Tag: blind people

National sight loss charity calls for street credibility

Urgent action must be taken to improve street design and accessibility for blind and partially sighted pedestrians says the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland in their latest report, ‘Street Credibility’.

The new report explores critical areas of concern to street accessibility and safety, a topic which the charity has long campaigned for improvements in. Inaccessible streets can impact mental health too, the report claims, as many blind or partially sighted pedestrians feel anxious or unable to navigate the outdoors safely.

“Negative experiences can really knock your confidence, when out and about,” says Angela Clelland from Inverness. “We’ve come out of a pandemic, but when spaces and streets aren’t accessible, people stop going out and this impacts on their mental health too.”

The reports outlines more about the hazards of street clutter and obstructed pavements, the importance of kerbs and signalised controlled crossings, and the ability for pedestrians to avoid moving vehicles. All these are key to keeping all pedestrians, not just those who are blind and partially sighted, safe.

Edinburgh resident, Sylvia Paton said: “There’s no urgency given when a crossing facility is broken for pedestrians.

” It’s imperative that controlled crossing points are maintained. If not it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

RNIB Scotland director James Adams adds: “All too often our streets are an obstacle course for blind and partially sighted people. We can all play a part in safe streets for everyone. It may sound simple, but we must not ignore the difference that small changes can make to people’s safety and confidence.

“This report is a valuable guide for the decision makers, urban planners, and community leaders who are tasked with creating streets that are inclusive and accessible to all.” 

The Street Credibility report has been released amidst a wave of initiatives that are driving changes to Scotland’s streetscapes, following significant delays during the pandemic.

While most of these changes are positive and support the country’s net-zero goals, such as improving walking and cycling infrastructure, the inconsistent street design and enforcement negatively affect the independence and ability of blind and partially sighted people to access their work, community, and vital services like healthcare.

To address these challenges, the report draws on the policy landscape and research, as well as direct experiences, to establish a consensus on what constitutes inclusive street design for individuals with sight loss.

There are over 180,000 people in Scotland with significant sight loss.

*To read the Street Credibility report in full, visit: https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/rnib-scotland-calls-for-street-credibility/

Street_Credibility_2023_Accessible_PDFDownload

Braille versions of Test and Protect guidance will be available for Scots with sight loss

Sight loss charity RNIB Scotland will produce braille versions of the Scottish Government Test and Protect guidance relating to the current coronavirus situation.

The move follows concerns that some blind and partially sighted people might be unable to access important health advice and guidance. In a  survey of people with sight loss commissioned by RNIB in May, one in four respondents said they had struggled to get information in a format they could understand.

James Adams, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “In the current situation accessible healthcare information is more essential than ever. It is vitally important everyone knows how to keep themselves and their community safe, and that blind and partially sighted people, who can be particularly vulnerable, are kept informed of new developments and guidance.

“So we are pleased to be able to assist the Scottish Government in making braille versions of information available on procedures for testing.”

Braille is the tactile system of raised dots on paper that can be ‘read’ by  fingertip touch. Although many blind and partially sighted people now use audio or screen-reading software to access information, thousands still use the system invented by Frenchman Louis Braille in 1837.

RNIB has produced guidelines on making information accessible for a range of public bodies and businesses. Some adjustments are relatively easy to make, points out Mr Adams.

“Even people who don’t consider themselves sight-impaired can sometimes struggle with very small print, or with text that doesn’t have a sharp enough contrast with the background colour,” James said.

“Much information is now communicated electronically or online. For people who use screen-reading software – which reads out text on websites or emails – this might not seem a problem. But some graphics can still confuse screen-readers, such as text superimposed on images, photos that don’t have alt-tags, text that is justified on both sides, or even just sentences that don’t end with a full-stop.

“That’s why it’s absolutely vital that we give full consideration to how accessible our communications are.”

Braille copies of Scottish Government Test and Protect information materials relating to the current coronavirus situation can be obtained from scotland@rnib.org.uk.

Test and Protect information is also available in audio and large-print format, as well as other languages and formats, from the Scottish Government website at  www.gov.scot/test-and-protect,

* The RNIB Helpline is available on 0303 123 9999.

Blind shoppers will get priority access to Iceland delivery slots

Blind and partially sighted people in Scotland who have been struggling to get food and groceries will now be offered priority access to online delivery slots from Iceland stores.

Where appropriate, those in need of support will be given an individualised code that will let them book available delivery slots on Thursday mornings between 9 and 10am, before other shoppers.

The move is intended to help those people with sight loss facing persistent difficulties accessing food, who have no available support from others, and live in a postcode area serviced by an Iceland store. Iceland currently operates within 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas, including Edinburgh.

Sight loss charity RNIB Scotland said the move will be welcomed by many blind and partially sighted people living alone.

“Some people with sight loss have experienced a very anxious past three months,” said director James Adams. “As we entered lockdown the competition for delivery slots has increased, and many of our members reported that they were struggling to get access to their usual reliable supermarket delivery.

“This has been compounded by social distancing measures which are largely laid out with visual signs and markers, making it more difficult for people with sight loss to navigate shops safely. This move by Iceland will be a relief to many blind and partially shoppers.”

In a UK-wide survey undertaken by RNIB in May, 67 per cent of respondents had experienced difficulty finding a supermarket delivery slot, and three in four reported being very or quite concerned about getting access to food.

Since the lockdown began in March, RNIB has pressed government and supermarket chains to add blind and partially sighted people to their priority delivery lists.

Anyone with sight loss struggling to access food can call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 between 8am and 8pm Monday-Friday and 9am and 5pm on Saturday and will be directed to the most suitable option in their local area.