Tag: RNIB

RNIB and Guide Dogs NI offer first of its kind sight loss training for school counsellors

Stuart Mitchell

Led by RNIB NI (The Royal National Institute of Blind People), in partnership with Guide Dogs NI, the Counselling Insight Project is a two-year venture that received £80,207 of funding from the Department of Health Mental Health Fund, administered by Community Foundation NI. Counselling Insight panel members, Martin Walls and Andrea Begley; RNIB NI Country Director Robert Shilliday and Amanda Hawkins, Head of Mental Health and Counselling, Confident Living & Skills Development, RNIB “I felt isolated at school” Those are the words of Leah Tylor as two NI sight loss…

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RNIB responds to guidance from the Electoral Commission for Returning Officers

Stuart Mitchell

The right to vote independently, and in secret, is a cornerstone of our democracy. Yet blind and partially sighted people continue to face unacceptable barriers. As a result of the RNIB’s ‘Blind Voters Count’ campaign and the tireless work of Conservative peer Lord Holmes, the Government backed changes that strengthened the legislative wording of the Elections Act. It also introduced new responsibilities for the Electoral Commission, including one to create guidance for Returning Officers on their requirement to deliver an independent and secret vote for voters with sight loss and…

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RNIB and Coca-Cola join forces to make Christmas packs accessible for blind and partially sighted people

Stuart Mitchell

Leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has joined forces with Coca-Cola Great Britain to make its packaging more accessible for people with sight loss for the first time. This Christmas, promotional multipacks of Coca-Cola will feature cutting-edge NaviLens technology enabling blind and partially sighted shoppers to access key product information via their smartphone. The NaviLens technology detects a unique on-pack code and plays back labelling information to shoppers, helping them to shop independently and with confidence. RNIB research shows that 9 in 10 blind…

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Asda expands trial of UK’s-first indoor navigation tool for blind and partially sighted people

Stuart Mitchell

Asda is expanding its trial of new technology which will make it easier for blind and partially sighted customers to navigate their way through the store whilst they do their shopping. Following an initial trial at Asda’s designated Technology-Innovation store in Stevenage, the supermarket is integrating a further 10 stores into the GoodMaps smartphone app. The app can pinpoint the user’s location within one metre of accuracy and then communicate directions to product groups or areas via audio, enlarged visual, and touch commands. Shoppers using the app will be able…

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RNIB launches new campaign to dispel myths and encourage people to ‘See the person, not the sight loss’

Stuart Mitchell

Leading sight loss charity RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) and The&Partnership have launched a new campaign ‘See the person, not the sight loss’, challenging outdated public attitudes and misperceptions of sight loss. RNIB’s in-depth research tells us that the main barrier faced by blind and partially sighted people in the UK is public misperceptions and it is this insight that inspired the campaign. At the heart of the campaign sits an emotive and thought-provoking film, directed by BAFTA-nominated Jesse Lewis-Reece at You Are Here. The film tells the…

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