Sub Navigation
Action for Blind People comes to Sandwell
The Action team headed by Cormac brought a mobile unit to Oldbury town centre on the 13 March. Ray went along to see what help was being offered. This is his report.
Action for Blind People's Birmingham office is one of their local offices throughout the UK. I spoke with Cormac, their services manager here about what they do; he listed the services Action For Blind offers.
Employment
Includes:
- preparation of CVs
- interview practice
- contacting employers on clients behalf
- assistive technology help
- a self employment service
Housing
- moving in and between sheltered housing
- the private sector and council housing
- help with issues such as repairs and benefits
Welfare rights
- Help with applications such as DLA and attendance allowance.
- Assistance with grant applications including technology, living aids and holidays.
When Action cannot help they will point people to others who may be able to.
The Mobile Unit
Though a national organisation, Action doesn't have offices in every locality. Their mobile unit fills in the gaps, with three buses providing the chance to tell people about their services and those provided by others. Sometimes other local and national charities or local services are on-board to give advice and help. There's a selection of equipment visually impaired people can buy, to help with daily living, as well as information about living skills.
Aids and Equipment on display included:
- talking clocks and watches
- a talking microwave oven
- lots of kitchen ware
- phones with large buttons
- a simple to use mobile phone with just half a dozen large buttons so that anyone can phone friends and emergency services very easily
The thing that caught my eye was the little gadget for telling you what bank note you were holding. One vibration for a fiver, two for a ten pound note, three for a 20 - and four for a fifty pound note. (We couldn't put the last one to the test!)
Contact Action for Blind People
In Birmingham, 0121 200 3930
Email: westmidlands@actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Web site: www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Ray Gormley
SVI Committee Member and joint editor of Sandwell Talking News Paper.
Back to information about the open meeting