Adventures at Center Parcs and Wheelchairs

We spent the Guy Fawkes weekend at Center Parcs, Matthew and I had visited it years ago but we had never taken the children.

We had a brilliant time and as a wheelchair user I found it mostly accessible. They had extra aids such as a wheelchair for use in the pool area that we used to take me down a ramp right into the swimming pool - this made it so much easier that negotiating the steps in the shallow end. They also had aids for people who are visually impaired such as the large, tactile maps in the main areas. These were created with the RNIB and make it map reading more accessible. All staff were very supportive and were able to offer assistance when requested. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend it for families and if you have an impairment.

I'm exploring my options for a new manual wheelchair, mine is about twenty years old and whilst it still looks modern, it is rather heavy for people lifting it into their cars. I had an assessment at the wheelchair service in Trowbridge and tried a couple of manual wheelchairs. The Quickie Neon 2 was a lot lighter and it folded up which is one of my requirements. I need to enquire about prices from different wheelchair suppliers and then the wheelchair service will provide a voucher towards the cost of a new one (they could supply me with a basic wheelchair but it was no lighter than my current one.)

I'm also trying to sort out applying for a lightweight, foldable wheelchair for work, one that can be transported easily in the taxi. This will make it less tiring, give me greater independence especially when I'm delivering training. I'll also be able to use my cane which means I'll bump into less things and be more confident when moving around. It's a long process - I'm applying through Access to Work but it will be worth in the long run.

Visionary 2016 and AET course completion....

Visionary 2016 was a really enjoyable couple of days which felt like a big personal achievement as well as a professional one. I did have some nerves leading up to it, especially because it was an unfamiliar venue and there would be lots of people there. It went very smoothly, with the valuable support of my personal assistant and Wiltshire Sight colleagues. The staff at Aston Conference Centre, Birmingham were also very helpful. I attended various workshops including a very interesting one on employability for visually impaired people and also information on a project looking at Access to Work and people's experiences of it. It was interesting talking to various people related to eye health and to talk to professional people who are also living with visual impairment.

Wiltshire Sight were presented with an award for 'Best partnership in practice' for our one stop event and the way we work well with other organisations. It was a great recognition of our work to support visually impaired people.

Following Visionary 2016, I completed my Level 3 Award in Education and Training which involved delivering a micro teach session on visual impairment. The micro teach went well with plenty of positive feedback, despite the mishap of using the timer to count down instead of counting up - it beeped eight minutes into the training! I enjoyed the course, it complimented my work, added to my skills and it is an accomplishment to be qualified as a trainer.

Exciting professional events....

Sight Expo 2016 was a really successful event with over one hundred people visiting it. My talk was very well received, there were about fourteen people who attended. I didn't have many questions throughout the talk but at the end there were quite a few people from different organisations who wanted to talk to me. I really enjoyed the experience, discussing the ways in which the challenges of sight loss can be overcome to a greater or lesser extent and that many positive experiences still happen, regardless of any impairments. Being visually impaired should not stop you from achieving your goals in life, you just may need to take a slightly different route.

My Award in Education and Training course is continuing well, I have completed two of the three units and the associated assignments. It is challenging fitting it into my already busy life, especially now work has become busy again after the summer. It is hard achieving a good work/family/study balance but that is a challenge that seems to face everyone these days. It continues to benefit the training that I'm delivering to care homes and I can see how I can improve my own training methods.

At Wiltshire Sight we are preparing for the Visionary 2016 conference which takes place on the 20th and 21st October. We will be delivering a workshop about how the Looking Out For Sight project has used research, strategy and action to influence professionals in the social care sector. It will be an exciting event, it brings together sight loss charities and organisations across the country so that ideas and practices can be shared. I'm rather apprehensive about attending the event because it is always challenging when I'm among lots of people who I'm not familiar with and I'm very aware that it's a professional setting and I want to make a good impression and be a good representation of Wiltshire Sight. I often miss what is going on around me, due to my lack of periphery vision and I do not always realise when someone is talking to me. I've also visions of knocking over wine glasses at dinner which is rather embarrassing! However, I won't be the only visually impaired person. This is what I really love about working in eye health area, I am not alone and there are many who understand the challenges I may have.

This event will be a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of project and to learn more about subjects relating to visual impairment through attending the different workshops. We will be staying overnight and attending the awards dinner. It will be an exciting couple of days.

Studying again and public speaking.....

The studio interview at Radio Wiltshire went really well at the end of June. I was really nervous but I felt well prepared with my mind map of information about the Looking Out For Sight project. However, the presenter, Graham Seaman, caught me completely off guard when he start asking questions about myself and my experiences of visual impairment! I had to think very quickly because I hadn't expected those questions, in particular he asked how my family were affected by my sight which I was unsure how to answer. Somehow I didn't pause for too long and I responded positively saying that we adapt and remain positive. I did talk about the Wiltshire Sight project, but there was so much that I didn't get time to say. When I listened to it afterwards, I was really happy with the interview, it sounded interesting, gave an insight into living with sight loss and it also informed listeners about the Looking Out For Sight project.

Towards the end of July, as part of my role at Wiltshire Sight, I registered for an online training course with BBE Training. Once completed, I will have the Award in Education and Training Level 3. This is a very valuable course for my current job role in training others and it is transferable to other jobs and areas of life. It is teaching me about how to deliver effective teaching and enable learners to learn about a subject to the best of their ability, while considering their individual needs. It is very interesting and it is reinforcing and adding to the knowledge I have already gained throughout the Looking Out For Sight project. It is hard studying throughout the summer when I would rather be outside enjoying the sunshine with our children. However, it will be worth it, and it is a good time to study whilst it is quieter at work.
It is nearly time for Sight Expo 2016, an event on 6th September, organised by Wiltshire Sight which gives individuals the opportunity to attend a couple of talks about sight loss and to visit an exhibition of technology that can assist you if you are visually impaired. There will also be exhibitors from different organisations linked to people affected by sight loss. I was asked to be one of the speakers, and I am currently writing my talk. I plan to discuss the effects of living with sight loss, including the impact it has on the whole family. I am mainly presenting all the positives, despite my sight loss I have achieved a great deal and continue to aim high with my ambitions. It is daunting, I have never presented a talk about myself before but it is an amazing opportunity and I'm looking forward to it.

New paths and opportunities.....

So much has happened in the last two months - it's quite amazing to consider how life has moved on.

I have started my new job as Project Co-ordinator at Wiltshire, working on the Looking out for Sight project, and I'm loving it. It is so fulfilling to be using my own sight loss for something positive.

As well as delivering training to care homes, we have been training ambassadors for sight societies in the south west and it has been interesting to meet many different people, a large number of whom have experienced severe sight loss themselves. By becoming part of the project and delivering the training, they are raising awareness of visual impairment and the services of their local society.

Our project was nominated and shortlisted for the Innovation Award of the Vision Pioneer Awards. It is wonderful recognition of the work we are doing, and whilst we didn't win, it is an honour to be a runner up and to raise overall awareness of Wiltshire Sight.

I've also made some useful discoveries for aids to help me in the kitchen. I found it really challenging and frustrating on a daily basis but now I have these aids which are brilliant. Here is a link to the article I wrote for Wiltshire Sight: http://www.wiltshiresight.org/kitchen-aids-for-increased-accessibility/ Well worth looking at - the oven shelf guards would benefit everyone whether you have sight loss or not!

Also, I discovered that Apple produce an excellent large print skin for their wireless keyboard. It's quite expensive - £30 but well worth it when you cannot see the keys without it.

The next few weeks brings lots more training, including a trip to Bournemouth, and also a studio radio interview about the project! It's brilliant to be doing something I enjoy so much.

Hopes and Fears

Losing some of your sight is one of the scariest things to go through and with it comes all sorts of emotions and experiences that you have to work your way through. For some people it happens slowly and for others it can happen very suddenly over a few days or even overnight. Unfortunately I have experienced sudden sight loss, about eleven years ago and more recently, a few weeks ago. Whilst it is not life threatening; which is something I have to keep reminding myself in the early days of adjustment to provide some balance to the situation, it is challenging, scary and something that is difficult to experience.

My experience involved waking up with eyes that kept 'flickering', they couldn't decide how to focus and this made looking at things very difficult. I noticed that my left eye had overnight lost significantly more vision, and it's always been the worse eye, and I've also lost vision in the bottom part of my eyes which means my field of vision has got a lot smaller. This has impacted my every day activities in so many ways. When preparing food, I'm unable to see both hands at the same time, so if I'm chopping vegetables, I can choose to either look at the vegetable or my hand operating the knife (I'm left handed) but never both. I can't read the notes below the lines on my guitar music, so I'm need to learn new pieces from memory. I can't see my whole face when I'm putting my make up on anymore, I can see independent areas like my mouth, one eye etc. I cannot see some areas at all - particularly when applying make up to my right eye and have to take a leap of faith that I haven't made a mess of my mascara! I cannot see my whole outfit that I'm wearing to decide on its overall effect. I have to magnify the computer more to read, and reading in general is more tiring. Watching TV is more challenging due to my ability to see detail being reduced, and also we only watch TV in the evening which is when my eyes are most tired and can't always focus properly.  My husband is amazing and he has become my personal describer, telling me about all the things I cannot see as well as I used to. These are all the practical difficulties but there are emotional ones too....

When sight loss happens it gives me a huge sinking feeling, my heart feels heavy and sad because of the sudden loss. It is something that can't be escaped from, every action is a reminder of sight loss and each time something is harder as a result of failing sight, it feels like a massive blow. The only escape is when it is bedtime. It generates feelings of claustrophobia, it feels like living in a box being increasingly shut out from the rest of the world. Finding items is so much harder and tiring because I have to scan more with my eyes and I lose track of where I have looked - I need to learn to more methodically! It is hard conveying the news to family and friends, knowing how to tell them, and responding to different reactions. I hate giving sad news and it is not easy to do. Life outside the home is more confusing, there is a greater feeling of vulnerability, shopping is scary and takes longer and because it is a hidden disability other people have no idea that these difficulties exist, unless they know you. Experiencing sight loss evokes feelings very similar to those experienced when someone you love has passed away, fear, sadness, anger, uncertainty, vulnerability, adjustment to new situations.

Despite all this uncertainty, sadness and fear, time does heal, I have been through this sort of thing before and feel experienced with my coping strategies. It is best to do things in my own time and simply allow time to adjust. My first shopping visit after my sudden sight loss was quite scary, especially because I had my children with me so I needed to keep an eye on them. However, it was successful and I know I can get out independently. I haven't cut myself (yet!) whilst preparing food although I do keep knocking things with my left arm because I keep forgetting to maintain awareness about my reduced vision. I still get really sad when my children try to show me something detailed, usually a picture in a book and I just can't see it. However, I need to learn to use my magnifier more and ensure I take the item to a room that has better lighting. It will get easier to adapt to, and already I am more positive about coping with it, but I am a positive person and have a busy life which keeps me occupied and little time for thinking about the negative points of my disability.

To end on a really positive note, I am very excited and looking forward to my new role as Project Coordinator for Wiltshire Sight. I am working on the 'Looking Out for Sight' project, funded by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, and I am thrilled to have been offered the job. Employment is not easy to achieve when you have a disability and being offered this job gives me an enormous sense of self fulfillment and I am very keen to help people who are in a similar situation to myself. It turns something negative that I'm experiencing into a positive and if I can make a difference to the lives of people living with sight loss, it makes me very happy.

Beavers and Birthday Bowling

A couple of weeks ago I led an accessibility evening at our local Beaver group. I volunteer there each week (our children are both Beavers) and in order for the group to earn their Disability Awareness Activity Badge I offered to talk to the Beavers and let they use my wheelchair to carry out practical tasks.

I talked about disability in general and how it can affect everyday life. Then the Beavers used the simulator glasses and tried matching socks together. They also worked in pairs guiding a Beaver who was blindfolded and negotiated an obstacle course in a wheelchair. They all loved it, and asked some really interesting questions afterwards. In particular, one which I struggled to answer and still don't know, is whether it is harder being sight impaired or mobility impaired. I would probably say that my sight is often harder to live with, it is very difficult when I'm out in unfamiliar places. I think it is harder to have a sight impairment in a social setting because you do not recognise people and their facial expressions easily, whereas being in a wheelchair is not usually as hard in this situation. However, there are many times when my wheelchair prevents me from going to places, especially on family outings or people do not treat me in the same way as they would if I wasn't in a wheelchair. So I can't really say which impairs me the most. The evening ended with a chat about my Dog for the Disabled (recently renamed Dogs for Good), Rowan. The Beavers loved see the photos of him and asked some more questions. It was very positive way to finish, demonstrating that although disabilities do pose limitations and obstacles on your life, you can find ways of overcoming some of them and it can also open other pathways and opportunities.

We celebrated my birthday by going to Tenpin Bowling. I've never been before, and wanted to take our children out as part of my celebrations. I mention it because the venue was very accessible with a portable ramp to enable access to the bowling lane which the staff brought out voluntarily, ramps to roll the balls down which were available in various lanes (I'm unable to lift and throw a bowling ball) and a fully accessible disabled loo. They did turn the lights off and put on the disco lights and very loud music a short time into our first game, it was probably for a children's party which was taking place at the time. This did make it hard to see the skittles and made it feel like a night club - a bit strange on a Saturday morning - we would have preferred being able to see better and be able to talk to each other easily! Overall though, we did have fun and it's something we haven't been to before as a family.

Fun in the caves with Wiltshire Sight and improved accessibility at Vodafone

I haven't written for a while because it became far too busy with Christmas preparations and I had to focus on that. Now it is the new year and I have some more time!

This is a photo of the caves at Wookey Hole

Just before Christmas we had a lovely outing with Wiltshire Sight Zoom Club to visit Wookey Hole Caves and Father Christmas. Wiltshire Sight Zoom Club brings together children and their families who are affected by sight loss - whether it is the children or parents who have visual impairment. It provides a support network and various activities where families can share experiences and it can help with any feelings of isolation.

It is good for the children in particular because when you are growing up with a disability, whether it is sight loss or any other impairment, life is harder and you can feel very different from your peer group. I remember feeling very isolated, had very little confidence and it was hard joining in with all the activities my peers were doing. At secondary school I most wanted to be able to walk around school with a rucksack on my back, as all my friends did, because at the time I thought it was a really 'cool' normal thing to be able to do and I couldn't achieve this. It is the little things that can make such a difference to making you feel included. Times have changed, and there is far more support for people with disabilities, including Wiltshire Sight who do an amazing job with supporting people with sight loss by providing advice about equipment and services, workshops and general support with making the most of your sight.

This is a photo of the mirror maze -
Anthony and Charlotte can be seen many times!

Wookey Hole is very accommodating to people with disabilities. Although the caves are not wheelchair accessible, they have provided a film, that is shown in a quiet room, which takes the viewer on a tour of the caves and talks about the different stories that are linked to them, some are factual, others less so! I've wanted to visited the caves since childhood, to see the Witch of Wookey Hole, so I was a bit disappointed to learn that the caves are not suitable for wheelchair users. However, the film is very informative and I do feel like I have an idea of what they look like and an understanding of their history. There is a lot to do at Wookey Hole, we thoroughly enjoyed the circus show performed by the children from the village at Wookey Hole. They were all competent in so many skills such as magic tricks, acrobatics, unicycles and aerial work. The mirror maze was good fun and Anthony and Charlotte loved visiting Father Christmas. Apart from the caves, all the activities we did were accessible and all the staff were very helpful and welcoming. Thank you to Wiltshire Sight for arranging such a lovely day out.

Yesterday I visited Vodafone in Marlborough to discuss my phone. As with many of the shops in Marlborough, Vodafone has several big steps leading up to it. This time, I noticed a touch sensitive panel on the window, which was for people with disabilities to press for assistance. I did this and someone came out very quickly. They asked if I would like to use the ramp and got it for me. Unfortunately the ramp did not go over the step of the door frame, and I decided not to go over it because it probably wouldn't be safe to go back out again. However, the two members of staff were so helpful, and immediately took photos of ramp showing the step that was causing the problem. They said that they would send them to the person who organised the ramp. I was the first person to use it so they didn't realise it was a problem. I am really appreciative that they had purchased a ramp and of the way in which they dealt with the situation.