Press Release
NCBI delighted to be recipient of #RTEToyShowAppeal Fund
Friday 25th June 2021 NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) is delighted to receive €100,000 from the RTE Toy Show Appeal. This funding will enable the development and rollout of the RISE Programme: Resilience, Integration and Exercise; Self-Advocacy; Engagement – a new national suite of structured interventions to support wellbeing development for children and teens who are blind or vision impaired.
Toni O’Dwyer, NCBI Services Lead for Children and Young Persons Team said “Children with vision impairment have the same right to experience health and wellbeing as all other children. However, as 90% of all learning is supported by visual cues, children who are blind or vision impaired must develop alternative strategies to thrive in their development, social interactions and education. This funding allows us to run the RISE programme offering a range of activities all designed to improve resilience and mental health.”
The RISE programme includes physical activities in partnership with Vision Sports Ireland, peer support and engagement for the child and their families as well as self-advocacy. It will be delivered through a blended model of online supports and residential workshops.
ENDS
For further information, please contact June Tinsley, Head of Communications on 01 8821917 or 087 9955076.