New College Worcester (NCW), a national residential school for blind and vision impaired young people, has installed a state-of-the-art pedestrian crossing on its campus, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.
The Noel Duffy Pedestrian Crossing provides a safe, realistic environment where students can develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate crossings independently. Located within the grounds of the College, the facility allows students to practise in a controlled setting before applying these skills in real-world situations.
The crossing has been named in honour of the late Noel Duffy, a Governor of the College and owner of Dolphin Computer Access, whose work helped transform access to assistive technology for blind and partially sighted people around the world.
The crossing will be officially opened at a ceremony on the NCW campus on Friday 24 April. The event marks the culmination of a collaborative project made possible through the expertise, generosity and commitment of multiple partner organisations.
The crossing will be opened by Darren Harris, a former NCW student and dual Paralympian in football and judo. Darren is England’s most capped and decorated blind footballer, with 157 international appearances and ten World and European medals. He is now a bestselling author, motivational speaker and mental skills coach, and his involvement reflects the opportunities available to NCW students.
New College Worcester is a specialist residential school for young people aged 11 to 19 who are blind or vision impaired. Alongside academic learning, students follow personalised programmes designed to build essential life skills, including Braille, mobility, access technology and independent living.
It is within these mobility lessons that the new crossing will have its greatest impact. The facility gives Habilitation and Rehabilitation Officers consistent access to a realistic training environment, enabling students to practise safely, build confidence and develop independence at their own pace.
Rachel Perks, Principal of NCW, said:
“We are absolutely delighted with the crossing and incredibly grateful to everyone who supported the project. It will have a huge impact on our students and provide a unique training facility that we believe is the only one of its kind in the UK. It also allows other organisations and individuals to benefit from the facility by visiting our campus to practise their skills.”
Emma Moody, Head of Habilitation at NCW, added:
“Currently, students can only practise using controlled crossings in real-life situations, which can be stressful and overwhelming. This new crossing allows them to learn and reinforce vital independence skills in a safe and calm environment, helping to build confidence before they encounter these situations outside of school.”
This unique facility has been delivered at no cost to the College.
The project was delivered entirely through the exceptional generosity and expertise of industry partners, all of whom donated their time, labour and equipment free of charge. Worcestershire County Council’s Traffic Signal Department led the design of the crossing and provided the control cabinet that operates it, with ongoing guidance from Head of Traffic Signal Controls, Gavin Loach. Ringway delivered the full civil engineering works, supplying all labour and materials required for installation. Telent Technology Services provided the essential traffic signal equipment and carried out specialist installation and commissioning, while NAL Ltd supplied the underground infrastructure products needed to support the build. AGD Systems contributed advanced detection technology, including push button units and pedestrian detectors, and ATP supplied the traffic signal posts. Universal Display Ltd provided all signage for the site. Nifty Communications supported the project through its promotional and communications activity, helping to bring the story to a wider audience. Together, these organisations made the project possible, creating a facility that will have a lasting impact on students and the students and the wider community.
In Memory of Noel Duffy
The crossing stands as a lasting tribute to Noel Duffy, whose career spanned more than 30 years in the assistive technology sector. As a key figure behind Dolphin Computer Access, he played a vital role in improving access to technology for blind and partially sighted people worldwide.
Noel was recognised with the RNIB Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his contribution to accessibility and inclusion. He was also instrumental in campaigning for accessible educational resources, leading a consortium that helped establish RNIB Bookshare, a service that now provides access to over one million titles for young people across the UK.
James Green, CEO of Dolphin Computer Access, said:
“Noel was a passionate advocate for blind and partially sighted people facing exclusion. He broke down barriers, championed equal access and contributed his expertise to
many groups and boards. His influence and belief in Dolphin’s purpose continue to guide and inspire us, and we are proud to carry his work forward.”
Mark McCusker, on behalf of the Dolphin Board of Directors, added:
“Those of us who worked closely with Noel will remember not only his expertise, but his compassion, generosity and warmth. His insight and quiet wisdom touched so many people, and he will be deeply missed.”
The Noel Duffy Pedestrian Crossing stands as a lasting tribute to a man whose life’s work was dedicated to enabling others to live independently and with confidence.