Learn about the features of the Envision Glasses, AI-enabled smart glasses designed specifically for visually impaired people.
Tag: visual impairment
Showing 1-109 of 109 for tag: visual impairment
Mindfulness activities for children with a visual impairment
Mindfulness is a practice where you use your senses to physically engage in the world around you. We've put together some useful activities to support visually impaired children.
Supporting mobility with a Sunu Band
We took the Sunu Band, a wearable assistive device, on a test drive to see how it can support people with sight loss with their mobility and independence.
Henshaws staff meet with HRH The Earl of Wessex
Henshaws were invited to meet with Prince Edward via a Zoom meeting to discuss how our charity has been continuing to support people living with sight loss during the pandemic.
Introducing the RealSAM smart speaker
RealSAM, the people behind the 'In Your Pocket' accessible phone, have developed a smart speaker skill so that you can access audiobooks and podcasts on a Google smart speaker.
Our guide to the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI)
Read our handy guide to find out everything you need to know about the Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI).
Supporting a visually impaired child after a diagnosis of autism
When a child with a visual impairment is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it may be necessary to alter accordingly the resources and strategies for supporting them.
Fitness Coach by Jumpy Cat: An accessible workout app
Find out about Fitness Coach by Jumpy Cat, an accessible app for creating personalised workouts.
The benefits of baby massage for infants with a visual impairment
Baby massage is beneficial for both infants and their parents, but it is particularly valuable for children who have a visual impairment as it promotes communication through touch.
The story of my first COVID vaccine as a person living with sight loss
Our Senior Rehabilitation Officer, Simon, tells us about his experience of receiving his COVID-19 vaccine as a person with low vision.
TV catch-up services: how accessible are they?
Find out how accessible the TV catch-up services BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 are to visually impaired people.
New Sight Loss Sector Charter launched
A new Sight Loss Sector Charter was launched in November 2020 which puts blind and partially sighted people at the heart of the work of charities in the sector.
Pregnancy test re-designed for people with sight loss
The RNIB have launched a prototype pregnancy test for visually impaired people, making it possible for the first time to find out results independently.
The story of our Optelec digital magnifier giveaway!
Support from the Manchester High Sheriff's Fund enabled us to distribute Optelec digital magnifiers to the most vulnerable visually impaired people across Greater Manchester.
Recognising money if you have a visual impairment
Find out how to recognise money if you are visually impaired, and learn how the process has become easier since the introduction of polymer banknotes.
Sensory gift ideas for children and young people with a visual impairment
Our Children and Young People's team have put together some great suggestions for sensory gift ideas for young people who have a visual impairment.
Sensory activity ideas for Christmas
Our Children and Young People's team have put together some sensory activity ideas to try out at home over the Christmas period with blind or visually impaired young people.
Tech Talk’s Top Tech of 2020
Find out what our Trafford and Oldham Tech Talk members voted as their favourite piece of technology in 2020.
10 Gift Ideas for people with a Visual Impairment
Find out 10 of our gift ideas for somebody with a visual impairment.
Our guide to Electronic Signatures
In this digital age, the need to validate documents quickly is becoming more evident, so we are likely to be asked to provide electronic signatures - but what are they?
Laundry Lens: An app to help with clothes washing
Find out about Laundry Lens, an app that can help you to interpret laundry labels when washing your clothes.
Henshaws helps university students with ‘The Future of Work’ project
Henshaws staff were asked to support undergraduate students from Manchester Metropolitan University on a project focussing on workplaces of the future for disabled employees.
Using Pingit if you have a visual impairment
Find out about Pingit, an accessible solution for managing your money.
Top tips for making websites and apps accessible for people with sight loss
Top tips for making websites and apps accessible to people living with sight loss and other disabilities, providing equal access and equal opportunity for all.
Using the Wetherspoons app with a visual impairment
Richard from our Digital Team visited his local Wetherspoons pub to try out their food and drink ordering app and assess how it would work for a person living with sight loss.
Visiting Manchester Central Library post-lockdown
We offer digital technology assessments at Manchester Central Library, so we went along to check out what's changed at the building since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Using the NHS Test and Trace COVID-19 app if you are blind or visually impaired
The new NHS COVID-19 app for Apple and Android devices launched yesterday. Our Digital Team checked it out to see how blind and visually impaired people will be able to use it.
Top tips for visiting an eye clinic with your child
Appointments of any kind can cause worry and stress, especially when the appointment is for your child. Our top tips will hopefully help when you visit the eye clinic.
Getting out and about: Using a smartphone to navigate independently
Hear from Lynne Nicholson, who is visually impaired and uses her smartphone and navigation apps to travel independently.
Guide to COVID-19 scams
Commonly during crisis situations, fraudsters create lots of new ways to defraud their unsuspecting victims. We've put together a guide to current COVID-19 scams.
Track and Trace: An example of how it works
From 14 September, venues such as pubs and restaurants will be legally required to request contact details of customers as part of the Track and Trace initiative.
A day in the life of a sight loss Enablement Officer
Our Enablement Officer for the borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, talks about her day-to-day duties supporting people living with sight loss in the local area.
Dictation solutions put to the test
There are a number of dictation solutions available, but which one is the best? We thought we would try some of the most common versions side by side to see how they performed.
Out and about on the high street after lockdown
Mark discusses how shops and services have changed since lockdown restrictions eased, in order to help better inform visually impaired people of what to expect when they go out.
COVID InSights: Nina’s story
'COVID InSights' is a new series from Henshaws in which blind and visually impaired individuals share their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through videos and blogs.
Introducing the Orcam Read
The Orcam Read is a handheld smart device that identifies, captures and reads text aloud. Richard from our Digital Team puts it to the test with some visually impaired people.
Coming out of lockdown if you are visually impaired (Part 2)
As the pandemic lockdown restrictions across the UK are eased, we discuss tips for how people with sight loss can prepare themselves for the 'new normal' in our towns and cities.
Life as an Enablement Officer at Henshaws
Kate, our Enablement Officer based in Oldham, explains her role in supporting the local sight loss community and the services that she delivers on a daily basis.
Coming out of lockdown if you are visually impaired (Part 1)
As lockdown restrictions across the UK are eased as part of the roadmap to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, we discuss how people with a visual impairment may need support.
Online workshop delivered to optometry students at the University of Manchester
We were asked by The University of Manchester to deliver an online workshop to final year optometry students on the technology that exists to support visually impaired people.
“The Synapptic phone is a life-changer for me!”
Stories from two visually impaired people who purchased the Synapptic phone package, and our trained staff showed them how to use it to help with their sight loss.
Top tips for helping a visually impaired person when they visit your venue
Top tips to businesses and venues that are re-opening after the Covid-19 lockdown on how to support visitors who are visually impaired in our new socially-distanced world.
Blind and partially sighted COVID-19 survey report published
A survey of 955 blind and visually impaired people from the first 10 weeks of the lockdown evidences the unique issues they are facing; a final report highlights key concerns.
Our Digital Enablement Service helps visually impaired people get connected with tech
Our Digital Enablement Service is helping people living with sight loss to get connected through tech, and offers training with a wide variety of products and skills.
Henshaws feature on BBC North West Tonight
Henshaws were featured in a report by BBC North West discussing the issues facing blind and visually impaired people during the Covid-19 pandemic, including social distancing.
Back to school after lockdown: A guide for teachers of children with a vision impairment
Teachers are preparing for children to return to classrooms during Covid-19 - our guide should help you consider how you can better support children with a vision impairment.
Back to school after lockdown: A guide for parents of children with a vision impairment
Parents of children with a vision impairment may have concerns over the return to school during Covid-19; this guide is designed to give peace of mind during uncertain times.
Help your visually impaired child learn at home
Some children may need to be motivated to learn at home, but there is so much learning to be done through play, crafts and games! Here are some ideas to try.
A counsellor’s guide to the stages of grief associated with sight loss
Our counsellor discusses how primarily, working with blind and partially sighted clients is rooted in supporting the issues connected to bereavement and its stages of grief.
A young person’s guide to visually impaired bloggers and YouTubers
Orla, 17, talks about some of the fab influential bloggers and YouTubers out there who she follows, and who she thinks other young people with sight loss might also enjoy.
Top tips for social distancing if you are blind or visually impaired
Our Senior Rehabilitation Officer, Simon, shares his top tips for social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic if you are blind or visually impaired.
How an Amazon Echo Show and a Wifi Hub connected a family during lockdown
Mark discusses how his first thought on the announcement of the Covid-19 lockdown was getting his elderly relatives some connectivity with an Amazon Echo Show.
Mindfulness for children with a visual impairment or additional support needs
Mindfulness can foster wellbeing, improve self-confidence and self-esteem, and provide coping mechanisms, which has proved to be beneficial to children with a visual impairment.
Our response to Covid-19 in Greater Manchester and changes to our service delivery model
The response by charity staff in Greater Manchester to the Covid-19 pandemic and changes to the service delivery model to meet the needs of the sight loss community.
Keeping children with sight loss active at home
Tips to keep children with sight loss active at home, through sports and activities that can be done in the house or garden.
12 top tips for shopping for a visually impaired person
Our Senior Rehabilitation Officer, Simon Merrills, shares his top tips for helping a visually impaired person with their shopping, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Getting connected and keeping informed using technology
Getting connected with family and keeping informed has never been as important as it is during the Covid-19 lockdown. Read our blog about the technology that can help.
Using Zoom virtual meetings if you are visually impaired
Zoom is an app allowing people to have virtual meetings and stay connected. We tested it to see how well it can be used if you have a visual impairment.
Engaging the other senses in children with sight loss
Most info we gain about the world is through vision. This blog explores sensory learning and ways to encourage children to engage their senses and understand their world better.
12 tips for keeping your visually impaired child entertained and educated at home
Most children will now be learning from home during this period. Follow our tips to find out what is right for you and your visually impaired child during this time.
Managing Social Isolation with Technology
We outline our top tips for using technology to manage social isolation if you have a visual impairment.
The Theatre of the Mind – living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Hear from the founder of Esme's Umbrella, a charity who support people living with Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) - a condition in which people with sight loss have hallucinations.
Henshaws joins the Talking Newspaper app
Read about the new Talking Newspaper app developed by British Wireless for the Blind and the Talking News Federation, and how you can access Henshaws news through it.
7 gift ideas for people with sight loss
Knowing what to get your loved one for Christmas can be a struggle at the best of times. Here's some ideas from us at Henshaws for anyone with sight loss.
6 ‘Accidentally’ accessible products for people with sight loss
We review six products, three high-tech and three low-tech, which were not designed for someone with sight loss but are fully accessible and could increase independence.
Alfie’s “Ways of seeing” art exhibition
What does the world look like if you have a visual impairment or disability? Let Alfie, a student at our Specialist College, show you through his award winning art.
Eye-D: An app that can act as your eyes
We review Eye-D, an app for iOS and Android that enables people with a visual impairment to be more independent.
Double challenge for visually-impaired students
Two visually-impaired students from Henshaws Bradford Centre have set themselves a major challenge this month.
Access to Work – making employment possible
If you’re disabled or have a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job, Access to Work is there to support you.
Tactile time travel? Reviewing the accessibility of Bolton Museum
We take a trip to Bolton Museum and it's new Egyptian Gallery. How accessible is it to visually impaired visitors?
Blind Ultra Running… “Don’t believe in other people’s assumptions about what is possible”.
Francesca started losing her sight 12 years ago but that hasn't stopped her taking on new challenges like 'Lakes in a Day', a 50 mile ultra run through the fells.
Volunteer Rex helps Art Makers relax
When Rex visits our Arts & Crafts Centre he likes to get his tummy tickled! He's a special visitor - a PAT dog. We talk to his owner Carol about how she and Rex support Henshaws.
A fantastic afternoon at the Henshaws Awards 2018
We held our awards afternoon at the Midland Hotel last Thursday, celebrating all the amazing achievements across our Community Services from the past year.
“The problems diabetes could cause were never really drilled into me; either that or I didn’t want to hear them.”
We spoke to Richard recently about the dangers that diabetes can bring in terms of sight loss, his personal experience and how coming to Henshaws has helped him.
“I can even read the telephone directory with the magnifier, which is magic! How many people can read the telephone directory?”
Frank has attended Henshaws' Living with Sight Loss course and is a regular at our Tuesday group. He explains how Henshaws has helped him keep in touch with old friends!
Art Maker Dolly’s fundraiser for friendship!
Dolly used her creative skills to raise money for a bench in memory of some of her friends at the Arts & Crafts centre in Knaresborough.
Sharing expertise
Henshaws Specialist College in Harrogate has been sharing its expertise in working with disabled people with a leading national charity.
We’ve teamed up with Manchester Libraries to make technology more accessible
We're pleased to announce that we're partnered with Manchester Libraries to extend the support, advice and resources available for people with a visual impairment.
Museum Digital Touch Project wins Jodi Award
Our Museums and Galleries Group has supported Manchester Museum in the development of award winning 3D technologies.
Carols by Candlelight gets the festive season started
Mulled wine, mice pies and many wonderful performances, Carols by Candlelight was the perfect way to start the run up to Christmas
Top 10 sight loss gadgets for under £50
Check out our top 10 everyday gadgets for under £50 and see how each piece of tech can help those with a visual impairment
HenshawsGifts online shop open for business
We meet some of the people behind HenshawsGifts online shop, which sells unique items designed, handmade and packaged by disabled artists at our Arts & Crafts Centre in Yorkshire.
How Henshaws athletes train for triathlon success
How does an athlete with a disability complete a triathlon? We convinced the inspirational Henshaws Tri Team to take a break from training to explain all.
Check before you download
Downloading a new app to your smartphone or tablet device? Here are 7 things you may want to check before you do.
How I play video games with a visual impairment
We spoke to Kyle, a graduate from Henshaws Skillstep course who is an avid gamer about how his visual impairment affects the way he plays video games.
10 things you don’t know about Henshaws
Read our 10 things you don't know about Henshaws to discover more about the support we offer as well as how you can help us through fundraising and more.
How assistive technology is helping Mary find her voice
Read how our specialist staff have enabled College student Mary to use assistive technology to find her voice.
(Even more) fun activities and ideas to keep your VI child entertained during the holidays
Getting stuck for ideas on what activities to do with your children over the summer holidays? We've got you covered!
Visually impaired Henshaws student takes on 10km fundraising run
Henshaws Specialist College student Tom is taking part in the Melmerby 10km run this May to raise money for new gym equipment at College
Travelling independently; another string to Alisdair’s bow
"I’ve learnt so much with Henshaws, but I’m really excited to share with you one of the biggest achievements I’ve made – travelling on my own from Yorkshire to Scotland!"
Visually impaired Archery open day – free transportation from Henshaws
Join us for our visually impaired archery open day in Manchester, with free transportation from Henshaws.
TapTapSee is Free (again!)
The app TapTapSee has now been made available for free - Community Services Development Manager Mark talks us through some of its features.
Inspirational 10 year old Alicia, raised over £2500 for Henshaws by walking 60 miles, blind-folded
10 year old Alicia Wright walked from Blackpool to Manchester, and amazingly raised over £2500 for Henshaws. Alicia's mother Lisa Wright tells us more.
5 of the best apps for people with sight loss
MacLife has compiled a list of the best Apps for people with sight loss, and we have chosen our top five from them.
When not helping is best!
Support worker Bill shared with me his approach to supporting Andrew, and how sometimes it can be best not to help…
“My visual impairment hasn’t stopped me from becoming a Radio DJ!”
Steve is a Henshaws service user and volunteers once a week with North Manchester FM where he runs his own radio show - he shares with us his story.
“A visual impairment doesn’t hinder your experience; it enhances it”
Beth Arnold tells us about her recent visit to go see 'Wicked' at The Lowry.
Top 10 tips on using Windows 10’s accessibility options
Tom is our very own IT Technician at Henshaws in Manchester, and we’ve adapted his blog entry on the accessibility of Windows 10 into our ‘Top 10 Tips’.
“Training for the Great North Run has given me more confidence”
Karen, a service user in Newcastle, talks to us about her preparation for the Great North Run.
“It’s about stretching yourself beyond your disabilities”
Alastair, a Henshaws volunteer who runs a triathlon club to support our service users to get involved in sport, reflects on their challenges so far.
VI Talk – ‘Sharing ideas, information and support’
Jo Fishwick, the creator of VI Talk - a popular online podcast for blind and visually impaired people - shares with us an insight into the person behind the podcast.
Volunteer Week 2015: “Volunteering for Henshaws gave me back my feeling of self-worth and provided me with a very good reason to live for”
To celebrate Volunteer Week, I wanted to make a blog post dedicated to all of our wonderful volunteers here at Henshaws as a thank you for all of their inspiring and hard work.
Touching Olly Murs – A visit to Madame Tussauds Blackpool!
I was recently asked, “How would someone with a sight impairment enjoy a venue that is completely visual, such as Madame Tussauds?" I visited the Blackpool venue to find out more!
Travelling Tips Series for those with a VI – Bus travel
Andrew Rose gives his top tips on how to travel independently travelling by bus with sight loss
“Braille has provided me with independence and freedom”
Kim attends our Braille Group and tells us all about this tactile form of communication for the blind and visually impaired.
Arts, Crafts and Living Paintings
Kimberley follows her previous post about her interest in art, and shares her experience as a part of the Arts & Crafts group at Henshaws.
Supporting people with disabilities to develop employability skills
Julie, our Employability Skills Co-ordinator at Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, tells us about her role and what we offer.
Henshaws Student Council: A voice for all students
We have a very active student council at College who represent the voices of all our students - hear from some of our council members about their roles.
“My life revolved around my sight – or so I thought”
David shares with us his story on losing his sight, and how he discovered different activities including blind archery.
