A One-Day Conference arranged jointly by the Blind Centre for Northern Ireland and St Joseph’s School for the Visually Impaired, Dublin, to examine better reading techniques for people with visual impairment. It was held in Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk, Co Louth, on 16 November 2005.
Speakers included:
* Helen Brazier, CEO National Library for the Blind, Stockport
* David Logan, New View Co-Ordinator, VISIBILITY (formerly Glasgow and West of Scotland Society for the Blind)
* Joe Bollard, RTE broadcaster and journalist
* David Mann, RNIB, Northern Ireland
* Prof. Jonathan Jackson, Principal Optometrist, Low Vision Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
* Stewart Lawler, IT Co-ordinator, National Council of the Blind of Ireland, Dublin
* David Owen, Chief Executive, Share the Vision, Stockport
You may have missed the Conference, but here is a brief overview by David Owen
David Owen, Chief Executive, Share the Vision, Stockport, shares his reflections on the Conference held in November 2005…
“It is always a pleasure to visit the Emerald Isle and when you are invited “to travel over and stay the night on us” who can refuse? The sting in the tail is that you have to sing for your supper by attempting to synthesise the proceedings of this one-day conference held on 16th November in Ballymascanlon Hotel, County Louth and draw some conclusions. “Are we reading better?” was Deane Houston’s challenge to me to keep awake all day and scribble copious notes.
On reflection, some three weeks after the event, I have to say that this was an excellent one-day event, which attracted an audience of some 90 participants from a diversity of relevant professions from across Ireland. The programme contained an interesting mix of speakers on three main themes: speaking personally; better reading and technical innovation. The standard was universally high and generated considerable interest from the audience.
As I have heard three of the speakers previously [they are long time colleagues] the personal highlights were to listen to Professor Jon Jackson and Joe Bollard. It was a great pleasure to hear a medical specialist like Professor Jackson address his audience so enthusiastically in terms the lay audience could understand. I am sure that his ability to demystify the terminology of ophthalmology and optometry and to explain his work with children should be exploited for other audiences throughout Ireland and the UK.
Equally enthralling was Joe Bollard’s account of his experiences since going blind at the age of two. I believe it is essential to listen to and learn from the experiences of blind people but rarely does one encounter such an accomplished orator who amuses and holds his audience spellbound with such ease. If ever one wanted to be reminded of the joys of reading, whether one is blind or sighted, Joe’s your man but I would hesitate to enter any competition he is involved in as he confessed to fortuitously being able to cheat in the Braille Olympics in Manchester 40 odd years ago when representing his school, St Vincent’s, from Liverpool. No wonder we don’t hold Braille reading competitions any more.
BCNI and St Joseph’s School should take pride in organising such a successful event. And, are you reading better? Yes in many ways but there is still a lack of sufficient books in alternative formats as in the rest of the UK and we all have a long way to go despite the new technological opportunities which were clearly outlined on the day. However, David Mann’s presentation on the Right to Read Campaign put everything in perspective; only 4.6% of the nearly 150,000 titles published annually in the UK ever become available in an alternative format. No wonder Joe is a member of NCBI, NLB, RNIB and Calibre!”
David Owen 08.12.05