Event notice and call for posters

11 February 2011: for immediate publication

VISION UK 2011: featuring Techshare

When: Thursday 16 June

Where: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster

Who should attend?Professionals working to develop, deliver or commission eye care services and assistive technologies, particularly in the health, social care and the voluntary sectors

Vision UK 2011 is the only conference that offers the opportunity to engage with the whole of the eye health and sight loss sector.

The day will focus on the changing external environment, the role of the 'Big Society,' commissioning changes and the recent advances in technology. It will incorporate the event formally known as Techshare.

View the conference programme on the UK Vision Strategy website:

Speakers to include:

  • David Behan, Director General of Social Care, Department of Health
  • Gary O'Donoghue, Political Correspondent, BBC
  • Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia
  • Professor John Ashton, UK Public Health Association
  • Paul Zollinger-Read, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire PCT
  • Sarah Herrlinger, Director of Special Markets, Apple US
  • Greg Fields, Research in Motion
  • Esa Eerola, Senior Accessibility Engineer, Nokia

"A must for anyone working in the eye health and sight loss sector"

Bob Hughes, Association of Optometrists

"Learn about the needs of the growing number of patients who will develop sight-threatening diseases, and the role of commissioning in their care pathway"

Andrew Partner, RoyalCollege of General Practitioners

"Find out about innovations in the accessibility of mobile technologies."

Esa Eerola, Nokia

BOOK NOW

Register now at: email for more information.

Cost

Voluntary sector £65 + VAT, Non-voluntary sector £145 + VAT

***Early bird rates (Before 31st March)***

Voluntary sector £55 + VAT, Non-voluntary sector £95 + VAT

Call for posters

Posters presentations will report on national and local initiatives, which support the implementation of the UK Vision Strategy.Poster categories will be defined by the three outcomes of the Strategy and innovations in Technology. Posters will be open to view by delegates throughout the conference.

  • Category A: Improving the eye health of the people of the UK
  • Category B: Eliminating avoidable sight loss and delivering excellent support for people with sight loss
  • Category C: Inclusion, participation and independence for people with sight loss
  • Category D: Innovations in accessible technology

All abstracts must be submitted to 4 April 2011.

For further information and abstract guidelines visit

- Ends -

For further information about Vision UK 2011 or to request a media pass for the conference please contact Janelle Heath, UK Vision Strategy 0207 391 2177,email or visit for more information.

Notes to editors

About Vision UK 2011 and the UK Vision Strategy

Vision UK 2011 is a VISION 2020 UK annual Vision Strategy Conference hosted by RNIB. Health, social care and voluntary sector professionals attending will hear presentations on the case for strategic investment in eye care services, and how initiatives across the country are improving services for people with sight conditions. This year the Conference will encompass the event formally known as Techshare, a pan disability assistive technology event, providing guidance about how to make accessible products a standard practice.

The UK Vision Strategy is a ground-breaking UK-wide initiative which seeks a major transformation in the UK's eye health, eye care and sight loss services. The strategy was launched in April 2008 in response to a World Health Assembly global resolution to reduce avoidable blindness by the year 2020 and to improve support and services for blind and partially sighted people.