VIDEO: Blindfolded mission around town

28 October 2009

VULNERABILITY, uncertainty and fear of the unknown were the thoughts running through my mind as I parted with my most valued sense.

In conjunction with World Sight Day, and to highlight the work done by Vision North Somerset, I eagerly accepted an invitation to experience life without sight.

I joined the charity's patron Councillor Ian Parker in a blindfolded mission around Weston town centre in what was to be a very unusual experience.

Vision North Somerset, formerly Woodspring Association for Blind People, had arranged for us to be accompanied by a guide - a member of Worle Lions Club - and gave us certain tasks to complete around Weston.

I was instructed to buy a bag from Walker & Ling, an audio book from Waterstone's and to indulge in a drink from Costa Coffee.

As the experience neared and I gingerly donned my blindfold and clutched my guide,

The initial feeling of darkness overwhelmed me as I instantly began looking to the edges of the blindfold to see if I could see any spec of light. I could not.

It was Colin's job to guide me but having this total dependency on my colleague made me feel more vulnerable and it took me a few minutes to stop hiding behind him and walk confidently at his side.

Walking through the Sovereign Shopping Centre seemed a safe environment but advancing out into the High Street was far more daunting and seemed more noisy as crowds of people brushed past.

While two representatives from the charity kept close, others stayed in the shopping centre to promote the day and collect used spectacles.

Colin's job was to get me from A to B but it was for me to decide what I wanted. Choosing a bag seemed easy enough as I could feel what it was like and once I found an assistant in Waterstone's to help me select an audio book that too seemed straightforward.

It was getting to these places that was the tricky bit, the body anticipating a sudden shock or an impending impact of something ahead.

But the longer I did it the more I let myself relax and I could feel my confidence growing.

It was the small aisles in shops and those drain gutter dips on the pavement that proved the biggest problem not to mention other impediments such as kerbs, potholes, puddles and unobservant pedestrians.

As a group of boisterous kids neared I felt a purposeful nudge in the back. I was half-tempted to whip off my blindfold to see what it was about but I had to remind myself that those with lack of sight can not do this and I just had to get on with it.

Knowing the tiniest step at a shop entrance could have a painful conclusion if approached too quickly, was enough to make me take it slow.

As sight and hearing usually go hand-in-hand my other senses were working overtime.

Traffic noise and wind direction became helpful sensory inputs as well as reaching out at times.

To experience firsthand what it is like to do daily things with sight loss was surreal, interesting and left me feeling even more compassion and admiration than I felt before for those suffering with visual problems.

My experience of sudden loss of sight is rare in general and would likely happen in an accident in contrast to a slower form of diminishing vision.

Either way dealing with it alone would not be easy but knowing there is a charity that can make things that bit easier could make a great difference.

Volunteers from Vision North Somerset may not be able to go out with you on shopping trips like mine, but they can do a heck of a lot to make things easier for blind or visually impaired people.

Once registered a volunteer can pop along to your home and mark objects which touch sensitive stickers such as microwave, radio and phone buttons.

They will check for objects that may have the potential to trip you up and will assess the positioning and type of lights you should have, dependant on your sight problem.

You can visit their offices on Neva Road and check out a whole range of helpful products from talking clocks and big button phones to alarmed liquid measuring devices and giant pill boxes.

Development officer for Vision North Somerset, Sue Potepa, said: "We want people to know we are here and to take advantage of what we can offer.

"Losing your sight does not mean you have to lose your independence.

"We can show you ways and things that can help you.

"It's the little things like using the right pen or putting a touch-sensitive sticker on a radio switch."

The charity was established in 1975 and has a membership of 1,650 people throughout North Somerset.

They have an agreement with North Somerset Council to provide certain services for visually impaired people including hospital information service, registration of blind and partially sighted people, rehabilitation, resource and information centre, special needs advice and management of a talking book service.

The funds they receive for these are restricted to expenditure under strict budget headings.

The charities other services rely on £85,000 raised in funds per year.

Ms Potepa said: "We are really struggling as a charity at the moment with funding.

"We are hoping that people may want to make us their charity of the year or would possibly even hold an event with us as we really need help."

Other voluntary sector activities Vision North Somerset provide include recruitment, training and supervision of more than 100 volunteers, social and activity clubs, a drop-in centre on Neva Road, a home visiting service/befriending and benefits advice.

Funding for these vital services, including core costs for salaries, rent and rates are raised through legacy money, application to trust funds, fund-raising events, annual subscriptions and other company, street, organisation and public donations.

This is where the funds have fallen down over the years and the charity has struggled to reach their £85,000 target each year.

Ms Potepa said: "Sadly donations have declined, so by doing things like the blindfolded walk hopefully this will raise awareness around town and drum up some donations or encourage people to hold events for us."

Trustee, Linda Phillips, aged 58, is registered blind and said the charities work has changed her life.

The Locking resident said: "After my mother died I felt isolated but after Vision North Somerset offered me counselling I began to feel better.

"Without the charity I probably would have been in a home as I had no family.

"I was a mess before but now I can do everything on my own and I don't think twice about going out anymore.

"I go out every day and enjoy things such as the computer club, gardening trips and other drop in sessions."

David Godly, aged 62, has been blind since he was two-years-old and he now teaches computer programming at the centre.

The volunteer of the year award winner teaches about 11 people each week how to use software and demonstrates programmes with the aid of a screen reader and teaches other blind people how to set up their computers.

He said: "The charity provides a lot of help and I want to encourage people to take advantage of this and use it."

To donate, volunteer or for more details call 01934 419393, email info@wabp.org.uk or pop in to the centre at 3 Neva Road in Weston.