Blind Fire performerStaff//Poi Spinner needs urgent help!

the Spittalfields workshop officially ends at ten, and then lots of people pop down to the pub till about eleven.

That does answer my question! Learn something new every day!

Thanks Rosita.

Hi All,
Anyone going from London to PLAY?
Also to monkey had a great time at the market these even. Thankyou for the welcome. Next time i should be able to come there a lot easiar now I know the way. Thanks
Rosita

Hi Rosita, I'm glad you had a good time I'm sure there will be some sort of bus from London to Play, but your best bet is to ask on the play site: http://www.playfestival.co.uk/

There is a wiki there with a lift share page.

I'm also interested as to how the site works with JAWS: I've not been able to test it.

i have no old poi sadly, but how about making some withsome cheap long stripy socks and tennis balls?...old skool, yo!
good luck!
Ree

ooh, i know thats sounds silly as you have said your blind and struggle, but i thought they would probably be pretty easy, blind or not...god, now I sound patronising and foolish *runs away*

I doubt they'd be performace quality tho, which is what Rosita is looking for I think

Hi Dunc and Sym,
The PLAY festival site is not very accessible. I could poit you in the direction of a couple of improvements that would make it easiar to navigate (for someone using a screen reader). I think I eventually got it right I think I managed to book a ticket and use the Wiki page. The program does not particularly like the edit facility but this happens a lot on web pages. I do design websites specially for the visually impaired so if you want help making it more visually impaired friendly just PM me. Thanks
Rosita

Hi, If anyone from London is going to PLAY I would be greatly appreciative of a ride share. Can share fuel costs and will bring lots of laughs and smiles. I will also bring some instruments and play music. (I play panpipes and quena) I will be bringing some tarot cards with me. They are special they have been brailled so i know what they are and other tools for fortune telling if anyone wants to have there fortune told Thanks
Rosita

You should post those details in the play thread too Rosita

Sym is working on making the site more accessable, it is something he is involved in workwise and is aware that some aspects of the site aren't up to scratch for screen readers. You should see improvements soon

You have booked your ticket so I guess the basics must be there, I hope it wasn't too much of a chore

I thought that's what you may have been using. About two years ago at school I did a short day course on making internet sites accessible for all, and had a look at the JAWS program, was a good thing to do, I am glad I did it, just wish now I could remember what we did and how to actually make an internet site.
Having a cousin who is legally blind, I can see where you are coming from, I shall have to pass on your story to her, as even though she lost her site about eight years ago, she is only just starting to become independent again, her dog has helped a lot with this.. if you don't mind am I allowed to tell her about you next time I see her as some inspiration?

Hi Hanz,
Your welcome to tell your blind cousin about this. If she/he wants JAWS. If they dont already have it I can arrange that too. However please PM me regarding that. I lost my sight when I was 12- 13ish. I have another program called Hal but the functionability is not the same. If you want the latest version of JAWS Pm me. Thanks
Rosita

I shall speak to her sister, and let you know what happens.

I'm sad to read all this...
The last thing i thought when i was reading Rosita's post was that she might be lying. I thought how amazing it is that a blind person could juggle. I thought if there was anything i could do to help her. After all, she only asked for some help, not your money, not your brand new shiny pair of poi. She found a creative way to make a living. We should suport it.
Rozita i really wish i had some poi to send you, or help you in some way. I think what you do is fantastic! Unfortunately there will always be people that will try to take advantage of you. But there will always be someone who will support you and care for you. And if you think about it, that's true for everyone!
Love and hugs!

Ahh yes, I should have added... if I did have spare poi I would happily send them over, but the only ones I own are the ones I use, so sorry! However, keep us updated on what happens

Hi Daphne and Hanz,
I will get there eventually. I am hoping that by the time play gets here i will have some poi. If not then I will Have to make do. Thanks and all the bes
Rosita

Sorry Rosita I forgot to take my spare poi to Firetoys to have them taken to London, but I will have it at play so can give it to you then

Rosita: I am unsure as to whether you have told us what is wrong eye-wise, but if it isn't too much of a personal question, would you mind telling us? I am interested in this due to my cousin.

Hi Dunc And Hanz,
Sorry for the late reply. I dont know if I am going to PLAY at the moment dunc. Just had a major crisis and it may take a month to sort out however i am hoping to sort it be the time play gets here.
Hanz, no its not too personal of a question.I have dry Macular Degeneration and Retinal Degeneration. They are both relativley untreatable. Thanks
Rosita

hey that's what my uncle had, it was a rather late onset but now they are watching my eyes

Rosita: sorry, but would you be able to explain that for me?

I can't think off the top of my head what my cousin has but she has had retinal detatchment in the past and the pressure in her eye is wonky, it keeps getting too low and she gets retinal detatchment and it gets close to being too high, if it gets too high her eye will explode. She has also recently had a thing which is pretty much wrinkly retina, which is what it sounds like. She's been blind since she was twelve and is eighteen or nineteen now. When mum wakes up I will ask her what it is called

Ok Hanz, I have written enough leaflets regarding MD.
Macular degeneration (MD) is an eye disease that destroys central vision by damaging the macula. The macula is part of the retina, a thin layer of nerve cells that lines most of the inside of your eyeball. Nerve cells in the retina detect light and send signals to the brain about what your eye sees. The macula, near the centre of the retina at the back of the eyeball, provides the clear, sharp, central vision that you use for focusing on what is in front of you. The rest of the retina provides side (peripheral) vision.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of eye diseases often characterised by night blindness and the gradual loss of peripheral vision. RP causes visual field loss, and may lead to eventual blindness, by affecting the light sensitive photoreceptors in the retina. A degenerative disease affecting over four million people world wide, RP is a common form of retinal degeneration (RD). Related conditions include Macular Degeneration, Usher Syndrome, Choroideremia, Leber's Amaurosis and Retinoschisis.

Hope this helps you a little its not too in depth but indepth enough. Thanks
Rosita

The first one (MD) sounded right, so I asked mum, and yes, my cousin has Macular degeneration and retina uveitis

Hi Rosita, hope you don't mind me asking, but was wondering how severe your condition is? (mum is asking lots of questions)

I am not left with any usable sight. But that is because I have a combination of two diseases. Most people only lose there central vision. But i have lost my peripheral vision as well due to the retinal degeneration.

Also Message for Dunc. I dont know if i can get to PLAY. I have not transport. Do you know anyone going from London~?
Thanks
Rosita

was talking to mum yesterday, I thought my cousin had some vision left, but she is down to none in one eye, and close to none in the other.

I have just come back to HOP after a long absense. I felt unwelcome. I am currently based in Scotland.

I have not performed since the incident which started this thread. Would like to meet other performers in the Edinburgh area.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank You
Rosita