THUNDER FOR ALL

Just think about how much you take the Internet for granted

Whether you use it for email (we send around 250 billion emails a day apparently), looking up information or just telling the world through social network sites like Facebook what you had for lunch, the Internet can play a big part in your daily life. Basically, the World Wide Web is brilliant, isn't it?

But how do you access the Internet if you are visually impaired or dyslexic?

Click here to watch a new video about how screen reading software Thunder, makes being able to use the Internet a life-changing experience for visually impaired people. In the video made by See The Difference, Roger and Margaret, shown above with their guide dog Tania, explain how Thunder is used on a daily basis by over 40,000 users world-wide.

Thunder is made available as a free of charge download to visually impaired people and the charity, Communication For Blind People welcomes donations to keep the Thunder software up to date with the latest trends in web development.

Torch Trust do not endorse any particular screen reading software but the local fellowship have tested Thunder successfully with the low graphics version of Network Norwich, the local Christian News portal.

Fellowship Group July Meeting Report

Instead of a visiting speaker, we changed the format of the last meeting of our 36th year before the summer break and encouraged our members and supporters to contribute.

A lady chose a favourite Bible passage, one man sang a solo while another gave a dramatic recitation, and one of our newer members, Freda(above), introduced her favourite hymn.

The afternoon finished with Roy Merton, our regular pianist, giving a brief talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. More time was allowed for fellowship over tea and nibbles before the drivers and taxis arrived to collect their passengers.

Thanks

A big thank you to all those who have supported us in any way this year: drivers, the refreshment team, City Church for providing the venue, visiting speakers, choirs and soloists and those who donate regularly to enable the worldwide work of the Torch Trust amongst blind and partially sighted people to continue and expand.

Advice for Drivers offering lifts to visually impaired people

When collecting visually impaired passengers, please go to the house and knock on the door. Then introduce yourself by name and state your purpose. Blind people have to be sure of their security.

If there is a need, you should guide visually impaired people to a vehicle by allowing them to take an arm. When they reach the vehicle, drivers should carefully open the door themselves. After this, you should offer to guide the hand of whoever is in their care to a safe part of the vehicle entrance. Please be sure to protect the head of your VI passenger as they enter the doorway. Following this, VIP may need assistance with seat belts.

When the vehicle reaches its destination, drivers must not allow people with sight problems to open vehicle doors themselves. They may accidentally open them into the path of moving traffic or pedestrians. The driver must do this himself, then help his passengers out of the vehicle and into the church building.

As you drive along, describe where you are and what you can see

Network Norwich: Eric to spend 90th birthday in prayer marathon

A Norwich Christian is planning a very special way to celebrate his 90th birthday – he will spend 12 hours in a prayer marathon and he is inviting other people to join him.

Eric Saunders, who is a member of New Hope Christian Centre in Lakenham, Norwich, and registered blind, said: “In recognition, in a small way, of the wonderful blessings my Father God has bestowed upon me over the past 90 years, I am planning, on my birthday on April 24, to spend 12 hours of that day in prayer and thanksgiving. I am thinking of praying from 6am onwards."

"Prayer is the centre of my life activity, a great deal of my time is spent with the Street Pastors, for whom I am a prayer pastor,” said Eric.

“Some three years ago I became registered with severe sight impairment. From that time I have receive tremendous help from associations caring for the blind and particularly from my local friends, the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB).

“I am inviting people to share in my prayer marathon. It will be of tremendous joy to me were they to do so in a couple of ways. Most importantly, to supply me with prayer requests for people or events, close to their hearts, which they would wish me to include in my prayers. Please bring them in person and join me for a few moments in prayer, by all means or send them to me by post or e-mail. They will be warmly welcomed.

“Secondly, please sponsor me in my marathon by making a donation to that wonderful charity organisation the NNAB."

You can contact Eric by e-mail at eric@shewensaunders.freeserve.co.uk

You can find out more about NNAB and donate online at www.nnab.org.uk

To read the full text of this article on Network Norwich by clicking here