My name is Helen Smith and I have been involved with Living Options Devon since 1999.  I came to the organisation as a service user having had a sight loss and becoming registered blind, (I have Macular Degeneration).  After attending various Living Options Devon facilitated meetings I helped to carry out a piece of research on Services for Visually Impaired People in Exeter and trained to become one of the organisation’s Disability Equality/Awareness Training Team.

In 2003 I became a member of staff and took up the role of Lead Trainer, designing and delivering Disability Equality related courses, and supporting and inducting new members of the team.

At the beginning of 2004 I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to co-ordinate Living Options Devon’s involvement with Devon Link, because I have been an interested reader of the magazine from shortly after acquiring my sight loss, having found it a very useful source of information at various times ever since.

Devon County Council regretfully had to discontinue Devon Link in Spring 2010 as it was no longer financially viable.  They have, however, encouraged and supported Living Options to develop and produce a similar user-led disability and Deaf related magazine.  Because of my 6-years experience with Devon Link I will be Coordinator with editorial control of our new magazine.

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