Disabilities Assessments Day
I went along with Joseph for this Disabilities Student Allowance assessment today, we had to drive all the way over to Maidstone for it as there had to be a visually impaired specialist and an assessor from DSA plus the building and meeting room with wheelchair access, so I guess it was a lot for them to organise prior to the date and time, getting two different assessors from different governing bodies available on the same day and time plus access to a building for us to meet inside. Well we went, in the fog, Kai our beautiful new dog in the back of the car with Ivan, the girls and Harvey still in bed at home.
From start to finish the meeting could not have gone better within our wildest imaginations. The guy who was from the finance assessors was just brilliant, totally on the same page as both Joseph and I plus even recommended he add stuff to the list of equipment to be paid for by themselves so that Joseph could manage his own course himself independently of anyone else. The offer of a new macbook pro from Apple plus bunch of other equipment and finance for cars so that he does not have to travel made Joseph very happy indeed.
Interestingly enough the lady from the blind association brought out some handheld pieces of equipment, the SmartView Versa caught my attention and when I tried it I was completely blown away by it.
Before we left, after Joseph's interview was finished and everything agreed for him, I asked how I'd go about getting one of those devices as I could see the massive changes it would make for me personally to my every day life. Instead of having to ask Angelica Imogen or hubby to read letters etc I could do that myself, the ingredients on food labels, all kinds of stuff really. The magnification is so good it meant I could read regular text whilst holding it on my lap glancing down to read it like regular people do, it felt good as I have never ever been able to do anything like that before in my entire life. Joseph got awarded one for himself and I can see it making a huge difference to him I really can.
So when we came home I telephoned our local branch of the blind society and ended up being on the phone for over 40 minutes, answered loads of questions and gave loads of information about how much of my independence has been systematically disappearing over the past ten years.
I've agreed to have an assessment of my own here at the house and then I can have one of those devices on permanent loan for myself along with a new audiobook reader and other things to help me manage better within my own house.
The last time I did anything like this was 2nd December 2000 so about 12 years ago. I am so looking forward to seeing what is available now as technology has moved on at quite a fast rate since then with a lot more gadgets widely available that didn't exist before. I am quite excited about it all really, I was excited about the viewer but after chatting on the phone and having a mini interview, now I feel really positive. The assessor will contact me to come over around three to four weeks time.
From start to finish the meeting could not have gone better within our wildest imaginations. The guy who was from the finance assessors was just brilliant, totally on the same page as both Joseph and I plus even recommended he add stuff to the list of equipment to be paid for by themselves so that Joseph could manage his own course himself independently of anyone else. The offer of a new macbook pro from Apple plus bunch of other equipment and finance for cars so that he does not have to travel made Joseph very happy indeed.
Interestingly enough the lady from the blind association brought out some handheld pieces of equipment, the SmartView Versa caught my attention and when I tried it I was completely blown away by it.
Before we left, after Joseph's interview was finished and everything agreed for him, I asked how I'd go about getting one of those devices as I could see the massive changes it would make for me personally to my every day life. Instead of having to ask Angelica Imogen or hubby to read letters etc I could do that myself, the ingredients on food labels, all kinds of stuff really. The magnification is so good it meant I could read regular text whilst holding it on my lap glancing down to read it like regular people do, it felt good as I have never ever been able to do anything like that before in my entire life. Joseph got awarded one for himself and I can see it making a huge difference to him I really can.
So when we came home I telephoned our local branch of the blind society and ended up being on the phone for over 40 minutes, answered loads of questions and gave loads of information about how much of my independence has been systematically disappearing over the past ten years.
I've agreed to have an assessment of my own here at the house and then I can have one of those devices on permanent loan for myself along with a new audiobook reader and other things to help me manage better within my own house.
The last time I did anything like this was 2nd December 2000 so about 12 years ago. I am so looking forward to seeing what is available now as technology has moved on at quite a fast rate since then with a lot more gadgets widely available that didn't exist before. I am quite excited about it all really, I was excited about the viewer but after chatting on the phone and having a mini interview, now I feel really positive. The assessor will contact me to come over around three to four weeks time.