Blind and Partially Sighted Peer Support Forum 2024-2025

• Lived Experience

Wednesday 19 March 2025
1:00 pm to 2:00pm
Zoom

This quarterly forum is a space for employees who are blind and partially sighted (BPS) and whose organisation is part of the Visionary network, to come together to connect and share your experiences, challenges and celebrations with your peers.

The Meaning and Impact of VI Awareness Training

19 March 2025, 1PM to 2 PM

In this session, we will explore what Visual Impairment (VI) awareness training entails and its significance within your organisation, focusing on best practices for creating a more inclusive and accessible environment. We hopes to foster collaboration between organisations and BPS individuals, focusing on best practices for creating a more inclusive and accessible environment both at work and in social settings.

We are pleased to welcome Kelly Barton from Thomas Pocklington Trust, who is the Engagement Manager for the Greater Manchester Sight Loss Council (SLC) and works with local organisations to provide VI Awareness Training. Kelly will share her experiences of the SLC’s approach to VI awareness training as well as her thoughts on the effectiveness and if it makes a difference to BPS people.

The discussion will cover:

• The impact—positive or negative—that VI training can have on an individual’s experience.
• The importance of venues offering VI training: Why does or doesn’t it matter to you.
• Personal encounters with VI-trained staff and practical advice you might offer to a colleague or friend in the blind or partially sighted (BPS) community.

The forum is facilitated by Andy Smith of MyVision Oxfordshire and Nina Chesworth of Visionary.

Please note: Time has changed from morning to afternoon. The March session is now on 19 March 2025, 1PM to 2PM. Previous dates were 5 March 2025, 9AM to 10AM which was changed to 12 March 2025, 1PM to 2PM.

New registration required from 1 April 2025

If you have previously registered for this forum, you will need to register again for this new cohort starting from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2025. Once you have registered for this new cohort, you will be able to join future sessions up until 31 March 2025 using your new registration details. The new registration details from 1 April 2025 are to be confirmed.