Publications Archive

New Beacon, March 1990, 74 (874)

Summary: leading monthly magazine on issues concerning people with sight problems

• Getting around to it: Mobility and children in the mainstream
• Grape expectations
• The Talking Newspaper: Twenty years on
• Letters
• News
• Art to share
• Physical conversations
• Diary
• Obituary

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The Journal of Blind welfare
Editor: Ann Lee
The Royal National for the Blind

Getting around to it: Mobility and children in the mainstream

Visually-impaired children need to feel safe if they are to feel included. Is the spirit of Warnock being undermined by lack of attention to their special needs?

Barbara Raffle, Lecturer at RNIB NMC (the National Mobility Centre], argues that mobility training should be provided as of right for visually-impaired children in mainstream education.

The prime disability conferred by visual impairment acquired in adulthood is the limitation on independent mobility, and therefore on personal autonomy. This is a prime limitation upon the visually-impaired child too, although failure to take account of it in childhood brings a different set of problems.

A team of researchers (Sonksen et al, 1984) have identified seven constraints on a visually-impaired child's mobility--seven ways in which he may be different and therefore more demanding of special assistance in the mainstream of education. The first and most basic of these is diminished drive. Poor sight may rob the young baby of the motivation to get on to his feet to handle objects out of his reach. He may be motivated by good early training to be adventurous and to find out what the world has to offer. But once he meets other, fully-sighted children in school--who know the joy of running to find friends, of jumping on and off walls and of playing with wheeled toys--he will find that he cannot compete for speed of reaction, accuracy of movement or safety.

It is in this last element--safety--that he may be at most disadvantage as compared with the child in the special school. There the teachers know that the children have poor sight. And other children are aware of the same dangers of collision, for they are in the same boat.

Whatever the residual dangers in the playground of the special school, most will have the freedom to play, confident that they know how to play, how others will react and that supervising adults will give them the freedom yet security to expand their horizons.

In order to give a mainstreamed child the same sort of experience, the teacher needs to be sure that the visually-impaired child acquires, among very many others, the personal skills of running, jumping and climbing, the skill to cope with large numbers of other children crossing his path, the skill of using sighted children and adults to help him to be safe yet adventurous.

He must at least feel safe, if he is to feel included. Not an easy task, but a very necessary and often overlooked aspect of mainstream education.

The second of the limitations identified by Sonksen is the reduced opportunity for movement. The extra difficulty of undertaking such simple tasks as running and climbing can make the visually-impaired child shy away from such tasks. Furthermore, lack of opportunity to acquire physical fitness in early life through the constant activity typical of sighted under-fives may lay the foundation for poor physique and poor posture, which may persist into adulthood.

Even if they are of an adventurous nature, visually-impaired children may be over-protected by well-meaning carers at home and school, thus decreasing their chances of gaining that extra practice needed to acquire skills. It is not easy, especially for parents, to encourage a visually-impaired child to take risks, to experience minor cuts and bruises in the cause of 'normality' of movement. Whether it be the task of local voluntary societies for the blind, social services through holiday play schemes, support teachers in-county or special schools offering their expertise on the American summer camp model, there is a growing awareness that visually-impaired children need an opportunity for real-life experience under a specialised guidance.

Parents and pupils in mainstream relish the opportunity to have sporting and recreational facilities with other visually-disabled children on such occasions as 'Try a sport' days. They can rarely compete in a mainstream setting with fully-sighted children, yet value the opportunity to see what they and others like them can do in favourable environments.

The type of segregated activities outlined above may seem to be flying in the face of the principles of “inclusion” inherent in mainstreaming. It can, however, be argued that a blind child's special needs demand special teaching. As Sonksen points out, visually-impaired children may not be able to monitor how other children are performing simple physical tasks, nor can they check their position in space by visual feedback. Thus it is necessary

Children may be over-protected by well-meaning carers, thus decreasing their chances of gaining the practice needed to acquire skills. It is not easy, especially for parents, to encourage a child to take risks. There is a growing awareness that visually-impaired children need an opportunity for real-life experience under expert guidance to teach the skills of throwing and catching a ball, of jumping over ropes, of using small and large PE apparatus. In special schools for the blind these tasks appear in the physical education syllabus. Maybe the need for them to appear at all in the mainstreamed child's curriculum is not appreciated. We must make sure that visually-impaired children are not failed in this particular by neglect of provision for special physical education in their curriculum.

Sonksen's fourth limitation--delay in concept of 'out there' (involving understanding of 'behind', 'above', 'nearer to me')--and the fifth --poor body image--may be amalgamated to give a whole syllabus of special needs in physical education. Many mainstream teachers have called upon the author to explain why the visually-impaired child in their class is timid and wooden' in PE lessons. As explained by B. J.

Cratty in his book on Movement and spatial awareness in blind children and youth, the first step in helping to overcome this problem is good assessment. Having obtained a good idea of the child's abilities and shortcomings, a movement syllabus may be drawn up using suggestions from the RNIB publication Mobility ideas or the comprehensive work by Tooze on Mobility training in schools for the visually handicapped.

These activities may well be carried out by one of the excellent ancillary workers assigned to mainstream pupils, helped by a specialist teacher of the visually impaired. Such intervention given early enough should make full participation in PE and games more viable.

Tooze's work also describes ways of overcoming the sixth of Sonksen's limitations: sensori-motor co-ordination. Her work in Tapton Mount school pioneered the development of a multi-sensory approach to orientation, and her work describing games and activities to foster independent mobility is respected throughout the English-speaking world. There is an undoubted benefit to mainstreamed visually-impaired children in undertaking training of this kind, and there is an increasing case for using the same techniques with the 'clumsy' child and with the timid also. In a survey undertaken by the author in 1988, all peripatetic teachers deplored the lack of time, of expertise and of facilities to cover mobility and movement in mainstream schools.

The last of Sonksen's limitations is probably the most easy for the layman to predict and understand: physical fear. It is the emotion most often described by newly visually-impaired people, whether children or adults, and is a natural result of the lack of information which protects the sighted from falling down holes in the road, from being startled by a loud barking dog's sudden menacing approach, or from the disorientation in noisy town centre streets.

Clearly there are times when young blind children have to learn to fear more than their sighted peers. They will not see the edge of the railway platform, even when they know that grave danger is near. They cannot be sure that the school cleaner has not left a bucket of water in the middle of a normally clear corridor. They cannot see that an approaching pedestrian is leading a silent dog whose lead will trip them.

There is no real long-term solution to many of these difficulties. It is possible, however, for the child's mainstream classmates to be progressively educated to look for such problems before they happen, so that they know how to offer their protection and hence their acceptance. The sensitivity thus gained by sighted children may enrich them for the rest of their lives, and the visually-impaired child's life can be enriched too by finding increasing numbers of friends who are informed and caring. Surely this was the spirit of Warnock.

As more children with a severe visually impairment are integrated into mainstream schools, the shortfall in mobility and orientation provision becomes clear. In early experiments in integration, local authority mobility officers were willing to help. Now, although it is still possible for social services departments to assist in this way, experience shows that education departments are deriving great benefit from employing their own mobility personnel. Despite the fact that many social services and education departments are free to interchange services, recent legislation may well curtail such activities.

It is no longer good enough to wait for a mobility officer from social services to 'fit children in'. Unless we address the need for mobility to be offered in the mainstream as of right, visually-impaired children in the mainstream may not receive equality of opportunity.

RNIB NMC runs a course specially for educational personnel who wish to teach mobility to children. Further details may be obtained from RNIB NMC, 1 The Square, 111 Broad Street, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 1AS --telephone 021-643 9912.

References

Cratty B. J. (1971): Movement and spatial awareness in blind children and youth. Charles C. Thomas, Illinois.

Sonksen P, Levitt S. & Kitzinger, M. (1984): "Identification of constraints on motor development in young visually disabled children". Child Care Health and Development, Vol. 10.

Tooze, D. (1972): Mobility training in schools for the visually handicapped. Croom Helm, London.

Grape expectations

Christopher Bridgman has acquired a taste for tasting. Will he be the first Master of Wine who is blind?

I think that wine often gets a bad press. It is written off as highbrow, expensive, to be consumed in rarefied atmospheres. For us ordinary mortals it is a special-occasion drink with a name you remember from a television advertisement, chosen by pot luck from a supermarket or off-licence shelf stacked with bottles with madly varying prices. You have to know Double Dutch to make head or tail of what someone reads to you from a label or what the counter staff tell you. Can you trust them anyway? Last time they sold you something really disappointing--and you spend out extra to get a good one.

Now hold on--are we jumping to conclusions? As the British Isles drifts closer to Europe (and beer goes up in price and we hear terrible tales about drinking water), more wine becomes available here. There is no longer the great divide between sky-high champagne or rock-bottom plonk. Now a middle ground exists, and as duties begin to be relaxed within the European Community tasty wine at modest prices is becoming a reality. After all, the main reasons why they drink a lot of wine in Germany, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy are because it is cheaper than beer and nourishing as part of a meal.

Since I started to drink wine regularly interesting things have happened to my diet. I used to like traditional British fare, a cooked meal topped off with a sweet or pudding. I seem to have moved into the way of smaller, simple meat dishes or soups, fish and shellfish accompanied by cheeses, breads, mixed salads of all sorts and raw vegetables. These cost less, take less preparation or Cooking time and leave less cleaning up. They also seem more enjoyable, both in the eating and in the lasting afterwards.

I include wine as part of a meal rather than adding it as an afterthought. The cost of housekeeping ends up around the same as before, but now I get the fun of a glass of complementary wine with each meal, and the occasional bottle of before or after dinner wine (sherry or malaga for example) on a weekend. I have the fun of planning meals with a glass of wine and of looking out favourite wines and trying new ones.

I have not made a study of wine in the sense of working at it. Even when I began to think of making wine a bit of a hobby, I only learned what suited me so as not to spoil the enjoyment. Had I been keen, little could have been achieved as there are no wine publications in braille or on tape. Despite this I have had fun at a few local wine tastings and on days out at the annual World Fair & Festival of Wine and Food at The Watershed in Bristol. I met Fiona Roberts, one of the few lady Masters of Wine and chief buyer for Grants of St James's. She ran a tutored wine tasting at Bristol one year and gave me a warm welcome and more than a fair share to drink.

She told me there is no reason why a blind person should not have a go at the exams of the Guild of Wine and Spirits Merchants and become a Master of Wine.

I soon discovered that merchants and wine lovers are quite willing to pass on information.

They have this missionary zeal to share their knowledge and enthusiasms. Mention somewhere a bit unusual--not many people have caught up with the wines from Portugal, Chile or Yugoslavia--and you will reveal that

a. you are not a wine prude of the "anything that isn't claret must be no better than fruit juice" sort

b. you might be a sympathetic listener, in which case the merchant will embark upon tales of pride in his stock

c. you will get something good for a fairly cheap price--new wines have to keep their quality high and prices low to make an impact on the market, whereas French and German producers certain of their reputation and market sector can name their price.

Listen, taste and part with between three and five pounds for a bottle to try and you may have made a friend. Wine merchants unaccountably prefer a customer who makes the occasional purchase of a mixed half-dozen to the know-all who spends a lot more buying crate after crate of one wine, irrespective of the meals or occasions where he will serve it. Such people apparently complain a lot, usually for no reason other than to appear knowledgeable.

In supermarkets the quality of wine is very high and value for money is the name of the game. Each chain employs a Master of Wine to choose what should be stocked in the stores, although you are unlikely to meet him in your local branch. However, you should find that the staff of the wine department have had some training from the MW--they are often undervalued by customers and welcome the chance to show that they know their wines.

So what started me off in this unlikely pursuit? A voucher came through the letter box some four years ago offering me five pounds off a mixed dozen bottles of wine, which would thus cost me twenty-five. We now know that this was one of this merchant's first mailing shots. He had a van ferrying wine from lesser known regions in France to his warehouse in a Windsor railway arch. It was the week before my birthday. My wife visited the arch, mentioned the birthday and my favourite foods and bought what was xecommended plus a corkscrew. (I am quite a dab hand with a waiter's friendnow, although you can find wines in screw top bottles, waxed cartons and ring-pull cans.) Now the business has several shops. They run occasional buffets. You pay between three and five pounds for the food and try half a dozen glasses of the latest wines for the price of giving your opinion.

I keep a record of the wines I have tried. I started with just the name and whether I liked it or not. Later I began to note estates, areas and grape types and years of production so that I would have a guide to use when buying. If I like a particular combination maybe I can get something similar from some other producer or merchant. Maybe I can get a cheaper version for myself of something expensive that someone else has given me.

It is fun to play at serving wine, learning about temperatures, decanters, glasses and corkscrews--nice to make your family and friends feel special by fussing over preparing and serving wine and food. This may show your manners and your wine to best advantage, but it is not really necessary. Wine buffs talk about what wine goes with what, but it is mostly academic--such people admit when pressed that the only rule is: if it feels right for you then go ahead and enjoy yourself.

Now have I whetted your appetite? What would you think of a braille or tape wine bulletin if someone could be persuaded to produce it? What homeworker feels like taking advantage of the RNIB Small Business Unit to set up as a wine merchant? Who wants to pip me to the post of first blind Master of Wine?

The Talking Newspaper: Twenty years on

It's difficult to imagine (or remember) a world without Talking Newspapers. Yet the movement which today encompasses over eight hundred tape newspapers and journals in the United Kingdom has grown in a comparatively short space of time from uncertain beginnings in a small Welsh county.

Ronald Sturt, President of the Talking Newspaper Association of the United Kingdom, recalls the pioneering efforts of the handful of determined people who launched the project--and looks forward to the major challenges of the 1990s.

"On the 1st of January 1970, tape cassettes dropped through the letterboxes of twenty blind people in various districts in Cardiganshire. A local weekly news service had been launched with the objective of keeping the blind, in particular the elderly blind, in touch with the local community. The delivery of the cassettes--a free service by the Post Office--was the culminating point in a short, bizarre campaign that evoked an astonishing response throughout the small Welsh county on the Cambrian coast." (from The Book Trolley, quarterly journal of the Hospital Libraries and Handicapped Readers Group of the Library Association)

When I wrote the above in June 1970 there was a touch of hope that the interest shown here and there in the country could spark others to provide a similar service to the blind readers in their community. Had anyone forecast then that, in the space of twenty years, some five hundred groups would be busily recording the local news on tape, my comment would no doubt have echoed that cheerfully given me by one of my college friends in 1969: "You must be crazy!"

Tape newspapers have no doubt existed since the dawn of tape in the 1930s. The earliest so far traced was that made in the 50s by the editor of the Aberdare Leader, who dropped the reel in to the blind club on his way home on Fridays for Saturday morning listening. In Enfield a north London tape-recording club made a news tape, carried it and a playback deck to each blind reader in turn, sat with the listener or picked it up an hour or so later, and on to the next house.

What happened in Aberystwyth twenty years ago was a fortuitous confluence of three ideas. Released from my work at the College of Librarianship Wales to undertake a Master's programme to study library and information provision in Sweden for handicapped people and those who served them, I had seen recorded in Vasteros in 1968 open-reel tapes of local news and information for all blind readers in the area as part of public library provision. They were copied at even speed, and despatched by post.

That idea was among those mentioned in talks to local groups in Aberystwyth throughout the winter of 1968-69.

Following a challenge by members of Aberystwyth Round Table in the spring of 1969 to create such a service for blind readers in Cardiganshire, an enquiry was made about copying tapes at high speed if some scheme for news tapes could be formulated. Cardiganshire is a sparsely populated, rural county, with extensive stretches of beauty. Its blind readers would need a personal copy each week to keep in touch with the community. The only known high-speed producer of tapes, the British Talking Book Service in London, suggested at once that a copying centre should be set up in the remote Welsh town. The enthusiasm and expertise of its director, Don Roskilly, brooked no denial.

A tape newspaper, high-speed technology--where were the human and financial resources? Those who made that enquiry of Don Roskilly came together in a curious way. In July 1969 the newly-appointed treasurer of the Cardiganshire Association for the Blind, Watcyn Story, was considering ways of implementing a resolution in principle to provide tape-recorders for a small number of blind people to use. The idea of a systematic news tape was broken to him. His enthusiasm was immediate. He suggested 'certain people' would need to be involved, and the back of an envelope did the rest.

Every person named agreed over those weeks to join Watcyn and myself in exploring the ideas: the director of the local newspaper company, Henry Read; the librarian of the National Library of Wales, David Jenkins; the president of Round Table, Trefor Lloyd Jones; the ophthalmologist, Dr Kenyon Jones; a broadcaster and journalist, Tom Evans; and a technical officer from the University College of Wales, Ralph Davies.

A Board was set up on 1 September 1969. The cost of the Clarke and Smith high-speed copying system and the recording equipment to establish a studio--thought to be the first such copying centre outside London--was £1,250. The Board agreed to buy it. Who paid?

It was 1969. The exacting requirements of Alf Morris's Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 made unlikely any funding from the statutory and voluntary bodies responsible for blind welfare. There was official scepticism: there was no precedent in Britain; blind people had not been asked--there was no evidence of demand, and so on. The Board decided to ask the community at large, by launching an appeal.

Behind the challenge by Round Table lay a promise to donate the proceeds of the August Donkey Derby if a project were in prospect. Backed by this and practical help with printing by the Cambrian News and postage costs met by the Rotary Club, the appeal was launched at the end of October. Students helped to send letters. The target was reached on Christmas Eve. The equipment was transported a few days later from Surrey to the Welsh coast in snow by a remarkable engineer, Wally Patch. All was set up in the College of Librarianship Wales for the delivery of the novel service on New Year's Day 1970.

In 1970 there was Cardiganshire. In 1971 came Clwyd, Maidenhead, Powys and South Wales, to be followed in 1972 by North Wales, Farnham and Alton, Basingstoke and the Isle of Man. These used the only available high-speed copying system: the non-standard cassette of the Talking Book Service. In 1973 Colchester introduced a new copier system with the compact cassette, and this was adopted by most newcomers. Cornwall, Avon and Hereford established Talking Newspapers in the same year.

It was clear at the end of 1973 that demand for information and advice was accelerating at a rate that threatened to overwhelm the groups fully committed to the production of their local tapes. Representatives of these groups set up on 16 March 1974 a national association with firm objectives to unite Talking Newspapers throughout the UK, to stimulate provision to every handicapped person who needed it, to provide a forum and focus for expertise and development--and to publish, and to ensure that advice and consultation were available to statutory and voluntary agencies and to individuals.

The Talking Newspaper Association of the UK (TNAUK) reported in 1975 that 38 groups had formed and 15 were exploring the possibility. In 1976 there were 66 local groups in action, with 54 others exploring. The annual meeting heard in May 1977 that the number operating or forming groups was 187, and this rose by July 1977 to 208. At this time the scale of the larger cassette producers was

700 South Wales
500 North Wales
450 Southampton
400 Kent
370 Glasgow
350 Avon, Bromley
340 Cornish
300 Portsmouth
250 Colchester, Shropshire, Sutton
220 Heathfield

An important development came when counties such as Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire and Shropshire planned to achieve complete coverage of all localities with a local paper.

A plea voiced in 1974 for national dailies, weeklies and monthlies on tape posed difficulties which were not .to be effectively overcome until August 1983 when TNAUK set up an office at Heathfield with staff and facilities for a national tape service on a subscription basis. The number of titles grew to a hundred, with other centres opening in Scotland, the North and the West Country.

In 1987 there were 459 entries for Talking Newspapers in the TNA UK guide to tape services for the handicapped. Some 741 newspapers and journals were listed and, although the total read on to tape was almost certainly greater, one important aspect of systematic Talking Newspaper provision was that each reader in need had access to a growing library of the printed word on tape. The 1989 Guide lists 481 Talking Newspapers and 120 tape services, clubs and publishers. The number of titles read is 818. For the first time one, AIRS of Gateshead, is described as a daily tape. There are 26 Talking Newspapers in Wales, 58 in Scotland, 24 in Northern Ireland where library boards organise provision—and one in Dublin.

Talking Newspapers are autonomous. Most register as charities and, on the advice of the Charity Commission, their object is to raise money for the relief of the blind, or partially blind, or those labouring under some temporary or permanent incapacity or disability which makes reading a strain, by the provision of tapes.

Among the major challenges facing Talking Newspapers in the 1990s three are readily recognisable: how to involve consumers directly in the organisation and production, the number to be served, and the widening range of printed material to be read on tape.

The first challenge is a key. Blind people have been active in a variety of ways from the start, some leading as chairman or committee member, others making recordings, managing and operating the recording stustio, publicly speaking, publicising the enterprise and raising funds for it. There is little doubt that wider participation on a regular basis could be beneficial. The consumer voice must at least be heard.

It was estimated in 1989 that the number of people in the UK not able to see to read print was 1.5 million. It is probable that most do not take a Talking Newspaper. Add to that those who have a "temporary or permanent incapacity or disability" to read--and the size of a potential readership in most areas becomes a formidable figure.

Talking Newspapers have with skill and drive set up centres for recording and copying in most towns and cities in the country. In terms of a community resource the achievement must rank with the best. Technology and quality are factors of concern at every meeting of Talking Newspaper folk. Local and national newspapers and the more popular periodicals are read and available. Larger firms, unions, government departments and various organisations are putting their reports and material on tape for their blind shareholders, members and readers.

But what of other literature and information that make for the complete life? The publications of one's own town and county? Of the professions and technical and commercial worlds? as well as the irregular and the ephemeral? When asked at the 1989 TNAUK conference what they most wanted in the 1990s, the blind members said as one: "Parity of provision with sighted readers."

We have the capacity: is there the will?

Letters

Braille from Peterborough

I entirely agree with Paul Rand's concern (Letters, November) over the limited scope of braille output from Peterborough. My particular concern is with what used to be the Students' Library in London.

I have been a very satisfied user of the Students Library for over thirty years. It has been invaluable to my studies in French, Latin, history and the whole range of theology, as well as enabling me to extend my reading into fields such as philosophy and psychology. This heritage from past brailling still remains. But what is being added to it? No longer can we expect any modern work of significance to make its appearance in braille. I realise the advantage, in speed and the number served, of taping rather than brailling such materials. But I feel strongly that for those of us for whom braille is our chosen medium (and particularly for those for whom tape is an irrelevance because of hearing impairment, there is crucial need to keep this heritage from the past alive with new materials.

Each subject has its 'classics', its significant books which will remain important with the passage of time. And each subject has its valuable books which are important to all serious students in the field. I feel strongly that all such books should be available for loan in braille. The erstwhile Students' Library now makes no contribution to providing this type of material. Has it abdicated to the National Library for the Blind?

What concerns me most is that there seems to be complete apathy on the part of Students' Library readers. We need a campaign to 'Give us Back our Books'. What has happened to all those outstanding braillists, whom computerisation has not superseded? I should also like to express my interest in John Wilson Goddard's article on fiction writing I too have experienced this immense loss of dimension in writing that arises from inability to supply the visual content expected and required by almost all writing of fiction. I look forward to seeing what others have experienced in this area, and how they have circumvented it.
Anne Clarke, Pukekohe, New Zealand

Wakefield/Moon

May I refer to two items in the January 1990 issue of the New Beacon: the interesting letter from HM Prison, Wakefield, and the informative article about Dr Moon by Tessa Cripweli.

As a member of the committee of the Harrogate Talking Newspaper, I can reveal that our chairman makes a monthly summary of news items in the foregoing four weeks' issues and sends this typed summary to HM Prison, Wakefield, where it is transcribed into braille and sent on to Tate House, the RNIB's residential home for the blind in Harrogate, for the benefit of deaf-blind braille readers in the home.

When I went to Oxford University in 1930 to study French, I was hampered by the absence of the necessary Old French texts in braille. After many enquiries, the RNIB Students' Library prevailed on a Canon of Lincoln Cathedral to transcribe my Old French texts into braille. It may seem a far cry from Lincoln Cathedral to HM Prison, Wakefield, but I am confident that the same high standard of excellence would emerge from Wakefield as I received from Lincoln Cathedral sixty years ago.

When living near Brighton I had occasion to visit 104 Queen's Road, Brighton, the former home of Dr Moon and the Moon printing works, by then under the aegis of the RNIB.

On entering the building one came into a large hall, the walls of which were covered with Moon type—the Lord's Prayer in many different languages, including Chinese and Arabic.
Roy Brown, Harrogate, N Yorks

Product design

I often wonder why the RNIB has to design some of its products so unreasonably awkward and clumsy. The 1990 desk diary is a case in mind: it is excellent in its purpose, but why must it be so big and clumsy? The unnecessarily heavy cover is well over an inch wider than the paper it protects.

In contrast, the 1990 pocket calendar is an admirable example of what can be done in the design of goods for the blind. The Talking Book machine is just hopelessly designed. I am aware that we oldies can be a little heavy-handed at times, but these monstrosities could well be designed for heavy industry.

There are excellent materials on the market nowadays, light and pleasant to touch. I sincerely hope that my letter will, at least, induce those who design goods for the blind to think that those of us who use these goods would much rather handle something which feels pleasant to touch. If one can have both utility and pleasantness, why not?
Charles Townend, Beverley, Hull

Calling welfare rights workers

I am interested in hearing from visually-impaired welfare rights workers.

I am totally blind and I work as a welfare rights officer for Social Services. I use the personal reader scheme administered by the RNIB, and employ readers to help me. I would very much like to contact other visually-impaired workers because I think it would be useful to compare ways of working—methods used to cope with all the material written on Social Security benefits and other welfare rights topics which are not available in braille, and so on.

Please could anyone willing to contact me get in touch at the address below, either in braille or on tape.
Jane Emerson, 80 Wath Way, Sheffield, S7 1HD

News

Visually-impaired Asian people: needs unmet

Over 60 per cent of Asian visually-impaired people questioned for a recent survey did not receive any specialist equipment to help them with their handicap. A similar proportion had not seen anyone for advice, and the same percentage did not know that advice was available from local social services departments or from RNIB. Over 70 per cent did not receive any training to help them cope with doing everyday things. 54 per cent of the sample found it difficult to walk independently in their local area, and 79 per cent had not been given any advice on the use of their mobility equipment. In the area of communications, 58 per cent did not read large print, 75 per cent did not read braille, 17 per cent had no radio and 25 per cent were without a phone. A total of 77 per cent would use a talking book service in Asian languages if it were available.

The survey was conducted by the Association of Blind Asians, set up in February 1986. In her report, the Association's Research & Development Officer, Daxa Kotecha, notes that at present local authorities do not monitor ethnic origins of their service users. As most service provision is based on sound statistics, the lack of data on visually-impaired Asian people has resulted in a provision that does not necessarily cater for their needs.

By asking visually-impaired Asian people directly for their views about service provision, the Association hoped to provide information which would indicate how to improve these services, as well as enabling the Association to evaluate its own activities, and identifying problems in obtaining information or access to services and areas of unmet need.

The survey was carried out in two stages. The first consisted in approaching the 32 Greater London boroughs for statistics on the numbers of registered blind and partially-sighted Asian people (17 local authorities provided this information and 15 were unable to do So). The returns show numbers of blind and partially-sighted Asian people ranging from 0 in Havering to 100 in Brent.

The second stage involved compiling a questionnaire and collecting information based on the concept of need used in the recent RNIB survey. The questionnaire aimed to cover self-assessed need, asking people if they were aware of a service, had tried it or wanted to receive it or were satisfied with it if already a user. (It also aimed to inform people about services available if they were not aware of them.) Indirect assessment of need based on statistical comparison was also used. Questions covered registration, daily living skills, rehabilitation, mobility and communicatioris. The sample of 30 blind and partially-sighted Asianpeople (all except three registered) was chosen randomly from the Association's membership over 12 London boroughs.

In addition to the general findings in the areas of living-skills, rehabilitation, mobility and communications, the survey indicated the need for certain kinds of special service for visually-impaired Asian people. They included: translation services/interpreters; a special centre for Asian visually-impaired people; a local group; a Talking Newspaper in Asian languages; Talking Books and Magazines; outings and holidays for groups of Asian people; transport (accessible); home visiting; employment; volunteers; information; social activities etc.

The report concludes that the response to the survey is reasonably representative of the needs of visually-impaired Asian people. The results, it says, suggest that the needs of visually-impaired Asian people are not being catered for and that they receive very few supporting services from their local Social Services and voluntary organisations. "It is clear from the results obtained that lack of information is the major problem for visually-impaired Asian people. The people we had surveyed had very little knowledge of what services they were entitled to. Some who were aware claimed that the information was not accessible because it was unavailable in Asian languages, on tape, in braille or large print. The findings from this survey also suggest that the assumption that the problems of disability can be contained and coped with within the family may not necessarily be the case."

A survey into the needs of visually impaired Asian people in Greater London, August 1989. From Association of Blind Asians, 322 Upper Street, London N1 2XQ --tel. 01-226 1950.

A survey into the needs of visually-impaired Asian people in Greater London

Some recommendations

Information must be made available in Asian languages, on tape, in braille and large print to all visually-impaired Asian people, particularly information about registration and the specialist services available for visually-impaired people.

Local authorities must employ more Asian social workers and specialist workers with visually-impaired people.

All social workers/specialist workers with visually-impaired people must be provided with training to make them aware of Asian social and cultural values and to be sensitive of these needs.

Local authorities must provide translators and interpreters in social services departments.

Local authorities should monitor the needs of Asian visually-impaired people.

Voluntary and statutory organisations must operate and monitor equal opportunity policies.

There must be adequate consultation with visually-impaired Asian people before any service is provided for them in order to find out their needs first and thereby provide appropriate services.

Social Services should keep a record of the ethnic origins of their clients which would enable them to provide appropriate services.

All public information produced by authorities and organisations at central and local levels must be translated into Asian languages on tape and in large print, as a matter of course--in particular information produced by social services departments. It should be distributed to places which are easily accessible to most Asian people.

Local authorities and voluntary organisations should either employ or have easy access to professional interpreters and translators.

Funding should be made available to provide a centre where advice, emotional and moral support would be available to blind and partially-sighted Asian people and their relatives. The centre should provide activities and services to meet social/cultural/educational/welfare needs.

The Association of Blind Asians should continue to provide its present activities and services, which include information and advice, talking cassette magazine, support, social activities, outings, etc.

Talking books/magazines/newspapers should be made available in Asian languages.

The Association of Blind Asians should provide a range of activities and services for blind and partially-sighted Asian people in the future.

Further research should be carried out to identify the needs of blind and partially-sighted Asian people by using a larger sample and covering other areas of need that were not covered by this survey.

Local authorities and voluntary organisations must be totally committed to working within an anti-racist perspective.

RNIB, as the largest national institute for the blind, should appoint an Asian Development Officer.

Eric Boulter and Edward Venn: Memorial service

Some 260 people attended a memorial service held at All Souls' Church, Langham Place, London W1, in January for two former directors-general of the Royal National Institute for the Blind: Eric Boulter, CBE, and Edward Venn, OBE, who both died last autumn.

Those gathered included the families and friends of the two men, the Vice-President of RNIB, Lady Astor, representatives of the Institute's Executive Council, and many present and former members of staff. Also present were representatives from a number of other charities in which the two men served, as well as from several other countries--including France, the Netherlands and Nigeria --and from the European and World Blind Unions. Mr John Busbridge, former Director of Music of RNIB, played the organ.

In his address, the Chairman of RNIB, Mr Duncan Watson, said: "Today we come together, both blind people and sighted people, to pay a public tribute to the work of two men--one blind and one sighted—who throughout their working lives strove tirelessly to improve the quality of life for blind people as fully integrated members of the community. Starting out on different patlts, they finally came together at the Royal National Institute for the Blind in the 1970s, working in harmonious and fruitful partnership for the benefit of this country's blind people--and we are here now, in partnership, to say thank you to them for what they did."

Mr Watson went on to recall the careers of the two men (see Obituary, October and November). He concluded: "Our two friends were not only close partners at work, but they also shared many similar personal characteristics. They were both great family men—their families meant everything to them. They were both caters--they were carers with a mission. That mission was to do all that they could to improve the lot of blind people. Their kindness, their generosity and their integrity won our respect and our affection. Their names will long live in the annals of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and our memories of them will never fade."

New benefits-less than one sixth will be better off

Only 850,000 disabled people out of 61/2 million in this country will benefit from the provisions contained in the new Social Security Bill (see 'Disability benefits', News, January). So claimed Jack Ashley MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Disablement Group, during the House of Commons debate on the second reading of the Bill on January 21.

Opening the debate, Mr Tony Newton, for the Government, said there were four main measures in the Bill: extra financial help for the terminally ill; help for people disabled before the age of 40; the establishment of an ombudsman to ensure pension schemes are run properly; and measures to protect members of occupational pension schemes. "The four measures in the Bill are part of a wider strategy to improve the coverage of help with the extra costs of disability, to improve the balance and structure of benefits for disabled people who are unable to work and in particular to do more for those disabled from birth or early in life, and lastly to improve the help given to those disabled people who can and want to work."

During the course of the debate, Sir George Young (Conservative) said that he was pleased with the provisions the Bill contained to help disabled people who were able to work. "The theme seems to be that work is a real option--more of an option than it used to be for the disabled. This is partly because the economy is picking up and therefore the demand for labour, partly as a result of changes made by employers in making their premises more adaptable for the disabled, partly as a result of changing expectations about the role of the disabled."

But Jack Ashley (Labour) said that disabled people would be furious at what the Bill did not contain. "I believe that they're very shabbily treated by the Government. They're not asking for luxury. They're-not even asking for Compensation for their disability. All they're asking for is an equal chance in society of participating, with reasonable help from the Government. And the biggest burden they've got to bear, in addition to their disability, is special costs. I'm very dismayed that the Secretary of State hasn't really provided for these extra costs of disability." Mr Ashley added that those extra costs included money needed for heating, special diet, laundry, medicines, and help with .shopping.

Winding up the debate for the Opposition, Ms Clare Short said that this Bill totally ignored the needs of disabled pensioners. She said that it was "a mean and duplicitous little bill" which had let down people with disabilities and actually taken money away from them, besides doing nothing to make up for the harm the Government had done to pensioners.

But Nicholas Scott, for the Government, said that he disputed Ms Short's claim that no new money was being made available to help the disabled and that the proposals were being paid for by cuts elsewhere. Mr Scott said: "There is new money in this package, and for every single year of this century there will be more money spent as a result of the disability package than there would have been before it was announced. And there's £300 million new money in 1992/93."

At the end of the debate, Labour MPs forced a vote in which the Government had a majority of 61. The Bill then proceeded to the Committee stage.

Art to share

Making it easier

The local society as facilitator

In the field of leisure, the Bristol Royal Society for the Blind sees its role as being to recognise and respond to people's needs. Whether it's 'art' [or something less high-brow], crafts, or sport, the opportunities are limitless, and the Society aims to act both as catalyst and enabler. Our report is by Roger Hitchings, Director of the Society.

Every local society is different--thank goodness! Every person with a visual impairment is different. No one then has the right to decide what another society should do in regard to its own local visually-impaired people. However, the sharing of experiences is useful and can be; stimulating. The Bristol Royal Society for the Blind has in recent years set out to expand its approach and services, and this has increasingly taken place in the field of leisure.

Unfortunately, for some people the concept of arts and leisure immediately raises the spectre (in their minds) of 'big events'. Special exhibitions, sophisticated workshops on dance and drama, high-brow music--it's all beyond our group of elderly people. But leisure is more than these high- profile aspects. They are, of course, vital, and no one should deprecate them. They have done much to heighten public awareness. But I repeat, leisure is more than this. And for local societies the opportunities are limitless.

In Bristol we see our primary role as enabling activities to take place, and to a large degree the nature of the activity lies with those who wish to pursue it. Individuals are able, therefore, to engage in solo interests and our support is almost trivial. An enlarging photocopier that turns sewing and knitting patterns into read- able large print is typical, and well used. Facilities to produce tapes and multiple copies of tapes to provide instructions, minutes, general papers --all in a suitable medium--are greatly appreciated. We make no charge, involve willing volunteers and find ¯ our trivial support viewed as a great innovation. (Of course there is a capital cost, but many organisations will donate equipment.) Sewing, knitting, music, attending meetings, these are often the most common use of leisure time and for some almost their whole life.

But we go on a stage to group activities, and again the range is vast. Football, cricket, bowls and every sport is to be enjoyed either as a spectator or participant. Drama, writing, painting, pottery, handicrafts and so much more needs to be available. So often what is needed is a catalyst.

How do a group of potential actors get in touch with a professional radio producer? How do a group of potters contact interested visually-impaired people? How can a creative writing group get off the ground? The Bristol Society mainly makes introductions, provides accommodation (fortunately we have a kiln), negotiates for and finances suitable rooms, gives help with transport, or even locates volunteers to drive, escort or support. Then we step back until we are needed. The activities are self-perpetuating and self-managing.

We do, of course, get more involved. Carpentry classes, handicrafts (and how useful they are), gardening classes (one of the most popular), first-aid, sewing classes and 'make-up and beauty' sessions are all run by our staff or under our direction.

Social clubs for deaf-blind people and trips to exhibitions and performances are also regular features. But they need to be regularly reviewed.

We also use some of our funds to support the various self-help groups, and even to help finance particular people. So runners and bowlers have been enabled to pursue their sport.

Then we see an important role as a representative of people with visual impairment liaising with and lobbying outside bodies. We value our links with Bristol University Extra- mural Department, who provide regular courses and workshops. We enjoy leaning on local theatres to improve facilities, and they welcome our gentle, and hopefully kindly, in- put. Audio description will soon reach Bristol! The local museums and galleries are very receptive to comments on exhibiting, and are keen to stage special events. Even stately homes can change. Mind you, we had to produce the guide tapes on one occasion. But National Trust and Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust have worked with us (or was it us with them!) in producing tapes.-There has yet to be a blank refusal.

Finally, the approach has had to be innovative and flexible. Some visually-impaired people and some volunteers have found that hard, and still do.

There have been battles and the process is slow. We have a long way to go. Part of the philosophy has had to be 'retain the valuable and improve'.

It is expansion we seek, not replacement. We do not see ourselves as pace-setters, merely a society recognising a need (I want to play golf) and then responding (golf taster day financed by Society). It's just being a facilitator .

Lily Dodds, artist

Our black and white reproduction does little justice to the bright colours used by Lily Dodds, who at 76 has proved that it's never too late to give up smoking--or begin painting. She took up the latter two years ago, to help occupy her hands and cure her of the tobacco habit.

Broughtup in London, Lily D0dds attended schools for blind and partially-sighted children from an early age.

During the wai', as an expectant mother, she was evacuated from London to Cambridge, where she has remained ever since; tending to the upbringing of six children. She still leads an active life, and has been playing bowls for the past twenty years.

Lily is now able to see "no further than the end of her nose" and paints largely from memory, mostly in acrylics, using a minimum of colours. Her seascapes and landscapes take about a' day and a half to complete. She has never seen her works in their entirety, and this special vision contributes to the distinctive effects' of perspective and elimination of superfluous detail in her works.

If you are able to get to Cambridge this month between: March 11 and 31, you can see some paintings by Lily Dodds at The Gallery on the Cam--the floating art gallery near Jesus Lock, Chesterton Road--tel. 0223-316901.

It should be worth the trip.

Physical conversations

Research into movement for visually-impaired people

"Exciting", "stimulating", "humorous", "an opening of emotional channels". Thus some of the participants in the Skipping Visual Impairment programme at Dartington College have described their experience.

Last month Anne Kilcoyne, psychologist and theatre director, described further developments in the programme at Dartington, which is based on contact improvisation. Here she reports on follow-up research into the longer term effects of the training.

In November 1989, Steve Paxton (dancer and choreographer) and I called for a research workshop. We were interested to follow up the longer term benefits and/or difficulties that participants in the annual Skipping Visual Impairment workshops have encountered.

Over a three-year period, three workshops in the Skipping Visual Impairment programme have been held at Dartington in association with RNIB at Manor House, Torquay. There, visually-challenged participants from Manor House (and more recently from other parts of England and Europe) have joined together with blind and sighted professionals from the field of blind welfare. They have worked with Steve and myself using movement, breathing, relaxation and massage techniques arising from the “contact improvisation” dance form first developed by Steve in the early 1970s. The aim of the workshops has been to research and improve the possibilities for the blind body in movement.

The results of the workshops were very positive.

Participants found the Skipping Visual Impairment work life enhancing, creative and spontaneous.

The research discussions focused on three questions: The physical effects of the work, the psychological effects, life after the workshops in the sense of lasting effects. Working in an environment that quickly became close and supportive had enabled the participants to explore their own physical landscapes. Possibilities had been found for each person to work with their own particular disability whether they were sighted or not. Working in physical contact with a partner had enabled the re-awakening of trust to find a new freedom of movement, and the start of a level of physical awareness that improved mobility and self confidence. One participant described the workshops as an "MOT garage for the body, where I could recharge my batteries and learn to spend time and attention on improving my health and my body's capacity to move freely and confidently". Video recordings of posture, gait and everyday movement made before and after the workshop period showed that there was a visible improvement in all areas of movement .

Feelings of joy had emanated from the physical conversations that are at the heart of the work. One of the major points made was that people had rediscovered their bodies, and in particular the capacity of their own body to be a wise teacher.

On the emotional level people variously described the workshop experience as "a stimulating journey", "exciting", "egoless play", "humorous", "an opening of emotional channels".

Steve and I had been particularly concerned to learn whether depression followed on from the loss of the unique and positive environment of the workshops .

Some members had experienced real grief as the workshops closed and had wondered how they would cope with a return to everyday life. One such was Peter Drake who had lost virtually all his sight in a traffic accident two years previously. Peter reported to the follow-up workshop that the tears that he bad shed at the close of the May 1989 workshop were the first that he had shed since he had lost his sight. His feelings of loss had lasted through the next day. He then felt stronger, and this sense has continued to grow. He had then felt stronger than before, and this sense of being strengthened has continued to grow. Peter has subsequently begun a course in massage at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford, and can now see a working life ahead for himself .

It is clear that the contact improvisation training allows for two levels of participation. Primarily it imparts building blocks for a healthy and enjoyable approach to the body and its capacity to move, and the other where the release into full bodied movement can lead to a level of dancing that can and has been publicly performed. (See last month's New Beacon item on Gerry Overington's participation in the Blind faith performance at Dartington.)

Visually-challenged people and any professionals working in the field of blind welfare who are interested in joining the next Skipping Visual Impairment workshops in April/May 1990 should contact Anne Kilcoyne at Dartington College of Arts, Totnes, Devon--tel. 0803-862224--for further details.!

Diary

On bicycles built for two

1990 is a busy year for visually-handicapped cycling enthusiasts, who will already be limbering up for a number of events planned for the coming months. The tandem sub-committee of British Blind Sport has put together some information about all of these in the January issue of BBS Newsletter.

For those new to the sport, there will be a great opportunity to see it demonstrated--and try it out for themselves--at the BBS 'Have a Go' day at Preston, Lanes, on Sunday 11 March (see Announcements, p 105, or tel. Ian Fell on 0858-575584 for details):

How to succeed

'How to succeed in business with- out really seeing' is the catchy title of this year's annual conference of BBA --the Association of Blind and Partially Sighted Business People (see full details on p 105)I The Association was formed in 1988 and is thriving, with over 40 members to date. The list of visually-impaired business people covers a very broad range, and includes a ski instructor, an interior designer, translators, a theatrical prop maker, a solicitor, an accountant, an art consultant and a maker of concrete patios (watch out for him this month on ITV's Sunday morning Link programme in an item about employment). Secretary of the organisation June Bretherton herself runs a business as a consultant for the blind and awareness trainer.

Budding visually-impaired entrepreneurs of any variety will be made very welcome, and have a chance to meet BBA members, at the social in Blackpool on March 30--or if unable to attend can always contact Mrs Bretherton at the address on p 105, or tel. 04024-58475.

Messing about on the canal

The BOLD Tulip Tandem Marathon at Spalding, Lines, is the race for " : ..... .

visually-handicapped cyclists. This year it will take place on April 28 (more After many years of restoration the Kennet & Avon Canal is soon to details on p 106). The Spalding results determine selection for the squad of tandem pairs from which is chosen the final team to represent Great Britain at the relevant championships or races.

The 1990 World Championship Games for the Disabled, to be held at St Etienne, France, in July, will include tandem events. Great Britain will be sending a team comprising men's, mixed, and ladies pairs, and BBS hopes to submit pairs for both road and track events .

The BBS tandem social weekend will be held at Windmill House, just south of Birmingham, September 14 to 16. It's a popular venue, apparently-- mainly because of the excellent pub located some 100 yards away! There will be organised rides, "suitable for all levels of fitness and enthusiasm". Contact Bob Stokes (021-742 7682) for more information.

Details of these and other events, and general enquiries about tandeming for visually-handicapped people, are welcomed by fan Beaton (Team manager) on 0875-340266 and Derek Forbes (Chairperson) on 01-540 5446 (work, and 24 hour answering machine)--this is also the number to ring for details of the Tandem Club magazine, which is available on tape become fully navigable again between Reading and Bath. Cruising the canal this year--through areas of outstanding natural beauty and past many local tourist attractions--will be Rebecca, a boat specially designed by the Bruce Charitable Trust, in association with Reach Out Projects, to offer self-catering holidays to disabled, disadvantaged and elderly people. The boat accommodates twelve people, half of whom may be severely handicapped. A residential training course for each group leader is given by Reach Out Projects before the leader takes responsibility for the boat.

The Bruce Charitable Trust, PO Box 13, Hungerford, Berks, RG17 0RZ, Tel. 0488 82277.

Obituary

Miss Pauline Beecham Martin

Colin Bingle writes: Miss Pauline Beecham Martin, who died last December at the age of 90, was a voluntary transcriber for over 50 years. She commenced transcription work for the RNIB Students' Library in 1935, and was willing to tackle the most erudite books--including Homer and the epic, The Health Act, 1959, Teach yourself Portugese and a book of fifteen volumes in Latin required by a history student at Cambridge .

In 1952, Miss Beecham Martin was a founder member of the Guild of Methodist Braillists, becoming Tutor, Senior Braillist and General Secretary.

In all her transcription work, whether for the Students' Library, the Guild or the many private requests she met, Miss Beecham Martin believed that all transcribers should produce perfect braille. That she did so over such a long period is a remarkable achievement.

Colin Bingle is Honorary General Secretary of the Guild of Methodist Braillists.

Content author: ann.lee@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/10/2008 15:51