RNIB Conversations

For Muslims, we’re in the holy month of Ramadan. But what’s it like to mark the month if you’re blind or partially sighted? Hywel Davies spoke with Tasneem Arshad to hear about her experiences. 

If you live in the Peterborough area, and you fancy giving chess a go, a new club has been launched which gives you the chance to do just that.

The first Meet The Sight Loss Councils event is taking place in Westminster later this month, where local MPs can find out about the work different Sight Loss Councils do. Is your MP invited? If not, Hubert has been finding out how you can help by inviting your MP to the event.

There is a phrase that goes along the lines of ‘you are what you eat’ and with a lot in the news about the impact on our health of healthy or unhealthy eating, for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about the impact of what we eat on our health. Elizabeth began by explaining to our Toby Davey about the nutritional value of healthy eating against unhealth...

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The Merchant of Venice 1936 - Saturda...

With the weather being all over the place at the moment and spring feeling more like summer the latest recommendations are to start medication for hay fever earlier than you might be thinking about. So for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about hay fever.  Elizabeth began by telling RNIB connect Radio’s Toby Davey why some people are recommending that...

Could small solar panels help people recover from sight loss? Hubert has been finding out more about research carried out by University Of Surrey on this topic.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Turner Prize 2023 - on until 14 April...

Have you ever wondered what a solar eclipse would sound like? If yes, then Harvard University might have come up with a solution for you, Hubert has been finding out more about their LightSound device. 

With news about HRH King Charles III cancer diagnosis and the recent banning of disposable vapes, for this week’s regular check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we discuss how the King’s cancer diagnosis has helped to raise awareness around cancer and also whether non-disposable vapes are a suitable substitute against cigarettes. Elizabeth and our Toby Davey first chatted about h...

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has been offering touch tours to its blind and partially sighted visitors, but how do they work? Hubert has been speaking to them to find out.

With some challenging weather conditions recently, including the cold weather and the storms, it’s important to know how to get out and about safely that is if you have the confidence to do so. Hubert has been getting some tips on how to be safe when going out.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The King and I - Wednesday 7 February...

Talking bus stops have been introduced in Leicester thanks to the work between Leicester City Council and local sight charity Vista. Hubert has been finding out more. 

A first-of-its-kind tactile learning device hopes to make hard scientific data available to students with sight loss. Barry Snell spoke to Bryan F. Shaw, Ph. D and Professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Baylor University to find out more Learn more about this ground breaking research {Image: Picture of a visually impaired student, holding the tactile device with her right hand. She is smiling...

We have all probably been there having gone out for a more calorie filled dinner and experienced a bit of indigestion or heartburn. So for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we will be finding out what exactly is indigestion and heartburn.  Elizabeth began by explaining  to our Toby Davey exactly what indigestion and heartburn actually is and whether it is a feeli...

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The Unfriend - Thursday 25 January, 7...

Throughout 2023, visually impaired nature guide Andy Shipley from Natural Inclusion, took us on a sensory journey into the great outdoors. From the beautiful songs of wrens and robins, to some naughty hedgehogs and rambunctious wild boars, Andy and Happy Hour's Paulina reflect on their favourite sounds of the natural world. Find the full Sensory Reflections playlist guiding you through to sounds o...

Let’s take a moment out of our days and re-connect with our physical and emotional self by doing a body scan. Body scan is a mindfulness meditation practice involving scanning your body for pain, tension, or anything out of the ordinary.  It can help us be more present in our lives by taking a moment to focus and consider each part of our bodies, their tensions and how we are feeling overall. Guid...

With many of us promising ourselves that we want to be more healthy in 2024 and exercising a bit more too, one way to get more healthy might be by walking a bit whether that might be just walking around the local park or off into the hills but have we ever thought about how best to look after our feet?  Well, for the first check in of 2024 with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all...

The Orpheus Centre is a specialist further education college which helps young disabled artists learn independence skills through the arts. Barry Snell spoke to it's founder Richard Stilgoe to find out more. Learn more about the Orpheus Centre {Image: RNIB Connect Radio logo, written in Black typeface, with a pink line separating the words RNIB and Connect radio}

ASK Italian has launched braille menus at its 66 restaurants across the UK.  To mark the launch ASK recently partnered with blind artist Clarke Reynolds to create an artwork for their Park Street restaurant in central London, which included a snowflake made from the braille alphabet that was part of the festive menu. He spoke to RNIB's Connect Radio's Barry Snell about the partnership, his desire...

Now for a festive roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The House with Chicken Legs -...

In the lead up to Christmas and New Year for this week’s regular check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we thought it would be a good time to talk about our medications and how to be best prepared for the festive holidays. Elizabeth began by telling RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey about how some surgeries will allow patients to order their medications early in the lead up to the...

Now, it's time for another sight loss story from an RNIB Customer as Hywel Davies chats to Natalie Holford. If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline.