Liam's Blog

16.02.10

Hello one and all, 

The world of disability is an interesting one, rarely really spoken about in the mainstream media, the occasional Guardian column, or BBC coverage. However lately, disability has been on prime time week day television for two very different reasons. Since the launch of Cast Offs, on C4, disability seems to have popped up on the BBC, and again on C4. As well as having local coverage on BBC WM.

Gok Wan, has been on our TV screens for some time now. In my house, it is normally the time for me to leave and go to the pub, while my girlfriend marvels at the mans fashion brilliance. However, over the last few weeks I too have been marveling, but at his promotion of disability in fashion. 

I honestly think that this program has been a genuine breath of fresh air to the display of disabled people on television. The show, ‘How to Look Good Naked.... with a difference’ has shown disabled people getting a fashion makeover, and recently had a blind women taking part. What is so pleasing for me, is to see the presenter in this program (Gok Wan) be a real role model for the nation, never before have I seen anybody on television in this manner, manage to not be patronizing in anyway, and I actually get the sense that this is something that comes natural to the presenter. A great example of how the public should react to disability. 

The Beacon Centre for the Blind recently got some great coverage on BBC WM, where a presenter from the breakfast show, came in to the centre to have a go at living life as a blind person. This was a part of a week long series on BBC WM, promoting the lives of people living with sight loss. 

This weeks Panorama was presented by a young wheelchair user from Wales. The show aimed at identify that there is such a thing as disability hate crime, and the presenter felt that hate crimes against disability should be treated in the same way as hate crimes against race, and religion.  

I personally feel that this is true, and the fact that hate crime against people with a disability is treated differently to hate crime against race and religion is just another example of the government and society not recognising disabled people as a minority group in their own right. 

Peoples personal impairments and experiences are not the most important issue, the way in which society reacts to their impairments and the ways in which they are discriminated against is the most important element. If society was educated more, and disabling barriers were removed, disabled people would have a better chance of achieving the so-called ‘normal’ life. 

I will keep a close eye on the media, to see if the disability trend continues.

Liam

Panorama - http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/default.stm

How To Look Good Naked - http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-look-good-naked/episode-guide/series-6/episode-3  

06.01.09

Happy New Year

Another year starts with amazing amounts of snow disrupting us all, but is it really that bad? Lots of kids get time off school to learn the finer things in life, like snow man building, and the art of snowball warfare and the over worked and under paid getone of the greatest excuses to bunk off.  However as a commuter I have to say me and snow are by no means friends. 

2010... what do we all think? a good year in the making? a year of change I feel, one where I will will be trying my best to influence the Beacon Centre’s surrounding areas to become more accessible for its visually impaired. This is my new years goal, to tackle some of the barriers put in front of us, and push the Beacon Centre even further into its new age. Excited? well I am. 

In reflection 2009 was a good year, it saw the great move from the old Beacon Centre buildings, in to our new attractive, warm and comfortable surroundings.  

Speaking of the nw buildings please do come and join us for one of our open days. The next is on Saturday 16th January, there really is alot to see, and I think you will be impressed.  

So, good luck getting to work, getting kids to school and more importantly for the year, 2010! bring it on. 

Liam

01.12.09

Now for something completely different. 

I want to talk about public transport, it feels like visually impaired people, including the good people over at RNIB have been talking about public transport and visual impairment since the wheel was first invented, yet I don’t see that much has changed since then. If the option of having somebody help you on and off the train, and from train to taxi is the only contributing factor that the rail service in the UK can offer towards equality I think their idea of equality is either distorted or just hasn’t crossed their minds. 

I fail to see why every train that runs on national rail railway lines can’t have somebody call out the stops, at every stop! Why is it that a random selection of trains (granted normally during rush hour) are able to do this, but yet other trains (normally late at night) find this task to difficult to carry out? Why is it that those screens that tell you what platform your train is on can’t be at a more accessible hight so sighted and visually impaired people can see them! Could an audio version be supplied maybe?

Earlier this year Birmingham New Street announced (how ironic) that it will not be announcing what trains are standing at what platform on the over head system anymore. I saw a little interview with the good people at Birmingham New Street on Midlands Today (BBC) a few months ago where one of the people responsible for this said that customers find the overheads annoying, as it is too much information... Well... when you put it like that, I can actually see you point (please note sarcasm) 

Basically the point is that rail travel is simply not accessible, and I fear that as Climate Change eventually forces us t use low carbon modes of transport, like trains, more and more services will be aimed at the ‘general public’ and things will only get worse.  

20.11.09

This is the modern world!

As some of my readers may already know, I am a very passionate climate change campaigner, and with the Climate Change talks fast approaching (Copenhagen 07.12.09) I feel it is important to consider how our changing climate, and our changing response to it will affect us. 

One of the UK’s biggest predeceases of CO2 is our travel, namely by car! however if the UK suddenly changed to electric cars how would this affect the blind and visually impaired people in our communities. 

Well... I love electric cars, I see no need for speeding, therefore see no need for fast expensive cars on our roads. However! the electric car is silent, thus making it extremely dangerous for visually impaired people. (not to mention myself)

Companies such as Nissan and Mitsubishi are attempting to combat this, with engine simulation technology. The idea is that your electric car will mimic the sounds of a real car engine. 

The HALOsonic technology can mimic sports cars and other motor vehicles as well as making your car sound like a spaceship!!!!!! as a big Star Wars fan this excites me! can you imagine having your new electric Nissan Micra sounding like a Thai fighter??  no?? just me then. 

click here http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/16/electric-cars-halosonic

And watch the video. 

In other news, the first visitors to the new centre came in for a tour today. If today was anything to go by the open days that we are holding are all going to be great. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and from a personal point of view it was really nice to see some old faces and meet some new ones. Alot of people have been very generous to our charity and I feel this is generosity that will never be forgotten. 

I slipped away from the buffet for a few moments to tweet about it on twitter, and then dropped back in to snap a photo of Molly (Trustee) Ian (C.E.O) and one of our supporters Philip Morgan. 

Thanks for reading. :)

12th November 2009

TV and football

I will kick start  with an article I was reading in the guardian on the train today, The article was about the new programme starting this month on Channel 4 called Cast Offs, It is a ‘mockumentary’ about disabled people (including one blind person) stranded on a British island. A reality TV, type thing. It all looks great fun and the cast are all disabled people as well as two of the writers also being disabled. The article in the guardian highlights the severe lack of disabled people in mainstream television and in other forms of entertainment. As sad as it is to admit this appears to be yet another field where equality is yet to be reality (then again what field can really boast this?)

Anyway... the programme starts on the 24th November at 11pm, why so late?? well the programme is very true to life (in some ways, as I’m sure there aren’t actually disabled people stranded on an island somewhere) there are scenes of a sexual nature and the disabled people do drink alcohol, etc, I actually feel this is why the programme seems to be so great, it is going some way towards the British public looking past the disability to see ‘normal’ people, and these normal people are not always on their best behavior

Here is a link to the programme website http://www.channel4.com/programmes/cast-offs

The article I was talking about was written by Simon Startin, here is a link to the guardian page http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/10/cast-offs-disabled-actors

In other news, the IBSA World Blind Football Championship 2010 is being hosted in England. I will be at the launch in two weeks time, here is a link to their site http://www.blind2010.com/

See you soon :)

Monday 9th November 2009

This is a really good video from the BBC 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8305639.stm

Monday 2nd NOVEMBER!!!

Fancy a trim?? http://www.beacon4blind.co.uk/services-and-resources/other-services/ch2-hair-salon/

27th October 2009

I just found these amazing photographers, they make my photography look awful (not that it's hard) 

http://blog.blindphotographers.org/project-blindsighted/

Second Take 

12th October 2009

Since the success of the Beacon Centre for the Blind and the RNIB's DLA campaign alot of new campaigns have been started. Here are a pick of some I have been interested in. 

SightSavers - click here

RNIB Bollywood Audio Description Project - click here

2nd July 2009

The new Beacon Centre is open for business, well sort of. Office staff are now in place at the new site, awaiting the arrival of future service users, and more staff. The move for office staff went very well, and was completed within a week. We are all currently enjoying our new surroundings, and getting lost in the huge building on a regular basis. Next stop the charity shop! The new Charity Shop will be open to the public from next week, the grand opening will be on the 6th July 2009. 

Thanks for reading. 

4th June 2009

Change is afoot. 

For those of you who aren’t aware, the new building is more or less built. The offices are very nearly ready to be moved in to, I myself move in to the building in less than two weeks. (should really start packing)

See image for our current office, which has been my home for the last 18 months. It will be sad to bid it farewell. 

I can confirm that the Beacon Centre will be taking up a stall at this years Wolverhampton Show.  This will take place on the 11th to the 12th July. We will be offering people information about our services aswell as  showing off the new building.   

Its all very exciting, more news will follow in the coming weeks, so keep checking back.  

16th April 2009

Hi Guys, 

Are we friends?? Add us on Facebook, just search Beacon Centre, you should find us.  Also. Follow us on twitter, http://twitter.com/BeaconCentre

See what we get up to :)

Thanks

Liam

2nd April 2009 (where is the year going?)

Hi All,

Plenty to blog about.

The main bit of news I have is about a film I am working on with fellow blogger Tim and some service users, here at the centre. The film is going to be shown at the Wolverhampton Disability Film Festival and more information about the show will appear on this website in the upcoming future. The idea behind the film is to show what it is like physically and socially for a blind, or partially sighted person in Wolverhampton, the problems people face, and how well they do or do not cope. So far the film is coming along very well. The new building is very very very nearly finished, its amazing! time really does fly when your having fun (or at least when you are very busy) We will be all moved in and ready to go by summer, everyone is very excited. All the best. Liam

12th March 2009

Hello, 

Long time, no blog.  Above is what I have been up to.   

5th February 2009

The Beacon Centre (like the rest of the country) is under deep snow.  However spirits are high,  Due to the weather conditions it has been very quiet here, too quiet. However  building work is still going extremely well and the fundraising team are currently turning their attention to the Gala Dinner at the ICC in Birmingham next week (12.02.09) raising funds for the Second Site Appeal.

Recently Pat Collett reached 25 years of service at the Beacon Centre.  A small get-together was held in the day centre and Pat was presented with a gift from the Beacon Centre for the Blind to show their gratitude.  Pat said that she still loves her job.  

Good times had by all.  

Until next time...

Liam

5 January 2009

Happy New Year everybody.  

On the 21st December me and 5 others completed the Turkey Trot in Wolverhampton, raising money for the Beacon Centre for the Blind.  It was great fun and I finished 199th with a time of 46 minutes.  Thank you to everybody who sponsored us.  

I will post some images early next week.  

Liam Perry

(Image left to right Alexa Lowers, Barry Butt, Clare Thomas. Lesley Hickman, Ellie Hickman, Liam Perry)

4 December 2008

Hello Hello!

I write this inside of my freezing cold office looking out at the winter weather.  Its Christmas (sort of) and life is busy!  As well as working for Beacon i am also studying for my exams at University... not fun! So life at the moment is none stop!

In November, the Fashion Show went very well.  It was a good night and raised some good funds for Beacon Centre. 

Next stop Forget Me Not Tree carol service, and Fundraising Christmas meal!  Can’t wait!

Be Safe

Liam

5th October 2008:

Hi All

Well Done!

 24 October 2008:

Hi all!

I know it's been a very long time without a blog! i have let the side down. However Tim had a break so i thought i would have one aswell.  Beacon Life is busy, busy, busy, just the way we like it, so busy in fact that this is going to be a very short blog!  Recently i have been at the Active Volunteers Fair at the University of Wolverhampton.  This was great fun, we met some very interesting people.  I hope to see some of them again, putting on some events for us. Last week me and a few others from the centre visited London to support the RNIB's DLA campaign,  this was very positive and we are all hoping for a U-turn from the government so that blind and visually impaired people get a fair rate!

I have also been starting up the new video blog

I think Tim is going to be a bit jealous that i have videos and pictures in my blog.  

Thanks for reading

Liam

19 September 2008:

 Hello all!

 Long time, no blog. 

The Beacon Centre has been busy as ever with even more birthdays, retirements and most of all a toping out ceremony.

Everything is going very well, and we are all getting ready for the C word (Christmas).  I try my hardest not to think about the C word until at least C word Eve however working at the Beacon makes it very hard.  Raffle tickets are being ordered and Forget Me Not Tree flyers are being printed.  Around my office at the moment i am surrounded by slips of paper with C word tree’s on. 

Once again I made an appearance in the Express & Star if it carries on like this people will think that i am the only person that works here.  However i want to set the record straight today that i am not the only Beacon Centre employee, there are plenty of great people here. 

I know i have said this in other blogs but the new Centre really is getting bigger and bigger by the day, its all very exciting and the fundraising department can’t wait to get out of the converted bungalows and into a new office environment.  As we are enjoying a bit of rare sunshine today i have attached an image of the new centre taking shape. 

Thanks for reading

Liam Perry

Fundraising Officer

28 August 2008:

Hello All!

My blog starts with fantastic news, as you may already know it was released by NICE this week that PCT's will now have to fund the drug Lucentis, this makes me very happy.  This now means that literally thousands of people wont go blind,  it's that simple. 

In other, more fundraising related news i was recently photographed with Martyn Barnbrook who produces the Talking Newspaper,  The photograph was in a lot of the local press and i have to admit i am not a hair dresser, just an impostor.  Martyn raised around £120 for Beacon Centre for the Blind by gaining sponsorship for cutting off all of his hair (there was alot of it) i wish i had thought of that before i cut my hair! Martyn is also celebrating his 50th Birthday.  There seems to be a Birthday every week at the Beacon Centre at the moment. 

Now the so called summer is all but over we turn our attention to Christmas, Eggnog anyone?

Liam Perry

Fundraising Officer

7 August 2008:

The New Beacon Centre is starting to take its shape. The new buildings are getting bigger and bigger and some of them even have a roof now.  Our services are still running uninterrupted at our site and today we are all enjoying a bit of sunshine for once.

In other news, the Second Site appeal raised its first million. Everyone is thrilled. It’s an amazing landmark and brings us even closer to our target of 2.5million.  We couldn’t have got where we are today without everyone who brought a brick or came along to one of our events.  Next stop 2 million!

Liam Perry

Fundraising Officer