Disability services: Listening libraries (updated)

For some people with a chronic illness/disability audiobooks can be more accessible for a number of reasons.

There are a number of listening libraries available free of charge to those in the UK who need to access audiobooks whether it be because of a visual impairment or a print disability. There are also ones you can subscribe to. I have listed the main listening libraries we have in the UK.

So what is a ‘Print Disability’?

My Irlen’s glasses

A print disability covers a wide range of things. 

It could mean you struggle to read print because of a specific learning disability like dyslexia. You could have Irlens Syndrome (also known as Scotopic Sensitivity). Also you don’t have a visual impairment but you struggle to read standard size or written print. 

Print disabilities also cover cognitive difficulties with reading such as poor concentration, brain fog and conditions like brain injuries. 

They also cover physical difficulties with books too. For example struggling to hold a book or turn a page due to disabilities and conditions like having a Spinal Cord Injuries, MS, arthritis, M.E., MND, Parkinson’s and more.

I also feel that Print Disability’s should include difficulty reading, using and holding e-readers as well.

Listening Books

Listening Books is “an audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.”

Their books can be accessed through their website or through the Libby audiobook library app.

Magazines and newspapers can also be accessed.

To qualify for Listening Books you must have a disability, illness, learning disability or mental health condition that impacts your ability to read or hold a book.

Membership costs £25 for the year. When you sign up there is a long list of medical conditions and you can select your conditions to be eligible to join. 

If there is a title Listening Books doesn’t have that you’d like to listen to you can contact them and if they can buy the book they will add it to the library. This is something that I have done before.

BorrowBox

BorrowBox is a library in one app, from it; from it audiobooks and eBooks can be borrowed.

It’s a free service some local libraries now use to allow members to access digital content. You can check with your local library to see if they’re using BorrowBox.

Link to BorrowBox: Find out if your local library is using this service.

RNIB Reading Services

RNIB Reading Services is open only to those who are blind, partially sighted or has a print or physical impairment that prevents them from reading standard print.

Their Reading Service is available in a number of different formats. There is a link between Amazon’s Alexa and RNIB’s talking books. They also offer books in braille and now a new service e-Braille. Books can also be loaned on Daisy CD’s and USB. They also have a library of books through the Dolphin EasyReader app audiobook library.

As well as books magazines and newspapers can also be accessed on audio.

Calibre Audio

Calibre Audio is a “a UK-based charity providing a audiobook lending service for people with a print disability.”

“Who can join… We support anyone unable to see, read, or comprehend printed text due to difficulty or inability. This can include:

• A specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia 
• A brain injury or cognitive impairment such as head trauma or stroke
• A visual impairment or blindness 
• Physical dexterity problems, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, MND
• Learn more on who can join
  

For those over 25 the fee is £3 a month or £30 for the year. For those using the USB stick service for books or those under 25 the service is free.

Calibre Audio uses to Dolphin EasyReader app or the Libby app, streaming through their website, USB stick, and through the Synapptic software used by those with visual impairments. 

Link to Calibre Audio

Audible

This is a well known listening library. I often find Audible has titles other listening libraries don’t have and some audiobooks are exclusive to Audible.

There are different subscription levels each with different benefits. You can pay monthly or yearly. Often there are offers to get Audible for free or at a reduced rate. You can also buy more credits to buy books. Sometimes there are 2 for 1 offers too, so you can on selected titles get two books for one credit.

Link to Audible

Kindle Unlimited

You don’t need a Kindle to access Kindle Unlimited. You can download the free Kindle app onto your phone or table too (both Apple Store and Android). Kindle Unlimited offers unlimited access to a wide range of ebooks, with quite a wide selection that come with audio which you can listen to via Audible without paying for Audible. You can choose to do a mixture of reading and listening or you can purely listen to the book if you wish.

You do have to pay for Kindle Unlimited but there are often offers such as free trials of the service.

Link to Amazon Unlimited: if you sign in you can view what offers they have available which may include a free trial.

Everand

This listening library has now changed since the last time I used it. It now operates similar to Audible with different levels of membership all at different fees and each with different benefits. I do think this is a bit of a shame as before you just paid one subscription fee and it gave you access to unlimited audiobooks and ebooks. There is however an offer for 30 days free subscription if you wanted to take advantage of Everand for 30 and listen to what they have on offer for that free month.

Link to Everand

Polite Notice

I have made it clear who is eligible for certain listening libraries. Please only sign up if you meet the eligibility criteria for that service; not just because you want to access free audiobooks. By kindly following this criteria you allow that charity to provide a service free of charge and grow their service to those they provide for.

Thank you.

Disability services: Specavers home eye test

I’ve shared in a previous blog post about disability services I use and would recommend and I wanted to add about Specsavers home eye tests to this list.

Recently I had a home eye test and I wanted to leave a review and also make people aware that this service is available. Having an eye test at home is something I’ve had before in the past but it was quite a while ago. I recently chose to have my eye test at home again because of the lack of accessibility at my two local Specsavers - (I wanted to go with Specavers specifically as I needed new glasses and I wanted to get Cath Kidston frames which only Specsavers do). As well with Specsavers offering home eye tests meant that it was much easier for me to get my eyes tested as I was well overdue and trying to find a wheelchair accessible opticians vs going for a home eye test is one less task for me. The alternative would be having to consider things like disabled parking plus access in the opticians and then once I have my prescription head to Specsavers to get my Cath Kidston frames which all of that as you can imagine is a total headache compared to a Specavers home eye test. 

It’s also important to look after your eyes and have them tested regularly and just as important as seeing your dentist or GP or consultant.

The eye test

 It was really convenient, I was able to ask for an afternoon appointment to work around when I’m free after my PA (carer) had finished work. They don’t specify a time so there was a bit of waiting around for them to turn up but they did call me to say when they were on their way to me and would be with me soon.

Once they arrive they are able to set up wherever you’d be most comfortable so in a chair or staying sat in your wheelchair or you can even be in bed if needed for some people.

They started by taking a medical history and asking about how my vision has been since my last eye test and any problems I’ve been experiencing. They also ask if I was still under the hospital eye clinic - they check this especially if your illness affects your vision. I was also asked other questions about how my vision has been since my last eye test.

You don’t get the fully comprehensive test that you’d get in store as they can’t bring every piece of equipment with them. However they did have a small gadget to measure the pressure in my eyes and an opthalmascope to look into the back of my eyes.

They used an iPad for the letter board and set that up and used the traditional lens changing glasses and did a traditional eye test asking me the usual questions over and over like if one looks better than two, or three looks better than four, or whether I could see the letters better with or without etc. as well as asking what letters could be read on what line. They also checked my prism for my double vision and asked whether my double vision goes side-to-side or over the top - for me it the former.

I was also shown on the iPad paragraphs of text in different font sizes and asked what text size I could comfortably read. They slightly altered the lenses and asked if I could read and font smaller than before or not.

Choosing my glasses

 They’d brought along with them a big case of glasses to look at. That’s one downside to home eye tests, you don’t have a shop full of frames to choose from and you’re limited on what frames they bring along with them especially as they have to bring a selection that will suit a range of ages and styles for a wide variety of people. I did like some of the frames in the box but I really wanted to try both the frames I’d asked for. I’d asked for two particular Cath Kidston frames to be bought along that I’d seen and liked on the Specsavers website but only one had been brought so they came back for a second time with both frames for me. The mixup only happened because my appointment had been rescheduled but usually the frames you ask to be brought are brought along.

Tip: You can look on the Specsavers website like I did and ask for specific frames to be brought along and most of the time they are brought which is what I did. 

If there aren’t any frames you like the home eye test team can come back out to you with more frames to look at until you find something that you like. I found the Specsavers staff good at helping me choose my frames and what suited me and which frames I should have as a clear pair and which as my dark tinted pair. You can still add things like anti-glare to your glasses and coloured tints like you can if you went into the Specsavers store.

Getting my glasses delivered and fitted

Once I chose my glasses I had to wait for them to be made. When they were ready the Specsavers team arranged a suitable time to come round to deliver and fit my glasses.

When the lady came she showed me my glasses to make sure I was happy with them and then she fitted them. My frames didn’t need a heat machine she just needed to bend them to fit them and she ensured they felt comfortable and fitted well. She gave me the number to call should I need them to come out again to adjust the fit as she said they can change over the next few weeks as I wear them more. It’s free for them to back out to me just like the rest of the service I’ve received from my home visits.

Eligibility and funding 

You do have to be eligible for home eye tests; this could be because of a physical disability including access issues such as wheelchair access mor a mental illness such as anxiety disorders or due to health issues in old age - you can be any age to have a home eye test if you’re eligible. 

They also go through funding eligibility such as whether you’re eligible for free NHS eye tests and if you do buy glasses what components are funded and what you have to pay. So for me when I bought my glasses I had an NHS voucher to part-pay for my glasses and I also had funding to pay for the prisms in each eye of my glasses; the rest of the bill for the frames, anti-glare coating and darker tint I had to pay for myself.

You can pay in different ways; I paid on their card machine which I found to have a very accessible screen.

They also brought mini printers with them to print off my prescription and also my receipt once I’d chosen and bought my glasses.

If you’re not eligible you can still have a home eye test for a fee of £

Other things

 If needed they can refer people to their GP or to the hospital for further consultation. In my case because my health conditions affect my vision they put me down as needing another eye test in a year’s time just to keep a check on any changes to my vision.

The staff also all carry ID so if you’re unsure you can always ask to check their ID at the door before you let them in. I found the staff more than happy for me to check their ID.

Final thoughts

All-in-all it’s a service I’d highly recommend if accessing an traditional opticians would be difficult for you for whatever reason, whether that be poor physical access to physically get into an opticians, or due to being housebound or bed bound because of physical or if you have mental health illness such as an anxiety disorder. It was easy and convenient to book my appointment and buy my new glasses and to prove my eligibility for a home eye test. It also meant that my eyes got tested rather than going without especially as my illness does affect my vision.

It was also good that they were able to come back out to me with both of the frames I had an interest in.

The staff were friendly and helpful and willing to go with whatever was easiest for me. I felt like I got a good service throughout and a comprehensive eye test, as well as the service I got when choosing my new glasses both when I was looking at the frames brought along at my original eye test and when they came back out to me.

The service was fully free at no extra cost for all the times they came out to me which was great and much more accessible for me as well - it was less exhausting, I didn’t have to worry about access for my wheelchair and Batec as well as disabled parking, my hypersensitivity to noise, accessible toilets and more.

I also found the whole service more person centred and it was more laid back and met my needs better. Every visit was in the comfort of my own home and I didn’t need to worry about anything like in the middle of my eye test I was able to go to my bathroom. The staff I all met were all so friendly and accommodating and professional and knowledgeable. I definitely know I’ll be having my next eye at home again.

Disability services I use and would recommend

Sunflower Lanyards

If you have a hidden disability it might be helpful to wear a Sunflower Lanyard to highlight to those around you that you have a hidden disability and therefore might require special assistance or adaptations to meet your needs. Many shops, airports, transport companies, hospitals and other venues and now trained to spot wearers of Sunflower Lanyards and meeting the needs of those with hidden disabilities.

I find wearing a Sunflower Lanyard helps to highlight that I have hidden disabilities beyond what is visible when I’m visibly sat in a wheelchair.

You can also buy cards to attach to your lanyard such as explainer cards about your hidden disability or cards for carers.

I’d also recommend buying Sunflower Lanyards directly from the official organisation as there are unfortunately fraudulent ones being sold elsewhere that look similar to the official Sunflower Lanyard.

Access Cards

Access Cards are a credit card sized card that identifies the wearer as well as outlining the wearers access needs. This could be difficulty queuing, needing one or more carers in with them, step free access, accessible toilet facilities, that the holder of the card has an assistance dog among other access requirements. The holder of this card can use this card when booking tickets so the venue are aware of the person’s needs in advance or they could use the card to obtain a free carers entry pass as the Access Card is a verified document of the holders needs.

I find my Access Card helps to better communicate my access needs as it’s clear and easy to understand what my access requirements are. They also provide me an easier and more discreet way to explain my access needs too as all I have to do is present my card. The cards you do have to buy and they are valid for a few years.

The main downside to Access Cards is that they’re only officially recognised at certain venues and other places so they can’t be used universally and generically to communicate and get your access needs met. I do hope in time that they are more widely accepted the more recognition they are given.

Radar Keys

Radar keys give the holder access to over 9,000 toilet facilities around the UK, these include disabled toilets and Changing Places. 

You are best buying official Radar keys as then they are most likely to work and be good quality.

CEA cards

For a small annual fee CEA Cards give the holder the admittance of a person into the cinema with them, this could be a carer or family member etc. to provide assistance to the card holder. Most but not all cinemas participate in the CEA Card scheme.

Though I don’t go to the cinema anymore when I used to be able to go to the cinema it was helpful to be able to take someone in with me in return knowing that they were also there to support me and care for me should I become unwell or need help.

Can’t Wait Card

This is just one of a few ‘Can’t wait cards’ that you can get for free. If you have a medical condition which means that you urgently need to use the toilet for whatever reason this card can help give you access to a toilet when shown.

I find my ‘Can’t wait’ card really helpful, at times it’s given me access to staff toilets when there’s been no toilets available to the public. It’s also allowed me to use the customer toilets in shops or cafés when I’ve not been a customer. It’s also allowed me to discretely explain why I can’t queue for the toilets or when I’ve needed to get past the queue to get to the disabled toilets/Changing Places.

*All headers are links

Social Prescribing: An Introduction

Social Prescribing is something that I'm benefiting from at the moment and it's something that I'm fairly new too. I have a Link Worker who I'm starting to get to know at the moment and she can support me for up for two years.

Who is Social Prescribing for?

People who may benefit from social prescribing include:

• Individuals with chronic long-term illness
• Individuals with complex needs that is affecting their wellbeing
• Those in need of support with their mental health
• People who are isolated from society

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing follows the Social Model of care as opposed to the traditional Medical Model of care used in medicine. (See my blog post on the Social and Medical Models of care.) It recognises that a person's health is not just determined by their physical wellbeing but that other factors play a role also in a person such as social, economic and environmental and cultural factors.

This could include:

• Lifestyle including diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking
• Finances including debt and a person's disposable income
• Eduction
• Loneliness and isolation
• Religion
• Where a person lives
• Access to the community

Social Prescribing comes from the NHS' 'Long-Term Plan' and it replaces the 'one-size fits all' model of care, especially when it comes to supporting individuals with complex and/or chronic needs the extend beyond their physical wellbeing. For example tackling isolation, accessing the community, confidence building and more. It aims to gives people fuller and healthier lives all round addressing not just physical needs, but social, emotional, spiritual, cultural and intellectual needs.

Working in Partnership

Social Prescribing services work in partnership with a wide range of health and social care professionals as well as with partner organisation including the NHS, Public Health England, the British Medical Association, Community Leisure UK, the National Association of Primary Care, National Voices, the National Academy for Social Prescribing and more. (*NALW)

References:

NHS England - Social Prescribing in Practice
King's Fund - What is Social Prescribing?

Making Sense of Social Prescribing

Planning a trip out? - Here are some accessibility guides

If you have a disability or chronic illness like myself I've sure your care of how difficult planning trips out can be. You can't just turn up at places; instead you have to do your research and often call up the place your visit to ask your accessibility needs and what accommodations their are for your needs. Things like 'is there a Changing Place?', 'do you have info in audio or large print?', 'is there a hearing loop?', 'is there an audio announcement?', 'are their lifts or ramps?', 'do you have wheelchair or mobility scooters to hire?' this list goes on and on!

What's so difficult for organisations is that access needs are so varied including people who have mobility needs, are D/deaf or hard of hearing, visually impaired etc and within that each person's access needs are unique to them so it's difficult for organisations to cover all accessibility needs so often they only give a brief overview.

Thankfully there are some really good organisations that offer accessibility information. It's a bit like Trip Advisor, except for people with disabilities and access needs.

Euan's Guide

"Euan's Guide makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go. 
The charity was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE (who has Motor Nerone Disease) and his sister Kiki. 
As Euan’s access requirements changed, both went in search of recommendations for accessible places to go, but a platform for this kind of information didn’t exist. 
Built as a friendly and honest alternative to hours of web searching and phone calls before visiting somewhere new, Euan’s Guide now has thousands of disabled access reviews and listings for places all over the UK and beyond. 
Euan's Guide was launched by Euan and his sister Kiki as a place for disabled people and their family and friends to share their knowledge of accessible places to go."

I myself use Euan's Guide and write and submit reviews of places for them on the occasions I do go out. IWhen you write a review it asks what you're access needs are e.g. wheelchair user, mobility aids, speech impairment, assistance dog, hearing aid/cochlear implant etc. You then give an overall description, and then you write a review of transport & parking, access (e.g. was their a ramp/lift, hearing loop system, places to sit etc), toilet facilities, staff, anything else and you can also attach pictures, such as the seating area, the accessible loo/Changing place, accessible changing room, outside/inside access, Blue Bade parking etc.

Red Cord Card

As well as access reviews Euan's Guide also has a Red Cord campaign. 

They give out free #RedCordCards which say: "This red emergency cord must hang freely all the way to the floor. If it does not, it may prevent a disabled person from asking for help". 

Taking action in Matalan

The Red Cord Card scheme aims to bring awareness that emergency red cords in accessible toilets, accessible changing rooms, accessible fitting rooms and Changing Places need to hang freely. I carry around a few in my bag and leave them on emergency red cords and when I see one that been tied up I, if possible untie it and inform staff and also take a picture of the tied up cord and tweet it. This seems to rather effective. I recently got Matalan to sort out their emergency red cord in the accessible changing room.

If you live in the UK can order a free pack of Red Cord Cards from Euan's Guide ⇨ here. 

You can follow Euan's Guide on Twitter ⇨ here and tweet pictures of emergency red cords and cars with the hashtag #RedCordCard and #LetItDangle (see Gem's video below ⇩)

AccessAble

“AccessAble is here to take the chance out of going out. To give you the accessibility information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible for you. We’ve surveyed 10,000s of venues across the UK and Ireland, including shops, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, railway stations, hotels, colleges, universities, hospitals and more. Use AccessAble to find wheelchair accessible venues or check out disabled access and facilities.”

AccessAble have reviewed all sorts of places and they provide easy and accessible information on the facilities available (with some really cool symbols to represent all different kinds of needs from facilities for people with mobility needs, Blue Badge parking spaces, accessible accommodation, sign language, safe or quiet places, large print, braille, audio format, assistance dogs and more).

All you need to do is put in the location of where you're visiting and it will show up the places nearby that have been reviewed.

Changing Places 

Changing Places symbol

Changing Places are specially adapted toilet facilities as well as having standard toilets with grab rails and an emergency red cord like in you average accessible toilets Changing Places are a bigger space and also have changing tables and hoist facilities; some even have shower facilities.

The Changing Places Consortium was launched in 2006 on behalf of the over 250,00 children and adults who cannot use standard accessible toilets. 
To use the toilet in safety and comfort, many people need to be able to access a Changing Places, which have more space and the right equipment, including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist. Without changing places many people are forced to have to lay on a toilet floor. Changing places are also a bigger spaces to transfer onto the toilet, to fit at least two carers into the room and have the clinical waste bin, screens for privacy and plenty of grab rails. Some Changing Places also offer hight adjustable sinks and shower facilities.

The Changing Places website has a map of where you can find your nearest Changing Place, such as at hospitals, motorway services, tourist attractions and concert venues.

As well as the map there's also a feature where you can plan your journey and it will show you where all the registered Changing Places are located along your route.

Example of a Changing Places facility