BLIND SA

Newsletter/Nuusbrief

June 2017 Junie

NO./NR. 135

Prepared in Daisy format

By Braille Service of Blind SA

Visit our website: http://www.blindsa.org.za

EDITOR/REDAKTEUR André Vosloo

E-mail/E-pos: andre.vosloo@cybersmart.co.za

Tel: (W) (021) 442-8529

Tel: (H) (021) 987-7979

This publication is made possible with financial assistance from the Department of Arts

& Culture

Motivated young blind man bounces back to his job Doctor Thwala lost his sight during the past four years at the age of 35. He was a professional plumber and earned a good salary by then – however, after he lost his sight he gave up.

One day when he went to collect his disability grant at the nearest paying point a blind lady heard that there was a young blind man walking with his son holding a traditional walking stick. The blind lady was concerned about a traditional walking stick at this stage. She suspected that it is possible that he had no independence training and organised a meeting with him.

The blind lady informed him about Blind SA and the services they provide and he got in touch with the O&M practitioner at Blind SA and he soon received counseling and training. The practitioner motivated him to recognize his plumbing skills. One day the practitioner went to visit him and found out that he has gone to do a piece job at the home next door.

Doctor replaced leaking pipes perfectly by giving instructions to his younger son of 11 years old and he was paid good cash thereafter. Since then he has never looked back. While chatting to the O&M practitioner he confessed that he thought he would never perform any

job because of the problems with his vision and he thanked Blind SA for counseling, training and also for motivating him. Now he is able to continue to do his job with a friend and is earning a living for himself and his family.

Johnson Mdluli: Blind SA Orientation & Mobility Practitioner

Getting Your Home Ready For The Visually Impaired SAINT DUNSTANS THE TORCH MAGAZINE, 24 APRIL 2017

It can happen to just about anyone. Young kids, middle-aged adults, and seniors can all have visual impairment to some degree. Whether it's something they were born with or something they are just now starting to deal with, people with vision problems can have a tough time at home. Some have a tougher time than others and may even be tempted to abuse substances to cope (luckily there are resources for them if that's the case).

As host, you can do everything in your power to make the person's life more comfortable. Few homes are set up with blindness or reduced vision in mind. That does not mean that you can't correct things, though. Here are some tips for getting your home ready for visually impaired guests, temporary residents, or homeowners.

Hazard removal & lighting changes

The first things that you need to work on is removing hazards. That's because you want your friend, spouse, or guest to be safe in your home first and foremost. The goal is to get rid of obstacles that can trip or make it harder to see things. This can include:

• Making sure area rugs won't slide or move underfoot.• Taping or covering any cords, especially where people normally move around the

home.• Making clear paths from room to room.• Keep all chairs pushed in under tables and desks.

Next, take time to evaluate the lighting in your home. This won't affect someone who is blind, but many people with visual impairments can still see – they just have difficulty seeing clearly in certain conditions.

One of those is glare. A strong light near metal appliances or shiny countertops can reduce visibility for those with vision problems. The same is true for any exposed lightbulbs. You can help make your home more safe by using lampshades, indirect lighting, and blinds or drapes over windows.

Kitchens need extra care

Your kitchen might be the biggest concern for those with visual impairments. There are plenty of shiny surfaces, hard-to-read labels, sharp surfaces, and even cleaning supplies. Someone with problems seeing clearly could be very uncomfortable here – and even unsafe.

To make your kitchen better for visually impaired, start, start by getting organised. Make sure that cooking suppies that get used often are easy to find and reach. Put food in cabinets and refrigerators in an organised way (such as all the soup cans on the second shelf to the right). Do the same with utensils. This way, someone with trouble seeing can remember where to find things.

If the vision problem is severe, you can also help them to know what they are finding by using rubber bands. For example, a can with one rubber band might mean tomatoes; two bands mean fruit; and so on.

Get rid of certain products

For most part, someone with visual impairment can have all the amenities and items that anyone can in the home. However, there are some things that you should probably get rid of to make their lives easier:

• Avoid cleaning products that make things shiny, as that sheen can make glare a problem.

• Keep bleach and ammonia in different rooms so that they won't get mixed by accident.

• Skip anything with small text or words that do not contrast well with the background colour.

• If you cannot get a shade for an exposed bulb, consider removing it entirely.

A safe and comfortable home for all

Living with someone who is visually impaired can be a challenge. At the very least, it means making changes to your lifestyle. For example, you really can't kick off your shoes at the front door and let them lie randomly on the floor for days. But by taking care of hazards and lighting, organising your kitchen, and getting rid of some stuff, you can make your home safe and comfortable for anyone with vision problems.

That can even make you feel more comfortable at home!

11th IBBA World Championships – International Blind Bowls Association 19 to 31 March 2017 136 visually impaired bowlers and their directors from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa arrived in Cape Town by Saturday 18 March to compete against each other in the 11th IBBA World Tournament. South Africa wanted to defend their World Champion title (2013) that they had being holding for the last four years.

The official opening and play took place at the Wanderers Sports Club: Bowling at 15h30 on Sunday 19th March with Kallie Haupt (President of Bowls SA), Eddie van der Heiden (Bowls SA's Convenor of the Standing Committee: Disability) representing Bowls SA and representatives from City of Cape Town and Lions International in attendance.

The South African team was once again selected from NABB regions around the country and was represented by players who have proved their ability over the last four years. The manner of play was both in singles and mixed pairs and therefore the selection consisted of one of each category

Team SA consisted of:

B1 – Totally Blind

Tracy Smith – Sables in Gauteng; Director: Tommy Smith

Michiel Kruger – Free State; Director: Graham Hallowell

B2 – Partially Sighted

Gwen Nel – Eastern Province; Director: Geoffrey Newcombe

Jaco van Straaten – Gauteng North; Director: Johann du Toit

B3 – Partially Sighted

May Homer – Ekurhuleni; Director: Paul Homer

Herman Scholtz – Gauteng North; Director: Annatjie van Rooyen

B4 – Partially Sighted

Princess Schroeder – Peninsula; Director: Graham Ward

Eben Fourie – Mpumalanga; Director: Hannetjie Smit

Team Manager: Karin Gouws – Sables in Gauteng

The conditions were very hot and participating countries selected only their best players, making for intense matches for the entire tournament. There is no doubt that everyone had a wonderful experience that can only be expected from beautiful Cape Town. Add Table Mountain as your daily backdrop and you have a recipe to succeed. Which is exactly what Team SA's Protea Team did with the following results:

B1 Ladies – Silver

B1 Pairs – Gold

B2 Men's – Gold

B3 Ladies – Silver

B3 Men's – Gold

B3 Pairs – Gold

B4 Ladies – Silver

B4 Men's – Bronze

B4 Pairs – Silver

Medals: Gold 4; Silver 4; Bronze 1

Awarded as follows:

Tracy Smith B1 Ladies – Silver

Tracy Smith & Michiel Kruger B1 Pairs – Gold

Jaco van Straaten B2 Men's – Gold

May Homer B3 Ladies – Silver

Herman Scholtz B3 Men's – Gold

May Homer & Herman Scholtz B3 Pairs – Gold

Princess Schroeder B4 Ladies – Silver

Eben Fourie B4 Men's – Bronze

Princess Schroeder & Eben Fourie B4 Pairs – Silver

South Africa was once again the highest point scorers and kept the team trophy right here. Well done, Team SA! We are so proud of our visually impaired bowlers who continue to keep the flag flying high and doing South Africa proud.

We would like to thank Bowls SA, SASCOC and the Department of Sports for their endorsement of the tournament and Lions International, who this year celebrates their Centennial year, for all their support before and during the tournament.

Karin Gouws

PURE ABILITY: SA vs China during the 11th IBBA World Blind Bowls Championships in Cape Town. Ten countries took part. South Africa, the defending champions and also the champions in 1977 at the first IBBA, again walked away with the honours!

GENEROSITY KNOWS NO AGE … A letter received at Blind SA reads thus:

“Please find enclosed a letter and donation from my six year old son, Michael, who took it upon himself to write to you and send a donation from his money box.

He is only just learning to write, so I thought that I would “translate” his letter for you”.

It reads: “For the eye people. I am giving you 30 rand and some cents. I am giving you money to get the eye people some glasses, because I feel sorry for those who can't see. Love Mike.”

I read the letter to some of my colleagues and as can be imagined, especially as most of them are mothers, there was a resounding “that is so sweet!”

Can one little boy make a difference? Absolutely! Can one adult make a difference? Definitely!

In a world full of distrustful, angry, demotivated and cynical people, all it takes is a random act of kindness to restore one's faith in human nature, at least even for a little while. What if the act of kindness was less random, and we all decided that the one person that we can influence and inspire is ourselves. What if we reclaimed just a bit of our childhood innocence and believe that one person by word or deed can make a difference?

Michael may only just be learning to write, but he is a remarkable young man who has certainly already mastered the art of kindness and generosity.

Karin Gouws – Blind SA

I AM BLIND. BUT I STILL FIGHT. SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST BLACK MMA CHAMP The world that greeted Ronald Dlamini outside the hospital was foreign. Devoid of light. Absent colour. Blindness had swallowed Dlamini's life in the grips of a meningitis-induced coma. After a week under the supervision of doctors the MMA fighter was discharged with a torrent of thoughts swirling inside his head. But just when despair threatened to overwhelm him, one faint fragment of neural energy crossed his mind's eye and made him stop. He was thinking. His body was moving. He was alive.

Three years earlier Dlamini had reached the pinnacle of his sport, becoming the first black man to win an MMA championship. Now he faced a far more challenging climb. A fighter to his core, he committed to facing his personal battle in the ring. But this time it wouldn't be about championship bouts, because Dlamini's sudden lack of sight gave him a new vision for his future – one centred on helping others like him. Particularly troubled by the consistency with which blind people are victims of crime, he put his experience to use designing a self-defence course tailored to helping the visually impaired.

“As a nation I believe we are all capable of greatness,” he says. “We can make room for the champion inside us.” Dlamini is sparring with the opposition life threw at him by guiding others through their struggles, equipping them with the skills needed to defend themselves. In the process his wounds have healed, and his champion's heart beats prouder than ever. Fighting remains Dlamini's sanctuary of freedom. He has shown incredible adaptability to keep it that way.

Source URL: http://beautifulnews.news24.com/Beautiful-News/i-am-blind-but-i-still-fight-south-africas-first-black-mma-champ-20170518

NEWS FROM HIGHER GROUND Hi everyone

I hope that you are all doing so well. Here in Durban we have had non-stop rain all weekend and it hasn't stopped yet!

I have been spending some time thinking and planning about the next holiday. There are a lot of things to take into account and I think I have come up with the best plan for another incredible time together.

Stables Camp, one of the Wortelgat many campsites outside Hermanus

So, we are looking at heading to the beautiful Cape this next time around. It's been a few years since we have done our Cape holiday, and I think it is time to be down there again! We will be using Wortelgat again. Those who have been before know why it is just amazing and those who haven't, well, you'll have to come and experience it to understand but Wortelgat is incredibly beautiful and very peaceful. It is on the side of the Hermanus lagoon and has loads of exciting things to do including kayaking, boating down the river and enjoying one of the most isolated beaches you'll probably ever visit. We will be using a different site at Wortelgat this time, as the usual cottages are not available (and we have outgrown them!).

So set aside Friday 8 – Wednesday 13 December 2017 for another amazing time of friends, fun, adventure and relaxation.

Within the next two months I would like to have a bit of an idea of numbers, before we book our flights down etc. Also, there is limited space. So please start to think and chat to friends and let me know if you think you will be coming.

For those travelling from outside of the Cape, I will be trying to keep an eye out for flight specials and I will let you know about those. With quite a bit of time still to go Kulula, Mango and Safair should be having some good deals. Bus travel can also be quite a bit cheaper so for those who would like to you could consider travelling down together by bus.

For anyone who would like to pay off monthly (with 8 months to go) instead of paying one larger amount in November/December we are happy to work with that too. Cost and other details will be sent out soon.

We look forward to seeing many of you in December for a fantastic holiday!

With kind regards

Emma Roos: Director

Tel: +27 (0)72 039 0907

Fax: +27 (0)31 266 2784

Email: highergroundsa@gmail.com

Website: www.higherground.org.za

NUUS VAN BLIND SA BREEDEVALLEIJAARVERGADERING

Ons jaarvergadering het op Saterdag, 27 Mei plaasgevind. Afgesien van die verslae is daar ook hulde gebring aan die volgende taklede wat oorlede is: Mnre. Edgar Oberem, Tiny Schultz, David Hubert en James Flowers.

Ons voorsitter, mnr Christo Vorster is ook geluk gewens met die huwelik van sy seun, Derick. Sy dogter, Janta, beplan om later vanjaar te trou.

Ons tak het die afgelope jaar verskeie nuwe lede verwelkom. Mnr en mev Casper en Louise Britz, asook mnr Philip Crous, het hulle hier op Worcester gevestig. Mnr Crous gee opleiding by die nuwe tegnologiese sentrum. Mnr en mev Raymond en Rieka Aukett het Worcester verlaat en woon nou in Orania.

Mnr Daantjie Molentze het afgetree by die Instituut vir Blindes na 45 jaar diens. Mnre Nico Nel en Tom Botha het ook die afgelope tyd afgetree en woon nou in Huis Brevis.

Op 24 Maart het ons 'n talenteaand aangebied. Daar was verskeie items soos musiekitems en voordrag. Een van ons nuwe lede, Casper Britz, het 'n goeie bydrae gelewer met sy trekklavier asook saam met Sakkie Reid wat die klawerbord gespeel het. Casper is ook al deel van die orkes van die Instituut.

André Steyn

BLIND SA DECENT ON WORCESTER!

Blind SA participated in a serious of meetings in Worcester from the 24-26 May 2017.

The team which included Cathy Donaldson, Christo de Klerk, Susan Bam, Susan van Wyk, Ofentse Manyane, Denise Frost, Philip Jordaan and Jace Nair departed Johannesburg in the early morning of 23 May 2017 and arrived late evening in Worcester.

Christo de Klerk, Susan van Wyk, Ofentse Manyane and Jace Nair met with Corné du Bois from Kaleidoscope and Paul Greyling from Pioneer School to discuss training.

Later that afternoon the Braille Committee of Blind SA had its meeting at the Blind Spot – Kaleidoscope. Christo de Klerk (Egoli Blind) is the chairperson, Eric Gama (Egoli Blind), is elected as vice-chairperson and Heaven Botma (Breed Valley) was elected as secretary.

The Blind SA and SABA Partnership meeting was held on 25 May 2017.

The SABA General Assembly was held on 25 & 26 May 2017.

A meeting between DBE, Pioneer Printers and Blind SA was also held on 26 May 2017.

The Blind SA representatives that was present in Worcester had a social networking dinner on the 25 May 2017.

The team departed Worcester the morning of 27 May 2017 and had a historic stop at Matjiesfontein, visiting the historic town – post office, pub, coffee shop, church and the Lord Milner Hotel.

The Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein

The team arrived late back in Johannesburg that evening.

Jace Nair: Blind SA CEO