Since its formation in around 2001, we are proud that due to the hard work of our members and directors throughout the years, we have made a real difference to the lives of people with a visual impairment in the area.
Below is just a sample of the kind of work that we have done in the past and the projects that we have enabled.
Improved Access to New Manor Hospital Accident and Emergency
During 2022 and 2023, Walsall Eyes members have been working in collaboration with HealthWatch Walsall and the Walsall Primary Care Trust concerning the development of the brand new state of the art accident and emergency facility that has just opened at Walsall Manor Hospital. The building will host the latest technology and care facilities but as is often the case, modern buildings and aesthetically pleasing layouts can often be barriers to people with disabilities.
Through frequent attendance on Zoom calls with the organisers and other disability groups, Walsall Eyes were able to help shape the internal layout of the building, ensuring that clear signage was available, level access and sighted guides were available wherever possible and that provision and awareness was made for the building and its staff to welcome are and easily take assistance dogs into all areas.
At the point of the launch, our members were given personal tours of the new facility and senior members of staff were keen to take on more feedback and suggestions on how the building and the service could be improved.
Equipment Loan Service
One of our early ventures, in partnership with Tiemen, a prominent supplier of Access Technology at the time, was to setup an equipment loan service which would allow the people of Walsall and the surrounding area who had a visual impairment to borrow and trial equipment that they thought may improve their lives and independence.
At the time, (back in around 2004), Sight Village was probably the only large scale exhibition of equipment and given that at the time, home demonstrations and distance selling weren't anywhere near as popular as they are now, it was felt that this service would really give people a chance to try out equipment and acclimatise themselves to it before having to fork out thousands of pounds on a tech solution that may not be suitable or may not serve the complete purpose for which it was intended.
Over the 3 or 4 years that it ran, the service benefitted dozens of people, introducing them to video magnifiers, reading machines and early incarnations of talking mobile phones, as well as helping our group to build networks with IT suppliers which in turn allowed us to offer discounts to our members from time to time.
When the service was eventually rolled up in around 2008, all of the existing technology was donated to members and other local causes to ensure that somebody somewhere was able to gain a benefit where their finances or circumstances may not otherwise allow.
Transcription Service
One of the biggest barriers that people with a visual impairment face is equal and timely access to printed information. Back in the early days of the group, this was particularly evident as access to information via the internet or other means, such as smart speakers or podcasts simply was not available, so many of us had to rely on national charities or other small selections of organisations that would make the information available, often more slowly and sometimes at a cost.
In an effort to resolve this and running in parallel to the equipment loan service, we acquired a braille embosser, transcription software and printers that would allow us to produce large print and braille information upon the request of people who needed it, often in a more timely fashion than was available and more importantly, free of charge. Through this service, we were able to work in partnership with Walsall Society for The Blind and Walsall Council, amongst others, to widen the amount and variety of information available to people with a visual impairment in a format that was accessible to them.
This service fell out of use at around the same time that the equipment loans service was rolled up.
Improved Accessibility to Local Doctors and Pharmacies
At around a similar time, another campaign of ours was to work with the Walsall Primary Care Trust to improve access to information and locations of health services around the Walsall borough, because far too often, our members were reporting, issues were being faced with regards to accessing health services.
This could be covering braille labels on medication, no accessible or large print signage in buildings or simply the fact that some members of staff had not had the training on how to best support someone with a visual impairment.
After working in partnership with the PCT for over a year, we had jointly produced a booklet containing guidelines and best practices for supporting people with a visual impairment that all local health care providers could adopt and follow to improve the experiences of blind and partially sighted people using their services.
Free Peak Time Bus Passes
One of the things that we are most passionate about here at Walsall Eyes is for blind and partially sighted people to have the most independence and freedom that they can. As a result, one of our successful campaigns in the past was to fight for the right for all people living in Walsall, whether they be registered as blind or partially sighted, to a free bus pass that would allow them to travel anywhere in the West Midlands bus network, both on and off peak, at no additional cost to them.
Working with the local council and Centro (now Transport For West Midlands), we managed to make this happen. Not only did this give people with a visual impairment more travel options and lessen their financial burden, but it also helped to remove common misconceptions about people with a visual impairment, primarily that they would not need this add on because, for instance, they did not work or had no need to go out and about at peak times.
Our members and directors past and present are living proof that this is not the case, and although this service is no longer available due to reductions in local council funding, it is something that we are proud to have made happen for many years due to our passion and hard work.