Research

RNIB commissions and carries out research studies about people with sight loss and about issues that affect their lives.

Invitation for research proposals

RNIB is currently inviting the following research proposal:

• Post-School Transition Arrangements for Blind and Partially Sighted Young People with Complex Needs from RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home
• Impact of Sports and Physical Activity on the wellbeing of blind and partially sighted people.
• Playback equipment: how do blind and partially sighted people use playback equipment?
• Passing the test: how accessible are public examination systems for blind and partially sighted pupils in the UK?
• Visual impairment and learning disability: prevalence and under-detection.
• Evaluation of Glaucoma Pilot - awareness raising and outreach project in Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark PCTs

See invitations for research proposals for more information and to download the research briefs.

About our research

Our research is used to influence policy makers in education, employment, health and other areas of government work.

Research is also used to develop RNIB services for children and adults with sight problems. A key part of RNIB research work is to collate and provide statistical information about the numbers of registered and partially sighted people in the UK and other measures of the prevalence of sight loss.

We can help you identify existing studies on an area of interest or provide you with copies of research undertaken by us. Many of our research reports are available through our online shop or via customer services (telephone 0845 702 3153 / 01733 37 53 50).

Our Research Library is Europe's largest, most comprehensive and diverse collection of material covering all aspects of partial sight and blindness.

Current research

Visual Impairment and Autism Project
A project to research approaches and strategies used with blind and partially sighted children who have autism. The project will run between 2008 and 2010.

Recently completed research

Labour Market Experiences of People with Seeing Difficulties, through Secondary Analysis of Labour Force Survey Data, September 2008

• Labour Market Experiences research briefing (Word, 67KB)
• Labour Market Experiences research briefing (PDF, 41KB)

• Labour Market Experiences executive summary (Word, 782KB)
• Labour Market Experiences executive summary (PDF, 52KB)

• Labour Market Experiences full report (Word, 2MB)
• Labour Market Experiences full report (PDF, 193KB)

RNIB/NFER Survey of Educational Provision for Blind and Partially Sighted Children and Young People in Britain, 2007

• NFER and RNIB Executive Summary Report (Word, 151KB)
• NFER and RNIB survey research briefing (Word, 35KB)
• NFER and RNIB survey research briefing (PDF, 38KB)
• NFER and RNIB Final GB Report (Word,514 KB)
• NFER and RNIB England Survey 2007 (Word, 538 KB)
• NFER and RNIB Final Wales Report (Word, 314KB)

Practitioner-led Research in Early Support, 2007-2008
Practitioner-led research into early support - Final Project Report (Word, 154KB)

"Too little too late" - research into the provision of school textbooks, 2006
"Too little, too late" - overview and downloads

Other completed research

• Information Prescriptions for Sight Loss - Leeds Pilot (Word, 36KB)
• Evidence base for the UK Vision Strategy (Word, 92KB)
• Barriers to free eye tests by older people
• Medicine information needs of older people
• Teaching braille to children
• Orientation, mobility and independence needs of children and young people with sight problems
• An integrated health and social care pathway for people with diabetic retinopathy
• Estimates of the prevalence of sight loss
• Views of partially sighted users of Access to Work
• Labour market outcomes of people with sensory disabilities from minority ethnic groups
• Organisation of educational support for teaching of braille to children schools
• RNIB national questionnaire survey of local education authority visual impairment advisory services in Britain, 2002
• How the process of transition to school sixth forms and FE colleges in Wales is managed for students with a sight problem
• Evaluation of the RNIB early excellence partnership project, which supports young blind and partially sighted children and their families.

Other research relating to blind and partially sighted people

Network 1000

Network 1000 is a large scale survey of the needs, circumstances and opinions of over 1,000 blind and partially sighted people. Managed by Vision 2020 UK, the project is the first of its kind to be conducted with major sector wide involvement.

• Network 1000 - more information and downloads

Content author: research@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 24/11/2008 14:17