Welcome to the first Sensory Engagement Programme (SEP) news letter. Our plan is to send at least two newsletters a year. If you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter by email or in another format, please contact Thomas Quigley on
Thomas.quigley@rnib.org.uk.
SEP officially launches
On 24 February 2011 the Sensory Engagement Programme was officially launched at the RNIB office in Derry/Londonderry. We were delighted to welcome speakers Janet Gray and Richard Moore. In addition we had a sneak preview of an exciting new Remote Interpreting Service for sign language users.
To date over 115 people with sight or hearing loss have benefited from the programme.
Derry Central Library comes on board!
We're delighted that Derry Central Library has come on board as our first prospective Model of Excellence. Staff in all five branches have received Visual Awareness Training and the library will be assessed for accessibility in June. We have held IT classes for deaf and hard of hearing people in the library and there are plans to develop the current Book Club for blind and partially sighted people.
Staff have been enjoying the training. Here are a few comments:
'Didn't expect to enjoy this training, but I did very much. Trainers were excellent.'
'I will be more aware of visually impaired people coming into the library.'
Free sensory awareness training for banks, libraries and colleges
We're offering free visual awareness and deaf awareness training to any bank, library or college in the border areas. Southern Regional College has taken us up with sessions planned for the end of June. We're also looking for organisations to sign up to achieve chartermark status for accessibility for people with sight and / or hearing loss.
To find out more contact the Project Manager Alice Lewis on alice.lewis@rnib.org.uk or phone 028 7136 6060.
Weekend residentials prove a big hit
Four residential weekends took place between February and April, in Donegal, Tyrone and Newcastle, Co. Down. These weekends have focused on confidence building and personal development, with plenty of fun activities thrown in such as canoeing and tandem cycling. One participant said:
'It was my very first meeting with a bigger group of deaf people after being on my own for 4 years. I enjoyed interacting with new people and would like to see more of this kind of thing in the future.'
Another said, 'The residential was great fun and I made lots of new friends', while another commented, 'I take away lots of new learning from the weekend and a lot of new contacts and information provided by my peers.'
Project participants get 'IT'
Participants with sight loss and hearing loss have been taking part in a range of IT training courses. In Enniskillen a group of hard of hearing people have been learning how to send emails, while in Derry a group of partially sighted young people have been getting hands on with iPads and Macbooks.
Information Day in Moy
An Information Day was held in the Ryandale Inn, Moy on Tuesday 10 May 2011. This was a very successful event with 60 service users in attendance.
As one attendee stated,
"The title of this event was very appropriate; we got lots of Information and had a most enjoyable day."
A number of those attending signed up for the next RNIB/SEP Finding Your Feet confidence building programme in June and for a residential in the autumn.
This was very much a partnership event involving RNIB NI, NCBI , SHSCT (Southern Health & Social Care Trust) Plus Fit For U, SRC (Southern Regional College), Libraries NI and Conservation Volunteers NI (Green Gym).
Participants get creative at the Playhouse
A group of deaf participants are learning the art of improvisation at the Playhouse in Derry. The 8 week course will finish with a showcase performance at the end of June and the aim is to create a DVD documentary. A group of blind and partially sighted participants have been developing skills in verbal storytelling under the same programme, which again will finish with a showcase event.
Get involved
If you're someone aged 18+ living with sight or hearing loss and would like to find out what's happening in your area, please contact the Project Coordinators as follows:
Derry / Donegal - deaf and hard of hearing participants
Stephanie Donnelly
RNID NI Project Coordinator
TEL: 028 7136 6060
Mobile: 07587 770 650
Derry / Donegal - blind and partially sighted participants
Marian Lewis
NCBI Project Coordinator
Tel: 028 7136 6060
Mob: 00353 860434857
Newry / Dundalk - blind and partially sighted participants
Danny McSherry
RNIB Project Coordinator
MOB: 07940 718434
Danny.mcsherry@rnib.org.uk
Newry / Dundalk - deaf and hard of hearing participants
Johanna Lodge
DeafHear.ie Project Coordinator
johanna.lodge@deafhear.ie or text +353 85 805753
Forthcoming activity
Confidence Building Residential, July 2011. Venue: Gartan Outdoor Education Centre. This will be an opportunity for new participants to get involved with the SEP project. Open to people: Aged: 18 - 35 Donegal/Derry, Omagh/Fermanagh Sligo and Leitrim.
Confidence Building Residential, July 2011 Open to people: aged 35 - 65 years Donegal/Derry, Omagh/Fermanagh Sligo and Leitrim.
Belfast Lough Sailability - Day Trip
Date: Tuesday 14 June
FULLY BOOKED
Confidence Building Residential /Finding your Feet Summer / Autumn 2011 Co Down. Dates: TBC
For all other queries contact:
Sensory Engagement Programme
RNIB NI
First Floor Embassy Building
3 Strand Road
Derry BT48 7BH
Tel: 028 7136 6060
www.rnib.org.uk/sensoryengagement