Royal National Institute of the Blind
Encyclopedia
RNIB is a UK charity
offering information, support and advice to almost two million people in the UK with sight loss
.
In 1868 Dr Armitage founded an organisation known as the British and Foreign Society for Improving Embossed Literature for the Blind. This later became the British and Foreign Blind Association. In 1875 Her Majesty Queen Victoria became the organisation's first patron.
The organisation received a Royal Charter
in 1948, and changed its name to Royal National Institute for the Blind in 1953. In 2002, RNIB membership was introduced and the organisation's name changed to Royal National Institute of the Blind. In June 2007 the organisation changed its name again, to Royal National Institute of Blind People.
, England
. RNIB's Patron is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In October 2008, RNIB and Action for Blind People
agreed in principle to combine some services across England. The new arrangement began in April 2009, resulting in Action for Blind People becoming an Associate Charity of RNIB.
RNIB's mission is to challenge blindness by empowering people who are blind or partially sighted, removing the barriers they face and helping to prevent blindness.
RNIB runs a telephone Helpline (0303 123 9999) to provide information and support for anyone affected by a sight problem. Another telephone service, Talk and Support, offers people the chance to socialise and receive support as part of a telephone group. As well as telephone advice, RNIB maintains an accessible website and print and audio publications.
To support people coming to terms with sight loss, RNIB organises 'Finding your feet' weekend breaks. There are also courses in learning braille
, and a range of information and products to help people affected by sight loss to live their daily life independently.
RNIB works to increase access to information for blind and partially sighted people. This ranges from campaigning for more audio description
on television, cinemas and at sports venues to getting books, bills and other written material available in accessible formats (such as braille
, large print or audio). RNIB runs a radio station, Insight Radio
- Europe's first radio station dedicated to the blind and partially sighted community. Insight Radio broadcasts online, on Sky channel 0188, on Freesat channel 777 and on 101 FM in the Glasgow area.
. The school educates blind and partially sighted children with significant learning difficulties
and disabilities between the ages of 2 and 11 years.
The residential accommodation is open to children aged between 5 and 14 years who are blind or partially sighted with significant learning difficulties and disabilities, whether or not they also attend the school. Children stay at Sunshine House overnight up to four nights per week, up to 50 weeks per year.
, Warwickshire
. It provides specialist education for young people with sight loss, multiple disabilities and complex health needs between the ages of 6 to 19. Children can live in residential accommodation onsite or a small number of pupils attend on a day basis.
RNIB is redeveloping the existing Pears Centre site with new purpose-built facilities costing £30 million. The main phase of redevelopment started in spring 2009 and is due for completion in 2011. The new facility will provide more places for children in the school and residential care home.
, Leicestershire
and supports students with sight loss and other disabilities. The college provides further education
programmes to learners aged 16–25 and adult employment programmes for adult learners aged 18–63 who are unemployed and looking to develop their skills or retrain and gain employment. The college offers residential or day programmes.
products, gifts and publications. RNIB sources, designs and supplies products to help blind and partially sighted people live independently, and to make everyday tasks easier. Products include talking clocks and watches, large button telephones, mobility aids, cookery aids and tactile toys and games.
.
Audio books are provided through the Talking Book service. RNIB's Talking Books are recorded in DAISY
format. Unlike regular CDs, Daisy's digital format allows listeners to use the CD in the same way as a print book, by creating bookmarks, speeding up and slowing down playback and jumping easily around the content.
RNIB's online shop supplies accessible books, music and maps.
to people with sight problems. RNIB's 'See it right' guidelines give practical advice on how to design and produce accessible information.
Transcription Centres convert print and other material into accessible formats, such as braille
, audio and large print. They also handle requests for transcription of mathematical documents, music and tactile maps and diagrams.
RNIB runs a number of training and consultancy services to help businesses and individuals create accessible services and products. Training includes courses on understanding sight loss, health and social care training, leisure industry training, disability awareness, and recruitment related training. Consultancy services include product design, access design (covering built, pedestrian and transport environments), and web access.
(NICE) issued new guidance on drugs for treating wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This paves the way for patients in England and Wales to receive sight-saving anti-VEGF drugs free on the NHS
. Previously NICE had deemed the drugs too expensive for NHS availability. RNIB's campaign generated a response from more than 13,000 people.
.
programming is 10 per cent. RNIB is campaigning for this target to be doubled, and to make sure that accessibility is not compromised by the national switchover to digital TV by 2012. RNIB also wants to see more films available with audio description
, and more programme guides available in accessible formats.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
offering information, support and advice to almost two million people in the UK with sight loss
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
.
History
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) was founded by Thomas Rhodes Armitage, a successful doctor who suffered from eyesight problems.In 1868 Dr Armitage founded an organisation known as the British and Foreign Society for Improving Embossed Literature for the Blind. This later became the British and Foreign Blind Association. In 1875 Her Majesty Queen Victoria became the organisation's first patron.
The organisation received a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1948, and changed its name to Royal National Institute for the Blind in 1953. In 2002, RNIB membership was introduced and the organisation's name changed to Royal National Institute of the Blind. In June 2007 the organisation changed its name again, to Royal National Institute of Blind People.
Organization
RNIB is a national organization with branches and services throughout the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland. The charity's headquarters are in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. RNIB's Patron is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In October 2008, RNIB and Action for Blind People
Action for Blind People
Action for Blind People is a national sight loss charity in the United Kingdom that provides help and support to blind and partially sighted people of all ages.-History:...
agreed in principle to combine some services across England. The new arrangement began in April 2009, resulting in Action for Blind People becoming an Associate Charity of RNIB.
Vision and mission
RNIB's vision is of a world in which blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same rights, freedom, responsibilities and quality of life as people who are fully sighted.RNIB's mission is to challenge blindness by empowering people who are blind or partially sighted, removing the barriers they face and helping to prevent blindness.
Membership
In 2002 RNIB became a membership organisation, enabling a greater proportion of blind and partially sighted people to get involved and have a say on how the organisation delivers services and what work it does.Governance
RNIB is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board has 24 members, more than 50 per cent of whom must be blind or partially sighted. A number of committees support the work of the Board.Eliminating avoidable sight loss
Every day another 100 people in the UK will start to lose their sight - but many causes of sight loss are preventable if they are caught early. RNIB works to eliminate avoidable sight loss. To this end, RNIB leads on the UK Vision Strategy, developed by a large eye health and sight loss alliance, to set the direction for the eye health of the nation.Support and information
RNIB provides support, information and advice for people affected by sight loss, as well as for eye health and other professionals. In 2007/08 over 280,000 people a month contacted RNIB for general information on sight loss, to lend their voice to a campaign, for expert advice, or to buy an accessible product.RNIB runs a telephone Helpline (0303 123 9999) to provide information and support for anyone affected by a sight problem. Another telephone service, Talk and Support, offers people the chance to socialise and receive support as part of a telephone group. As well as telephone advice, RNIB maintains an accessible website and print and audio publications.
To support people coming to terms with sight loss, RNIB organises 'Finding your feet' weekend breaks. There are also courses in learning braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, and a range of information and products to help people affected by sight loss to live their daily life independently.
RNIB works to increase access to information for blind and partially sighted people. This ranges from campaigning for more audio description
Audio description
Audio description refers to an additional narration track for blind and visually impaired consumers of visual media...
on television, cinemas and at sports venues to getting books, bills and other written material available in accessible formats (such as braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, large print or audio). RNIB runs a radio station, Insight Radio
Insight Radio
Insight Radio is a British radio station owned by Royal National Institute of Blind People and was Europe's first radio station for blind and partially sighted listeners. It broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online, on 101 FM in the Glasgow area on Freesat channel 777 and on Sky Digital...
- Europe's first radio station dedicated to the blind and partially sighted community. Insight Radio broadcasts online, on Sky channel 0188, on Freesat channel 777 and on 101 FM in the Glasgow area.
Education and residential care
RNIB owns several educational establishments and residential care homes:RNIB Sunshine House School and Children's Home
Sunshine House is a specialist primary school, children's home and service for families in Northwood, MiddlesexMiddlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. The school educates blind and partially sighted children with significant learning difficulties
Learning disability
Learning disability is a classification including several disorders in which a person has difficulty learning in a typical manner, usually caused by an unknown factor or factors...
and disabilities between the ages of 2 and 11 years.
The residential accommodation is open to children aged between 5 and 14 years who are blind or partially sighted with significant learning difficulties and disabilities, whether or not they also attend the school. Children stay at Sunshine House overnight up to four nights per week, up to 50 weeks per year.
RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning
RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning (Formerly RNIB Rushton School and Children's Home) was established in 1957 and is based near CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. It provides specialist education for young people with sight loss, multiple disabilities and complex health needs between the ages of 6 to 19. Children can live in residential accommodation onsite or a small number of pupils attend on a day basis.
RNIB is redeveloping the existing Pears Centre site with new purpose-built facilities costing £30 million. The main phase of redevelopment started in spring 2009 and is due for completion in 2011. The new facility will provide more places for children in the school and residential care home.
RNIB College Loughborough
RNIB College Loughborough is based in LoughboroughLoughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and supports students with sight loss and other disabilities. The college provides further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
programmes to learners aged 16–25 and adult employment programmes for adult learners aged 18–63 who are unemployed and looking to develop their skills or retrain and gain employment. The college offers residential or day programmes.
Accessible products
RNIB runs an Online shop and several Resource Centres, which sell accessibleAccessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
products, gifts and publications. RNIB sources, designs and supplies products to help blind and partially sighted people live independently, and to make everyday tasks easier. Products include talking clocks and watches, large button telephones, mobility aids, cookery aids and tactile toys and games.
Books
The RNIB National Library Service contains more than 40,000 titles, making it the largest specialist library in the UK for readers with sight loss. It stocks books in accessible formats, such as braille and giant print. It also stocks braille music. The RNIB National Library Service was created in 2007 when the RNIB's library services merged with the National Library for the BlindNational Library for the Blind
The National Library for the Blind was a public library in the United Kingdom, founded 1882, which aimed to ensure that people with sight problems have the same access to library services as sighted people. NLB was taken over by RNIB on 1 January 2007.-Origins:The Lending Library for the Blind...
.
Audio books are provided through the Talking Book service. RNIB's Talking Books are recorded in DAISY
DAISY Digital Talking Book
DAISY is a standard for digital talking books. DAISY books are typically used by people have "print disabilities," including blindness, impaired vision, dyslexia...
format. Unlike regular CDs, Daisy's digital format allows listeners to use the CD in the same way as a print book, by creating bookmarks, speeding up and slowing down playback and jumping easily around the content.
RNIB's online shop supplies accessible books, music and maps.
Good design
RNIB encourages good design to make websites, information, products, services and buildings accessibleAccessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
to people with sight problems. RNIB's 'See it right' guidelines give practical advice on how to design and produce accessible information.
Transcription Centres convert print and other material into accessible formats, such as braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, audio and large print. They also handle requests for transcription of mathematical documents, music and tactile maps and diagrams.
RNIB runs a number of training and consultancy services to help businesses and individuals create accessible services and products. Training includes courses on understanding sight loss, health and social care training, leisure industry training, disability awareness, and recruitment related training. Consultancy services include product design, access design (covering built, pedestrian and transport environments), and web access.
Campaigning
RNIB campaigns and lobbies on six main issues, as well as on reactive issues. The six main campaign priorities are:- eliminating avoidable sight loss
- improving access to health and social care
- improving access to information and information systems
- increasing employment amongst blind and partially sighted people
- increasing income for blind and partially sighted people
- improving access to television, audio visual culture and life-long learning.
Free access to sight-saving drugs
In August 2008, following more than two-and-half-years of campaigning led by RNIB, the National Institute for Health and Clinical ExcellenceNational Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is a special health authority of the English National Health Service , serving both English NHS and the Welsh NHS...
(NICE) issued new guidance on drugs for treating wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This paves the way for patients in England and Wales to receive sight-saving anti-VEGF drugs free on the NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
. Previously NICE had deemed the drugs too expensive for NHS availability. RNIB's campaign generated a response from more than 13,000 people.
Right to Read
RNIB is campaigning for books to be produced in accessible formats at the same time as they come out in regular print, and for the same price. RNIB research shows that 96 per cent of books are not available in large print, audio or brailleBraille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
.
Access to television
The statutory requirement for audio describedAudio description
Audio description refers to an additional narration track for blind and visually impaired consumers of visual media...
programming is 10 per cent. RNIB is campaigning for this target to be doubled, and to make sure that accessibility is not compromised by the national switchover to digital TV by 2012. RNIB also wants to see more films available with audio description
Audio description
Audio description refers to an additional narration track for blind and visually impaired consumers of visual media...
, and more programme guides available in accessible formats.