Advocacy Talks with Vision Ireland

#NCBIPodcast chats with Peadar Golden from Tier who talks about all things e-scooters. He supports many of NCBI’s concerns regarding use of e-scooters and outlines how Tier is addressing these in their shared schemes. If you liked this podcast, please subscribe to the NCBI YouTube channel and like, comment on, or share your favourite video! On the topic of transport, NCBI previously spoke to Eugen...

#NCBIPodcast chats to John Doherty is an active sportsman and is doing a Masters in Disability Studies. He shares his passion for Park Run and the health and social benefits it brings. He highlights employers perceptions as being a real barrier to getting employment and he encourages everyone to seize opportunities and work to their own personal strengths.  If you liked this podcast, please subscr...

#NCBIPodcast chats with Gordon McFarlane, a retired teacher living in Donegal. He shares the different strategies used in his classroom once he went blind and how it lead to the best teaching experiences of his career. Presently, he is a radio presenter on Uplift FM. He advises anyone with a sight loss condition to face it so they can lead their life to the fullest.  If you liked this podcast, ple...

#NCBIPodcast meets Brendan Laffan from Limerick who talks passionately about working in the NCBI Newcastlewest shop as well as previously being a local radio presenter and editor. He shares how his sighted colleagues initially helped him to ensure he can undertake all his duties. He enjoys the teamwork and camaraderie and loves being part of the community. If you liked this video, please subscribe...

#NCBIPodcast meets Mary O’Sullivan from Kerry, mum to Grace (aged 12) who has Stargardt disease which largely affects her central vision. She highlights how Grace uses her Assistive Technology to thrive in school and recalls the huge community support received during their Pedal for Grace fundraising event that raised over €20k for NCBI.  If you liked this podcast, please subscribe on your favouri...

#NCBIPodcast meets Eugene Rooney from Dundalk who shares how he got Irish Rail to change and modernise their procedures for Free Travel Pass holders wishing to travel to Northern Ireland. This simplified process will benefit anyone with a disability and has spurred him on to progress other issues that need to be improved for people who are #Blind or #VisionImpaired. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast talks with Tina Lowe who recalls the frustrations, anger and laughter after becoming blind suddenly. It ignited a passion in her of making sure society is accessible to everyone which inspires her daily in her role as Accessibility Officer in UCD and has led to changes in the campus that enables all students with disabilities to enjoy all aspects of student life. Support the show

#NCBIpodcast chats with Seen Unseen project creator Clare McLaughlin. This interactive art project is about making art and culture more accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired. Through a series of gallery or museum visits across Ireland participants (attending in-person or online) can have a tactile and interactive experience of different exhibitions. Seen Unseen has grown in popular...

 #NCBIPodcast chats with 15-year-old vision impaired inventor of VIPMOD, Maura Moore McCune. Her designs aim to make it easier for pedestrians with sight loss to detect moving objects to ensure they can navigate their streetscape safely. She credit the strides in technology for giving people like her greater independence and believes there is plenty more scope to make the world more inclusive.  Su...

#NCBIPodcast marks World Mental Health Day by chatting to service users Breandan Ward, Leonard O’Mahoney and John Pepper about their participation in the Men’s Network. They highlight the power of talking and listening as an aid to improve mental health and the value of the Action for Happiness framework which guides of their discussion by exploring practical ways to enhance wellbeing. Support the...

#NCBIPodcast meets David Ryan who shares the joys and challenges of becoming a foster parent and how rewarding it is to his own family on a daily basis. He talks about his experience of being a mature student and encourages everyone not to be frightened to ask for help to ensure you get the supports, advice or help you need whatever the circumstances. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast  talks to Chantelle Smith of NCBI Possibility Lab about the leadership they offer in accessibility and innovative design to create a built environment that works for all but particularly those who are blind or vision impaired. She brings both passion and experience to the access consultancy and awareness training they offer to professionals in the built environment e.g. architects and...

NCBI podcasts meets Stuart Lawler who chats passionately about the importance of Braille in advancing inclusion of people who are blind or vision impaired in education, employment and leisure activities. He highlights how technology has made Music Braille more accessible and more commonly used for the benefit of blind musicians. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast meets Aoife Doherty, who is travelling around Europe in a campervan. She talks about the accessibility of campsites and tourist attractions against her accessibility criteria with some excelling and others failing. She encourages anyone interested in travelling to do so on their own terms so they can enjoy it entirely. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast talks to CEO and founder of the Culinary Ability Awards, Chris Sandford. Chris explains the origins and format of these pan disability culinary awards and invites anyone with a vision impairment and a passion for food to consider participating in the different events and competitions he runs. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast chats with Katie Abrahams a student who has a very rare condition called LCHAD affecting her vision and metabolism. She shares how positive her school was in responding to her needs and abilities and how she’s had mixed experiences in different universities. For her, good cohesion between disability services, academic staff and the student are vital to increasing participation of stud...

#NCBIPodcast talks with Dylan Rees about his passion for snooker, his successes as a vision impaired snooker player and his plans to extend the sport to more people living with sight loss. He invites people to try the game and shares his plans for hosting a tournament next year in Carlow. www.sbireland.ie Support the show

#NCBIPodcast meets Robbie Ford who talks about the power of positivity thinking when adjusting to living with sight loss, encouraging everyone to focus on their abilities rather than disabilities. He describes his joy of being made permanent in his position and how he’s also become a motivational speaker and comedian. Check him out: www.optimisteyes.com. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast chats with Aine Sullivan, a music student who loves to sing and is an avid rower. She recalls her wonderful experience of being the Germany Rose in the Rose of Tralee Festival and how the Irish network is so important across the globe. She encourages everyone with a sight loss condition to focus on their strengths and passions as these don’t change even when your vision deteriorates. ...

Eleanor Burke chats to the #NCBIPodcast about living with Aniridia, a rare eye condition affecting the development of the iris. She recalls her own school experience and being the first to attend college in contrast to the recent strides made in inclusive education and technology which really benefits the younger generation who are vision impaired.  She invites anyone with Aniridia to get in touch...

#NCBIPodcast meets Joe McPhillips from Wexford. He chats about the upheaval he experienced after losing his sight quickly. He’s now an avid Apple fan and has embraced technology to give him the confidence to stay connected and navigate his surroundings safely and independently. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast speaks to Jade McCormack about the joys and challenges of parenting with a vision impairment. She shares the tips and tricks she uses when at home or out and about with her daughter and the importance of relying on her gut instincts given each child is unique. Support the show

#NCBIPodcast meets Claire Shorten who is a qualified secondary school teacher actively looking for a teaching position. Her passion, enthusiasm and determination shines as she shares her love of teaching, frustrations of her recruitment challenges and pleasure at being the facilitator for the East Local Advocacy Network. She encourages anyone who is blind or vision impaired to never stop dreaming...

#NCBIPodcast meets Gerard McHugh from Laois. Gerard outlines how his life has been turned upside down due to his deteriorating sight loss and having had a stroke, the impact it’s had on his daughter and being unable to pursue his passion for motorbikes. He shares his frustration at the inflexibility of Government systems to adequately support people who are blind or vision impaired financially des...

#NCBIPodcast meets Roisin Lenihan, a Mayo native who has Aniridia and Glaucoma. She tells of the importance of being able to speak up for yourself and how she’s participating in the NCBI Employment Advocacy Network. She shares how she enjoyed her work experience in Knock airport and her hopes for getting a job in customer service there again. Support the show