Author: Aspire Consultancy

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5 Facts About Braille That You Might Already Know!

1-In 1821, Charles Barbier, a Captain in the French Artillery, created a tactile, dot-based military code that could be read in the dark. French soldiers used it to communicate at night without speaking or using candles. 15-year-old French schoolboy Louis Braille learned about the code, and eventually developed the more usable, streamlined version of the braille alphabet we know today.
2-Braille takes up more space than the traditional alphabet, so braille books are much larger than their print counterparts. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is sixteen volumes in Braille, and “Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary” is 72 volumes.
3-Braille Is not Universal, there are different braille systems for different languages. In fact, there is a braille language for many of the languages spoken today. While the move toward braille uniformity, known as Unified English Braille (UEB), has led to many correspondences between the alphabets, the languages themselves are still distinct and unique.
4-While a sighted person can read 300 words per minute, some fast braille readers can whip through a book at a speed of 400 words per minute. The key to reading braille so quickly is a light touch – and using both hands (one hand reads while the other is poised to start on the next line).
5-There’s a number of children’s toys that feature braille. In recent years, toy companies have made strides in ensuring every child can play some of the biggest classic family games, such as braille Uno, braille and low vision Monopoly, braille LEGO and even the Rubik’s Cube.

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Wilberforce Trust to host Easter egg hunt for those with visual impairments

A TRUST in York, which supports young people living with visual impairments, is set to host an adapted Easter egg hunt.

An Easter egg hunt is a tradition that we all love to be part of – and The Wilberforce Trust have found a solution for visually impaired children.

Samantha Scholey-Dyson, operations director at the trust, was the brainchild behind the operation and had her dad create the beeping plastic eggs. Samantha said she believes that the traditional Easter activity should be tweaked to make it inclusive for all children.

On the day of the egg hunt, the team will hide them so that the children can locate the eggs using the sound, collect them up in baskets and then bring them back to exchange for chocolate eggs.

Siblings won’t miss out on the activity either, as the trust provide them with an eye mask so that they too can use their hearing to find the eggs.

The first Wilberforce Easter egg hunt was held in 2019 and was a success with the families – and was even picked up by ITV Calendar.

“Both The Wilberforce Trust and the families are excited to be running this event again and anticipate it to be a great success,” a spokesperson said.

BY ED HORNERREPORTER

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Sight Village 2022 dates

QAC Sight Village exhibitions are organised by Queen Alexandra College Birmingham
Sight Village 2022 dates
South West – 26th April, Sandy Park Stadium Exeter
Central – 28th and 29th June, Cranmore Park Conference and Events Centre West Midlands
North-East – 21st September, Royal Armouries Leeds
South-East – 8th and 9th November, Kensington Town Hall London
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QAC Sight Village

Change to 2021 event dates: 

All the following dates are now confirmed; we look forward to welcoming you back to an event soon!

Central 17th & 18th August – Cranmore Park Conference & Events Centre, West Midlands
South West 14th September – Sandy Park Stadium, Exeter – new  date!
Wales 12th October – All Nations Centre, Cardiff
South East 2nd & 3rd November – Kensington Town Hall, London