Advocacy Talks with Vision Ireland

in this episode Madeleine spoke to Fiona Kelty, Independent Travel Support Assistant with Dublin Bus. She explained how this service works and shared some useful tips to help people who are blind or vision impaired travel independently on public transport. For contact information to avail of this service nationally visit Independent Travel Support - Transport for Ireland . Support the show

If you want to be inspired then this episode is for you! Madeleine spoke to Clark Reynolds, aka Mr Dot, about his recent participation in the Brighton marathon where he achieved a world first, by using Meta glasses and the Be My Eyes app to be his sighted guide. Apart from that, Clarke is an amazing artist and disability ambassador through his awareness raising activities. Support the show

In this episode of Advocacy Talks Madeleine spoke to Wiktoria Kaminska who is studying at Technical University Dublin in Tallaght. She is totally blind and has a significant hearing loss. Wiktoria described the many supports that are available to assist her to complete her studies but also she highlighted the challenges that she still faces. Support the show

In this episode Madeleine spoke to Adela Buliman, Chief Accessibility Officer with Vially, about the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the recent IAAP conference that they co-hosted at the Wayfinding Centre in Dublin recently. The discussion centred around the importance of users flagging to businesses issues with their services or systems and making complaints to the relevant regulator when th...

In this episode we spoke to Michael Grimes about the recent Canon “World Unseen” exhibition which was hosted in the Photo Museum, Dublin. It offered a tactile and sensory experience through elevated prints, audio descriptions, braille and NaviLens. The exhibition was designed to make photography more inclusive and to demonstrate how technology can transform the way we engage with visual storytelli...

Do you want to become more physically active or take up a sport or learn how to support someone who is blind or vision impaired to participate in your local club/gymn? Padraig Healy, Vision Sports Ireland’s Nation Sport Development Manager, tells us how their National Strategy “Beyond Vision 2025-2028” aims to achieve this. Go to www.visionsports.ie to access resources and to become a member. Supp...

Are you an experienced musician who is blind or vision impaired? Have you always wanted to be in a band? Well, if so, here is your opportunity. Tony Mc Donald plays electric bass in a gigging band and has been involved in many bands over the years where he is the only person with a vision impairment.  He is now trying to form a band made up entirely of musicians who are blind or vision impaired. S...

In this episode we talk to Dr Lucia Pintado Gutierrez following the publication of her report The Challenges of Audio Description in Ireland: Bridging Education, Users and Industry (ADESI). This research examines the current provision of audio description services in Ireland across media, theatre, museums and sport and how this could be improved. Support the show

On this episode of Advocacy Talks, Jamie Millar tells us about budget 2026. From social welfare payments to the cost of disability, here’s everything you need to know. Support the show

On this episode of advocacy talks we catch up with Sean Moyles from vision sports Ireland to learn about his research into physical literacy for those with acquired visual impairments. Sean also tells us about how he got into sport growing up, with major influence from his parents.   Have an acquired visual impairment? Complete Sean‘s survey here. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?i...

On this episode of Advocacy Talks, we speak to Roisin Lenehan and Deirdre Deverell about the 2025 Clear Our Paths campaign.  From bins and cars to branches and dog poo, temporary obstacles on footpaths create risks for those who are blind or vision impaired, as well as just being a general pain.  With 16% of people requiring a hospital or doctor’s visit following an encounter with a temporary obst...

On this episode of advocacy talks we catch up with Bobbie Hickey, who recently wrote a really interesting article for the Irish Times. With this month being disability pride month, what does it mean to be proud of something that so many people fear? Bobbie also discusses her journey seeking support, and why it’s important to ensure you feel in control when doing so. Want to get in touch with the a...

In this episode of Advocacy Talks Madeleine speaks with Tytti Matsinen, president of the European Blind Union. They discuss what the EBU is and what issues it’s currently advocating on.  Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to campaigns@vi.ie Support the show

This week is European Mental Health Week, 2025. so Madeleine caught up with our Head of Counselling, Wellbeing & Emotional Support Peter O’Toole to discuss “ Mental Health as a Social Right ” From a discussion on loneliness to the services provided by the counselling team at Vision Ireland, there really is a lot to talk about. Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to c...

Ahead of participating in this year‘s Riverdance summer school and performing at the evening reception of MayFest 2025, Méabh Conneely discusses her return to Irish dancing after losing her sight almost five years ago. She speaks openly about the challenges she’s faced, and tells us about the people that helped make it possible for her.  Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email n...

In this episode of Advocacy Talks, Stuart Haxell tells us about what it was like to gain back some vision following a new innovative gene therapy.  He also tells us about what it was like to have so much media attention on his story.  Want to get in touch with the advocacy team? Send an email now to campaigns@vi.ie.  Support the show

In this episode of Advocacy Talks Madeleine chats with ⁨Stuart Lawler⁩ about INBAF, the Irish National Braille and Alternative Formats Authority.  They discuss the importance of advocating for yourself, and the significant benefits of Braille for blind people. Want to join a Local Advocacy Network? Send an email to campaigns@vi.ie now. Support the show

June  chats with 4th year student Grace Gavin who confidently talks about how technology has helped her so much in her education. She talks passionately about the benefits of Transition Year and how it exposed her to new subjects as well as different trips she participated in. She encourages any other students with a vision impaired to actively speak up in the class if they have any difficulty.   ...

June chats with  Stuart Haxell from Sligo, an avid blind tennis player who describes how he got involved in the sport and how it is adapted to ensure anyone who is blind or vision impaired can play. He chats passionately about the tournaments he’s participated in. He talks about the value participating in sport has on building new friendships and being good for overall wellbeing and physical fitne...

#NCBIPodcast chats with Deirdre Leech who works with the Anne Sullivan Foundation delivering outreach services to people who are deafblind. She outlines the diverse services and supports on offer. She highlights the importance of developing alternative strategies for children who are deafblind to enable them to thrive, the use of tactile sign language and encourages all who are deafblind to be exp...

#NCBIPodcast meets Paraic Barnes, a psychologist who now has a positive outlook on life despite losing his sight very suddenly. He shares the importance of family, friends and NCBI tech club to help him adjust and is always heartened by strangers looking out for him. As with everything in life, he highlights that it is not always plain sailing but it is important to build resilience to help overco...

#NCBIPodcast meets Sheila McFarlane from Donegal who is vision impaired. A counsellor by profession, she gives her insights into the different challenges and similarities faced by those who are vision impaired from birth against those who acquire sight loss later in life. As a keen shopper, she shares her best shopping experiences.  If you liked this video, please subscribe to the NCBI YouTube cha...

#NCBIPodcast chats with Barry and Katie Ryan, parents to Maggie and Rosie who have Chromatopsia. They share how the ECLO (Eye Clinic Liaison Officer) services helped them understand, process and accept their daughters’ condition and how the ECLO is always a helpful resource to them at every step of their children’s development guaranteeing that their girls can thrive like everyone else.   If you l...

#NCBIPodcast chats with Sinead Kilcawley and her daughter Niamh who outline the lack of appropriate supports for blind pupils in doing state exams. Despite having the required assistive technology and the support of the school, Niamh talks about the inflexibility of the education system to respond to individual needs and how a 10 minute extra per hour and exam papers not being adapted puts her at...

#NCBIPodcast chats with Geraldine Cussen who is shop manager in NCBI Navan shop and is vision impaired. She reveals her joy of working with volunteers and customers and the sense of community it brings. She outlines the strategies she uses to support customers who are vision impaired and the importance of sharing that knowledge for everyone’s benefit.  If you liked this podcast, please subscribe t...