Féach Ireland

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New routines, more workload and a new environment. Transitioning to secondary school as a child with vision impairment can be tough, but with more information, resources and help, the transition can be less daunting for both child and parent. Register now for our upcoming webinar. Happening on the 19th of November. By 8pm. Perfect for Parents with children in 4th/5th/6th class. Listen to personal stories and professional advice on preparing for the move to secondary. Would also be relevant for teachers, SETs and SNAs visit bit.ly/TSSwebinar24 to register

This was a great opportunity to highlight the issues facing students in mainstream education with vision impairment and the solutions that could easily solve them. Department of Education does offer great supports, the problem is accessing them to ensure they are effective. What our students need. More technology support for students and teachers will ensure money spent on technology is not wasted More orientation, mobility and life skills training will ensure students can be less reliant on SNA's Using the expertise of the service providers to ensure Summer Provision can be used effectively to help supplement these skills. Thank you to Dr Patricia McCarthy, Toni O'Dwyer Vision Ireland, the new name for NCBI , Derval Healy ChildVision, and Rafiat Agbona for joining me as witnesses, together we can create change.

Access to a quality expended core curriculum essential for #Blind #VisionImpaired students to achieve #Inclusion & #Independence. While this student cohort have attended mainstream schools for many years now they still experience a range of #AccessBarriers when it comes to accessing the school curriculum and achieving their potential in #Education snd #Employment. Dr Vivian Rath Conor Mc Guckin Michael Shevlin AHEAD (Ireland) Dr. Mary Quirke Féach Ireland Eithne Walsh Trinity College Dublin https://www.Irish https://lnkd.in/ecQFtWrJ

Eithne Walsh advocated brilliantly today at the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. She called for the use and availability of appropriate technology and proper training for both students and teachers, and more availability of the Orientation & Mobility across the country. While Summer Provision is great, without the right teachers, many kids just can’t make use of it. We need to make sure that students can learn and live independently with the right support. It’s about giving them a fair chance to succeed, like everyone else independently.

Today, we recognize the freedom of mobility that the white cane provides for visually impaired/blind individuals. The white cane is a tool that helps visually impaired/blind individuals navigate environments safely. Creating an accessible environment requires everyone's awareness, mindfulness, and respect. It's important to be aware of your surroundings, especially for pedestrian safety. Simple actions like keeping sidewalks clear and ensuring accessible entrances can make a big difference. We all have a role to play in promoting safety. Whether you're driving, walking, or biking, giving space and being mindful can go a long way. #WhiteCaneSafetyDay #VisuallyImpaired #PedestrianSafety #AccessibilityMatters #InclusionForAll #BlindAwareness #MobilityRights

The Life Through Our Eyes Conference was a great experience for all of us. It reminded us of the importance of collaboration and why we started this journey in the first place. It aims to give blind or vision-impaired individuals a chance to live independent, fulfilling lives alongside their peers. During the conference, we listened to stories, shared struggles, saw brilliant tools, gained more information, and reflected on the possibilities ahead. It was a reminder that, with our unique strengths, we can achieve so much more when we come together. One key takeaway for blind and visually impaired young adults was the importance of acceptance as the first step toward building a path forward. We are extremely proud to have launched our guide for 3rd-level lecturers and disability officers, with support from Leargas & Erasmus+. It’s a resource shaped by real student experiences, helping educators anticipate needs and better support blind and visually impaired students, paving the way for those who will follow. Thank you again to everyone involved! We’re excited and hopeful for a positive future ahead. #LifeThroughOurEyes #VICommunity #InclusiveEducation #Leargas #ErasmusPlus #CollaborationMatters #PromotingInclusion Léargas Bobbie Hickey Eithne Walsh Vision Ireland, the new name for NCBI ChildVision Sight and Sound Technology

We launched our guide for 3rd-level lecturers and disability officers with thanks to Leargas & Erasmus+. Email info@feach.ie for a copy

We were deeply inspired by the personal and powerful stories shared at the Féach Ireland conference, highlighting young people's journeys through the education system as students with low vision or no vision. Their voices were instrumental in shaping the Guide for Lecturers and the Guide for Disability Teams, both developed by Féach with support from our #ErasmusPlus microgrant.

What a great afternoon. Thank you all.