Our Technology Support Squad (TSS) is a national network of volunteers who provide support to blind and partially sighted people with all things technical.
This section contains information and resources to support you in your specific roles in the Technology Support Squad.
If you have any feedback, or suggestions for additional support that would be helpful, please contact volunteering@rnib.org.uk.
What to do when you are asked to help
When we get a request for help, we (or one of our Volunteer Coordinators) look for volunteers that live in the same area as the customer. We then contact you to find out if you can help.
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you'll only be called on as and when needed and this is not likely to be on a regular basis.
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you must know if you are able to help and when, and also if you can make more than one visit to the same person.
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you must let us know if a customer contacts you for help directly before making a visit.
Technology Support Squad guidance 1 - How the process works (Word, 47KB)
Guides to helping with the technical stuff
Make sure you get up to speed by reading the following guides before or when you get to a customer's home:
Other sources of support
If you have an Access Technology query for a customer you may wish to consider Phone Support for Callouts with Access Tech (Word 140KB)
We also have a Access Technology Distance Learning Guide available for you to work through in your own time. The guide provides an overview of Access Technology and should make an excellent reference tool.
We have launched a Yahoo Group and message board which is the perfect place to ask your fellow volunteers for advice about how to help a customer. It's only as good as our volunteers make it, so please take a look at the TSS Yahoo Group Information (Word 144KB) and TSS Yahoo Group Joining Instructions (Word 146KB) to get involved.
Why not visit the 'Action for Blind People' mobile bus that is currently touring the country? Friendly and knowledgeable staff will show you around the mobile, demonstrate low vision equipment and answer any questions you may have. For more information, visit the Mobile Bus Home Page or visit the Mobile Bus Calendar for dates and locations.
Remote Support
Following feedback from many of you, and because of the value and potential of supporting customers remotely with their computer problems, we have decided to produce guidance for you all on using remote support software to help customers:
Safeguarding information
You must read this as we have legal obligations in relation to safeguarding.
When you go to help one of our customers, you are going into the home of a vulnerable adult and we therefore need to know about it. This is why it is so important that you let us know if a customer has contacted you directly before you go and help them.
It is also important that you read or remind yourself of our Safeguarding policies and what to do if you have concerns (see 'Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults - Action Flowchart').
Who is your Volunteer Cordinator?
This depends on where in the UK you live.
Promoting the Service
If you meet people you think would benefit from help from our Technology Support Squad, please tell them to get in touch. You can direct them to our leaflet about the service here:
Our policies
It is important that you also read our volunteering policies and about claiming expenses if you haven't already.