As part of Welsh Charities Week, we’re excited to introduce you to Rob, one of our incredible Digital Skills Officers at Vision Support. In this blog, Rob takes us behind the scenes of his role, sharing the challenges, joys, and life-changing moments that come with supporting people with vision impairments.
From introducing new technology to empowering independence, Rob’s piece highlights the vital role Vision Support plays in communities across North East Wales and Cheshire.
A day in the life of a Digital Skills Officer
Whilst many working people may lament the monotonous rinse and repeat nature of their employment, the same cannot be said for a Digital Skills Officer. Every day is completely different. A new challenge around every corner. Interesting people with interesting stories make working life a veritable buffet of experiences, No two jobs are ever the same. Sure, we may deal with a hundred iPhones, a thousand computers and a million Alexa’s each month, but the different characters we meet are countless.
Take last week. I had two appointments booked this particular Tuesday, both of whom were brand new to the digital skills department. Although I get some brief notes on what sort of assistance someone is looking for, and despite the initial call I make to every new referral to get a deeper understanding of the job ahead, i never really know what I’m stepping into.
Each day starts the same, a strong cup of tea and breakfast. After looking up the addresses of todays visits, I send these first to the locations team, and then to my support worker driver, so that she can input them into her sat nav. I call both service users to make sure they both remember that the visit is taking place and can still fulfil the appointment. I remember one fateful day where I’d travelled all the way to Abergele, a distance of some 50 miles, to find out on arrival that my service user had covid, and I had to turn back around and go home. And, although the morning calls don’t always mitigate disasters like this, they certainly help.
As I wait for the toot of the black Jaguars horn to indicate my support workers arrival, I carry out my final checks. Wallet, Phone, keys, and anything I may need for this particular job. In this instance, my phone would be enough.
My morning appointment is in Flintshire, a drive of only 40 minutes or so. We spend the time chatting and listening to music, I fill Dana in about the visit ahead.
We arrive in an anonymous street. It could be any street in one of many north-eastern Welsh towns that society forgot. The echoes of bustling industrious times still found in the weekly markets, dampened by the rise of supermarkets and bargain stores. The independent record store on its knees due to streaming, the abandoned train station home to nothing more than weeds and the ghost of a long-forgotten time.
My knock is answered, eventually, by a timid sounding lady. She is clearly nervous, and I don’t blame her. I am not exactly a small man, and with hair reaching past my shoulders and a beard, I don’t suppose I look like your typical IT guy. After introducing ourselves we are invited into a wonderfully quaint and tidy dwelling. I am always nervous in such places. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve accidentally knocked a picture flying from a wall with a shoulder, caught an ornament with my jacket, or stepped on a cat with my size 11 cowboy boots, but thankfully so far so good, I make it to the sofa without destroying trinket or kitten.
This lady has been referred to me for some help using Seeing AI. She would like to use it to read her post, rightfully so. It’s an incredible piece of kit for any VI person. Using your telephone or tablets camera, it can scan written material and read it back to you. This is not the only function of Seeing AI, but it is the only one we’ll be dealing with today. It said on my notes that this lady had tried Seeing AI but needed additional support with it. I had a look through her iPad and saw no trace of Seeing AI. So, after asking her permission, I went ahead and installed the app for her. Now, this is the first judgement call I made on this day. Technically speaking, should I have installed the app for her? or should I have taught her how to do this herself? Well, after conversing with her, I made the call that actually, it would be beneficial for her if this bit of software, this tool, was simply set up and made ready, so that she could use it immediately. Adding additional stress of teaching someone how to install and app if they haven’t done this before, could bring negative feelings towards the whole process, and the last thing I want is for her to have any reservations before using what could be a revolutionary app for her. I asked the lady if she could fetch something that she would like to read, maybe a letter of some sort. She actually had two letters that she didn’t want to open, because she couldn’t read who they were addressed to, and since she lived with her son, she didn’t want to open his by mistake.
First, I demonstrated how by holding the camera over the letter, her iPad would start reading any text that was visible. My support worker then gave her more visual assistance on how to aim the camera. And finally, she independently read the address of the letter. I could instantly tell that she was warming to the idea, there was a delicious childish glee in her voice as she ripped open the envelope, keen to read more. I do not mean to patronise when describing her glee as childish. But I feel that it is the purest form of joy. We all need some childish glee in our lives, and there was an unmistakeable delight in her voice when she was able to read the letter and glean what it was about.
And that was that. We were probably only there for 30 minutes, but that was the only thing she needed help with. Sometimes it is the simple things, which can change someone’s life. Not to suggest that Seeing AI is simple, of course not. But, for someone like me who uses these apps daily, who has used them for years, they can be taken for granted. We forget the marvel and wonder we experienced when using them for the first time. I was honoured and humbled to share someone else’s marvel and wonder.
The ability to read one’s own post is a commodity that I guarantee many sighted people have taken for granted. I don’t doubt there are people out there who have probably never considered the possibility that one day they might not be able to read their own post. Without the use of technology, so many VI people would have to give up their right to privacy and have someone else read their post for them. Earlier in this piece I bemoaned the modernisation of industry and society, this is one modernisation that I wholeheartedly applaud. Technology is a leveller. It allows me to carry out my job. It helps millions of VI people to live independent lives. And although sometimes I wish we could take a step back in time to simpler days when we weren’t so reliant on technology, I wouldn’t swap Seeing AI for the world.
This is why the digital skills team are so important. This is one miniscule drop in the tumultuous, broiling sea of technology. But step by step, we help vision impaired people all over north-east Wales and Cheshire ride the waves. At first, a guiding hand on the tiller, but eventually, a backseat bench at a bar, watching the new skipper take over.
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