Welfare reform and public attitudes
RNIB's Fazilet Hadi has been quoted at length on the front cover of The Guardian, in a piece about the apparent increase in hate crimes towards people with disabilities in the wake of the Government's welfare reform: "Fazilet Hadi, head of inclusion for RNIB, said she also felt the tone was set by ministers: "I think they should be more careful. At the moment it feels like the government is not on the side of disabled people. Most people don't have that much exposure to disabled people. They don't see us in the lifestyle pages, they don't see us in the fashion pages. The only reference they see is in these stories. And that's why the language is so important."
bmibaby sued by RNIB
RNIB's Hugh Huddy was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's In Touch programme, and later re-broadcast on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours, regarding the fact that RNIB has served travel website bmibaby with legal proceedings. This is because it has a website that remains inaccessible to those using screen readers or those who can't use a mouse. After over a year of informing the company, it has failed to make vital changes to its website to allow customers with sight loss to use their online services, RNIB has decided to take the legal route.
-
BBC Radio 4 In Touch 31/01/12; Radio 4 You and Yours 05/01/12; Press 2.0 blog; TNooz.com; BBC Ouch; Hassell Inclusion blog; Foolproof blog; The Register 27/01/12
The Great Big Eye Check
40 per cent of Scots don't have their eyes tested on a regular basis. That's why Action for Blind People, Boots Opticians and RNIB have teamed up to launch the Great Big Eye Check. They want to raise awareness of the fact that these tests can detect the early signs of diabetes, glaucoma and other conditions that can cause sight loss.
-
The Scotsman (Magazine) 28/01/12; Contact Lenses.co.uk
Letters to editors
Charities including RNIB sent a letter to the Guardian asking for the Government to reconsider the Welfare Reform Bill with some possible amendments. Under government plans 670,000 households, two-thirds containing a disabled family member, would lose an average of £670 a year because they are deemed to have one or more additional bedrooms.
Similarly Lesley-Anne Alexander put her name to a letter in The Guardian regarding the Welfare Reform Bill: "We urge the government to extend the time limit proposed for some ill and disabled people receiving employment and support allowance. We are extremely concerned that, if the welfare reform bill goes ahead in its current form, many thousands of people who are genuinely unable to work will be forced into unsuitable jobs or face poverty."
Drivers
RNIB Regional Campaigns Officer Henri Murison was interviewed about a new report by Contactlenses and Brakes regarding drivers getting behind the wheel despite having poor eye sight. Henri spoke about the importance of having two year check up and that over 60s get free eye tests. Likewise RNIB Campaigner Sharon Sutton was interviewed about the same subject on BBC Radio 5Live.
-
BBC Radio Teesside 31/01/12; BBC Radio 5live 31/01/12
A simple thing each day
Donating to RNIB is suggested as something to do to enrich the world in the blog "A simple thing each day".
"Lifeline" attacked
A blind woman has hit out at plans to cut a service that she describes as her "lifeline". Diane Fazackarly, 50, is outraged by Brighton and Hove City Council's proposal to withdraw funding to RNIB's Talking Books Service.
-
Argus (Brighton) 01/02/12 ; voices for the library blog; BBC Sussex 31/01/12; BBC News 31/01/12
Funding boost for RNIB NI
RNIB Northern Ireland recently received a significant funding boost from the Energy for Children Charitable Trust - the charity set up by Phoenix and the wider natural gas industry with the aim to help local disadvantaged children. The funding has enabled the organisation to purchase an Apple Mac Book and creative software to use as part of its youth programme. Naill Dempsey, Youth Development officer at RNIB commented: "The equipment purchased has given young people who use our facilities at RNIB the opportunity to take part in modern hi-tech activities and encourages them to learn new skills."
Computer challenge!
Two gamers from Wolverhampton took on a 24 hour computer challenge with a difference to raise money for RNIB. Both are computing students from University of Wolverhampton and raised around £400.
-
Wolverhampton Chronicle 2/02/12