RNIB

We wanna say hi to the perky reporter with a micro-fringe! Enjoy, Amelia!

We really want to reduce waiting times and press play on life.

So, before you scroll past, take just two mins to sign our petition to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, so blind and partially sighted people get the right support, when they most need it.

['Waiting for vision rehabilitation assessment be like…’ above a meme featuring three screenshots from a scene in which a man wanders around, lost in thought. One image shows him sitting alone on a yellow swing seat in an outdoor park area. Below, two additional images show him in quiet settings: one where he is seated at a table indoors, leaning forward with his hands together, and another where he stands beside an empty swimming pool with his hands behind his back.]

Imagine waiting in a queue for over a year?

That’s the reality for so many blind and partially sighted people in England needing support from vision rehabilitation.

This support gives people the tools they need to stay in work, complete daily tasks, and maintain their independence.

“Watch the Six Nations home games with live audio description.” A rugby ball sits on its bottom and dominates most of the image.

Six Nations is kicking off, and ITV will be broadcasting the home games with live audio description (AD) 🥳

The first game of the year, England vs Wales, will feature live AD. You can watch the games as usual on ITV1 and access audio description by turning it on on your TV. Will you be watching?

Steve is one of thousands of blind and partially sighted people having their lives put on pause due to long waiting lists for assessments and subsequent support.

Have you had a long wait for a vision rehabilitation assessment or support, or are you still waiting? Let us know in the comments. 2/2

“I've not even got a white cane yet. There's a year's waiting list to get a white cane, which I just found ludicrous.” Steve, who has been told by his Council it could take up to a year to receive cane training”. Pink graphic with yellow border.

Steve Smith, who has retinitis pigmentosa, was told it could take up to a year to receive cane training after being assessed by his local authority for vision rehabilitation support. 1/3

And when it's accompanied with gorgeous alt text - we're not complaining. 🥰

Gold star ⭐

The urge to pet a working guide dog is powerful. But so are your self control skills. And if they’re wearing a harness that’s your sign they’re busy. So hands off!

When we say alt text, what do you think we’re talking about? 🤔

Missing alt text 🙃

A still from season 4 of Bridgerton. Eloise makes a face as an unwanted suitor bows to kiss her hand in greeting. The captions read "Us" over Eloise's face and "I don't listen to radio" over the back of the head of the suitor.

What's your biggest ick?

Pop quiz: When we say alt text, what do you think we’re talking about?

We're loving the alt text on this post! 😍

Two little foxes are curled up in a narrow grassy area beside a wooden fence. One is looking back with big, gentle eyes, while the other snoozes in the foreground.

What does the fox image say? As screen reader users, we don’t know because alt text hasn’t been added to this image. If you’re sharing pictures like this, you should describe the image like we’ve done here. 👇

This alt text gets our seal of approval! Thanks for describing the image - it really does help blind and partially sighted people enjoy the moment too.😍

If anyone wants to check with us if their alt text describes their cat pictures well, we're all in. 😻

First and foremost, alt text must always be informative and descriptive of the content in the image. It can have character and humor, but it still needs to be informative and descriptive. Alt text is not a place to add easter eggs or jokes for sighted users.

You’ve got us gripped with this alt text, @rspb.bsky.social 🌕

National treasure 🥹

RNIB Bookshare is a phenomenal resource for students at any level of study, including in #UKHE

RNIB Bookshare is an amazing resource and a national treasure - it’s the backbone of accessible text provision in education.

"Humble brag. We don’t usually brag. But RNIB Bookshare is doing something quietly brilliant, and we think you should know about it. Millions of curriculum books and papers, instantly available in audio, braille, large print and electronic text, so students with vision impairment, dyslexia or those who prefer alternative formats can actually follow along in lessons without missing out or being handed something ‘later’. If you know a teacher or a school, tell them about it. Or search “RNIB Bookshare” and see how much easier inclusive learning can be. Worth bragging about, no?"

We’re bragging about RNIB Bookshare.

Because it’s brilliant and hardly anyone knows about it. Which we want to change rnib.in/RNIBBookshareFB

*bows down* You forgot to add alt text to your gif though! It's easy to do: upload your photo> add your description, including any text on the gif or image> click done!

How to make your social media accessible If you're affected by sight loss, we're here for you

Learn how make your social media posts accessible all the time, from things like how to add and write alt text, to captioning your videos www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-...

Hint: Harry Styles.

(There aren’t any emojis in the post).

Alt text all the time, emojis occasionally.

In our new research, only 44 per cent of blind and partially sighted people said that they’re reliably met by staff at their destination or connecting station.

What are your experiences – good and bad – of passenger assistance?

Paul standing on a train platform with his yellow Labrador guide dog. He is wearing a hat and dark glasses and holding his phone. The photo is overlayed with the text “How reliable do you find passenger assistance at train stations?”.

Paul Goddard says that when he arrives at London Bridge rail station there is no one there to assist him “99% of the time”, despite him having made a reservation having on the Passenger Assistance app.

Unfortunately, Paul’s experience is common ⬇️

Happy Burns Night!

Enjoy this poem, scrived by community member Bob Mcnicol, in celebration of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.

Read aloud by Robert from our pals at @rnibradio.bsky.social!