Advocacy Talks with Vision Ireland

#NCBIPodcast talks to Ciara Barrett from Cork who shares her frustrations at the lack of understanding people have about sight loss and the need for us to collectively educate the public so there is less focus on disability and more on the individual person. She chats about her positive involvement in the South Local Advocacy Network where her views are heard and the progress of the traffic light...

#NCBIPodcast meets inspiring student Sarah McGowan, currently doing an Erasmus term in Canada. She chats about how the move from Waterford to Trinity College Dublin helped her gain independence and confidence to move to Toronto. Drawing on her own school experiences, she strongly encourages anyone who is blind or vision impaired to speak up for themselves to ensure their needs are met. Support the...

#NCBIpodcasts meets Clare Cassidy who is passionate about cooking and swimming. She shares how her determination has enabled her to pursue these two passions despite her sight loss. She highlights how the weekly Check-in and Chat group has helped her through Covid – the friendships, support and opportunity to meet new people who are also blind or vision impaired. Support the show

#NCBIpodcast This episode chats with Geraldine Conway, a chatty friendly woman who is always up for a challenge. She discusses how joining the online group sessions organised by NCBI throughout Covid19 was a great way to stay connected and make friendships with others in similar situation. She encourages anyone living with sight loss to know they can do anything it just has to be done a different...

#NCBIpodcast chats with Tony Murray who credits NCBI for helping ensure he had an active and enjoyable childhood along with his sighted siblings. Tony, an IT specialist and current Board member of NCBI, is delighted his current employer The Central Bank is such a proactive inclusive employer as he can see it benefits all staff and prospective employees with disabilities. Support the show

NCBI Podcast chats with Cork based radio fanatic David Redmond. He shares his passion for radio and the wider media industry and how he is always diversifying his skill sets to begin a career in this field. His philosophical and positive outlook on life shines throughout. Support the show

 NCBI podcast chats with Katie McGrath who became visually impaired as a result of a brain tumour. She speaks candidly about the shock & trauma of surgery and adjusting to living with sight loss. She shares her story openly in her book Heads and Tales in the hope it helps others going through similar situations. #NCBIpodcast Support the show

Kicking off European Week of Sport, the first Vision Sports’ Zero Limits Track Day was held on Thursday, September 23rd, at Mondello Park. Head of NCBI Communications and Advocacy June Tinsley caught up with some of the participants on the day to get their reaction straight off the track! Support the show

#NCBIpodcasts chats with UCC Law student Lisa O’Donovan. She openly talks about how NCBI helped her with her learn to get around safely, the benefit online learning had to her college experience and the importance of being patient with yourself when adjusting to life with low vision. Support the show

#NCBIpodcasts chats with Silvia Maria Crowley a visually impaired barrister who has recently been called to the Bar. She talks about how NCBI assisted her to adjust and maintain her levels of independence in home and college when she suddenly became visually impaired.  Now she begins her career in the courtroom grateful that the profession is embracing more technology so she can have case files an...

#NCBIpodcast chats to Lina Kouzi, of NCBI Library and Media Centre about NCBI's Library and its vital role in the lives of service users for over 90 years. Lina explains what it entails to make local, national and international publications accessible, whether through Braille, audio, digital or large prints. She explains why there has been a significant increase in people joining the NCBI lib...

#NCBIpodcast NCBI CEO Chris White discusses the new NCBI Strategic Plan 'Your Ambition Our Mission 2021-2023' and how timely it is given NCBI is celebrating 90years since its founding in 1931. He outlines how the organisation intends to evolve more to ensure it becomes more responsive and engaged with people living with sight loss as well as informing and challenging public services to b...

Robert describes how his life changed when he lost his vision quickly and how learning new ways to continue on his hobbies of DIY helped ensure his own independence and help challenge perceptions of others in what he was now capable of achieving. Support the show

#NCBIpodcasts speaks with Senator Martin Conway who shares what it is like being the first visually impaired Senator in Ireland. He talks about the importance of increasing the employment level among people who are blind or vision impaired, the strides made to achieve this and the work yet to be done to create a level playing field.   Support the show

#NCBIpodcast Maria Greenan talks about her passion for music and how learning the piano as child was her priority far more than focusing on her vision impairment. Now a successful piano teacher she uses different techniques to teach and admits the move to online teaching due to Covid19 has brought some bonuses. Support the show

#NCBIpodcast Ciaran Taylor talks about Sightless Cinema which is a successful radio drama workshop for people who are blind or vision impaired. He explains how Sightless Cinema productions evolve, have offered an immersive experience in cinemas and is now adapting online. New workshops are starting in April 2021 and open to all interested persons. No experience necessary. Details from Liz. Sheehan...

Madeleine McNamara chats openly about the joys and challenges of being a mother with a vision impairment and having a child with a vision impairment. From the daily life hacks, she uses to have a greater awareness of what her child will face to knowing the importance of encouraging her child’s independence so she can reach her potential. Support the show

Entrepreneur and investor Sean Gallagher shares how innovative surgery during childhood helped treat his cataracts. He shares how success is less about intelligence and more about a mindset where resourcefulness, resilience and self-belief are core components. He highlights the importance of empathy and the need for greater public self-awareness of their words and actions. Support the show

Paudie Cotterell, a Kilkenny farmer with a vision impairment, chats about the techniques and aids he uses to tend to his animals safely and how Covid19 has affected the farming community. He highlights how there should be more employment opportunities and support for people who are blind or vision impaired including self-employment and the importance of peer support when living with sight loss. Su...

This week on our podcast we caught up with our new Head Of Retail, Beverley Scallan who filled us in on the appointment of her new role, her background and what's next for NCBI retail. Support the show

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common eye condition affecting people over the age of 50 in Ireland.  Today, NCBI publishes research into what it is like to live with Wet AMD and captures patient experiences of the health care treatment they have received. Listen to research participant Maria McAuley tell her story of living with the eye condition since being diagnosed 18 mo...

Maedhbh Hennessy talks about the power of dispelling people’s perceptions of having a disability by showing her abilities and skills in her job, role as Camp leader and event organiser. Greater public understanding leads to valuing the contribution that people with disabilities bring to their family, workplace and wider society in a more meaningful way. Support the show

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This group of NCBI Cork based service users chat about the enjoyment, friendship and sharing to be had through the variety of virtual NCBI clubs they avail of. Whether it’s discussing a novel in the Book Club, the latest gadget in Technology Club or sharing an issue in the Peer Support Group – it’s this participation and camaraderie that is helping them through Covid19.  Support the show

Library service user Eva McManus talks about how having access to audiobooks has been a great benefit to her, and why you everyone should know about this service. Support the show