We are developing a Peer Support Programme in partnership with the Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company (EPPCIC). The five week peer support courses will be run for groups of people with sight impairments, facilitated by sight impaired volunteers. EPPCIC are experienced in developing peer support programmes which enable participants to learn skills in self-management of a long term health condition, although this is the first time a programme has been developed specifically for people with sight impairments. The course covers topics including communication skills and relaxation techniques and allows participants to share ideas and experiences and learn from each other.

Currently the course content is being finalised and in March the first group of volunteer facilitators will receive training. The first course should be open to participants in spring/summer 2012.

If you are interested in being a volunteer facilitator or a participant, please contact Katherine Barr, Rehab Manager on 01622 691357 or Katherine.barr@kab.org.uk

The new My Guide scheme is a partnership between KAB and Guide Dogs which helps people with sight loss get out of their homes and back into the community.  My Guide aims to reduce the isolation that many blind people experience, helping to rebuild thier confidence and regain their independence.

To listen to an interview with KAB Rehab Manager, Katherine Barr on Insight Radio talking about My Guide please click on the green arrow below.

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What does this mean in practice?

You will help your partner get out and about and do the things that others take for granted.  This might be regular trips to the shops, a coffee house, social club or even the local bingo. When you are there you will hlep them meet people such as shop assistants or club members who can provide support on an ongoing basis.

You will not be asked to do any domestic activities such as cleaning or cooking.

To take part in My Guide or for more information please contact us at enquiry@kab.org.uk.

Why Volunteer?

• Make a very real difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted people in your local community.
• Learn new skills that enhance your CV.
• Receive training endorsed by VISION 2020.
• Make new friends.
• Give something back to the community.

180,000 blind and partially sighted people never go out alone. Just a few hours of your time each week can change that. The new My Guide service helps people with sight loss get out of their homes and back into the community. My Guide aims to reduce the isolation that many blind people experience, helping to rebuild their confidence and regain their independence.

What does it involve?

As a My Guide volunteer, you will receive training endorsed by VISION 2020, the umbrella body for organisations focussed on visual impairment, that will give you the skills to confidently guide blind and partially sighted people.

You will be partnered with a visually impaired person for three to six months. During this time you will:

• Guide your partner to take part in social and leisure activities.
• Help your partner establish lasting relationships with community members who can, in turn, help them get out more.
• Work with your partner to set clear goals that help them become more independent - not dependent.

Interested in becoming a My Guide volunteer?

Almost anyone can become a My Guide volunteer, as long as you are over 18 and able to commit a minimum of two hours per week. You will also need to agree to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and come along to some initial training sessions.

To take part in My Guide or for more information please contact us at enquiry@kab.org.uk.

KAB welcomes the publication of the results of the Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials (CATT), which was designed to compare two drugs – Lucentis® (ranibizumab) and Avastin® (bevacizumab), to treat wet age-related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD).

KAB takes the view that patient safety is paramount, and there is insufficient data from this trial to draw firm conclusions about whether Avastin is as safe as Lucentis. We support calls for a thorough regulatory review of the safety of Avastin carried out by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and a plan to monitor the ongoing usage of the treatment, provided it is found to be safe and cost effective.

In the meantime, KAB supports the general position of the Macular Disease Society: patients with wet AMD should be treated with the licensed and approved drug for the condition, which is Lucentis.

To read more go to our Macular Degeneration information page.

Unified English Braille Code
You may have heard in the news recently that the United Kingdom Association for Accessible Formats has agreed to adopt Unified English Braille (UEB) as an official Braille code in the UK.

UEB aims to unite the different literary, technical and language codes into a single Braille code, making it easier to learn. Its’ adoption will also eliminate differences in how the code is used in other English-speaking countries, which will help people to share resources internationally.

Use of this code should also simplify electronic ‘text to Braille’ translation – such as that used by our Transcription Department - thus improving accuracy, and potentially increasing the availability of Braille materials.

What does it mean for Braille Readers?
People already familiar with Grade 2 Braille should notice only small differences in UEB. No new contractions will be added, but nine commonly used contractions will be dropped. Braille characters will no longer have different meanings depending on the context. However, use of UEB will cause a slight increase in the length of documents, meaning they will take longer to read and to produce.

It is expected that there will be a long period of transition as UEB is being introduced, during which Standard English Braille will continue to be used widely.

Whilst keeping abreast of these changes, at KAB we’ll continue to offer Braille to suit the needs of the individual.

Braille Tuition on KAB’s Foundation DegreeOur Foundation Degree trains people to become qualified Rehabilitation Workers. The course includes a Braille module that equips staff to be able to teach basic Braille to sight impaired clients, and we are amending the module content to include the new methods allowing them to keep up to date of the forthcoming changes.

Need to Know More?
For any KAB Braille transcription queries please contact Marten at KAB on 01622 691357 or email him at marten.rayner@kab.org.uk.

For information about KAB’s Foundation Degree please contact Avril Chapman on 01622 691357 or email her at avril.chapman@kab.org.uk.

If you are sight impaired and want to know more about learning Braille, please contact your local rehab team or email us at enquiry@kab.org.uk. 

For frequently asked questions about the changes, follow this link to the UK Association For Accessible Formats website at  http://www.ukaaf.org/formats-and-guidance/177.

Please use the links below to access the guidance notes.

Download our Application Form Guidance Notes in Microsoft Word format  

Download our Application Form Guidance Notes in PDF format