Research

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

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.

Recently completed research

Recent projects have included:

• practitioner-led research into early support (Word)
• "Too little, too late" - research into the provision of school textbooks
• the barriers to free eye tests by older people
• the medicine information needs of older people
• teaching braille to children
• the 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
• the views of partially sighted users of Access to Work
• the labour market outcomes of people with sensory disabilities from minority ethnic groups
• the organisation of educational support for teaching of braille to children schools
• a national questionnaire survey of local education authority visual impairment advisory services (including numbers of blind and partially sighted children and their educational placements)
• how the process of transition to school sixth forms and FE colleges in Wales is managed for students with a sight problem
• an evaluation of the RNIB early excellence partnership project to support young blind and partially sighted children and their families.

Content author: webeditor@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 12/05/2008 11:26