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In Touch - Factsheet BBC Radio 4 |
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Tuesday 13 January 2004
Listen to the In Touch for 13 January 2004 SHARON SIMON AND NATIONAL HOLIDAY Last November, Sharon Simon and her sister, Iris, were due to go on holiday with their 81-year-old mother, Matilda. They booked the coach trip with National Holidays 9 months earlier, and had indicated on the booking form that Sharon was blind, Iris was a wheelchair user, and they would therefore require some assistance on their journey. Things did not turn out as intended. Once they complained to National Holidays, the company claimed their abusive behaviour forced the driver to take them off the bus and send them home in a taxi. National Holidays told In Touch that the Simon family had been taken off the coach as they become abusive and National Holiday had letter from people supporting the driver's behaviour. Steve Winyard of the RNIB who represents Sharon and her family explains that the complaint cannot be seen as an abuse of the DDA because public transport as yet is not covered by the Act. The RNIB is pressing the Government to change the legislation as soon as possible. Peter White invites anyone who has been on that coach or anyone indeed who had similar experience to contact the programme. INTERVIEW WITH MARGARET KER Margaret Ker who has MD and is 89 complained to the programme that it doesn't have enough items of interest to her age group. Peter White invites listeners to contact the programme with their programme ideas.(Blindness for Beginners particularly). MANI DJAZMI NEWSDESK GUIDE DOG OF THE YEAR Guide dog owners have until 1 March to send their entries to the Guide Dog of the Year Award. There are 3 categories; Heroic Dog, Tailor-Made Dog and Life-Changing Dog. Guide Dog of the Year Communications Dept Guide Dogs Hillfields Burghfield Common Reading RG7 3YG INFORMING VISUALLY IMPAIRED MEMBERS OF AN ETHNIC MINORITY Henshaws Society for Blind People is conducting a 3-year research project aimed at finding out the best ways of getting information to ethnic minority families with a visually impaired member. They are looking for participants to attend a group meeting held in Bot Punjabi and Urdu. Participants will also have their costs covered. Anyone interested in contributing should contact Claire Whelan on 0161 872 1234. VISUALLY IMPAIRED GRADUATES Bristol University is running a residential course aimed at giving blind and visually impaired graduates a better chance of finding work. Graduates do not need to be recnet. Anyone interested should contact Julie Shackleford. Julie Shackleford Tel: 0117 9545782 Email: julie.shackleford@bristol.ac.uk CONDOVER HALL SCHOOL REUNION Condover Hall School is holding a reunion for former pupils on 3 May. Anyone wishing to attend should call 01743 872320. GENERAL CONTACTS RNIB 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE Tel: 0845 766 99 99 (UK only - Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm) Tel: 0207 388 1266 (switchboard/overseas callers) Textphone via Typetalk: 0800 51 51 52 Website: RNIB The RNIB provides information, support and advice for anyone with a serious sight problem. They not only provide braille, Talking Books and computer training, but imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges. The RNIB campaigns to change society's attitudes, actions and assumptions, so that people with sight problems can enjoy the same rights, freedoms and responsibilities as fully sighted people. They also fund pioneering research into preventing and treating eye disease and promote eye health by running public health awareness campaigns. HENSHAWS SOCIETY FOR BLIND PEOPLE (HSBP) John Derby House 88-92 Talbot Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 0GS Tel: 0161 872 1234 Website: Henshaw's Society for Blind People Henshaws provides a wide range of services for people who have sight difficulties. They aim to enable visually impaired people of all ages to maximise their independence and enjoy a high quality of life. They have centres in: Harrogate, Knaresborough, Liverpool, Llandudno, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Salford, Southport and Trafford. THE GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND ASSOCIATION (GDBA) Burghfield Common Reading RG7 3YG Tel: 0870 600 2323 Website: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association The GDBA's mission is to provide guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services that meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. ACTION FOR BLIND PEOPLE 14-16 Verney Road London SE16 3DZ Tel: 0800 915 4666 (info & advice) Tel: 020 7635 4800 (central office) Website: Action for Blind People Registered charity with national cover who provide practical support in the areas of housing, holidays, information, employment and training, cash grants and welfare rights for blind and partially sighted people. Leaflets and booklets are available free of charge, including 'Getting on - a Guide to Services for Visually Impaired people'. No SAE required. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF THE BLIND AND DISABLED Central Office Swinton House 324 Grays Inn Road London WC1X 8DD Tel: 020 7837 6103 Textphone: 020 7837 6103 National League of the Blind and Disabled is a registered trade union and is involved in all issues regarding the employment of blind and disabled people in the UK. NATIONAL LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND Far Cromwell Road Bredbury Stockport SK6 2SG Tel: 0161 355 2000 Email: enquiries@nlbuk.org Website: National Library for the Blind The National Library for the Blind (NLB) is a registered charity which helps visually impaired people throughout the country continue to enjoy the same access to the world of reading as people who are fully sighted. Visit the In Touch Message Board Back to the In Touch page The BBC is not responsible for external websites |
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