Video game development project for the blind
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month Video games, as the name suggests, are not supportive for people without sight. The assumption that the player has sight means that there are certain aspects of any game that would stop a vision impaired person from playing, like ambiguous audio cues or precise timing. In order to create a game that works for visually impaired people, we have to try to solve these issues. The first question we (myself and Mohammed) had to discuss in development was “What kind of game would be accessible for people with [...]
Using transport when your are blind
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month Hi my name is Abu-bakr Ishtiaq, this article is all about transport and a bit about my experiences as someone who has a vision impairment. About me and my vision impairment I am registered blind - severely sight impaired with a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa RP with Laurence Moon Biedl syndrome and I also have tunnel vision. Despite my vision impairment, I get around independently on public transport, using platforms for trams, trains and buses. What helped me was being given the confidence while attending the residential college [...]
Blind Dancing | So you think you can’t dance?
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month So you think you can't dance? That assumption is not strictly true! Today, 10 October 2024 is World Sight Day and also World Mental Health Day. And as part of Blindness Awareness Month, VICTA Changemaker Grace busts some myths around dancing when you are blind or partially sighted and the positive impact is has had on her mental health. Dancing is an incredibly visual art form, but it is also very inclusive, even if you live with a vision impairment. This is something I didn't think could [...]
AI tools for blind & visually impaired students | Blindness Awareness Month
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month Artificial intelligence (AI), much like the internet, has become an integral component of our daily lives in recent years. Despite popular scepticism fuelled by mainstream media and misinformation on social networks, AI plays an important role in improving educational accessibility. Specifically, for blind and visually impaired learners, AI tools can significantly improve the learning experience by providing personalised assistance, increasing independence, and improving the accessibility of educational content. In this article, details are presented of various apps and websites that utilise AI to assist blind and visually impaired people, particularly [...]
New opportunity – NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme Insight Session
Blind in Business are hosting a NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme Insight Session Please see their information below and get in touch with them directly if you would like to attend or find out more. When: Thursday 6 July 2023 from 1pm to 2pm Where: Online via Microsoft Teams Who: Vision impaired university students and graduates aged 18 and over Are you visually impaired and looking to work within the healthcare industry? Are you interested in leadership and management roles? Then join Blind in Business for an insight session with the NHS, as they talk about their [...]
Moving house – tips for home buyers with a vision impairment
By Jack Tomlin After living in a small village for six years I finally decided it was time to move on, I was seeking more space, a bigger garden and a more central location. I had been wanting to move for a while, but it never quite felt like the right time. In December 2022 I started looking and viewed a few places to see what was on offer. Eventually I found the perfect cottage in a nearby village. It had a few drawbacks but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. I signed all the paperwork and within a [...]
UCAS Deadline Day 2023
With UCAS deadline day approaching on 25 January 2023 it's the perfect time to visit the University resources on the Student Portal! You'll find links to help with everything from choosing your course, writing personal statements, clearing and disability support. You can also hear first hand from students studying at university who have vision impairments themselves. Visit the university resources for 14 to 17s Visit the university resources for 18 plus You Can Succeed; UCAS and Starting University By Natalia Foster "UCAS and University, two small but quite [...]
Be inspired. You Can Succeed; UCAS and Starting University
By Natalia Foster UCAS and University, two small but quite powerful words. For any 18 year old, the UCAS process can be stressful, challenging and all together a mystery until you are on the other side of it. As someone who completed and survived the UCAS journey, I wanted to give you my five top tips for navigating it with ease and confidence! 1. Give your personal statement that personal twist This may seem like an obvious point to make, but you would be surprised as to how much the ‘personal’ part of a personal statement is ignored. Something [...]
Volunteering as a key for long-term success
Written by Idil Serce The transition from higher education to employment can be a difficult and emotional roller coaster for all new graduates, but especially for visually impaired (VI) graduates who are in a more disadvantaged situation in comparison to their fellow peers. Being VI myself, I know how difficult it is for VI students to focus on their studies and gain work experience whilst fighting with the physical and emotional challenges of living with a VI. As a recent VI graduate, l will share my personal experience of transitioning into the world of employment and the impact that [...]
20 recommended apps for a person who has a visual impairment
Mobile phones, tablets and voice activated devices have revolutionised the way people who are visually impaired interact and use technology. Here is our list of great apps to download to make the most out of your device. 1. Tap Tap See TapTapSee is a mobile camera application designed specifically for visually impaired users. TapTapSee utilises your device’s camera and VoiceOver functions to take a picture or video of anything and identify it out loud for you. Double-tap the right side of the screen to take a picture or double-tap the left side of the screen to take a video. [...]