The week beginning Monday 30th September sees a new chapter starting for me on three fronts. Firstly, my role as Technology For Life Coordinator, Northern Ireland, came to an end on Friday 27th September when the team was formally ‘disbanded.’ RNIB likes to prefer the term ‘streamlining,’ but people have been made redundant while others have moved to other roles, so of course it is correct to use the term ‘disbanded.’ So my job share role for three days a week as Digital Skills Engagement and Events Officer commences. In many ways, I am looking forward to a new challenge, but it is tinged with sadness that our lovely TFL team was broken up. I know RNIB wants to make savings of around £10m, and that this is only the start of their wider strategy going into 2025. But it still feels raw and frankly unnecessary despite the fact I still have a job to transfer to. However, time will tell in terms of the role and what I can achieve in it.
Secondly, another new beginning for me is my business, STRIVE Ability. I am so excited about this venture because it is something I have wanted to do for a long time. The timing is such that I will work three days a week for RNIB on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. On a Thursday and Friday, I will therefore be available to take on any paid work as a consultant/trainer in all things assistive technology. Like the RNIB role, my self-employment journey begins this week with doing what is very close to my heart, supporting blind and visually impaired pupils in the use of their Braille and screen reading technology in education. I am very much looking forward to being reunited with the wonderful support staff at schools, and the young people who require that support and guidance in using their equipment.
Serendipity has been at work here in that if TFL hadn’t been ‘disbanded,’ I might never have embarked on starting my own business!
Finally, I have joined forces with a group of blind and visually impaired assistive technology users in a self-help group we are calling TAG which stands for Technology Advice Group. The aim of the group is to support and assist one another in the use of specialist and mainstream technology. Our website is at
We aim to build the website into a free resource that anyone can add to and be part of. We are all volunteers with the goal of offering help, support and guidance to anyone with a sight problem who needs it. The emphasis is on Northern Ireland, but we welcome anyone, and already have some members from the United States.
So here's to new beginnings! 🙌