Well, I have had a good day today! (Makes a change I hear you all say!! )
I visited Action for the Blind's Resource and Development centre in Bermondsey in deepest South London today (well as a North Londoner it felt like going abroad to cross the Thames!
) and spent several hours with a really kind and helpful group of 3 people who took the time to listen and understand my vision problems.Then they proceeded to demonstrate and let me try out all kinds of different software and IT equipment. It was brill! It made such a difference just knowing what is available and how the various different tools can help - or hinder in some instances - my vision.
They will now make recommendations to my Employer and Access to work and hopefully I might at long last get the tools I need to help me do my (new) job properly and get my confidence back. And some of the things they showed me will help me more at home too.
I cannot praise them enough for the help and support they have given me over this - and if anyone else out there is baffled by all the different kinds of software & hardware, do get in touch with Action for Blind People.
http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk
Whatever you do , DON'T be tempted to just go and buy something that you think is what you need - you could make a very expensive mistake!
And tomorrow I am spending a few hours in the new office that I will be moving to on 1 August, to get to meet people, see where I'm going to be sitting, and have a more general chat about what I shall be doing. We will also discuss the results of today so if there is anything they can set in motion before I arrive they will try and do so.
The light at the end of the tunnel is definitely getting brighter! (...of course a bit more ghosting around the light too but hey!
