Have you always wanted to know what it’s like having a Visual Impairment?
Do you want to make your organisation fully inclusive to those with a sight impairment but not sure where to start? Then read on to find out about my first-hand talks on visual impairment.
I am able to provide a comprehensive and informative oral presentation on what it’s like to be totally blind either in person or remotely via Microsoft Teams or Zoom to all abilities and ages. Each talk lasts approximately 1 hour and is accompanied by a Microsoft Power Point presentation which is designed to be appealing to a wide audience including those with sight problems.
The topics covered in these sessions include:-
• Education and my experiences within the system.
• An alternative format to Braille and how this allowed me to progress onto Braille.
• Braille explained and how I use it.
• Different aspects of specialist technology such as Electronic Braille note takers and Screen readers.
• Access features such as Audio description, on TV and in Cinemas.
• How to create raised diagrams so that they are able to be interpreted by people who have sight impairments.
• Daily living aides to enhance independence.
• How to react around people with sight issues – the do’s and don’ts
After the talk, demonstrations of equipment mentioned will be made.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Previous presentations
In November 2022, I was invited to take part in a presentation held at Birmingham university to introduce students to my role as a braille tutor. In the below video, I am presenting to a group of university students who are qualifying to become specialist teachers of the visually impaired.
I describe my Journey throughout my own education As a totally blind person who has been through the education system.
At the moment, I am working as a braille examiner for the course at Birmingham university where people can train to become QTVIS (Qualified Teachers of the Visually impaired). Another tutor is working alongside me who provided me with the specialist support that is required by visually impaired youngsters in education, and she is also present on the video.
She refers to the fact that I was part of her sensory impairment service, and how I have kept in touch with both her and my teacher for the visually impaired over the years.
Finally, there’s a picture of a slide of me working with my teacher where I’m learning to write using specialist equipment.
The video then concludes with me stating how fortunate I was to receive the specialist support while I was at school. Because I was given such a solid foundation to my education by the local sensory impairment team in primary school who taught me the vital skills such as Braille, this has inspired me to set up my own business to provide those skills to other visually impaired people. I also talk about how I produce tactile diagrams. I know how time consuming these can be to create for specialist teachers, but visually impaired people greatly do benefit from these, especially when discussing the class topics with their sighted friends.
Please see feedback and comments from clients below.
NOVEMBER RESIDENTIAL FEEDBACK
SPEAKER – Chantal Hampson
SESSION – BRAILLE
Year 1: Any comments on the braille-focused sessions?
Hearing from an experienced braille user’s perspective was really helpful – Chantal is awesome!
Chantal was amazing and it was fantastic to see and hear her story. It is inspiring and motivating to see how braille and devices can be used.
Enjoyed trying out reading braille by touch – very interesting. Great to see successful blind people – inspirational and learnt a lot too.
Wonderful to see Chantal and her amazing skill set.
Chantel was brilliant. Meaningful when presented by someone who is a braille user.
Chantel! What an amazing lady!
It would have been good to have the hand technique explained a bit more but I appreciate the time constraints.
Fantastic! It was a shame to not meet Steve and Matthew however Chantal was fantastic and inspirational! Would’ve liked a longer session.
Loved the braille feeling activity.