Vision North Somerset, the local charity supporting people with visual impairment, is celebrating the chance to expand its digital support to local people from April. After a difficult year where lack of funding meant a reduction in staffing and a re-design of the service, Vision North Somerset is delighted to have received a significant grant from St Monica’s Trust. This funding for up to three years will allow the charity to make even more use of the Karten Training Suite in their office in Weston-super-Mare and the equipment funded by the Ian Karten Charitable Trust in home visits and ‘drop in’ events across the county.
As well as increased staffing, Vision North Somerset re-designed the service to focus training staff and volunteers from other local organisations in accessible technology, such as the library service and other charities running general tech ‘drop in’ events. There is also a focus on peer support by recruiting volunteer ‘Digital Buddies’, many of whom are visually impaired themselves.
Hana is blind (severely sight impaired) and has been meeting weekly in the Karten training suite to train Richard in using voice over on his mobile phone. Richard was registered blind in 2017 and his eyesight has deteriorated over the last 5 years. He also wears a hearing aid and lives alone.
He has been learning how to use his iPhone with voiceover. Before his sessions in the Karten room at Vision North Somerset, Richard had an iPhone but didn’t use it. He couldn’t see it and didn’t know how to use a screen reader. He said, “I was frightened of it because I didn’t know what to do.”
Richard has been having lessons with a digital volunteer and the Digital Inclusion Coordinator. He can now set alarms and snooze using his phone as well as reminders. He is using Siri to phone friends. He said his skills have increased and he is now going through emails and deleting them. For him it’s about, “Knowing how to use it properly with touch, putting phone numbers in, basic stuff you’ve helped me with.”
Richard is now able to go out independently and can call taxis using Siri. He can now go supermarket shopping and to appointments. He says, “I now have more confidence getting out of the house.”
Richard recently travelled independently to Bath from Clevedon, via Bristol Bus Station. He had his phone with him and said it gave him confidence to know he could contact people if he is in need of help. He used it with Siri, for finding cafes. In Weston he used his phone to find an Italian restaurant and get directions. About his mobile, Richard said, “It’s a backup, reassurance when going out alone. Put it in your pocket and you’ve got it if you need it.”
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- This article was written by the Vision North Somerset Karten Centre
- Featured in the Karten Spring 2023 Newsletter
- This article is listed in the following subject areas: Centre News