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Kris’s Blog – Communication Revelation
Despite the dubious suggested vocational path of politician, the one other consistent theme buried within my otherwise unremarkable school reports was the phrase ‘good communication skills.’ Diplomacy aside, born out of a passion for reading and a love of words it is...
Southampton Sight celebrates 120 years delivering support for people living with sight loss in Southampton
Southampton Sight celebrated our 120th birthday last Saturday at our Centre on Bassett Avenue with a hog roast, pimms and plenty of live music. What a stupendous day – we had fantastic weather and the aroma from the hog roast welcomed our members as they arrived. With...
Telling it how it is living as a blind man and letting children walk in his footsteps. Read Kris’s experience with Primary school children in Southampton.
The current bi-word for inclusivity and diversity, ‘difference’ can be a rollercoaster ride at times. As a member of the impairment club it can still feel as if your invitation to the empowerment parade has somehow gotten lost in the post. When confronted by the...
Eye Health Information Day – Thursday 1st August
Come and find out how small changes to your life can help you to make the most of your sight on Thursday 1st August at St Mark’s Church Centre Archers Road, Southampton, SO15 2LU 10am to 2pm Exhibitors · Action on Hearing Loss · Adjustamatic · ...
When the blind can see – do we know what we are looking at?
Did you know that 93% of people with significant visual impairments can perceive light? In other words, though I cannot see colours, shapes or people I can tell the difference between light and dark. I have light perception and feel that the older I am getting I am...
Ivy’s legacy – we must remember why we were formed, why we exist and who really matters
As a local society supporting people living with sight loss our demographic is typically made up of older people. This means that quite often we receive that dreaded phone call with the bad news that one of our members has sadly passed away. We mourn every single one...
Kris’s Blog – My trip on the Lord Nelson
Today we have a guest blogger, Kris Gibson, who is a member at Southampton Sight and is visually impaired. I‘d be the first to admit that, when offered the opportunity to join the crew of the tall ship Lord Nelson by the good folks at Southampton Sight and the Jubilee...
Free Music Workshop – Friday 12th July
Inner Vision Orchestra is the UK's only Professional Blind Orchestra. Baluji Shrivastav, OBE who leads the orchestra has offered to run a workshop at our centre on Friday 12 July. The music of Inner Vision Orchestra moves between songs from Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan,...
Sight Loss Frequently Asked Questions
Over the past 12 months a group of national charities have collaborated to create the Sight Advice FAQ Portal: a one-stop-shop for sight loss related questions. The portal is an information hub featuring frequently asked questions aimed to save you time when looking...
Thank you Laura
Thank you Laura….
Shared Spaces
Many of you that have been following Kate’s On the Road blog will know how frustrated she is about ‘shared spaces’ and the effect on her day to day life. When you do not have sight loss, and don’t have to rely on tactile paving or a sighted person to help you navigate...
Life As A Visually Impaired Single Mum
Becoming a mother for the first time is already a challenge within itself. However, being a visually impaired single mum is a completely different world. As visually impaired people; we complete day to day tasks in our own unique ways. This is the same with being a...
The fun you have when traveling with passenger assistance through airports – COMMUNICATION MATTERS!
Tuesday was the first day back in the office for me after a week’s holiday. I didn’t visit a hot sunny country and sit on a beach the entire time, not me! I visited the republic of Ireland with my partner and our friends. I recently wrote a blog about the Sunflower...
Southampton Sight’s time aboard Tenacious
I’d like to start this blog by thanking everybody at the Jubilee Sailing Trust and Global Marine who made it possible for Southampton Sight to join Tenacious and her crew for a day sail. Although I have sailed with the JST twice before on Lord Nelson (affectionately...
Looking at stars with our ears: Making astronomy accessible to the Visually Impaired community
Today we have a guest blogger, Steve Boswell, who is a Trustee at Southampton Sight and is visually impaired. Last Tuesday Kate, Brian, Sue, Angela and myself took part in an Astronomy Focus Group at the University of Southampton where Poshak Gandhi has been working...
Bikes, Silent Cars and White Canes – They don’t mix well
Health warning: please do not read on if you are easily offended, the following post discusses cyclists, silent cars and shared spaces and although I will try to not be too one-sided these are all my own thoughts and opinions. Before I say what I really think I will...
Equality and Diversity in action – great feedback from Kanes Hill Primary School teachers – Penguin and Elephant classes
We were really impressed with the thought and detail that had gone into the session, which was fantastically run and the children really enjoyed. Children are already showing a clear understanding of the different experiences people have and the activities allowed...
UK Airports Hidden Disabilities Scheme
Kate has been traveling again but not over land or sea. This time she visited Belfast so took the quick option – a flight. Whilst traveling I was made aware of a scheme that makes it easier for people who have a hidden disability to travel through airports in the...
Problem Solving, Team Building and Cooking your own lunch!
Problem Solving, Team Building and Cooking your own lunch! 4 young people from Southampton Sight spent a very cold and windy Saturday at Woodmill Activity Centre last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to problem solve and work together to build bridges, make...
Retro Mobile Phone with New Technology
This morning I had a visit from Tony Shrub who works for Sight and Sound Technology. He brought me a MiniVision mobile phone for demonstration in our resource centre. How many of you remember the old-style mobile phone that had no touch screen and a numerical keypad?...
Kate on the Road
Firstly, I’d like to wish you all a very belated happy new year and hope you had a well earnt rest over the festive period. Now the pleasantries are out of the way we can hopefully get on with the real reason I’m writing this and hopefully you’re interested to read...
Blind Ambition
Our own Kate in action who is part of Blind Sailing UK, a charity that encourages blind and visually impaired people to get into racing and compete for their country. Here is a link to the article: Blind Ambition @BlindSailingGBR @JubileeSailing @YandYMagazine...
World Braille Day – January 4th
World Braille Day is celebrated every year on January 4th because it is Louis Braille’s birthday, the inventor of braille! World Braille Day is a reminder of the importance of accessibility and independence for those who are blind or partially sighted. The...
Sight Loss Awareness In Action
More great feedback from Oakwood Primary School in Southampton. #Blind #PartiallySighted #Education #OakwoodPrimarySchool http://oakwoodlive.blogspot.com/2018/11/southampton-sight-workshop.html
FuturEyes – our new PILOT programme for young people living with sight loss funded by Hampshire IOW Community Foundation #iwill fund @HIWCF @SholingMedia
Here at Southampton Sight we are very excited to be working with young people living with sight loss on a social action project. Our participants will plan social action projects and individual volunteering opportunities which will be beneficial for the community but...
School Blog
Another wonderful review from a Primary School in Southampton. We visited Bitterne Manor Primary School this week and it looks like they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. This project is working so well because Simon, who is a volunteer but thought up this project and...
Changing Attitudes
"It was one of the best workshops that I have experienced in many years of teaching. Insightful and extremely engaging on every level. All staff were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. A great big thank you from Kingfisher Class." Mr Tee Fairisle Primary School...
Thank goodness for my white cane
Thank goodness for my white cane. It has travelled the world with me. I bought my latest cane from San Francisco's LightHouse organisation that supports visually impaired people. I specially chose a strong but collapsible version to be my "back-up" cane as I embarked...
Access to Work and our experience at Southampton Sight
For some of you who may not understand the rules about Access to Work, it is a Government programme set up to support employed people who are disabled or have a physical or mental health condition with special equipment, adaptations, support worker services or help...
World Sight Day
World Sight Day (WSD) is an international day of awareness, held annually on the second Thursday of October to focus attention on the global issue of avoidable blindness and sight impairment. The theme for 2018 is Eye Care Everywhere. Did you know? 253 million people...