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Web Site Origins

In 1998 The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association funded a Rehabilitation Information Worker (RIW) in the Eye Clinic of the Royal Victoria Infirmary at Newcastle Upon Tyne. His job was to talk to all newly registered patients, giving them as much informative help as seemed appropriate, referring them on to their local societies (if desired) and to ensure that the BD8 process was completed. He was also to gather some statistics on patient and consultant throughput.

He also started a service users group to get patient feedback and backing for necessary changes, etc.

This group had regular meetings and developed its own agenda along with some management encouragement.

One particular aspect of his service was to give appropriate information supporting his patient comtact, but only papers appropriate were selected and indeed there were some areas where there was nothing. The group volunteered to compile an 'Information Booklet' in accessible formats, so that on the several occasions when the RIW missed patients, and also so all patients may have a comprehensive source available whenever required.

The existing sources held by the RIW were used to complete this task, and large print copies were made available.

As information needs a regular update the booklet was transferred to this web site by the current Webmaster and the domain www.rvi.org.uk secured.

As time passed the needs for the user group declined but more and more visually impaired people were getting to grips with I.T. and the net, so the web site has continued be brought up to date as there was and is evidence of use. Much of the additional information came via a monthly tape from 'Signpost North East' (SPNE) in Teeside assembled by Rvrd. David Youngson from many other sources including 'Soundings' and 'RNIB Update'. In 2000 'Action for Blind People' took over the responsibilities of SPNE but David continued with the tape by himself, it later coming under the umbrella of the 'Rothay Consultancy', a new charity which he formed.

In 2002 a web site amalgamation was put to the Rothay Trustees who all agreed. The proposal being to extend the local information section into Teeside as well as include advance and current monthly tape content. The site would be re-titled NE 'Regional Visual Impairment' to cover the RVI. The task of gradually increasing the local database of information continues.

To be continued!