Useful Links
RNIB, British Blind Sport, Metro Blind Sport and Visionary issue guidance for leisure operators to support the return of blind and partially sighted people
In preparation for the reopening of leisure and sport facilities, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), British Blind Sport (BBS), Metro Blind Sport and Visionary have been working together to provide practical guidance to support the return of blind and partially sighted people to physical activity.
In response to these anxieties, RNIB, BBS, Metro and Visionary have created practical guidance which will help leisure operators and sport providers prepare for welcoming people back to physical activity, with the least amount of stress and difficulty.
Guidance Links below
- Download: Best Practice Sport & Leisure Summary PDF
- Download: Best Practice Sport & Leisure Summary PDF
The guidance provides simple considerations that will make the return more straightforward and encourages the wider public to be mindful that sight loss may not always be obvious. The guidance demonstrates how to communicate clearly any changes to the facilities, particularly floor indicators or arrows, protective screens and temporary barriers.
Useful Lockdown Links
For Latest Info visit: Visionary | Thomas Pocklington Trust | Sight & Advice FAQ
RNIB, BBS & Metro’s Sport and Leisure Guidance supported by TPT
Get Yourself Active
Website: https://getyourselfactive.org
The My Guide scheme
It is a free service in which volunteers are matched with users to help with participating in activities away from the home including leisure and recreational. The volunteers and users meet up once a week for a minimum of six months which varies according to the needs of the user.
Link to full info here http://bit.ly/MBSMyGuide
Vital Tech – Assistive Technology for Blind and Partially Sighted People
Introduction
Vital Tech, www.vitaltech.org.uk, is a website supported by Thomas Pocklington Trust which aims to provide impartial assistive technology guidance for blind and partially sighted people in the UK
Overview
Content is divided into the following themes:
- Being organised – banking and managing money, timekeeping, identifying, labelling and locating, writing and recording
- Jobs around the house – In the kitchen, household, gardening and DIY tasks, laundry and clothing
- Health and wellbeing – fitness and grooming, health and safety
- Staying in touch – landlines, mobile phones, using computers and tablets to stay in touch
- Computing – computers, other devices and accessories, using computers and software
- Heating, lighting and access – accessing and securing your home, heating and lighting
- Relaxing at home – accessing TV, listening to music and radio, playing games
- Reading and magnifying – magnifying, reading, using Braille
Videos
Vital Tech hosts a collection of basic tutorial videos, demonstrating accessibility features available on Apple iPhones and Android smartphones.
Getting in touch
The Vital Tech team would love to receive your comments and suggestions at any time and can be reached by emailing contact@vitaltech.org.uk.
Internet Accessibility Guide
https://www.nvisioncenters.com/internet-accessibility-guide/
VICTA Parent Portal
A one-stop information hub for parents & carers of a child with a vision impairment.
https://www.victaparents.org.uk
Transport for London Accessibility guides
We produce a range of guides in alternative formats to help you plan and make journeys. All of the guides can be obtained free of charge by completing the order form below.
Link to webpage: http://bit.ly/2joSY95
Useful links from Transport for London
Travel Kind
You can apply for a face mask exemption badge here or you can download the face mask exemption card here
You can apply for a ‘Please offer me a seat’ badge and card here
Find out more information and how to get the app here.
Get in touch with our Travel Mentor team by email or phone
Phone: 020 3054 4361 (TfL call charges) Email: travelmentor@tfl.gov.uk
Phone: 0343 222 7777 (TfL call charges)
Email: dar.reservations@tfl.gov.uk
By telephone on 0343 222 1234 24 hours a day
By textphone on 0800 112 3456
By webform at tfl.gov.uk/contact
Online via Facebook and Twitter @tflaccess
Or by letter at
TfL Customer Service
4th Floor
14 Pier Walk
London SE10 0ES
You can also sign up to our accessibility mailing list here selecting ‘Accessible transport and step-free travel’ in the preferences.
We will be sending the webinar recording to all attendees this week and below are the YouTube links to our three social videos as part of our Travel Kind campaign:
Disabled persons railcard
Trainline is Europe’s leading train and coach app. We work with 270 rail and coach companies to offer our customers travel to thousands of destinations in and across 45 countries in Europe.
Link: disabled-persons-railcard
London Vision
Contact: https://www.londonvision.org/contact
Website: https://www.londonvision.org/
RSBC -Royal Society for Blind Children
Website link:https://www.rsbc.org.uk/
RNIB Guide for parents
If you have a baby or child that has recently been diagnosed with an eye condition, we have information, advice and support to help you support the growth and development of your child.
Our Guide for Parents will help to answer questions such as:
- What can my child see?
- How will my child learn?
- How can we help at home?
- Who is available to support us?
- What will we need in nursery and school?
The guide is available to download at www.rnib.org.uk/parentsguide
To find out more about our full range of services for children, young people and families, visit www.rnib.org.uk/children
RNIB Connect Radio
Listen here: http://listen.insightradio.co.uk/radioplayer/index.html
Let’s Play
Find out how to choose fun and interesting toys for your baby or child, and create exciting play times and play spaces.
Our Play Guide has been written by parents and play specialists, sharing their expertise and advice. Download the guide at www.rnib.org.uk/play
Accessibility and Video Games: All Ages Gaming for People with Disabilities
Entertainment as a whole should be accessible to anyone and everyone. The team at Verizon has created the article I’ve linked above to help those with disabilities discover the self-care benefits from gaming. This includes using gaming for sensory play, therapeutic gaming, social and educational benefits, and more. We’ve also included resources for gaming accessories and studios that dedicate their time to making sure their games are accessible for everyone.
https://www.verizon.com/about/blog/video-game-accessibility
Infosound London
Email: london@infosound.org.uk
Phone: 0300 111 555
Website: http://www.infosound.org.uk/
Enfield Talking Newspaper
Website: https://www.youtube.com/user/enfieldtn
VI Talk Podcasts
Sharing ideas, information and support, VI Talk began as a voluntary group in January 2014.
Books, travel, cooking, art & crafts, sports, music, gardening and nature and much more…
Website: https://www.vitalk.co.uk
National Talking Express
Website: www.ntexpress.org.uk
Email: nte.office@talktalk.net
Bi-monthly audio magazine
Mental health helplines
Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, these helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
MEN’S HEALTH & WELLBEING
Understanding the Relationship Between Male Body Image and Mental Health
https://www.optimale.co.uk/male-body-image-and-mental-health/
Some of the topics in the guide below that might interest you, such as:
- The connection between men’s body image and mental health
- The most common male body issues and the influence of social media
- Men’s body image as a teen and young adult
- How to improve body image, including similar resources
Men’s Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk
Guide for Veterans
Link: https://businesscostsaver.co.uk/guide-for-veterans
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Website: www.mind.org.uk
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.nopanic.org.uk
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge
Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk
OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.
Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.ocduk.org
PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.
Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays)
Website: www.papyrus-uk.org
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.rethink.org
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare
Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum
Website: www.sane.org.uk/support
YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.
Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)
NSPCC
Children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.
Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)
0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.refuge.org.uk
Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)
OK Rehab UK Based
OK Rehab specialises in local drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment. This treatment is available via both inpatient and outpatient treatment providers. We also work with clinics that are able to facilitate treatment taking place in your own home, who are able to provide professional intervention and home detoxification.
Each member of our team is “in recovery” themselves. This means we are uniquely positioned in understanding what you or your loved one are currently going through. At OK Rehab, we do not abide by the common misconceptions, stigmas and beliefs that often surround addiction by the public. Instead, we align with the disease model of addiction.
Rehab 4 Addiction.
Rehab 4 Addiction is a free helpline run by people who’ve beaten drug and alcohol rehab themselves. Rehab 4 Addiction works closely with rehabilitation centres and outpatient clinics throughout the United Kingdom and the admissions team match a patients’ addiction with an appropriately placed rehabilitation centre.
Phone: 0800 140 4690 or International: +44 345 222 3508
Rehab 4 Addiction London
Rehab 4 Addiction is a free helpline run by people who’ve beaten drug and alcohol rehab themselves, the team are based in London
https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/country-wide/drug-alcohol-rehab-london
Phone: 0800 140 4690 Make and enquiry via a contact form
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Addiction Treatment
A guide to addiction treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic
National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
Website: www.begambleaware.org
Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Website: www.ukna.org
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.
Phone: 0333 150 3456 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk
Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.cruse.org.uk
Crime victims
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)
Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)
Website: www.victimsupport.org
Eating disorders
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk
Learning disabilities
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Website: www.mencap.org.uk
Parenting
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.
Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)
Website: www.familylives.org.uk
Relationships
Relate
The UK’s largest provider of relationship support.
Website: www.relate.org.uk
Sport Websites
London Sport
Website: https://londonsport.org/
London sport also has a weekly newsletter. To subscribe, use the news page link below and scroll down to the bottom and add your email
Link to : Blueprint for a Physically Active City – 2017.pdf
News page: https://londonsport.org/news/
British Blind Sport
http://www.britishblindsport.org.uk/
Click BBS Sport Guides and scroll down page : BBS guides
Athletics
Great Run Local : Last Sunday in month, free 2km or 5km at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
We’re also providing a running taster session for people who are blind or visually impaired on the last Sunday of every month at 9am. This will then be followed by having Guide Runners available to do the 2km and 5km run ! Meet and Great also available if required through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park staff.
CYCLING
Merton Sports and Social Club (MSSC) Tandem Rides
The club has a fleet of tandems & pair sighted front riders with vision impaired back riders for regular rides, mainly on quiet roads and trails. Email cycling@mssc.org.uk | website: www.MSSC.org.uk | Cycling Events: https://blindsport.uk/MSSC2019
Quick Cycling links:
- Bikeworks
- Charlotte’s Tandems
- Limited Edition Cycling
- Pedal Power
- Wheels for Wellbeing
- The Tandem Club
Visually Impaired Bowls England(VIBE) website
http://www.vibowlsengland.org.uk/
Goalball
GOALBALL UK
Goalfix: Goalball Goals & Eyeshades Suppliers
Golf
http://www.thesocialgolfer.com/
Blind Golf
Judo / Martial Arts
Here is the link to our find a club section on our website… http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/club-finder/
DISABILITY SNOWSPORT UK
www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk
Disability awareness and planning for accessibility
Making Sense of Yoga from Sense
https://www.sense.org.uk/get-support/arts-sport-and-wellbeing/sense-sport/resources/
VI Games
Blind Gamers Twenty 20 Cricket Game
Quick link to the Blind Gamers Twenty 20 Cricket game : http://bit.ly/2m27nWx
Quick link to all Spoonbill Audio games: http://bit.ly/2m1QbAJ
Some more Audio game websites and links
- Blindfold games – Here is a link to another audio games website: http://bit.ly/2n20GsB they have Free audio games up on itunes to download
- Audio Game Hub, which has some more audio games. Quick link here: http://bit.ly/2ifsx6d – once page has loaded, scroll down to get to the free audio games! looks like they have added blind Cricket too. plus they have download for Android as well
http://www.audiogames.net/
http://www.audazzle.com/
VI Chess
http://www.braillechess.org.uk/
Contact: publicity@braillechess.org.uk
Blind and Vision Impaired Charities
Nystagmus Network (NN) Facebook page.
RP Fighting Blindness Website: http://www.rpfightingblindness.org.uk/
Level Playing Field www.levelplayingfield.org.uk
Level Playing Field (LPF) is a registered charity that acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation for disabled sports spectators in England and Wales. Our works include offering professional Access Audits of sports venues undertaken by registered NRAC consultants, a club mediation service for fans with access concerns and complaints, and our Working Together project works with clubs and disabled fans to establish and maintain user-led Disabled Supporters Associations.
Audio Books
Calibre Audio Library is a national charity offering a range of 8,000 books by post via memory stick or MP3 cd, or online via streaming. It costs just £35 for lifetime membership of Calibre with no further charges for receiving books or for postage.
http://www.calibre.org.uk/
VI Radio and Podcasts
http://insightradio.co.uk/
http://blindsportpodcast.com/
Events
London Events – August
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Resources
ABLEize offers the largest collection of disability, mobility and health websites and social media pages in the UK and Europe.
http://www.ableize.com/
We support Deaf and Disabled People’s organisations in London and campaign for equality for Deaf and Disabled people across the UK
https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/
Screen Readers
http://screenreader.net/
Jaws (Commercial)
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/JAWS
More info on our Partner websites
Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national charity dedicated to delivering positive change for people with sight loss. TPT ia a UK charity providing housing, care and support services for people with sight loss
London Vision website
London Vision supports blind and partially sighted people who live, work and study in London. Our vision is that blind and partially sighted people in London have increased opportunities to achieve whatever they wish to achieve.
Eyecare links
Eye Health: 11 Tips for Protecting Your Vision in 2017
Travelling Abroad with a Disability
http://www.insurancewith.com/travelling-with-a-medical-condition/
The Full Guide to Flying with a Disability
https://www.parking4less.com/flying-with-a-disability/
Parents Guide For Children with Special Needs in the Dental Office
Designing the Perfect Home Playroom for Children with Autism
Playroom for Children with Autism
Sensory Activities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Sensory Activities for Children With Autism
“How to Improve Emotional Self-Regulation Among Children with Autism and Attention Disorders”
https://onlinegrad.pepperdine.edu/blog/emotional-self-regulation-children-autism/
Autism resources below
- Autism Resources for Parents – https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/
- Speech Therapy for Children with Autism
- Students with Autism
- Guide for STEM Students With Autism
- Guide to Helping Kids with Autism Sleep Better
- How sleep affects Autism
- Autism Resource Center
- Creating an Autism Friendly Home
- Autism Support Network Resources
- Moving with Kids with Autism
- 30 Ways to Celebrate Autism Awareness Month
- Traveling with Kids with Autism
- Planning Trips – Children with Autism
Sensory Overload
https://householdquotes.co.uk/sensory-overload/
Cerebral Palsy Support Groups
Thousands of parents learn their child has cerebral palsy each year. Fortunately, there are many support groups that offer encouragement, hope and healing. – US based – link here
ADDICTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY GUIDE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
Link: https://delphihealthgroup.com/addiction-and-disabilities/
Sleep Guide for People with Disabilities
https://healthysleepy.com/sleep-guide-people-with-disabilities/