The cookbook is being produced in Braille and also in large print to help raise awareness of alternative formats. Dishes such as Haggis Pakora, Blood Bay Scallops with Lemon Galette and Rioja Cake with Figs are among the many mouth-watering recipes included.

Tony, who owns exclusive Edinburgh eatery Oloroso and has appeared on TV’s Ready Steady Cook, explained his reasons for getting involved in a project which aims to highlight the ongoing importance of Braille today:

“Cooking is about creating and enjoying delicious meals together and visual impairment should not act as a barrier to this fundamental, fun part of life.  We wanted to create something in the cookbook that would allow people, through the ever-important medium of Braille, to both celebrate the art of cookery and use the recipes in a practical way to actually make delicious meals together with friends and family.  It’s something I was delighted to be a part of”.

The cookbook was printed and bound by the Scottish Braille Press which prints Braille for many major clients across the UK.  It contains 43 recipes including starters, main courses and desserts ranging from staple Great British classics to Scottish dishes with an Indian twist.

Royal Blind Chief Executive Richard Hellewell commented:

“National Braille Week runs from the 4^th to the 11^th of January each year and was initiated by Royal Blind to mark the birthday of Louis Braille, who created Braille in 1825.

“Through this cookbook we want to highlight the vital importance of Braille, which is as essential to the lives of those who depend on it now, as it has ever been. Braille enables inclusion and opportunity and allows us to dispel the myth that people with visual impairments cannot participate in the joys of everyday life, such as cooking”.

The special Braille cookbooks will be available from Royal Blind by calling 0131 229 1456 or from the Braille press shop: www.royalblind.org/shop

A practical learning experience led by international exponent, Krister Inde from Sweden

Why should I attend?

95% of people with a serious sight loss can be supported to utilise residual vision enabling them to retain independence and choice. Low vision services need to move beyond the simple issue of magnifiers together with cursory advice on lighting.

Who should attend?

This learning experience is essential to all health, social care and special education practitioners who have a role in delivering effective low vision services. If you are an optometrist, ophthalmologist, occupational or physical therapist, orthoptist, rehabilitation worker, psychologist or specialist teacher then this is for you.

What can you expect?

A unique and one off opportunity in the UK, to learn from the internationally acclaimed practitioner and user of low vision, Krister Inde together with Bjorn Hellstrom from Multilens.
Subjects covered will include:

• From blind schools to vision centres in 40 years
• “See Bad Feel Good” – vision loss is an emotional problem
• “See More” – vision desire and confidence in children
• Eccentric viewing and training
• Nystagmus and visual efficiency
• Optical solutions and magnification – near, intermediate, far
• “SEEnior and Come closer” – magnification correction of low visual acuity
• Filters and transmissions protecting your retina
• SOS – Stroke and Sight – relevant methods and means

When can I take part?

The learning experience will be held at the Victoria Hotel, Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy.

• October 10th – 6.00pm to 9.00pm – a master class for those unable to cancel day time clinics £60 including a buffet supper
• October 11th – Full day symposium from 9.30am to 3.30pm £102 including a buffet lunch

If booking both events there is a special discounted rate of £150 but places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. All prices are inclusive of VAT. A certificate of attendance and a copy of “See Bad Feel Good” by Krister Inde will be provided to all participants.

Further information including: details of the location, travel, local accommodation, fringe opportunities and to book, please go to www.fsbinsight.co.uk.

The conference began with a welcome and address by the President, Graham Findlay [PowerPoint, 130kb]. He summarised the history of SCOVI’s predecessor, the Scottish National Federation for the Welfare of the Blind, and outlined the timetable for the day.

There then followed two workshops. Lee Stanway from Guide Dogs gave a presentation on guide dogs for people with additional disabilities [PowerPoint, 17.95Mb]; and Mhairi Thurston, from the University of Abertay, a presentation on the need for emotional support for people with sight loss [PowerPoint, 428kb].

After a break for coffee, Liz Scott Gibson, Deaf Action, presented her thoughts on the provision of joint sensory services [PowerPoint, 6.9Mb].

There followed an excellent lunch in the restaurant and time for networking, with the opportunity to try out a guide dog under blindfold, which several delegates undertook.

After lunch Robert Brown, Convener of the Cross Party Group on Visual Impairment at the Scottish Parliament from 2007-11, presided over the official launch of the Scottish Council on Visual Impairment when he cut a special cake and everyone enjoyed a glass of cava to toast the new organisation.

The two afternoon workshops followed this, with Bridget Stevens from ADA Scotland giving a description of how live audio described commentaries were given in theatres across Scotland and how her organisation was striving to introduce professional standards. This was accompanied by video clips from “The Full Monty” both with and without audio description. At the same time Andrew Kaye from RNIB gave a presentation on the changes to disability and work related benefits the coalition government intended to introduce [PowerPoint, 444kb].

The final keynote speech was given by Richard Leaman, Chief Executive of Guide Dogs. He stressed that Guide Dogs felt that it was essential that they collaborate with other organisations in the sector to ensure that the best service was given to blind and partially sighted people. To this end the new Sighted Guide programme had solicited enquiries from over 70 local societies. The initial investment from Guide Dogs was £500,000 and six pilot schemes were currently running, with one in Scotland at the Forth Valley Sensory Centre.  He looked forward to working with SCOVI in the future and announced that a new guide dog puppy would be named “Scovi”. A review of the Guide Dogs operating structure was currently underway and 20 Mobility Action Centres would be set up from the 28 establishments now operating.

The conference was closed by the President and a card given to Bryn Merchant from RNIB Scotland who would retire the following week.

At the workshop the scope of BBIS will be explained in more detail as well as the high level requirements that have already been agreed. There will be discussion on what is needed over the next few months by way of preparations and change management; and an initial demonstration of how the system and the new badge might look. Northgate, who have been contracted to provide the service, may also seek views on some of detailed functional requirements for the system.

Please this is the ONLY Scottish event on the Blue Badge Improvement Service.

Further detailed information on BBIS is available by emailing bbis@northgateis.com or by telephoning 0800 804 6326.

The name change reflects an up-dating of the organisation’s outlook and image and reflects more clearly its current work which has undergone many changes since its inception in 1917.

The official launch of the Scottish Council on Visual Impairment, which will be by Robert Brown, Convener of the Cross Party Group on Visual Impairment at the Scottish Parliament from 2007-2011, will take place at its annual conference which will be at the West Park Conference Centre in Dundee on Tuesday 21^st June.

Anyone who wishes further details on the new organisation should contact the Secretary, Richard Mazur, by email on richard.mazur@virgin.net.

Visibility has worked throughout the west of Scotland for over 150 years and is committed to delivering a locally based service to visually impaired people of Dumfries and Galloway.

Fiona Sandford, Chief Executive of Visibility said:

‘we have been working with our partners in Dumfries and Galloway for some years and this merger is the natural conclusion of our work. We look forward to working with our local authority and health partners to benefit the people of Dumfries and Galloway’.

Arlene Croall, retiring Chairperson of DGAB said:

‘we invited Visibility to help us find a sustainable way of ensuring that DGAB service users would continue to benefit from the presence of a visual impairment charity. The merger is the best possible outcome and we can retire knowing that DGAB service users are in safe hands!’

Dennis has been registered blind since the age of 11 and attended Edinburgh’s Royal Blind School. He qualified as a social worker in the early 1980s and went on to worked for many years with Guide Dogs at Forfar and latterly for Grampian Society for the Blind.

Mr Robertson dedicated his victory to his daughter Caroline, who passed away in February, saying: “I’d like to thank my wife Fiona and my daughter Caroline who passed away in February. I hope I’ve made my daughter proud. She told me to continue with the election campaign and I did exactly that. Tonight, you have made mine, and my daughter’s, dreams come true.

SNP officials are now preparing to welcome Mr Robertson, 58, and his Alsatian guide dog Q to the Parliament.