Category Archives: Visually Impaired

CVI

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Hello all, 

A few weeks ago we went to a conference specifically for one of my conditions. CVI- Cerebral Visual Impairment. While it does have the term Visual in the title it is important to note that your brain is the part which interoperates what you see. 

The best way I can explain it to people is imagine you’re looking at some writing in a language you don’t understand. You can see the writing but you can’t understand it. 
That’s the best way for me to describe CVI. 

It can be quite confusing and scary at times, for example if I’m crossing a road I may think it is clear, start to cross then a car ‘appears’. 

I think it is difficult for people to comprehend this and that’s why it’s difficult for people with CVI to feel like people get our condition. There is no way to show people how we see the world exactly as we do. 

Things can just magically appear because we can’t always interpret what we’re looking at. The brain struggles with this process. 
But this conference was wonderful because you’re in a room full of people who get it. They’re all there to learn something and create a community for CVI. It was great hearing people who have CVI explain similar things to what I have experienced. 

It was also great because those with CVI were explaining things from their perspectives. 

One of the things which is hard to fix is the ability to reduce visual stress. This is probably because the world is so busy and there is always something which is trying to catch your attention. Whether it’s a loud advert, or people rushing around going about their day. This creates a lot of anxiety which makes it more difficult for me to process what is going on. 

And no- don’t ask if new glasses will help. They will not magically allow my brain to suddenly interpret what is going on around me.

I do wear sunglasses a majority of the time when out and about because light hurts my eyes.

Here is a link to the CVI society. They are wonderful and a place to find a community for those of us with CVI. I would recommend checking them out and using their resources. CVI can be very difficult to explain, so being able to connect with people who have CVI or their allies is really important.

We had a great day meeting some amazing people who were sharing their stories and information around CVI. I had never met anyone else with CVI before so it was brilliant.

Have a great day! 

Christmas

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Hello all,



It is coming up to Christmas time. Which means everything will be getting busier and there will be more going on around us. Which can be great but for those of us who are Visually Impaired or Blind it can be a bit more difficult.

There are lights going up and Christmas trees being decorated, shops are filling up with more of their Christmas stock. This can all feel quite festive. I do enjoy Christmas and giving presents to people. It is nice to get together with family and friends and to have a catch up.

What can be difficult is the Visual Clutter. At home we have everything where we normally put it so it’s not something new in a new spot.

I don’t really enjoy shopping as it’s busy, so we go when it’s not a weekend day. This makes it easier as there are less crowds. Shops will often have a move around of their stock at Christmas to utilise space. But when you go in and nothing is where it was before it’s quite disorientating.

This is another reason to go when it is not busy as you can take your time and not feel rushed. Top tip for the Visually impaired and Autistic shopper, go when it’s not busy so you are not feeling rushed.

Christmas can be great from a sensory perspective, that’s why it’s important to get it right for yourself as a Visually Impaired or Autistic Person. Take the time to not feel overwhelmed and to do it at your own pace.

Once all our decorations are up I’ll try make a post with you showing what it can look like if you have Nystagmus.

I find when shops have a lot out it can be very overwhelming. I find there’s too much stuff. I get it, it’s commercialisation, but sometimes there’s just too much going on.

Enjoy your Christmas season and all the merriment it can bring. If Christmas is hard for you, then make time for yourself and do what you need to get through. It can be hard this time of year.

Thank you for reading.


I’m on Threads @VisuallyImapiredPip

Books in 2024

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Hello all,

It is that time again where I tell you about all the books I read in the last year. I listened to six books. In 2023 I listened to seven books. So really I didn’t do to bad in comparison.

I do wish I had listened to more books though. We’ll see how we get on in 2025… 2025!

Cher
By: Cher

I saw this book advertised in a shop and had to download it on my Amazon subscription. The book is absolutely amazing. Cher talks so openly about everything and there is so much that made me laugh and made me feel quite sad. If you love Cher then you need to listen to this book. It is part one of two and I cannot wait for part two.
This is the last book I read last year I got through it very quickly. I think it took less than two weeks. I just couldn’t stop listening to it.

Sonny Boy
By: Al Pacino

When I was in London I saw this book advertised on the tube and I added it straight to my collection. Much like Cher’s Book it made laugh and cry.
I loved that he read the book it was a brilliant listen. I think I listened to it very quickly. Most people I think don’t realise how much effort actors and singers etc have to put into their craft. Al Pacino really lays out all of the things he had to do to make his dream a reality. 


The Third Gilmore Girl
By: Kelly Bishop

I listened to this book because I am a fan of Gilmore Girls. I absolutely love Kellys character Emily. This book as with the others made me laugh and cry. I think I loved it so much because she was so determined to get what she wanted and wouldn’t let anyone tell her no.

The Twat Files
By: Dawn French

I love Dawn French. I love anything French and Saunders. What was great about this book was that she was saying everyone makes mistakes and makes a fool of themselves. Thats just human.

Berserker!
By: Adrian Edmondson

His book was one I saw advertised and had to add to my list to read. I enjoyed his book because he talks a lot about the Comic Strip and how a lot of the people involved had a massive part to play in a lot of the comedy I have listed too. He only ever talked about himself and never delved into his personal relationship or marriage with Jennifer Saunders which is wonderful because it shows his respect for her and their marriage. Plus I have read her book it was quite difficult at times.
I found the parts where he wrote about his partnership and friendship with Rik Mayall to be a difficult listen because of what happened. You can tell how much he cared for him.
Plus he’s from Yorkshire, which is grand.

Making It So
By: Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart is a great Yorkshireman which is enough reason to buy the book. What I loved was his dedication to theatre. He has played so many great roles which I got to listen to as part of his book. He truly is a national treasure. I just loved listening to his book. Listening to the parts where he talks about growing up in Yorkshire and how someone saw something in him which helped him to push himself to do more and really work on his dream was wonderful.

I really do enjoy audiobooks, especially when the person who is reading it is the person who wrote it.
I do however wish I could access physical books. I miss sitting down with a physical book and just reading. With a nice cup of tea.

But we have audiobooks so I can use those. I can listen to them anytime I want. Its good to listen to them while you’re doing other things.

What books have you listened to this last year? 
I am on Threads @VisuallyImpairedPip

Negative Narratives

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Hello allo, 

The government has really ramped up it’s messages about Disabled people hasn’t it? 

There has been a lot of negative narratives and harmful stereotyping surrounding our community. But where to begin…? 

I think I’ll start with the blatant lack of understanding. The government does not seem to not understand the benefits system… They do not seem to understand that Personal Independence Payment or PIP, can claimed whether the person is in work or out of work. 

Furthermore it appears as though people do not fully understand the word ‘independence’. The payment exists to support Disabled people with extra costs of living with a Disability. 

You also do not automatically get the benefit because you are diagnosed with ADHD, or a Visual Impairment etc. 

It is a horrible process which a Disabled Person needs to go through. They ave to fill out a really long form where they tell the DWP how their Disability affects them. Once they have filled in this form, and provided medical evidence they then have to go to an assessment centre or have someone come to their home and ask them really invasive questions about their daily routine, washing habits, eating habits, whether or not they have job or friends… then the Disabled person is given a score and this score then adds up to how many points they get. This scoring system then decides if they are allowed any benefits which could help them to cover the extra costs which come with being disabled. 

More often than not the person will fail this assessment and will then have the option to appeal the decision. Again the decision could come back as a ‘no sorry your visually impaired and can’t see very well, you don’t ever leave the house alone on new or unfamiliar journeys, but you don’t qualify’. 

Then the Disabled Person has the option to essentially take the government to court. This is called a tribunal. You have to go and sit in front of a Judge and Doctors and make the case that you are Disabled and just want some help with the extra cost of living and keeping yourself alive. 

The tribunal process is separate to the DWP and it is independent. It does not have any government backed companies behind it, like ATOS trying to save the government money. 

A majority of the time Disabled People win these tribunals because the people at them are medical professionals and people who practice law. Therefore they understand the person in front of them and their needs and what they are entitled too. 

Do you honestly believe it is an easy process putting yourself through all of that? So many Disabled do not have the energy or support to go trough it. Quite often Disabled people might end up taking their own lives because they have run out of energy and money to support themselves because whilst they are fighting all of this they have no benefits because they have been stopped. 

Whilst I am writing this I am very much aware of the level of pain my right side is in due to my Scoliosis. 

Do not judge Disabled People. We have just as much as right to exist as anyone else. Our lives have meaning. 

If you are reading this and were not aware of how these new policies will impact Disabled People please contact your MP and express to them your concerns. Help Disabled People to be able to just have the right live. 

Thank you, 

Philippa B.

Bus Travel

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Hello all,

Lets talk accessible travel 

In the past I have written about floating bus stops and how they are not accessible to Disable people. If you want to read why then please follow this link. 

I wanted to write about the changes to bus travel in Bradford and how that is impacting me as a Visually Impaired Person. 

The bus station closed in January due to a collapse in an underground car park. The bus stops have since been relocated…well I don’t know where exactly as they are all dotted around the city centre. Some stops are outside the Broadway shopping centre, some are outside the town hall. I have no idea where my bus goes from or stops at. 

In this past week BBC has posted about this issue and the impact it is having on Disabled people.

The issue from my perspective as a Visually Impaired Neurodivergent person is that I cannot see where the bus stops are. If someone shows me this does not always eliminate the issue because what if the bus does not stop in the same place every time if it is busy? 

The other issue I will have is with it being busy when I set off work at rush hour what will happen if I can’t see where to join the queue to the bus? 

The other issue which I am concerned about is all the road works in Bradford at the moment. I am unsure of where I can cross the road safely. The main road in and out of town is due to close. Creating a pedestrianised area. With this road being closed I am unsure where I will get my taxi from outside the train station? I have asked the taxi drivers but they have not been informed of when the work will start on the new taxi terminus. 

There are a few issues which I have brought up here; 

The bus station is closed and has been relocated to multiple points across the city centre. 

I have no idea where my bus now runs from. 

There are road works across the city centre meaning I am not always sure where it is safe to cross. 

I have no idea when the taxi rank will move or what that relocation will look like. 

The council have not considered this impact on Disabled people. Whether we are just going into town or if we are using public transport to get to work. Our daily lives have been made even more inaccessible. This is before you even start on other issues which make travel inaccessible to us, like the floating bus stops. 

People need to consider the impact these unexpected changes have. If non Disabled people are finding it difficult to travel at the moment how are Disabled people meant to be coping? 

I will keep you updated with this ongoing issue. 

Assisted Travel

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Hello all, 

For todays blog post I thought I’d write about my trip down to London using assisted travel. As a visually impaired person I always use assisted travel when going on journeys which are not my normal route. 

I set off from Leeds at 11:15 I arrived in plenty of time for getting my train and to wait for assistance. We were told the train was running 10 minutes late but not to worry. The weather on this Friday was horrible and the river coming into Leeds was very high. There were no travel alerts saying not to travel. 

Once I was on the train and sat down my anxiety started to ease a little bit. But because I have always had an issues going down to London I was not able to fully relax. I had my ticket I checked my seat number, I was in the wrong seat. Worried about this I called my mum. She called the assisted travel people at Leeds and they said I was in the right seat and it was OK. I tried to relax. 

We got to Doncaster on time and I was looking forward to going down to London to see my brother. The train didn’t pull away from the station and I started to worry. After a while a message came over the tannoy that the train was being delayed due to signalling problems further down the line. I messaged in our family group chat that we had stopped and I didn’t know when we would be setting off again. 

15 minutes went by then a little longer, no announcement. My brother messaged to say the app was showing that it shouldn’t be too much longer. Then another announcement saying they didn’t know how long it would be. Someone else was on the phone and getting messages from someone saying it was signalling problems and that it should be fixed by 2:30…we should have been in London for 1:15. 

I was very stressed at this point and I just wanted to go home. Eventually after my mum contacted assisted travel and mentioned I was getting worried someone from the train staff came to talk to me. They assured me someone would meet me at the other end. 

After an hour we finally set off but were told the signalling problem was still not fixed. I was stressed because I didn’t want to get stuck at some random station if they terminated the train. Thankfully we organised that if this happened my Uncle could drive to get me. This eased my anxiety knowing I would have some help. 

But you have assisted travel why are you worried? I was worried because there were very few announcements on the train, that in the past the train has been terminated at a random station and I had to get myself off as the staff forgot about me, I was worried that the last time I went to London I was left on the train and member of the cleaning staff had gone to get someone to help me. 

We stopped at Grantham and we had to make a toilet stop as the trains toilets had run out of water. Thankfully I had made my way to the toilet, before this happened. Which is a good thing because no member of train crew came to ask if I was OK. 

Eventually we set off again and all of the tracks were flooded so we had to roll through the water over the lines. I was not happy at all, I had been on the train from 11:15 and it was getting into the evening. 

Finally we got to London and I was very tired and anxious. I was putting my coat on and some women asked me if I was OK and did I need help. I said someone was coming to get me but thank you for asking. I looked out the window and saw my brother on the platform talking to those women, he came on the train and helped me off. We waited on the platform while I sorted myself out. No one from the station had come to meet me and help me off the train. 

We walked back up and it was so busy all the gates were open. No one was allowed into station because no trains were leaving. The weather had stopped everything. 

By this point it was 6:30 when my train came in and I was very tired and upset. My brother had been waiting around since 1:00 to meet me. The tube would have been packed so we decided we would get in a taxi and everyone else had had a similar plan. 

We got back to his flat and had some tea because we had had a long day and we had lost the afternoon. We have raised a complaint with the Assisted travel and we should be getting our money back. 

Train tracks outside with a barrier. After the barrier is water with some shrubs peaking out from underneath.

On my way home, the assisted travel and been cancelled for some reason so they rebooked it and got me on the train. When I arrived at Leeds someone was there to meet me, got me off the train with my bag and helped me to my onward journey. Then I was met at the other end and I got home safe. 

Assisted travel, when it works, is wonderful. It allows people who need a bit of extra help to get out and about. My local train stations are wonderful. They always help me out. 

I appreciate station and train crew are busy but when you are offering a service you need to make sure you don’t fall short. Especially when the service is there to help Disabled people to travel safely. 

I felt let down by the service. 

But besides this I had a lovely weekend with my brother. 

Yes, I will write another blog about my weekend. 

Thank you, 

Philippa B. 

First blog of the year

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Hello all,

First blog post of 2023. I have taken a bit of time away from writing blogs as things were very busy over the past few months.

I wanted to write today about what I would like to do over the next year, not so much goals as I am not a fan of goal setting. But more building on what I enjoyed last year.

Last year my blog did better than the year before in that I got a lot more interaction with it which was lovely to see. It is nice to know what I am writing is helping others. I appreciate you taking the time to leave comments.

I would also like this year to continue with my audiobooks. I really enjoy listening to them, when I am just about the house or before bed. I don’t listen to them when I am out and about. That’s more music.

Last year I listened to a lot of audiobooks on Autism, I also listened to some biographies. Then I started listening to books on self compassion. So I am branching out on my reading.

The self compassion ones are nice as they can pair with the books around Autism. I will continue with these this year.

Do you have any thoughts on your year ahead?

Thank you for reading and Happy Musings. 

Long Caines

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Hello all,

One thing which has come to my attention lately is the lack of awareness around long Caines and what they are for.

As a visually impaired person who uses a long caine I find it rather difficult when people do not acknowledge my caine.

My new long cane held in my left hand, it has a red handle.

I use a long white cain with a roller ball on the end and a red handle. My cain is there as a symbol to others that I am visually Impaired and need extra space and time to navigate my surroundings.  It is also there to allow me to feel what is going on around me so I can navigate safely.

For example I can use the cain to discover a change in surface so if there is a dropped curb or some steps I can use it to tell if there is something blocking my path and which direction I need to take to avoid this obstacle.


One very important thing to note is that I use the caine in my right hand as that is the side I see nothing out of.

If you see a person with a long cain please give them the space they need to navigate safely, do not grab them, do not jump over their cain. If you think they may need help just say hello and ask ‘do you need a hand?’ I personally do not mind if someone asks. I would rather be asked and politely decline.

Before we are let loose with our Caines we go through training. This allows us to learn to use the caine in a safe reliable manner. We have to learn to navigate steps, curbs, changes in terrain (oh yes on and off road) we learn what tactile paving means what. So we know if where approaching stairs, a crossing (what kind of crossing) or even if we are approaching a train platform.

Caines are not cheap either so this is why we ask that you don’t leap over them, as you could hurt yourself and in the process damage our caines. Or us. Ouch!

If you would like to learn more about being Visually Impaired please follow this link to discover more of my post about being visually impaired.

Thank you again for reading.

Mind My Cain

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Hello all,

It is Monday again which means it’s time for another blog post. This week I’m focusing on being a long cane user.

As you maybe aware I am Visually Impaired and use a long cane. In order for me to get around I sweep the cane across the floor in front of me to be able to find objects in my path. Including but not limited to steps, curbs, dogs and people.

Earlier this week I had gotten off the train and was making my way to the escalators. It was a busy morning and I was making my way to work. Someone was at the side of me and noticed my cane hit their leg, they looked down at my cane and continued to move forwards. The difficult and dangerous thing was that we were trying to get on the escalator. People at the other side of me noticed I had my cane, they stopped and let me get on. I said thank you.

My long cane in the centre, a red handle. In front is a train platform.

The person who had come into contact with my cane continued onto the escalator. I continued to use my cane to navigate onto the escalator and my cane caught between their legs. Once we were on the escalator I stood my cane in front of me and waited until we reached the top.

I put my cain out cautiously to find my way off. As I did this and moved forward the same person was caught by my cain.

The difficult thing with being a cain user is that we are using it for the right reasons. To discover obstacles in our path and navigate safely. The problem comes when others pay no attention. Mistakes can be made yes, but when someone actively notices your cain and continues to not give you the space you need to navigate safely then they are putting you and them at risk.

The danger in this situation is that the person who ignored my cain could have tripped up and slammed their head onto the escalator. I could have then fallen onto them. This would have been very dangerous for both us.

Similar situations can occur when cain users are crossing roads. If people ignore our cain and step into the road or don’t move out of the way then they could cause both of us to fall over.

When out and about people tend to have their headphones in to block out all the noise around them, which makes sense. But this can also mean you’re in your own little world.

This can lead to people being less aware of their surroundings. Meaning they may miss someone using a mobility aid. Which can have serious consequences.

All we ask is that you try be a bit more cautious. We are doing what we need to do to get around. We can’t travel at quieter times if we need to get to work. We shouldn’t have to travel at quiet times.

Please just be a little mindful and don’t rush people. Getting to work can be very hectic and can create stress. But if we all just try be a little more aware of our surroundings (unless, like me you’re Visually Impaired and find this difficult) we can all have an easier and smother time on public transport.

Thank you,
Philippa B. 

My Visit to Red Wings

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A while ago I really wanted a nice new pair of sturdy shoes. Th reason being I have had a pair of really good shoes for nearly ten years. These shoes have started to wear, but they are still useable. I just decided I should save up and look around for a replacement.

I know a few people who have Red Wings, they have told me they are ridiculously comfortable and have never had any problems. They work with all their outfits and they look amazing.
So acting on personal advice I looked online for their shoes. The prices, while expensive seemed like a good investment- if they last you the time people have assured me they will. Hear’s to ten years of RedWings.

The pair I saw online were a petrol shade of blue. The design is 6-INCH MOC TOE WOMEN’S BOOTS 3353. I sat and thought about it for a while and struggled to find places where they had them in stock for me to try on. When I am spending that much money on shoes I need it to be right.

When I went to London to visit my brother we went to the Red Wings shop.It was nice inside. All the shoes neatly on display with storage boxes stacked at the end of the room waiting for peoples new shoes to be taken home.

A PAIR OF pETROL blue shoes with white soles on a wooden floor.

I wandered around and I saw the shoes I was looking at online. The lady asked if we were ok and needed anything. I mentioned looking at this particular pair online and that I was considering buying them, but that I wanted to try them on.


She brought me over the size I would need and asked if I had owned Red Wings before. After explaining I hadn’t and that my brother and some friends owned them she told me how sturdy they are and long lasting. She also mentioned the women’s shoes are made from the leather of a cow because the female leather is a lot softer. Then she explained the insoles had a soft cushion.

I laced them up which was easy, my Dyspraxic fingers were ok with the laces. They felt really comfortable as I wandered around the shop. My toes didn’t touch the ends I felt really comfy. Taking them off I decided to buy them. They were the last pair in the shop and Red Wings were not making anymore of them. That was the universe telling me to buy them.

The shoes are placed in individual bags and then placed into their big box. The lady had to get more bags sent from the mens shop. Someone came round and we placed them in the bag. My brother carried the box as we wandered off to get some tea.

The shoes were amazing and I really enjoyed the customer service. She was not pushy, she chatted to us about the brand and made it feel like a great experience. This is what I want when I go shopping. Especially when I am spending that much on shoes.

I am also in no way being endorsed by Red Wings for this blog.