SVI Members Make Their Voices Heard!
Following a busy tea and toast session, Sarah-Ann Cromwell met with SVI members individually for an Save SVI – Write to Your Local Councillor session. Members recited their thoughts and experiences and Sarah-Ann transcribed them into a template e email. Every message was transcribed using member’s own words.
While contacting an elected representative is straightforward for a sighted person, many blind and visually impaired people face significant barriers when trying to take part in digital democracy. The official Sandwell councillor search page is not fully accessible to screen reader users or people who navigate without a mouse, making it difficult for some residents with sight loss to identify and contact the councillor elected to represent them.
Sarah-Ann helped members by navigating the https://sandwell.moderngov.co.uk/mgFindMember.aspx to identify their wards elected representative which allowed local people with sight loss to participate equally in sharing their views with local decision-makers.
Members shared that SVI provides:
- Friendship, confidence and purpose
- A place of understanding and dignity
- Greater independence through sharing knowledge about accessible technology, learning new skills and challenging assumptions about what people with sight loss can achieve.
- A safe space for honest conversations including mental health, with people who understand their experiences.
- Connection and reduced isolation through regular activities, exercise activities, social events and opportunities to be part of the local community.
- Practical everyday support helping members access essential digital services, online forms, health information and on-line shopping.
- A guide dog-friendly community where members understand guide dog etiquette and trained volunteers can provide support.
And all members asked the important question:
If SVI no longer exists, where will blind and visually impaired people in Sandwell go ?
The emails were sent immediately and Sarah-Ann is delighted to report that Councillor Stephen J Fellows and Cllr Liane Winsper responded on the same day.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Write to Your Local Councillor session and shared their experiences.
Learn more about the Save SVI campaign and how you can help by visiting our Save SVI page, where you can read the Chair’s letter and download templates to contact your local councillor.
