Megobapp Newsletter
Issue Two December 2004
Welcome
Hello again, here we are with the second issue of 'Megonews'.
Part of the work with the first issue was to determine who might be interested in receiving copies of the newsletter.
We hope you found our first effort interesting, informative and, to some extent thought provoking.
On the other hand, you may feel that there is something missing. Why not tell us?
We realise, too, that our Newsletter could be seen as “junk mail” in some places. If you fall into this category, then please let us know. The last thing we want is to be a nuisance and a burden.
Some of the topics raised in our first issue will be progressed this time round, with some new ones appearing.
Enjoy your reading.
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Update
We are pleased to say that MEGOBAPP is now online and also contactable by E-mail.
You will find our website at www.megobapp.co.uk or www.megobapp.org.uk where you can read about the group as well as viewing its newsletter and other things. There will also be an opportunity to fill in a membership application form.
You can let us know what you think we should know by way of our E-mail address at: info@megobapp.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you irrespective of your comments.
In the first issue we referred to a project which is intended to identify the various problems experienced by visually-impaired people as they travel independently on the highway. Because of the approach of the festive season and the possible disruption with postal services at this time, it has been decided to set this project in motion at the beginning of January. If you are visually-impaired and would like to take part in this exercise, you can contact us either by way of our E-mail address (info@megobapp.org.uk) or by giving either Carole (0161-681-2654) or Ron (0161-798-9137) a ring. Both have an answerphone where you can leave a message if they are out shopping.
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Public Libraries Revealed
Do you have problems reading books in normal print? If so, did you know that you can now access books in alternative formats through your local library?
The libraries now have a software programme called “Reveal” that will identify all the formats in which any book has been produced. Whether you wish to have the book in braille, large print, CD or cassette, the librarian can tell you if the book has been produced in your preferred format.
Some of the books can only be borrowed by joining the libraries specially set up for visually impaired people. Such as the following -
Braille books can be obtained from the National Library for the Blind in Stockport. (Tel. 0161 494 0217)
Calibre has over 7,000 cassette books available for people who cannot access print. The cassettes are free to borrow, but as Calibre gets no funding from the government, they appreciate donations from members. (Tel. 01296 432339)
RNIB Talking Book Service provides books in Daisy format. These compressed CDs require a special player which can be bought or rented from RNIB. There is also an annual charge for borrowing the books. (Tel. 0845 762 6843)
Manchester Council also provide a postal library book service. The books are chosen from a list of categories supplied by the user, ie. detective fiction, romance, westerns etc, This is particularly useful for people who are housebound. Tel. Mobile Services 0161 272 8741
The Post Office delivers all the above books free of charge, and it costs the reader nothing to return them to the library.
If you prefer to choose books by title or author, you can go along to your local library and the assistant will tell you whether the book you want is in the system. If you prefer to browse for yourself, the computers in the library have the Supernova screen reader which will speak and magnify the text to allow you to make your own choice.
The local library books are on cassette or CD, and are commercially produced. They are full length, unabridged recordings of a high quality. If the book you require is not held at your local library, it can be ordered on your ordinary library ticket. As a visually impaired person, there is no charge for ordering books. A letter will be sent to you when the book or books are ready for collection.
Commercial books on CD or cassette are not produced specially for the Visually impaired, so do not have braille numbers as the tapes from the Calibre library do.
Cassettes and CDs come in a stiff plastic wallet which opens like a print book. Some tapes have raised numbers on side 1, which does help location, but you are likely to find that they are always in the correct order in the wallet.
Experience shows that the staff in local libraries are welcoming and helpful – so give those audio books a try.
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Shopmobility Manchester
Most people think of Shopmobility as an organisation which loans wheelchairs
and powered scooters to people who cannot easily get around the town
centre. But they also provide an escort service to the visually impaired
shopper.
In these days of nonexistant shop assistants, it is wonderful to have an escort who will find the correct size, read the price ticket and help you locate the cash desk when shopping. I have had help selecting such diverse items as chain store underwear, waterproof material and bulbs from the Christmas market.
The escorts have good blind awareness training and are equally happy to accommodate a guide dog or white cane.
Shopmobility Manchester are located in the Arndale Centre, (telephone 839 4060).
A volunteer can be ‘booked’ by telephone, and will meet you from the bus or tram if requested.
Wythenshawe Shopmobility offer assistance to disabled people in accessing the facilities in the Civic Centre area of Wythenshawe on a similar basis to their parent group.
They can be contacted on 0161 499 3466.
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Piccadilly Gardens – Part 3
As promised in the first issue of Megonews, here we are with some more poor features from the Piccadilly Gardens area.
Last time the bollards and the dangerous emergence onto the Metrolink track were highlighted.
Part 3 of Piccadilly Gardens is again looking at one or two areas; certainly something to “whet” your appetite so to speak or provide a cooling-off period.
As will be seen from the first photograph there is a gentle slope into the water feature. Whilst the Government Directive does not call for a warning texture at the head of a ramp (except at the foot of a ramp giving access to an on-street platform on a light rail transport system), it could seem reasonable to place some warning at the head of a slope leading into a water feature as in this case.
The second photograph shows a similar slope leading to a step into the
water flow from the fountains and could also be seen as a hazard and
perhaps should be looked at on a similar basis to the slope into the
fountain basin in the first photograph.
This second photograph also shows a step into the water flow from the fountain. The corduroy textured warning surface at this step is, not surprisingly, totally inadequate and incorrectly positioned. The Directive requires a warning strip 800mm in depth to be positioned 400mm from the edge of the step. As will be seen, the corduroy surface is much to narrow and is too close to the edge.
The third photograph shows the crossing of Mosley Street near to the mouth of Market Street which shows visual directional crossings. However, there is no assistance provided for the use of visually-impaired pedestrians.
There used to be saying: “danger! Men at work”; perhaps the time is right to change this to: “Danger! MEDC at work”. For any new readers, MEDC stands for “Manchester Engineers & Design Consortium”, a section of the Manchester City Council.
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Sport
Manchester Host Visually-Impaired International
In December of this year, Manchester will be host to a visually-impaired (partially-sighted) five-a-side International competition.
This will take place at the City Stadium when eleven teams from various parts of the world will be battling it out on the football field with England to determine world champions.
The competition gets under way on the 11th December 2004 and concludes on the 18th December.
Free admission tickets are available to spectate at the competition, but tickets must be secured in advance. These can be obtained by telephoning 0161-881-0299.
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Transport
Talking Signs are here
At a time when Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GTMPTE) are installing the REACT system at Bolton Moor Lane bus station, there is news of a system currently in use in the United States, but which is likely to be incorporated in our public transport system very shortly.
As the article published in “Disability Link” indicates, a licence has been granted to a Bakewell-based company.
The article suggests that the system not only gives information about a person’s surrounding, but would seem to provide a communication contact between the bus driver and the waiting blind passenger as well as providing “real time” information.
Below is the article from “Disability Link”.
Transport companies across the country will have the opportunity to make buses more accessible to blind travellers with a revolutionary infrared, wireless communication system.
Talking Signs provide blind and partially sighted people with visual clues about their surrounding environment in the form of voice messages. By using a hand held remote or an earpiece to receive information, users are able to identify features such as buses, hear timetables and find out which buses are approaching bus stops.
Already hugely successful in the United States, it seems the UK is now set to follow their lead with the potential to install the talking signs system across all public amenities.
Bakewell based company, Autochair, have been awarded the UK license to handle all Talking Signs contracts, which Managing Director, David Walker, sees as a great opportunity.
“We believe the Talking Signs system gives operators the chance to mark themselves out from the competition, providing a more compassionate service for the significant number of blind passengers who rely on buses to get around.”
The system can be used to improve countless services of vital importance to blind customers, such as lifts and banks. Several train companies are also evaluating the system with a view to installing units on trains and stations across their networks,
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Piccadilly Bus Station?
Although many of us still refer to the Parker Street area of Piccadilly as “the Bus Station”, the transport powers that be are quite adamant that this particular area is not a bus station. Whatever it might be called, it is a central area in Manchester where numerous South Manchester bus routes terminate and where passengers congregate to make their way from the City.
This being so, it is reasonable to suggest that much greater care should be taken of the thousands of passengers who brave the elements in their pursuit of public transport.
The first photograph shows the kind of protection against the wind and rain provided in this particular bus terminus. Apart from the open-fronted shelters, the photograph also shows the lack of colour contrast provided by the grey seating. Is it surprising that, faced with these conditions, many commuters still prefer their private cars to the public transport system on offer here, an option not available to visually-impaired people.
The second photograph gives a view of the central island with its grey obstructions and lack of contrasting colours and warning surfaces. At the time of consultation on this development in June 2000, the suggested provision of some tactile guidance was considered as unnecessary by the City Council, a view allegedly supported by the GMPTE Access Officers. The GMPTE Access Officers, of course, seemed unaware of this.
At that time, too, it was suggested that a Pelican (now Puffin) crossing be installed across Parker Street to the Plaza at a point near the Metrolink station. It was argued then that this might give conflicting signals to users. There has obviously been a re-think by the installation of a Zebra crossing at this point. Why? Presumably because it is a cheaper option even though it is considered extremely hazardous. Whilst the City Council’s policy is to consult with Disabled People’s organisations before such installations are made, the Engineers consider that Policies are there for them to ignore.
Access to the “bus station” from the north side of Portland Street is also fraught with danger in view of the need to cross the Metrolink track as will be seen from the photograph below.
It would seem that Manchester are now in a position to boast the “worst bus station/terminus” in Greater Manchester, even though the Greater Manchester bus stations themselves are considered inferior to those in West Yorkshire. A great deal of criticism has been levelled against GMPTE by some over the lack of a “real” bus station in the City Centre, but are they to blame?
The consultation on the refurbishment (or was it dereliction) of this area was carried out at a Consultation meeting with disabled people in June 2000. All those involved on the “top table” were from Manchester City Council. GMPTE, in fact, would appear not to have been involved or even consulted.
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Entertainment News
Audio-Described Performances
In our first issue we drew attention to the availability of brochures issued by both the Manchester Library Theatre and the Royal Exchange Theatre in various formats, i.e. large print, Braille, CD-rom and on disc in addition to those in the standard print. Those for the Spring and Summer seasons 2005 will soon be in the public domain. Now is the time to order your copy.
Ring the Manchester Library Theatre, Marketing, on 0161-234-1919. You can ask the Royal Exchange Theatre to send you a brochure by ringing Marketing on 0161-833-9333.
Forthcoming Audio-Described Performances
Manchester Library Theatre:
Merlin and the Cave of Dreams: Wednesday, 8 December at 2pm; Saturday, 11 December, 2-30pm; Thursday, 6 January 2005 at 2pm; Saturday, 15 January at 7pm.
Real
Thing: Wednesday, 9 March at 7-30pm; Saturday, 12 March at 3pm.
Royal Exchange Theatre
London Assurance: Saturday, 18 December at 4pm.
Rutherford & Son: Saturday, 12th February 2005 at 4pm.
Anthony & Cleopatra: Saturday, 19 March at 2-30pm.
On the Shore of the Wide World: Saturday, 23 May at 4pm.
Local Cinemas with Audio Described facilities:
Warner Village: Bolton;
UCI Cinemas: Manchester Filmworks; Trafford Centre.
To find out which films are currently showing visit http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/ad.html
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Manchester Art Gallery
General Information
The Gallery is open Tuesday/Sunday 10am to 5pm; closed Monday except Bank Holidays.
Entrance to the Gallery is gained from a ramp in Mosley Street near to Nicholas Street. Turn left at the top of the ramp into the entrance hall where a member of staff is always available to offer any assistance required.
Try the Gallery’s Audioguide or visit the Handling Trail in the Gallery of Craft and Design on the second floor.
Information is available in large print and Braille from the Information Room off the entrance hall. Large print label guides will be available within each of their Permanent Collection Galleries 1-16 from the end of the year.
Events
Tickets for the various events can be booked by phone on 0161-235-8888 or in person at the Information Room or by various credit cards. Tickets must be paid for and collected 30 minutes before the event.
If
guidance or access assistance is required, contact should be made with
Zoe Renilson 0161-235-8869
email: z.renilson@notes.manchester.gov.uk
Some of the Events
Under my Skin – until 9th January 2005.
MEN Exhibitions Gallery on the ground floor. The vibrant and delicate textile designs in this Exhibition are the work of six artists with learning disabilities, who have worked with textile artists to design and make a selection of clothes and accessories which express their personal identities and celebrate their creativity.
Exhibition Talk: Visions of Zimbabwe
Sunday 23 January, 2pm to 3pm; free ticket event, please book. This illustrated talk looks at the vast and complex subject of African art and its historic and aesthetic values.
Celebration
Sunday 13 February.
Chinese New Year events in the Gallery. Please contact the Gallery for more details.
Art of the Garden
5th March to 15th May; Exhibition Gallery, second floor organised by Tate Britain in association with Manchester Art Gallery and the Ulster Museum, Belfast. The garden has provided inspiration for artists as long as art has inspired gardeners. This major exhibition examines the relationship of the garden to British art. Covering the last two centuries, Art of the Garden brings together over a hundred works by artists ranging from John Constable and Stanley Spencer to Gary Hume and Marc Quinn. Art of the Garden in Manchester is sponsored by Manchester Airports Group
There will be an entrance fee for this Exhibition: £5 full price; £3.50 concessions
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Welfare Rights
Did You Know?
If you are registered blind and you have to use some part of your dwelling to accommodate specialist equipment or a substantial amount of Braille material, you could be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax.
If you are able to satisfy your Local Authority that the above is the case, your Council Tax levy could be brought down to the next Band. If you are already on the lowest Band (A) then it may still be possible to secure some reduction.
Don’t waste time! Contact your Local Council and start the ball rolling.
Did You Know?
If you are an unemployed, registered blind person who is unable to take advantage of the Blind Person’s Tax Allowance, or your taxable income falls short of your need to use this allowance to the full, the whole or part of it can be transferred to your working spouse.
If the above applies to you, then contact your local Inland Revenue office to make the necessary transfer of unused allowance. You never know, there could be other allowances that could be dealt with in the same way.
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Next Issue:
The third Issue of Megonews will be produced at the end of February.
In that Issue we will be looking at the hazards facing visually-impaired people on the highway and perhaps paying a visit to Piccadilly Railway Station.
If you would like to have your say why not let us have your comments. These may well be reproduced under a special section, i.e. Readers’ Comments.
You can send these either to our e-mail address or in any format to:
c/o 1 Malvern Close, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1PH
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Officers of MEGOBAPP:
Ron
Goulden (Chairperson);
Joseph Innocent (Secretary);
Damien O’Connor (Treasurer);
Steve Jones (Publicity Officer).
Website: www.megobapp.org.uk
E-mail: info@megobapp.org.uk
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