A busy time... (Philippa's Blog)

I seem to have been kept very busy with speaking engagements recently.  March April and May have all been particularly busy, as I had been asked to speak at the anniversary of the New Forest Torch group, a group I have spoken to every year for the past 6 years, even before I started working for Through The Roof. Then up to Dorset the next week to speak at a ladies meeting.
In April I was asked to take a seminar at the Liverpool Toolkit, then the next week I was in Cheam in Epsom, followed by a talk at my own church in Potton the first  week in May, and was interviewed at Christian Resources Exhibition by Marylyn Baker the following week.

After that I visited a school where I spoke to 3 classes of children about what it is like growing up blind. I gave them a turn at walking with my white cane, and explained the right way to guide a blind person. They all had lots of questions and were interested in the equipment i had brought to show them (laptop, brailler, colour detector etc), as well as my books and memories of school. I tried to leave them with the impression that having a disability does not mean that someone isn’t 'normal' and they can make friends with them just the same and not to be afraid. It seemed to be a successful afternoon.
I am due to speak at another school on 5th June, so looking forward to that.

As well as giving my own personal experience of growing up a as a blind person, my testimony as a Christian, and any useful tips on interacting with/including a disabled person in church school, or home life, I also speak about what Through The Roof is doing, and if the group hasn’t heard about us before, give them an overview of who we are and what we do. My engagements range from training sessions, to presentations. If you or someone you know would be interested in having me to speak then please feel free to get in contact by email or phone:  philippa@throughtheroof.org 07841087806

My aim is to leave people with a better understanding of disabilities, and a glimpse of how faith in God can make such a difference in anyone’s life.