Visual News - Issue 5, Winter 2010 - Southern Health and Social ...
Visual News - Issue 5, Winter 2010 - Southern Health and Social ... Visual News - Issue 5, Winter 2010 - Southern Health and Social ...
Working Access Group, by Eilish Campbell.Hello, my name is Eilish Campbell and I was diagnosed withUshers Syndrome when I was 23. Ushers is a hereditary conditionthat affects both sight and hearing. I wear two hearing aids andhave tunnel vision. I am registered as blind.For years I was shy and lacked confidence and hid behind theexcuse that I had to be at home with my children. My children arenow adults and are living their own lives. Up until recently I foundmyself in a situation were I felt lost and needed more help as mysight condition deteriorated. I couldn‟t go shopping on my own orgo to a GP appointment without needing someone to be with me…Iwas always having to wait on help but, then I got fed up having torely on others.With assistance from Conifers Resource Centre I was referred toGuide Dogs for the Blind Association and after months of training Ihave a new four-legged guide….Dottie. What a difference having aGuide Dog has made to my life. I can get up and go out and aboutwhen I want…no more waiting on others. With a new outlook onlife I was observed by others to be ready for something more andwas asked to join a Working Access Group.What is the Working Access Group?The Southern Health and Social care Trust provided funding toDisability Action to train service users with a physical and sensoryimpairment in an Engagement Programme. The course was veryinteresting. I learned about Disability Equality and Legislation.I also learned Representation skills, Research Skills andPresentation & Committee skills. This may sound a bit scary forsome, but, in truth, our trainer Kerry Anne from Disability Actionexplained the in‟s and out‟s of it all in a relaxed and friendly way.I have now been selected to represent people with a visualimpairment. Our role is to provide feedback to the Trust, from theservice user perspective, in highlighting important issues such asthe „Right to Read‟ campaign and the areas around physicalaccessibility, for example, access to hospitals and GP practices.Page 20 of 38
We realise that in the past there has been attempts to addressthese concerns; however, I feel that the Working Access Group isthe way forward and, given the right support, we can make adifference for all who experience difficulties/barriers in our society.I have gained so much more confidence and my life is so full that Iwould encourage you, the listener, if you feel you need to enhanceyour life why not become involved in helping us to develop futureservices.Should you wish to talk with me, please contact me throughConifers Resource Centre?Page 21 of 38
- Page 1 and 2: Visual Disability News: Winter 2010
- Page 3 and 4: UP, UP AND AWAY, by Bernie SloanAno
- Page 5 and 6: times during this exercise that I w
- Page 7 and 8: These experiences seem to happen wh
- Page 9 and 10: A Volunteer’s tale, by Noeleen.A
- Page 11 and 12: New RNIB StaffOver the last number
- Page 13 and 14: makes you noticed, the stigma of ha
- Page 15 and 16: The Cane and Able Club, by June Jac
- Page 17 and 18: Finding your way- the session provi
- Page 19: The Trust Access Working Group, by
- Page 23 and 24: “I have learned something I never
- Page 25 and 26: Floating Support Service.Floating S
- Page 27 and 28: towards engaging with the community
- Page 29 and 30: The project will be delivered by RN
- Page 31 and 32: Are you a Donkey lover?Dr Elizabeth
- Page 33 and 34: In 1965 I auditioned for a talent c
- Page 35 and 36: In 2004 Brendan‟s good friend Jim
- Page 37 and 38: Lucky Dip OmeletteIngredients:2-3 e
Working Access Group, by Eilish Campbell.Hello, my name is Eilish Campbell <strong>and</strong> I was diagnosed withUshers Syndrome when I was 23. Ushers is a hereditary conditionthat affects both sight <strong>and</strong> hearing. I wear two hearing aids <strong>and</strong>have tunnel vision. I am registered as blind.For years I was shy <strong>and</strong> lacked confidence <strong>and</strong> hid behind theexcuse that I had to be at home with my children. My children arenow adults <strong>and</strong> are living their own lives. Up until recently I foundmyself in a situation were I felt lost <strong>and</strong> needed more help as mysight condition deteriorated. I couldn‟t go shopping on my own orgo to a GP appointment without needing someone to be with me…Iwas always having to wait on help but, then I got fed up having torely on others.With assistance from Conifers Resource Centre I was referred toGuide Dogs for the Blind Association <strong>and</strong> after months of training Ihave a new four-legged guide….Dottie. What a difference having aGuide Dog has made to my life. I can get up <strong>and</strong> go out <strong>and</strong> aboutwhen I want…no more waiting on others. With a new outlook onlife I was observed by others to be ready for something more <strong>and</strong>was asked to join a Working Access Group.What is the Working Access Group?The <strong>Southern</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Social</strong> care Trust provided funding toDisability Action to train service users with a physical <strong>and</strong> sensoryimpairment in an Engagement Programme. The course was veryinteresting. I learned about Disability Equality <strong>and</strong> Legislation.I also learned Representation skills, Research Skills <strong>and</strong>Presentation & Committee skills. This may sound a bit scary forsome, but, in truth, our trainer Kerry Anne from Disability Actionexplained the in‟s <strong>and</strong> out‟s of it all in a relaxed <strong>and</strong> friendly way.I have now been selected to represent people with a visualimpairment. Our role is to provide feedback to the Trust, from theservice user perspective, in highlighting important issues such asthe „Right to Read‟ campaign <strong>and</strong> the areas around physicalaccessibility, for example, access to hospitals <strong>and</strong> GP practices.Page 20 of 38
Change language