people with disabilities and is available from 7.30am until 11.30pm daily Monday to Saturday and from 8.00am until 8.00pm on Sunday.

Membership is free but a fare is charged for each trip taken. You can travel anywhere within your entire operational area with a map sent out when you join the service. All single trips within this operational area are charged at £1.50 per trip.

The Transport Service use a range of vehicles to deliver the service and depending on where you live it might be a bus, small taxi type vehicle or a car.

If you would like further information on membership or a copy of the operational map for your area please contact the DATS staff on 0845 608 5555 or email transport@disabilityaction.orgWebsite - www.disabilityaction.org/transport

ReactFobs for the React units are available FREE to any local blind or partially sighted people. React is an audible signpost system designed by RNIB for people who are blind or partially sighted. Each speaker acts like a signpost, letting the person who triggers it know where they are.

For anyone outside of Lisburn Council area they can be bought from RNIB for £25. They are also available to borrow for the day from the Lisburn

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Tourist Information Centre in Lisburn Square, Lisburn Bus Centre Reception and Lisburn Train Station Reception.

The Lisburn in Focus team are keen to arrange trials of the system if you would like to walk it with one of us. Please call the office on 028 9260 0388 or email lisburninfocus@rnib.org.uk

Outlook News

Meal and Cinema eveningOutlook have organised reduced price tickets to the Omniplex Cinema in Lisburn for Wednesday 16 October. Those who are interested are also invited to eat in Ed's Bar & Grill restaurant following the 6pm screening. The choice of film has not been decided at this time.

Anyone who wants a ticket contact Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388 by Wednesday 9 October.

Coffee MorningThe next Outlook Coffee Morning will take place on Wednesday 9 October at 10.30am in The Kitchen, Lisburn Square. We meet from 10.30am onwards, but come and join us whenever you can during the morning. It would be great to see you there! All are welcome.

Outlook Annual General MeetingOutlook would like to warmly invite you to their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 21 November

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at 5pm in The Wallace Riverside Pub & Eatery (formerly The Point).

You will then be encouraged to walk over to the Lagan Valley Island for the Christmas Lights entertainment and Switch on.

Please let us know - for catering purposes - if you hope to attend the AGM. Ring Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388 by Friday 15 November.

Outlook goes to the Panto!Following our successful trip to the panto in the Grand Opera House in January of this year we have decided to do it again. The audio described performance of Sleeping Beauty will be held on 7 January 2014 at 7.30 p.m.

The show would not be the same without May McFettridge and starring alongside May is Lorraine Chase.

The cost of tickets, depending on numbers, will be between £10 and £15. Seats get booked very quickly, and so I would ask you to let me know if you would like to come by no later than Friday 4 October. You can contact me on 028 9260 7894 or 07786 166550, or email Margaret.Mann5@btinternet.com (please note this is my new email address). I look forward to hearing from you (Oh yes I do!)

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Would you have time to Volunteer with us?You may be aware that Lisburn in Focus has begun providing a befriending service for people with sight loss.

The befriending service offers a supportive, reliable relationship to people who feel socially isolated. The service ensures people remain independent as much as possible and to help them with the small tasks that they find they cannot do.

A volunteer befriender will meet with someone on a regular basis for a chat, to help with small tasks and give advice on other services available locally.

If you or someone you know might be willing to volunteer with this service or you would like to request a volunteer befriender to be paired up with you, please contact Richard on 028 9260 0388 or email lisburninfocus@rnib.org.uk

Walking GroupThe weekly walking group meets at the steps at the Council building - the Island Civic Centre - at 10am every Tuesday. It is entirely up to you if you come each week - the only time we will call the group off is if it is very icy. We will walk through rain, you can decide if you want to! Anyone interested in taking part will be made most welcome. Ring the office on 028 9260 0388 if you want any additional information.

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Tandem Group NewsWeekly SessionThe weekly Thursday evening group has stopped meeting over the Autumn and Winter. Instead we are proposing to meet on alternate Saturday afternoons in October and November from 10.30am-12noon.

The four dates are;5 October19 October2 November16 November

As it is not guaranteed that there will be enough pilots for every stoker, you may not get out on a bike for the full 90 minutes.

Anyone interested in taking part will be made most welcome and all fitness levels are catered for. New cyclists will be given a helmet. Wear comfortable clothes and have some way of tucking loose trouser bottoms into socks or cycle clips. If you want any more information please ring Lisburn in Focus on 028 9260 0388.

Audio Described PerformancesLyric Theatre 028 9038 1081 or www.lyrictheatre.co.uk Pride and Prejudice, 3 October 2013Brendan at the Chelsea, 7 November 2013Forget Turkey 2, 9 January 2014Philadelphia Here I come, 6 March 2014

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Grand Opera House 028 9024 1919 Cats, 13 November, 2013Sleeping Beauty (panto), 7 January 2014Fiddler on the Roof, 15 February, 2014Dreamboats and Petticoats, 15 March 2014Singing in the Rain, 14 May 2014Dirty Dancing, 7 August 2014

Guide Dogs News and EventsOn Saturday 5 October Guide Dogs are organising a sponsored Firewalk at Custom House Square in Belfast.

This is a unique opportunity for anyone who wants to try something new and just that little bit different! Registration is £35 with participants being asked to raise a further £100 in sponsorship.

If you require any further information please contact the Guide Dogs office on 08453727402.

Saturday 12 October will see the launch of a new initiative to encourage people who are blind and partially sighted to become more active through running or walking.

Guide Dogs have been working very closely with ParkRun (www.parkrun.org.uk) to establish a network of sighted guides to support those with a visual impairment who want to become more active.

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Guide Dogs are encouraging people of all ages and abilities to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians or even those just interested in taking regular walking exercise. Guides will be available on the day for those who want to walk or to try running for the first time. The ‘network’ will then facilitate local running and walking opportunities. Participants will gather from 11.30am for a 12.00pm start and we anticipate finishing up no later than 2.00pm.

If you require further information, or know someone who can’t make it on the day but would like to get involved, please contact Andrew Murdock at the Belfast Mobility Team Office on 0845 3727402 or by email andrew.murdock@guidedogs.org.uk

VisionZone exhibition You are warmly invited to 'VisionZone', an exhibition of equipment, resources and services for blind and partially sighted people hosted by Optelec, in association with RNIB Northern Ireland. Connect with others and discover how to make the most of life with limited sight.

When? : Tuesday 22 October 10am to 2.30pmWhere? : Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast (Ground Floor, Olympic Suite)

This is a great opportunity to meet representatives from organisations and local groups offering support services, talking books, daily living aids, Braille technology and magnifiers. Meet the experts and

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discover how to use a computer with simple magnification software, or try reading and viewing your favourite photographs using the latest video magnifiers.

Access by public transport: Holiday Inn is a 10 minute walk from Great Victoria Street Station.Visiting by car: There are two pay and display car parks on Ormeau Avenue and an NCP multi-storey, accessible from Hardcastle Street. On-street parking is also available however parking charges may apply.

For further information call Amy Stewart, RNIB NI on 028 9032 9373.

Run in the Dark for RNIB NIWhere? Stormont Estate When? 13 November, 7.30pm

Run in the Dark organiser, the Mark Pollock Trust, has suggested RNIB NI as one of the charities to support! The event registration fee (£22) goes towards the Mark Pollock Trust and you can fundraise for RNIB NI.

Register at www.runinthedark.org then set up your very own donation page on www.justgiving.com/rnib/raisemoney

To receive your free RNIB T-shirt and sponsorship form contact Hazel Stirling on 9033 4123 or email

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hazel.stirling@rnib.org.uk

Pledge to fundraise £50 and receive a free running shirt. Recommend 10 people to Run in the Dark and receive an official event hoodie.

Difficulty accessing websitesDo you have difficulty fully accessing any local websites? We can work with organisations and businesses giving them tailored advice as to how they can make their website fully accessible for those of you who use Zoom technology or speech software like JAWS.

Please let us know if you find any websites challenging and we will try our best to work with the web designer to make them fully accessible. Ring 028 9260 0388 or email lisburninfocus@rnib.org

Personal Transcription Service - use it, it's yours!RNIB believes in accessible information for all.

The personal transcription service helps blind and partially sighted people translate everyday printed material into audio, Braille, large print or text.

The skilled team can transcribe information that wouldn't otherwise be available, providing independent access to the written word.

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How does the RNIB personal transcription service work?If you're an RNIB Member you can request free transcription equivalent to 300 straightforward print pages every year. Further transcription can be purchased at a subsidised cost, depending on the complexity and format of the original information and the type of transcription required. Prices start from just 4p a page. Non-members can request transcription at the same subsidised cost.

How can I access personal transcription?Accessing personal transcription is quick and easy.Simply call your regional centre in Belfast on 028 9050 1888 or the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999

Disability Sport NI EventsNI Open Swimming ChampionshipsDate: Saturday 19 October 2013Venue: Lagan Valley Leisureplex, Lisburn

The NI Open Swimming Championships for People with disabilities will see almost 220 competitors take part. This year’s special guest will be London 2012 Paralympians Laurence McGivern and Gold Medallist Bethany Firth, both of whom started their swimming careers at the Championships before going on to represent Paralympics Ireland at international level.

The event, which is in its 15th year is the only pan disability gala to be held in Northern Ireland and is organised by Disability Sports NI. The event will be

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supported by volunteers from Disability Sports NI and Swim Ulster Ltd. For further information contact Odhran Doherty, Performance Officer, Disability Sport NI on 028 9038 7062 or email odoherty@dsni.co.uk

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