Richard lost the sight in his left eye due to a haemorrhage and later lost the sight in his right eye from chronic uveitis. He tells us: “Occasionally I can see a little bit of light, but otherwise I cannot see at all. For a long time, this made everyday tasks very difficult, and I struggled without help.”
Richard contacted KAB as he needed help with something that was making his life difficult at the time – his phone.
Something as simple as making a phone call depended on other people. Richard recalls: “I was using a basic button phone and could only answer calls. If I wanted to ring my sons, I had to contact a carer through my lifeline so they could come in, look up the number, and dial it for me. The carers were always helpful, but I often felt like a burden, especially when they were busy. It was frustrating and disheartening to rely on others for something so small but so important.”
That’s when Richard decided to contact KAB to ask about a phone that allows him to be more independent.
Through KAB’s Assistive Technology Team, he was introduced to the Synapptic phone.
“Peter helped me to get a new phone and patiently taught me how to use it. At first, I was nervous. New technology felt daunting, especially when I couldn’t see it. But with Peter’s guidance, it quickly became easier. Now with my new phone, I can simply touch the screen and slide my finger down it to activate the voice control and ask the phone to call my sons. Being able to talk to the phone and have it talk back to me is the best part.”
The Synapptic phone can also read out the phone’s battery percentage, which is an important feature for Richard. With support from Peter, he now has a phone that works for his needs. It has given him confidence, freedom and his independence back.
He tells us:
This phone has really saved my life.
When Tony was registered blind in 1999, he did what many people in his position do, he simply got on with life. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa and macular scarring, he quietly made adjustments at home and at work, without seeking help. He recalls:
I didn’t want to wear a badge that said I was visually impaired. Even as a lay minister, my congregation had no idea how bad my sight was. I just found other ways to manage.
For years, Tony managed with limited vision; avoiding bright days, relying on taxis, or staying indoors. Then, earlier this year, something shifted.
“I attended a Church of England course where a visually impaired speaker shared his story. As he spoke, I felt like he was describing my life – his experiences, his reluctance to get help, even his decision to try a cane. That planted a seed in my mind.”
That seed took root a few months later. “I couldn’t go outside because of the light. That’s when I realised how isolated I’d become. So I called KAB again.”
What followed, Tony describes as life-changing.
A visit from a KAB staff member introduced him to tools and support he’d never explored. “They gave me overspecs to reduce glare, a liquid level indicator for pouring drinks, talking scales to help manage my diabetes, and the Seeing AI app, which reads text aloud,” he says.
But the real turning point was mobility training. Equipped with a long cane and new skills to navigate safely, Tony now goes out independently.
I learned safer routes into town, how to identify hazards, and how to move with confidence. It’s given me back control of my life.
Now, with the right tools and support, he’s not just more open about his sight loss – he’s embracing life in new ways.
Looking ahead, Tony is filled with hope.
The future starts now. I feel liberated. I don’t have to plan my day around the weather or rely on someone to take me out. There are still challenges, but there are so many more possibilities.
“It looks like it’s going to be a lovely day in Sheppey today…” announces Abbie, whilst co-hosting a show on Sheppey FM; the community radio for the island.
Abbie hadn’t planned on getting into radio, but a family friend used to work at Sheppey FM and suggested she go for an interview. “As soon as I started, I got the bug for it and now I never look back.” Within nine months, she had won a community radio award for her work with the station and she loves coming into the studio.
“I volunteer here once a week and read out the weather, upcoming events and the telephone numbers for any song requests.” Abbie uses her BrailleNote Touch Plus to access the internet to get the weather updates. “I’ve gotten more confident over the years. I used to read out the telephone numbers whilst using my BrailleNote, but now I have them memorised!”
Abbie was really young when she started learning Braille and was fluent by the age of 11. “When I was born, my optic nerves didn’t grow, so I’ve never seen anything. Sometimes I think that’s better than having sight and then losing it. You don’t miss what you have never seen!
I get support from a KAB Guide Communicator (GC) twice a week, who takes me out to various places. It really helps my mental health, as it gets me out of the house. We go to the cinema, shopping, all sorts of places. My GC is great at getting me to be more independent.”
Whilst training for a time trial cycle race in Tenerife, Kate fell off her bike. She suffered a serious head injury and lost a quarter of her vision.
“My life changed completely to having gone from doing very well in my career to suddenly not being able to achieve those things. Cognitively I am not as able as I used to be. And losing a quarter of my visual field affects many aspects of my daily life.”
Our Rehab team helped Kate in many ways. They taught her to use a long cane, suggested equipment to help her read and encouraged her to join our clubs.
“The support I have had made a huge difference to me and I’m sure it will be for you as well.”
Kate tells her story in this video:
You can also view Kate’s video on our YouTube channel.