RNIB Roundup: Product Videos and More!

I have a variety of exciting things to share with my readers that I have been involved in with the RNIB since my photoshoot earlier this year; from product videos, to an appearance in the Vision magazine, thank you gifts and even being featured on the official RNIB Facebook banner!

Take a look below at some of the projects I've been involved in throughout the year!

Product Videos

Earlier this Spring, I filmed new product videos with the RNIB for their online store; demonstrating how I use the liquid level indicator and Perkins Brailler with corresponding labelling tape adapter. I have now received the final edited videos and have provided a useful transcript underneath each clip.

In this product video I demonstrate how I use my liquid level indicator on a regular basis to avoid spilling my drinks and to accurately define when hot liquid is reaching towards the top of a cup:

"The liquid level indicator is a device that hooks onto the side of a cup or mug. It has 3 prongs, that are metal, that helps to detect when the water is nearing the top of the cup. 

I'm Kimberley Burrows, I'm 26 and I was a premature baby and my Optic Nerves didn't develop properly. If I didn't have my liquid level indicator then I would certainly be having a lot more accidents! It just gives me a bigger sense of confidence around my kitchen. One thing that's great about the liquid level indicator is that it's magnetic; so I keep mine on the side of my fridge so that I know where it is and don't end up losing it!

I use my liquid level indicator for pouring every drink, whether it's hot or cold. When the water is nearing the three prongs it will vibrate and beep - so it's dual-sensory in that it's audio and touch as well. There are two levels; when it's coming to the first level it will be quite moderate in its vibrating and beeping, and nearing the top it's time to stop then.

The liquid level indicator is an example of something simple that can make a huge difference. Visit RNIB's shop for more ideas at rnib.org.uk/shop"



In the second product video I demonstrate how I use my Perkins Classic Brailler and Labelling Tape Adaptor for everyday organisation, labelling of food items and creative writing:

"I first used a Perkins Classic Brailler a few years ago. It's quite easy, just like writing, and it just flows out really!

I'm Kimberley Burrows, I'm 26 and I was a premature baby and my Optic Nerves never developed properly. I first discovered the Perkins Classic Brailler when I starting doing a Braille course. When I first used the Brailler it was just amazing and it opened up a whole new world of communication for me. I personally use it to write stories and jot down notes and I also Braille my labels.

There is a label adapter that I add to the back of the Brailler which feeds through the same way as a piece of paper would. This allows you to then feed tape through and Braille onto the tape to cut off to add to cans, DVDs or CDs. If I didn't use my Brailler to label soups that it could end quite disastrously! I could be getting something completely different out of the cupboard - it could be dog food! So it saves me from humiliation, really. It helps to me spotlight a certain item and I just need that independence.

The Perkins classic is one type of Brailler that's available from RNIB's online shop. Visit rnib.org.uk/shop"

RNIB Shop

Over at the RNIB online shop I can be seen heading the Braille products, with additional photos under the Perkins Classic Brailler! You can view the full range of products available by the RNIB, from magnifiers to lighting to talking products, by visiting their online shop.

Vision Magazine

I can be spotted in the latest issue of Vision, RNIB's magazine for subscribing members, promoting the Perkins Classic Brailler. Article reads:

"Products to make everyday life easier: You can now review products and watch demonstrations on our new online shop! We have listened to your feedback and introduced a number of new features to our new online shop. As well as adding your own product reviews, you can also watch and listen to short films featuring people who use the products.

Kimberley is a keen Braille reader: Another film features Kimberley - a keen Braille reader and writer. Her Perkins Brailler helps her compile short stories as well as to produce braille labels for everyday items - including food items!

Kimberley uses the labelling tape adaptor for Perkins Brailler (code BM42). The white plastic labelling adaptor sits neatly on the back of the Perkins carriage. You then simply slide your Braille labelling tape into the clips at either end of the adaptor, which keeps the tape in place. There's also an adaptor for the Next Generation Perkins Brailler (BM43) and you can use both the 9mm tape and 12mm tape in the adaptors, available in clear or black."

Facebook Page

I'm very honoured to currently be featured in the RNIB's Facebook page banner! It's a huge privilege to be the first thing that many visitors see when they visit the social networking site and means very much to me, indeed!

I also received a wonderful tweet of support

from RNIB's Twitter page too!

Thank You Gifts

...And finally! I have received some wonderful gifts from the RNIB as a thank you for taking part in their projects this year; including a card with a handwritten thank you note from the team I worked with as well as two prints of my photographs taken at MediaCity UK in Salford Quays!

I really enjoyed filming my product videos and taking part in photo sessions for RNIB and would like to thank them for inviting me to be involved with their projects!

You'd Never Guess That... Marie Claire UK!

"My blindness hasn't stopped me becoming an illustrator"

I was recently approached by the popular fashion and beauty magazine Marie Claire to take part in a new feature of their monthly publication. It's called "You'd Never Guess That..." and it aims to spotlight incredible women with incredible stories and encourage and inspire others to overcome challenges and stereotypes that they face.

I talk about my passion for illustration despite my severe visual impairment, having only a small percentage of central vision left in one eye that is deteriorating more over time, and how I won the RNIB's Young Illustrator Award in 2014.

"I'm blind in my right eye and have 10 percent sight in my life, so I draw from my mind. I'm an award-winning illustrator. My dream is to illustrate children's books."

The magazine article can also be found online in the features section of the Marie Claire website, which you can read by clicking here. It features more inspirational stories from women and a more in-depth look at my own; including my sight loss story, my favourite mediums to use and how I work by drawing the imagery in my mind. 

I had a wonderful time working with Marie Claire and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to be featured in their magazine, alongside many other strong and uplifting women with motivating life stories.

Marie Claire UK's August issue is out now!

Helping Others to 'See' Problems in the Irlam & Cadishead Times

My local community magazine, the Irlam & Cadishead Times, celebrates its first birthday this month! To celebrate, a special bumper issue is currently being delivered to thousands of homes in the area. 

As well as being featured on the front cover, inside the magazine this month is a full-page spread incorporating two articles based on recent events I have taken part in; the 'Swap With Me' event with First Bus and a collection event at my local Tesco supermarket for Guide Dogs!

Helping Others to 'See' Problems

Irlam woman Kimberley Burrows may be severely visually impaired but that has not stopped her from living life to the full and helping others understand the problems that visual impairment can encounter.

Kimberley told the Times, "I'm 26 and have lived in Irlam all my life. I'm severely visually impaired with only 10% central vision in just one eye, the size of a pinprick, due to being a premature baby suffering from underdeveloped optic nerves and Congenital Cataracts that were left untreated until I was 4 years old.

My childhood was mostly spent at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London. This has never stopped me from loving art and illustration, however, achieving an A* in my GCSE and applying to the Leeds College of Art this year. I was previously the RNIB's Young Illustrator of the Year for 2014; with the Salford Mayor, Ian Stewart, and Michael Bond, Paddington Bear's author, among many who have given me such wonderful support and inspiration."

Kimberley recently attended a 'Swap With Me' event with First Bus at their depot located in Bolton. The event was designed to give blind and partially sighted people the opportunity to speak directly with bus drivers and staff members to raise their issues and concerns when travelling via bus with a sensory impairment.

The event began by discussing some of the most common challenges of bus travel, including; being unable to read the bus numbers, not seeing where the pass scanner is, the inability to identify which stop to get off at, inaccessible formats of bus timetables and schedules, dealing with too many pushchair users in the priority seating area, drivers giving too many visual signals and not identifying the correct stop to get off at when asked, and buses driving past.

Kimberley said, "Participants of the event even had the opportunity to sit inside the driver's seat and experience things from their point of view. One thing I discovered was how cut off drivers actually are and how it feels like another world inside the cab compartment, far removed from the bus itself. With the engine running, the sound of passing traffic and background noise from the passengers of the bus, it makes it very difficult to hear - on both sides of the perspex glass - as a driver and passenger. This really highlighted how important it is to me that drivers are as verbal as possible, rather than visual, to visually impaired (VI) passengers."

Drivers and staff were given simulation spectacles (Sim Specs) to experience first-hand the different sight conditions, and how they affect vision whilst boarding a bus, scanning a pass and making their way to a seat. They all agreed how very difficult they found the experience even though they knew where everything was located, because of the distorted remaining vision they had adopted. Their depth perception was skewed and items were much further away than they thought when relying on what little sight the glasses gave - a much better representation than just using a blindfold. Now they have to imagine finding everything while the bus is moving!

Other suggestions mentioned included in the debrief included better colour-contrasting handrails for those with some remaining vision (either a new hi-vis colour replacing the pink and blue, or adapting with hi-vis tape), using the ramp not just for those with wheelchairs but for those who find the large gap near the kerb disorientating, having the drivers more aware that not all blind and partially sighted people will have a visual clue such as a cane or a Guide Dog, supporting passengers by shouting the bus numbers as they board and when dropping off on a different route, or drop-off point, to let the VI person know about such a change.

Kimberley added, "The 'Swap With Me' event went really well and hopefully spotlighted some of the major concerns that blind and partially sighted people in the area face on a regular basis. I hope to encounter the aforementioned improvements in the near future as the First bus drivers and staff members in attendance seemed very keen, enthusiastic and responsive to our suggestions. I have also offered to help 'mystery shop' and test out the various First buses across Salford and Manchester, taking note of the bus number and time I travelled, to provide accurate feedback of the driver and my experiences."

Kimberley and Tami Collecting for Guide Dogs

Visually Impaired Irlam woman Kimberley Burrows had a life changing start to 2015 when she trained and qualified with her first Guide Dog, Tami, who she has now had for 6 months. Kimberley told the Times, "Tami had changed my life dramatically! We travel up and down the country and I feel safe knowing that I have eyes, mobility and my best friend by my side."

She is now a volunteer for Guide Dogs, giving back to them by collecting at events and was recently at the Tesco Extra on Fairhills Road collecting for Guide Dogs with Tami that went down a storm with shoppers raising £428! Kimberley added, "As a collection box co-ordinator (many boxes can be seen in various shops along Liverpool Road and Fiddlers Lane), I have raised nearly £200 already from the boxes this year. Every little helps and I cannot tell you enough what a difference having a Guide Dog has meant to me. Please support when you can!"

The Salford Branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association are always looking for new volunteers. For more information call Janet Harper on 0845 372 7409.

Aside from illustrating Kimberley loves blogging and has her own personal blog at gleamed.blogspot.co.uk and also blogs for Henshaws Society for Blind People and Living Paintings about her life.

She added, "I am passionate about campaigning for the inclusion and accessibility rights of blind and partially sighted people living in the UK. I'm the Co-chair and comms co-ordinator of Envision, a young person's campaigning network working alongside the RNIB, and through this have had the fantastic opportunities of visiting both the UK Parliament and European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, to speak on behalf of visually impaired people and the need for a strong European Accessibility Act."

Not bad for a local girl from Irlam! Well done Kimberley and keep up the good work. Kimberley has agreed to join the team at the Irlam and Cadishead Times and will be writing her thoughts and opinions on local issues. Welcome onboard Kimberley!

As mentioned in the second article, I am now a columnist for the Irlam and Cadishead Times! I look forward to writing about local issues and sharing the things I get up to with local readers!

I would like to wish the Times a very Happy 1st Birthday! The 12th issue for June 2015 is available now on doorsteps across Irlam, Cadishead, Hollins Green and Rixton!

Scouts Magazine's Get Active! Cover

The cover of Scouts Magazine's 'Get Active' supplement has now been put together by the design team! The cover features illustrations I recently created for their Ability Issue focused around accessibility and inclusion among Scouts and Cubs in the UK.

Get Active! says: "This issue we're delighted to bring you a supplement dedicated to inclusion, echoing Scouting magazine's core theme. As always, we want to emphasise that scouting is a Movement that is inclusive and open to all, and here we provide you with some great ways of bringing the additional needs of others to the forefront of your programme.

From learning Braille to games to suit a range of abilities, this issue is a celebration of the wonderful variety you can find within Scouting today. And we simply couldn't be prouder. Enjoy the issue!"

The inside of the cover contains a section about my involvement with the project as well as a short bio and photo.

Kimberley Burrows is a blind illustrator from Salford, Manchester, and the winner of the RNIB's Young Illustrator of the Year. She can only work for 20 minutes at a time, but nevertheless continues to establish herself as one of the artists of the future. She says, 'I'm really grateful to be a part of this project… especially on the subject of inclusion - something I'm very passionate about.'

Here are my original drawings that were used for the Get Active! supplement; including the background and the illustrated elements featured around the collage. I wanted everything to be bright and colourful and to showcase as many different disabilities as possible. As always, I used my favourite mediums of black fine liner and coloured pencils and the project took most of the month of October to complete.

I want to say a big thank you to the magazine's Art Editor, James Daniel, for getting in touch and for inviting me to be part of this project. It is an honour to be included in the ability issue and I'm extremely happy with the final result!

Final Insight Magazine Scan

Here is my final magazine scan of my illustration featured in the latest issue of RNIB's Insight Magazine, November / December 2014 edition, as their Young Illustrator of the Year for 2014!

The overall theme of the latest issue is 'motivation and reward' and I portrayed that in my final illustration for the magazine, displaying the achievements and opportunities I have received this year since becoming the Illustrator of the Year for the RNIB.

As always, my illustration took most of the month to complete and was created using my favourite mediums of coloured pencils and black fine liner. You can read the accompanying article below:

Young Illustrator

Kimberley Burrows showcases some of her achievements since becoming Insight's Young illustrator for 2014.

"My piece depicts interviews with ITV Granada Reports and the Manchester Evening News, and the Mayor of Salford, Ian Stewart, tweeting that I had the 'Spirit of Salford'. It shows my artwork for John Lewis's 150th birthday which was displayed in their restaurant at the Trafford Centre. And it looks forward to my visit to the European Parliament in November, with the European Blind Union, to discuss accessibility issues with MEPS.

A big thank you to Insight for a wonderful, enjoyable year. I am very grateful for all of the opportunities that it has presented me with!"

Tweets of Support

I have received some wonderful tweets from the official RNIB Twitter accounts recently, as well as tweets of support from fellow Twitter users. I wanted to share my favourites here!

Read about the lovely @Glittered, our Young Illustrator of the Year on @MailOnline http://t.co/O6PUxYlJZm
— RNIB (@RNIB) October 16, 2014

@Glittered Well we've loved sharing your work!
— RNIB (@RNIB) October 16, 2014

Great to see @Glittered in @Femail! 'Amazing illustrations created by blind artist' http://t.co/Jxx9QaEHS1
— Louisa Muhsin (@LouisaMuhsin) October 16, 2014

Congrats Kim! RT @RNIB: Read about the lovely @Glittered, our Young Illustrator of the Year on @MailOnline http://t.co/bhdJgyB7nf #fb
— Welsh whinger! (@alandra09) October 16, 2014

@Glittered hey Kimberley, I'm a sight impaired illustrator from New Zealand. Lovely to read the article about your work this morning!
— PINKY FANG (@PINKSFANG) October 16, 2014

@Glittered I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful drawings! Loved your video about makeup too, keep up the awesome work 😊
— PINKY FANG (@PINKSFANG) October 16, 2014

Fantastic to see our volunteer campaigner @Glittered featured in the @DailyMailUK for her fantastic illustrations http://t.co/6VNgHZImhy
— RNIB Campaigns (@RNIB_campaigns) October 17, 2014

Massive well done @Glittered - these look amazing http://t.co/KR0mHjJb8Z
— Morgan Vine (@Morgypenny) October 17, 2014

@RNIB @Glittered @MailOnline Amazing! What a talent.
— Soundabout (@SoundaboutUK) October 19, 2014

@RNIB @Glittered wow, very talented young woman!
— Beadjoux (@beadjoux) October 20, 2014

The newest edition of Insight Magazine is available now in large print, Braille, audio and PDF formats.

 Insight magazine will move online in 2015 with new opportunities in writing, illustrating and blogging. For more information on how you can subscribe please click here.

Magazine Scan: Fifth Illustration in RNIB's Insight Magazine

I have now received the latest issue of RNIB's Insight Magazine (September / October 2014) featuring my fifth illustration. My newest piece focuses on support at the time of sight loss and the various ways and formats in which to receive aid and assistance.

Young Illustrator

Our young illustrator, Kimberley Burrows, writes: "Support at the time of sight loss is extremely important, and I wanted to depict some of the various forms in my illustration (above right). The most important support network is through friends and family, along with your doctor and ECLO. Helpful information can be sourced through leaflets and online from various organisations and charities including the RNIB, Henshaws Society for Blind People and Action for Blind People - as well as via helplines."

The newest edition of Insight Magazine is available now in large print, braille, audio and PDF formats. For more information on how you can subscribe - please click here.

New Column in M44 News

Issue 25 of M44 News magazine is available this weekend!

My newest column is focused around my John Lewis composition, displayed at the Trafford Centre, to celebrate the 150th birthday of the retail store. My column details how I came up with the imagery to use in the art piece, as well as the mediums I used and how long it took for me to produce. You can read the article below:

Kimberley's View

John Lewis Birthday Composition

In February, Henshaws Society for Blind People was selected by John Lewis as the charity to produce artwork to celebrate the 150th year of the retail store, to be displayed on the community art wall at the Trafford Centre.

I was kindly asked to produce a composition of my own, being a keen artist and illustrator, with other pieces being produced by the Arts & Crafts group and Parent & Toddler group in Manchester, Henshaws resource centre in Newcastle, and Arts & Crafts centre in Knaresborough.

As John Lewis is a British institution - with their first store opening in Oxford Street, in London, in 1864 - I thought I would incorporate classic British iconography, such as a Beef Eater and the Imperial State Crown, to celebrate Britain alongside John Lewis' birthday. I also portrayed the famous Trafford Centre dome, with it being a British landmark - as well as the place where my composition will be displayed. As I primarily shop at John Lewis for gifts and toys, I wanted to include some of my favourite items from the online store; a beautiful deluxe rocking horse, in particular!

The composition was created using coloured pencils, fine liner, metallic relief paints and sequins and took over two and a half months to complete.

The birthday display will be up on the community art wall, in the John Lewis restaurant at the Trafford Centre, from June 1st until the end of July.

The July 2014 edition of M44 News is available now, being delivered to 10,000 doorsteps across the areas of Irlam, Cadishead, Glazebrook and Rixton over this coming weekend!

Magazine Scan: July/August Edition of RNIB's Insight Magazine

I have now received the latest issue of RNIB's Insight Magazine - featuring my fourth illustration focused on sports and activities that have been adapted for blind and visually impaired people.

Young Illustrator

Our young illustrator, Kimberley writes: "My illustration represents sports and activities that can be adapted and enjoyed by people with a vision impairment such as tandem cycling, bling archery, goalball, sound ball tennis and cricket. I have an interest in blind archery and badminton."

Kimberley has kindly donated a painting, "Carousel", to the RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning.

The newest edition of Insight Magazine is available now in large print, braille, audio and PDF formats. For more information on how you can subscribe - please click here.

Monthly Columnist for M44 News

I was kindly asked by Steve Moss - the Editor of M44 News, my local news and events magazine - to become a monthly contributor columnist for the magazine, sharing my views and stories to local residents in my area. It's an amazing opportunity and I was deeply honoured to be asked! The new issue is now available in PDF format on the M44 News website and physical copies will be mailed to over 10,000 local homes this coming weekend.

In my first column in the newest issue, I write about the conference that I recently attended with the Greater Manchester Police Crime Commissioner and his engagement team, to help improve services for blind and visually impaired people in the Greater Manchester area. I also introduce myself by providing a profile picture and biography, and also give a short snippet of what I hope to achieve with the regular column.

Kimberley's View

Through my monthly column I hope to be able to change people's perceptions of visually impaired and blind people and what they can be capable of achieving, and perhaps even dispel any stereotypes and misconceptions that they may have. I also aim to give an interesting insight into what it's like to be severely visually impaired and the issues that matter to me.

I recently attended a half-day conference, set up by the Greater Manchester Police Crime Commissioner, Tony Lloyd, and his engagement team, in regards to meeting the needs of blind and visually impaired people. The aim of the conference was to provide an opportunity to the sight-impaired to share experiences, concerns, praise and recommendations for improvement in relation to the services they receive from Greater Manchester Police.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Manchester Guide Dogs mobility team, the Salford Sensory team, Manchester Blind Football Club, and the RNIB Regional Campaigns Officer for the North West - as well as blind and visually impaired people local to the Manchester area who wanted to share their views and experiences.

The agenda of the day was to have table-top discussions regarding the accessibility of GMP and communication, current reporting mechanisms, hate crime, crime prevention and keeping safe. Engagement officers were based at each table making notes to then be fed back to form a report and help to shape accessibility and the hate crime reporting process.

Tony Lloyd, the Crime Commissioner of GMP, said: "It's quite right that our police service should serve all members of our community. We are all on a journey, here, not just the police but all services. We all need to work harder to find ways to remove the - often unnecessary - barriers faced by people with disabilities in our community."

He ended his speech by stating that the conference was not a conclusion to meeting the needs of blind and visually impaired people in Greater Manchester, but just the beginning.

Biography

Kimberley Burrows is the RNIB's Young Illustrator for 2014, a steering group member of Envision (a young person's campaigning network in association with the RNIB) specialising in communications and social media, a keen blogger writing her own sight loss blog as well as contributing monthly to the blogs of Living Paintings and Henshaws Society for Blind People, and a volunteer Braille tutor at Henshaws.

She recently received media attention for her illustrations as a severely sight-impaired person, featuring in the Salford Advertiser and Manchester Evening News, shown on Granada Reports and on the web at the Daily Mail Online website.

The June edition of M44 News will be on doorsteps this coming weekend!