RNIB Campaigns

@rnibcampaigns

We campaign for blind and partially sighted people's independence and inclusion. Also at @rnib.bsky.app Header image: The team at Downing Street.

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RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· 16d

Recently we delivered a birthday card to the Department of Health and Social Care. We were joined by doctor and broadcaster @DrOscarDuke, who spoke about the real impact inaccessible information has on patients.

"Happy tenth birthday! Here's to another year of accessibility." Dr Oscar Duke holding the tenth birthday card we took to the Department of Health and Social Care. The words on the card are hard to read as a filter emulating diabetic retinopathy covers the text.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jul 16

Today we were pleased to welcome Tracey, Mandie, and Kevin, from Manchester City Council, for a guided walk around the city. The walk helped identify some accessibility barriers in the city, but sparked productive discussions.

Kevin, Tracey, and Mandie with RNIB's Terri and volunteer. They're stood outside a sandstone archway on a sunny day.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jul 13

Today in Westminster our Policy Lead for Accessibility, Khadija, spoke at the launch the ‘Out of Sight, Out of Work’ Report, which has been authored by Lord Holmes. You can find the full report here: rnib.in/OutOfSightOutOfWork

Khadija and Lord Holmes sat speaking into microphones, in a wood panelled room with red ornate wallpaper.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jul 1

Really powerful discussion at this week’s APPG for Eye Health and Visual Impairment. Khadija, RNIB Policy Lead for Accessibility, spoke at the event which was joined by people with lived experience, clinicians, and policymakers — all focused on digital health accessibility and the NHS App.

In a cream room with dark wooden panelling on the lower half we have, left to right: Dr Hannah Brown, GP and subject matter expert for the NHS Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag, Anna Tylor (Chair of Trustees RNIB), Max Marulli Inclusive Design Lead, NHS England, Bernadette Warren Lived Experience Panellist, Khadija Raza Policy Lead, RNIB, Marsha de Cordova MP for Battersea, Balham & Wandsworth and Chair of the APPG, Henrietta Hughes Patient Safety Commissioner for England, Shockat Adam MP for Leicester South, Kate Horn Deputy Director of Product and Platforms, NHS England.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Mar 10

Local blind and partially sighted voters had the chance to try out different audio and tactile voting devices, which you can find out more about on our website: rnib.in/VotingAndElections

A woman has a go on a yellow tactile voting device. She is using her hands to navigate the yellow overlay on the ballot, and is wearing headphones plugged into the device.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Feb 27

Thanks to @lisasmartmp.bsky.social for joining us for a guided walk in your constituency, where we highlighted the barriers people with sight loss encounter on a daily basis when making walking journeys, and the importance of vision rehabilitation services in providing essential mobility training.

Three people, Rhys from RNIB, Lisa Smart MP, and Terri from RNIB, standing on a pavement outside a building, Terri holds a white cane and is accompanied by a guide dog wearing a harness.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Feb 10

Yesterday, RNIB met with the Democracy Minister, @samanthadixonmp.bsky.social, to discuss how we can work together to make elections accessible for blind and partially sighted voters.

From left to right: RNIB Policy Lead Tom Skelton; Democracy Minister Samantha Dixon MP; RNIB CEO Simon Antrobus; and RNIB Head of Policy Mike Wordingham, standing in the Minister’s office. All are dressed smartly and smiling.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Feb 2

Great to be in Parliament today to mark fifteen months since the APPG for Eye Health and VI published ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives’- its report on barriers to employment for blind and partially sighted people.

Diana Johnson stood at a lectern, she is looking down at her notes and stood in front of a roll up banner that says 'All Party Parliamentary Group for Eye Health and Visual Impairment'. Diana is wearing glasses and a spotted navy dress with a red cardigan.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 26

Why have we launched a report about trains? Accessible rail travel isn’t a “nice to have”. For people like Ross and Maqsood, it’s what makes independent living possible. In our report, they share what accessible trains mean to them, and why change can’t wait. 💪

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Boarding hurdles: 67% struggle to open doors, 77% to find the right carriage, 79% to find a suitable seat. We’re asking for basics.

Graphic on a green background showing the statistic ‘79% struggle to find a suitable seat’. Below is a stick figure icon of a person with a cane sitting on a seat.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Being able to find your way around matters. 68% say tactile, colour contrasted paths would help them reach platforms, lifts, or meet points. Make this standard, not a ‘nice to have’.

Graphic on a pink background showing the statistic ‘68% say tactile, colour‑contrasted paths would help them reach platforms, lifts, or meet points’. White dots form a pattern on the right side.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Ticketing must work for everyone. 42% prefer to buy from a person at a ticket office vs 21% via a smartphone app. Keep human help, fix digital accessibility.

Graphic on a green background showing the statistic ‘71% say train ticket vending machines are difficult or impossible to use’. Two illustrated train tickets appear below.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Mind the gap – but really. 82% say the platform to train gap causes difficulty. Safer platform to train interfaces and consistent boarding support are essential.

Graphic on a green background showing the statistic ‘82% say the platform‑to‑train gap causes difficulty’. Below is a circular ‘Mind the Gap’ symbol - a circle with mind the gap written across in a block.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Passenger Assist is letting too many blind and partially sighted people down: of the people we asked, fifty six per cent aren't reliably met by assistance staff at stations when booked. That’s more than half of all journeys at risk.

Graphic on a blue background showing the statistic ‘56% aren’t reliably met by staff when they’ve booked assistance’. A simple icon of a stick figure with a cane looking confused, next to a question mark.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Jan 22

Britain’s rail network is a patchwork of accessibility. Our new Platform for Change report shows blind and partially sighted passengers face difficulties at every stage. This must change. Read: rnib.in/PlatformForChange

Graphic on a bright pink background with the quote: ‘I’ve been put on the wrong train, left standing for ages at an unfamiliar station…’. A simple line illustration of a train appears at the bottom.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Dec 2

Proud to join #WestminsterEyeHealthDay, funded by Roche Products Ltd. The event brought together MPs, Peers, and sector leaders to champion eye health and launch a new report. We're working with #TheEyesHaveIt & @marshadecordova.bsky.social a to back action to improve eye care.

Three men holding a placard in front of a fancy white drape. Left to right is Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Mike from RNIB, and Greg from Royal College of Ophthalmology. The placard reads "I'm calling for action to prevent avoidable sight loss and better support people living with eye health conditions".

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 25

RNIB is clear that now is the time to press play. Too many people are waiting too long for support, having their lives put on pause. Sign our petition to call for action: rnib.in/OOSpetBS

Two RNIB campaigners stand in front of a UK Government office at Whitehall, wearing pink RNIB branded t-shirts and holding a placard which says: "Vision rehabilitation means... Getting out and about, going to work, cooking dinner, living life..."

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 25

This week we took a stand. We joined with the @csalliance.bsky.social, delivering a box full of stories from people who use social care, and asked the Chancellor not to forget the real figures that matter in her Budget. #FiguresThatMatter careandsupportalliance.com/figures-that...

Representatives from Care and Support Alliance (CSA) member organisations gather at Whitehall with placards and a banner which says "Don't forget the real figures in social care".

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 21

The report reveals a stark lack of planning for the needs of vulnerable groups. It notes the disproportionate deaths experienced by disabled people, and that for months too little data existed to build understanding of this. Read our full response rnib.in/C19InqNews

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 21

Blind and partially sighted people should be able to walk down their local High Street safely and independently. That's why RNIB is supporting the community's call for urgent action to improve accessibility. 3/4

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 21

Uxbridge Road is a nightmare to navigate for blind and partially sighted people. To walk down the street, pedestrians contend with a sea of trip hazards and obstacles, including advertising boards, street clutter and illegally parked cars. 2/4

Black bold text on a white background, “Uxbridge Road is a nightmare to navigate for blind and partially sighted people. To walk down the street, they must contend with a sea of trip hazards and obstacles, including advertising boards, street clutter and illegally parked cars. At best, the street feels like an obstacle course; at worst, it’s completely impassable - forcing people with sight loss to either turn back or risk walking in the road to get by.”

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 21

We support the local campaign to make Uxbridge Road in London more accessible for all. Full statement below: 1/4

Bold white text on a bright pink background, "RNIB supports the local campaign to make Uxbridge Road more accessible for all".

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 18

MPs tried out practical tools that support people with sight loss in the home and workplace, learned about mobility training, and heard directly from people with sight loss and vision rehabilitation specialists about how vision rehab can change lives.

Helen Morgan MP speaks with RNIB representatives at a drop in event, they are standing near a table containing canned goods and a bottle, with other people in conversation around tables in the background.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 18

Hosted by Dr Marie Tidball MP, we were also joined by MPs from various political parties, including Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms MP and Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP, who all came along to learn more after being invited by constituents,

RNIB CEO Matt Stringer talking with Sir Stephen Timms MP at the RNIB event. They are near an easel display, wearing professional attire.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 18

Yesterday, 90 MPs, their staff and Peers joined RNIB at our parliamentary reception to explore the life-changing impact of vision rehabilitation. Our message was clear: too many lives are on pause due to unacceptable delays in support.

Marie Tidball MP and Hannah from RNIB stand talking at a table with documents and a laptop at the RNIB event

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 7

In Liverpool we were pleased to take @LCRMayor Steve Rotherham on a guided train journey, to highlight the challenges blind and partially sighted people face when travelling by train.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotherham in conversation with RNIB staff, outdoors in Liverpool city centre.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Nov 5

Huge thanks to Coventry Electoral Services for hosting an accessible voting session at Coventry Vision Hub. We love to see the inclusion. 🥰 Attendees explored five different voting methods including a McGonagle reader, QR code, and other audio and tactile options.

Terri leans over a table where a man is sat, they are in conversation. The man has a mocked up ballot paper in front of him which has a tactile overlay on top of it. Beside this is a barrel-shaped black speaker which has a USB plugged into it. This is the audio which corresponds with the ballot paper.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Oct 27

Thank you Martin Rhodes MP for highlighting the barriers facing blind and partially sighted people when managing their money. The upcoming National Financial Inclusion Strategy must seek to ensure that financial services, technology, and information are accessible to all.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Oct 7

Huge thanks to Tameside Council for joining our guided walk today. Exploring street design from the lived experience of blind and partially sighted people helps us build safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone. 💗 Looking forward to continuing the journey together.

A group of ten people stood in front of a grey modern building with rows of dark windows. Most of the people in the photo are wearing high vis jackets and holding long canes. At the far right stands Terri in a purple overcoat with her golden retriever guide dog.

RNIB Campaigns@rnibcampaigns· Oct 2

Huge thanks to Tameside council officers for joining our guided walk in Stalybridge. We discussed the importance of inclusive street design, and why it’s vital that decision makers experience the barriers blind and partially sighted people face every day.