OCTOBER NEWSLETTER NO. 326
RNIB reading and books
Find everything you need to enjoy reading including RNIB’s Talking Books service which gives you free access to over 37,000 titles to enjoy and is available through Alexa-enabled devices, books, magazines and newspapers in audio, e-text and braille and if we don’t have what you’re looking for our Transcription service can transform written material into accessible formats.
More details here:
https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/reading-and-books/
RNIB braille and Moon tactile codes
Braille is a code based on six dots, arranged in two columns of three dots. There are 63 possible combinations of the six dots which are used to represent the alphabet and numbers. Braille is a great way for blind people to read and write, the characters are designed to be read by fingers rather than eyes. Braille is for anyone who has or is likely to lose their sight and would find that using large print becomes difficult.
Moon is a system of raised shapes, which can help blind and partially sighted people, of any age, to read by touch. As the characters are large and over half the letters bear a strong resemblance to the print equivalent, Moon has been found particularly suitable for those who lose their sight later in life, or for people who may have a less keen sense of touch.
RNIB Talking books
The RNIB Talking Books service is absolutely free. Giving you access to over 37,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children in accessible formats that suits you.
https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/reading-and-books/talking-books/
Free postal service
Royal Mail operate a scheme called Articles for the Blind (AFB) which allows blind and partially sighted people to send certain items of post free of charge. If you are blind or partially sighted and have close-up vision with spectacles of N12 or less, then you can use the scheme.
Technology in the home
An overview of the different kinds of technology that make life at home easier for blind and partially sighted people.
Aunt Bessie’s uses packaging to help visually impaired customers
The frozen food brand has rolled out new packaging that will help visually impaired people find products and access the nutritional information.
Aunt Bessie’s partnered with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to introduce NaviLens technology on selected products such as Golden Yorkshires.
The accompanying smartphone app can be used in-stores to detect the unique code printed on the front of selected packs, and subsequently provide audio directions to the customer to locate the chosen product.
The flexible system can also be used to relay key nutritional values, ingredient lists and preparation instructions.
Twitter makes it easier for the visually impaired to read images
Twitter has rolled out a feature to help blind and visually-impaired people read images embedded with the tweets via its new image description reminder.
The new image description reminder will encourage more people on Twitter to add helpful descriptions to the images they tweet, the company said in a statement. Further details at the link below:
Asda expands indoor map trial to help visually impaired customers shop
ASDA has announced that it is expanding its trial of new technology that will make it easier for blind and partially sighted customers to navigate their way through stores whilst shopping.
Following an initial trial at Asda’s designated Technology-Innovation store in Stevenage, the supermarket is integrating a further 10 stores into the GoodMaps smartphone app. The app will allow a user’s location to be pinpointed within one metre of accuracy. It will then communicate directions to certain product groups or areas via audio, enlarged visuals and touch commands.
How to use Window11’s screen reader
RNIB and Oxford university press
An agreement between Oxford University Press (OUP) and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has allowed those with a print disability to access more than 900,000 academic books.
The OUP’s book collection will be made available on RNIB’s Bookshare platform, providing around 33,000 dyslexic, blind or partially sighted learners on the platform with accessible file types through reading devices or applications.
https://www.opticianonline.net/news/rnib-and-oxford-uni-press-partner
Help available for blind and partially sighted people to mitigate the cost of living crisis
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) wants to ensure that, as many blind or partially sighted people become increasingly concerned about how they will make ends meet, they have the necessary support to help them.
The RNIB Sight Loss Advice Service provides information or support on the following:
o Money, benefits and finances.
o Equality, rights and employment.
o Eye health.
o Sight loss and wellbeing.
o Families and carers.
o Technology and useful products.
o Children, young people and education.
o Reading, home and leisure.
People affected by sight loss can speak to a RNIB Sight Loss Adviser about these services by calling the Helpline on 0303 123 9999, 8am-8pm on weekdays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
https://www.grampianonline.co.uk/news/charity-working-to-maximise-support-for-blind-286422/