RNIB Connect

Are you always wondering what to buy, or how to find the perfect present? Or do you have the gift of gift giving?   We brought together Campaigner, music-lover and tandem cyclist Ken Reid, Assitive Tech Advisor and Tiktoker Alison Bates, and RNIB Connect Radio's own Hubert Pawelkiewicz to talk all things gift-giving.  Follow Alison on Tiktok @blindalison Follow Ken on X @kenreid59 Listen to Hubert on The Lunch Break from 12 noon to 1pm on Weekdays from May 13th, Sounds of The Silver Screen and Tech Talk. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity. This week Matt talks about possible changes to Personal Independent Payments from the government, accessible voting, plus the recent Lived Experience Conference. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image shows Matt. He's wearing a light shirt and a dark jacket over the top and is sitting in an outdoor setting with some greenery behind him. He has short dark hair with some lighter hairs sprinkled through and is wearing slim rimmed glasses.  

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews. This week Vidar was reviewing an action packed theatrical experience with David Haig’s stage adaptation of that iconic sci-fi thriller, Minority Report at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. About Minority Report: In 2050, neuroscientist Dame Julia Anderton is about to launch the next phase of her pioneering Pre-Crime programme, monitoring people’s thoughts and detaining them before crimes are committed. But when Julia is accused of pre-murder, she’s in a race against time to save herself from her own system. David Haig’s electrifying adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s iconic sci-fi thriller challenges our beliefs about justice and freewill in a real-time chase through London of the future. Minority Report sees award-winning director Max Webster re-united with the producers of the globally successful stage version of Life of Pi. This action packed theatrical experience will take you on an electrifying ride into the future, as it creates a world bordering science fiction and reality. For more about access at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre including details of audio described performances of their productions do visit the access pages of the REP website - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility/ (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

A new project from RNIB is hoping to learn about experiences of blind and partially sighted travellers and also work to improve those experiences. Tech Talk’s Dave Williams has been finding out more.

Two new members have just joined Haggeye, RNIB Scotland's award-winning youth forum. Amelia talked to Jemima and Luke about the group and what they’re looking forward to most. Learn more about Haggeye on the RNIB Website https://www.rnib.org.uk/nations/scotland/youth-engagement-haggeye/ Follow @Haggeyefamily on Twitter and Facebook. Image shows the Haggeye Logo of a cartoon haggis wearing a red tartan kilt and hat with black shoes on.

Thomas Pocklington Trust were involved in the recent Education Select Committee around Disabled Students Allowance. David Hogg speaks to TPT’s Lucy Merritt to find out more

The Department of Work and Pensions has launched a consultation into changed to Personal Independence Payment. David Hogg caught up with RNIB’s Rosin Jacklin to learn more about the consultation…

Clare Aldworth, RNIB Insight Community Manager shares the latest opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to get involved in with RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey. Opportunities highlighted this week included: Your experience of website accessibility  Tilly is a student studying Media Production at De Montfort University. She is currently undertaking research on website accessibility. Tilly is particularly interested in the experiences of users who have a visual impairment, but she’s also exploring other impairments and disabilities. She has created a short research exercise and is looking for volunteers to take part.  You will be asked to take a look at 2 different websites. You’ll then complete a quick 5 minute survey asking you various questions on how accessible you found them. Tilly hopes that her research will help future website designers in making their website more accessible for all. For more details and to receive a link to the research exercise do email involvement@rnib.org.uk Opportunity for podcast fans Catalina is a student doing some research to explore the challenges faced by blind and partially sighted users when browsing podcasts and identify ways to improve accessibility on mainstream podcasting apps. She would love to hear from anyone who listens to podcasts and has a vision impairment. You will be taking part in a 1-hour Zoom interview (with your camera off if you want!) to share your insights. Catalina will ask you some open-ended questions on your overall experience with podcast platforms, thoughts on browsing for new podcasts, frustrations, things you like, things you wish were different etc... Catalina can be flexible in terms of scheduling and of course because the interviews will be online you can participate from the comfort of your home.  Participants will receive a £5 giftcard for either Amazon or a place of their choice. if you are interested in getting involved do email involvement@rnib.org.uk for more details. To find out more about these and other Connect Voices opportunities along with how you can get involved with RNIB Connect Voices do visit - https://www.rnib.org.uk/connect-community/connect-voices-network/connect-voices-current-opportunities (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

I-SCREEN is a project being supported by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast which aims to revolutionise the care of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by developing an artificial intelligence (AI) programme to identify and monitor the early stages of AMD through equipment found in High Street Opticians.  Dr Ruth Hogg from the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast who is leading the project joins RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey to explain more about I-SCREEN.  Dr Ruth Hogg alongside researchers from Northern Ireland Clinical Research facility will begin by recruiting patients with intermediate AMD, who they will follow for two years in order to identify the earliest stage of transition to late AMD.    This data will then be used to help refine AI models that could be used in the community by High Street optometrists. The I-SCREEN project has been established through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary network of clinical retina experts, computer scientists, community-based optometrists, and business specialists experienced in clinical decision support systems for ophthalmology. More about I-SCREEN can be found on the project’s website - https://i-screen.eu (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

If you use eye drops regularly then you’ll know just how hard it can be to administer them yourself. There’s a new product in the RNIB shop that could make taking care of your eye health much easier, it’s even had approval from the experts in Dragons Den, as Hywel Davies has been finding out. You can find more information on the EziDrops applicator here: Ezidrops Eye Drop Applicator | RNIB

Have you ever wondered what a dinosaur might do in a day?  What they actually really looked like?  What colour were they?  Well, these and many more questions will be answered in The Colour of Dinosaurs, a rip-roaring, prehistoric science pop gig for curious humans of all ages at the Polka Theatre in London from 11 May to 9 June 2024 with an audio described performance on Friday 31 May 2024 at 2.30pm.  RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Lloyd Coleman, Composer, Musician and Associate Music Director of the Paraorchestra who composed the music for The Colour of Dinosaurs to find out more about how the idea for the show came about.  With a hint of some of those catchy songs that Lloyd has composed for the show along with more about the mind-blowing science that features in The Colour of Dinosaurs. To find out more about The Colour of Dinosaurs including details of dates and times of performances do visit the following pages of the Polka Theatre website - https://polkatheatre.com/event/the-colour-of-dinosaurs/  (Image shows a close-up of Lloyd smiling at the audience with neon lights in the shapes of dinosaurs in the background. Photograph by Paul Blakemore)

Are you based in the west of England? Sight Support West of England supports blind and ps people in Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Amelia talked to Sight Loss Advisor Team Manager, Marc Gulwell, to learn more.  Image shows Sight Support West of England logo. Font is dark blue and 'West of England' is inside a white eye shape with a dark blue circle behind it.

We’ll travel back to high school crushes and chippies with friends in the 1980 film Gregory’s Girl.  Amelia and Allan had a laugh reviewing the Scottish coming of age comedy film, here they are with more.  Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'Connect Radio' underneath.

Now for an exhibition of art works where audio description is the only way for everyone to experience and explore the work on display with Ensemble at APT Gallery, Deptford, south London 2-26 May 2024. RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined by Hettie James and Stephanie Farmer the Curators of Ensemble to find out more about this audio only, audio described exhibition. Hettie and Stephanie explained how they and the Artists worked with Audio Describer Anne Hornsby on the descriptions of the work on display, an outline of some of the work through just the information that the Artists provided as for them as Curators they have also not seen the Artist’s work.  Along with an outline of a number of workshops which will accompany the exhibition around audio description. Ensemble is on at the APT Gallery, Deptford, South London from 2-26 may 2024 and for more about the exhibition along with details of the workshops do visit the Ensemble pages of the APT Gallery website - https://www.aptstudios.org/exhibitions2324ensemble (Image shows RNIB logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath)

Tickets are available now for a new audio-described play in Cardiff. Hywel Davies has been finding out about the historical drama which examines Wales’ colonial past.  For more information about 'The Women of Llanrumney', and to buy tickets, visit the Sherman Theatre website - The Women of Llanrumney | Sherman Theatre

Our David Hogg chats to Jessica Whyte from Birmingham City University following a Commons Committee about how the application and funding system around Disabled Students Allowance can be simplified…

Film review time now as our Toby and Kris reminisce about their studying days and review the 1995 comedy film ‘Kicking And Screaming’. Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'Connect Radio' underneath.

RNIB have just added a part 2 to their parenting guides. This guide shares information, advice, resources and support from blind and partially sighted parents across the UK. Amelia talked to Lisa Billington and Jenny Molinuex from the RNIB Children, Young People and Families Team to learn more about the challenges VI Parents experience. If you want to talk or get advice on mental health challenges and parenting, contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or by saying “Alexa, call RNIB Helpline” on Alexa-enabled devices. Follow this link for RNIB's VI Parenting Guide Part 1 -APDF-RNIB_A4_Guide_for_VI_Parents.pdf Follow this link for RNIB's VI Parenting Guide Part 2 - APDF-SV230904_VI_Parent_Guide_Part_2-v04_1.pdf (rnib.org.uk) You can find more information and resources concerning mental health on the RNIB website - Mental wellbeing resources | RNIB Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'Connect Radio' underneath.

Up to one in five women experience mental health challenges during pregnancy and up to one year after birth. The 29th April to the 5th of May is Maternal Health Week and Amelia heard from mother and CYPF Support Officer Jenny Molinuex about her own maternal health challenges. If you want to talk or get advice on mental health challenges and/or parenting, contact the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or by saying “Alexa, call RNIB Helpline” on Alexa-enabled devices. Follow this link for RNIB's VI Parenting Guide Part 1 -APDF-RNIB_A4_Guide_for_VI_Parents.pdf Follow this link for RNIB's VI Parenting Guide Part 2 - APDF-SV230904_VI_Parent_Guide_Part_2-v04_1.pdf (rnib.org.uk) You can find more information and resources concerning mental health on the RNIB website - Mental wellbeing resources | RNIB Image shows RNIB Connect Radio logo. 'RNIB' written in black capital letters over a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'Connect Radio' underneath.

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity. This week Matt talks about better employment prospects for blind and partially sighted people, Parliamentary work on several topics and a big thank you to the 100 runners who raised money for RNIB at the London Marathon. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image shows Matt. He's wearing a light shirt and a dark jacket over the top and is sitting in an outdoor setting with some greenery behind him. He has short dark hair with some lighter hairs sprinkled through and is wearing slim rimmed glasses.