RNIB Connect

A new type of accessible payment card could be making its way to your pocket very soon. Hywel Davies has been hearing about the Talu Card. For more information, visit the Talu Card website - Talu

Tate Britain presents the largest retrospective of photographer Lee Miller ever staged. Spanning the full breadth of Miller's multifaceted practice, from her participation in French surrealism to her war reportage, the exhibition reveals how her innovative and fearless approach pushed the boundaries of photography, producing some of the most iconic images of the modern era. Around 230 vintage and modern prints, including works on display for the first time, are presented alongside unseen archival material and ephemera, shining a light on the richness of her photographic legacy. At the Press View of the Lee Miller exhibition on Tuesday 30 September 2025 and just after the Curator tour RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Saskia Flower, Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary British Art at Tate for an insight into the life and work of the Photographer Lee Miller. The Lee Miller exhibition continues at Tate Britain until 15 February 2026.  Audio described tours of the exhibition with one of Tate's Visitor Engagement Assistants can be booked in advance by either emailing hello@tate.org.uk or calling 020 7887 8888.   More details about the Lee Miller exhibition can be found on the following pages of the Tate website - https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/lee-miller Image shows and installation view of the Photography of Lee Miller exhibition at Tate Britain with framed photographs hung on peach and pale blue walls.

A great opportunity for blind and partially sighted people living in South East London to try a range of VI sports at the South East London Sight Loss Council's Free Live Well, Get Active Day at Sidcup Leisure Centre on Saturday 25 October from 12 noon to 5pm.  Accessible sports and activities range from VI Tennis and VI Cricket to spin, Zumba, and yoga. All sessions are led by experienced coaches and are designed to be inclusive, so whatever your level, you can take part. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by South East London Sight Loss Council member Steve Reed who is also a keen VI Bowls player to explain more about the Free Live Well, Get Active Day. More details and a booking form to attend the Live Well, Get Active Day can be found on the following website - http://bit.ly/48avXiQ (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

RNIB are launching a new series of support groups run by qualified counsellors. Hywel Davies has been hearing about the benefits of sharing your story. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Women's Blind Football World Cup kicks off on October the 2nd. Hywel Davies has been speaking to England's Selina Prieto ahead of this year's tournament in India.

Each week, on RNIB Connect Radio we sit down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity. This week with it being National Eye Health Week Matt began by talking about the launch of the RNIB Scotland and RNIB Cymru manifestos in the lead up to the 2026 Scottish and Welsh elections, then to the RNIB's presence at the party political conferences and the RNIB panel discussion at the up-coming Labour Party conference, and then ending with the WeWalk event in the RNIB's Grimaldi Building earlier this week. 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 call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 Or ask your Amazon smart speaker to call RNIB's Helpline. #RNIBConnect Image shows a smiling Matt

We'll head to the Visionary Annual Conference one final time, as Amelia gets final reflections from the team behind the event. Learn more about Visionary on their website - Welcome to Visionary - Visionary Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

What are some everyday uses of AI for your work or personal life? Amelia spoke to Helen Donkin from Henshaws, who is also studying a masters in AI, to learn about some great uses she's come across. Learn more about Henshaws on their website - Henshaws - Beyond Expectations Tune into Tech Talk every Tuesday at 1pm, repeated on Thursday at 9pm and Saturday at 5pm, to hear more ways Tech can make life easier, or listen on our website - Tech Talk | RNIB Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Day 2 began with Panel 'Balancing Innovation And Responsibility: AI, Social Media And Ethical Communications' and Amelia spoke to Sarah Watson from The National Lottery Community Fund and Helen Donkin from Henshaws about their panel highlights. Learn more about The National Lottery Community Fund on their website - Home | The National Lottery Community Fund Learn more about Henshaws on their website - Henshaws - Beyond Expectations Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Day 2 began with Panel 'Balancing Innovation And Responsibility: AI, Social Media And Ethical Communications' and Amelia spoke to Char Speedy from Guide Dogs about how they are applying AI to support their work and sharing their learning with other charities. Learn more about Guide Dogs on their website - Guide Dogs | The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Day 2 began with Panel 'Balancing Innovation And Responsibility: AI, Social Media And Ethical Communications' and Amelia spoke to Amit Singh Kalley for tips on safe social media and AI use after the panel. Learn more about For Working Parents on their website - Meet The Team - For Working Parents Limited Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

Blind Ambition have launched a new recruitment hub which aims to make job-hunting more accessible for blind and partially sighted people. Amelia spoke to founder Seema Flower at the Visionary Annual Conference 2025 to learn more and hear her tips for VI job seekers. Visit the Hub Website here - Blind Ambition: Visual Awareness Training for Disability Inclusion Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

What are some ideas you can use to make events and conferences more accessible and inclusive? The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Amelia spoke to Amy Pearman from Visionary to hear what they've put in place. Learn more about Visionary on their website - Welcome to Visionary - Visionary Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Amelia spoke to Joanne Teager from Blatchington Court Trust about supporting young VI people to self-advocate. Learn more about Blatchington Court trust on their website - Blatchington Court Trust – Supporting young people with sight loss across Sussex Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Amelia spoke to Ellie Southwood from Fight For Sight, BBC Strategic Disability Lead Robbie Crow and Paralympian and Speaker Darren Harris after the 'Excellence In Inclusion' panel which also featured Paralympian Libby Clegg. Learn more about Visionary on their website - Welcome to Visionary - Visionary Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

Let's join Amelia in Birmingham at the Visionary Annual Conference where local, national, and international sight loss organisations gathered together. She stepped into the courtyard with Nathan Tree and Andy Smith from MyVision Oxfordshire to talk about their upcoming wellbeing walk and the benefits of getting outdoors. Learn more about MyVision Oxfordshire on their website - MyVision Oxfordshire - Supporting Visually Impaired People - MyVision Oxfordshire Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

The Visionary Annual Conference took place in Birmingham this week, where local and national sight loss organisations came together to share ideas for better supporting blind and partially sighted people. Amelia spoke to Visionary CEO, Fiona Sandford, at the start of day 1 to learn what attendees could expect. Learn more about Visionary on their website - Welcome to Visionary - Visionary Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews. This week we have the return of a much-missed detective icon from the small screen to the theatre stage with ‘Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts' with some twists and turns, red a few red herrings and some rye humour too at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre with description by Professional Audio describer Carolyn Smith. About ‘Inspector Morse:  House of Ghosts' A chilling mystery unfolds when a young actress suddenly dies on stage during a performance, and Detective Chief Inspector Morse embarks on a gripping investigation. What begins as a suspicious death inquiry takes a darker turn when the legendary inspector, together with DS Lewis, uncovers a connection to sinister events in his own past, twenty-five years earlier. Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts marks the first-ever major stage adaptation of the iconic detective. ITV's long-running Inspector Morse, hailed by Radio Times as ‘The greatest British crime series of all time', has inspired equally beloved spin-offs, Lewis and Endeavour. Starring Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Strictly Come Dancing) as Inspector Morse, this original story written for the stage is a must-see for fans of compelling detective stories and thrilling mysteries. Presented by Birmingham Rep & Melting Pot. Based on characters by Colin Dexter. Written by Alma Cullen For more about the tour of ‘Inspector Morse:  House of Ghosts' including dates and times of performances do visit - https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/inspector-morse-house-of-ghosts/ (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

Let's hear how being introduced to the RNIB and their services transformed one woman's outlook following their diagnosis with Macular Degeneration

Sight loss charity RNIB has warned that thousands of people could be missing out on vital support at one of the most critical points of a sight loss journey – diagnosis. Joining Paulina Kuchorew to share her story and the support she found through RNIB is Natalie Holford. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

We're focusing today on the launch of an important service across the Hertfordshire and West Essex. Three new Eye Care Liaison Services are now available across the region, and will fill a vital gap, ensuring that patients no longer have to navigate sight loss without guidance.  Joining us now to talk about the life-changing work of Eye care liaison officers, also known as ECLOs, are Nicki Heritage, Georgia Scanlan, and Lynda Daddario. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

Following the WeWalk event which took place at the RNIB Grimaldi Building In London. Hubert spoke to RNIB's Robin Spinks to get his thoughts on the partnership, and also his thoughts on the various technological developments on mobility and more. 

From the WeWalk event which took place at the RNIB Grimaldi Building in London, Hubert spoke to RNIB's CEO Matt Stronger to get his thoughts on a very successful event. 

This week is National Eye Health Week, to find out more about how we should be looking after our eye health, David Hogg spoke to Louise Gow.

We continue our coverage of the WeWalk event which took place at RNIB's Grimaldi Building in London, where Hubert hears from Maggie Moore about the more interesting use cases of the WeWalk Smart Cane 2, plus how this product can complement guide dog users at a particular stage of a guide dog journey.  Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Hubert went along to a special event at RNIB's Grimaldi building, which was hosted by RNIB and WeWalk, and he spoke to WeWalk to find out more about their products and services. 

The very successful Canon ‘World Unseen' exhibition which showcases a series of photographs taken by world-renowned photographers accompanied by elevated prints, audio descriptions, soundscapes and braille that launched at Somerset House in London in April 2024 is now out on tour. Canon worked closely with the RNIB on the launch of the exhibition at Somerset House and now ‘World Unseen' is on display at the Iziko National Museum in Cape Town South Africa.  RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by David Preston from Canon South Africa and the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Phillipson to find out more about bringing ‘World Unseen' to South Africa and how the exhibition is helping to show how art and photography can be made accessible for blind and partially sighted people as well as the exhibition changing peoples perceptions around sight loss too. All the photographs in the Canon ‘World Unseen' exhibition along with the soundscapes that feature audio description can be found on the following pages of the Canon website - https://www.canon.co.uk/view/unsee-the-world/ Image shows the World Unseen logo, white text in block capitals against a black background with a diagonal red line on the left

In this podcast, Hubert shines a light on the companies that have achieved RNIB's Visibly Better Employer standard.  We hear from KPMG, and Katie from RNIB's Visibly Better Employer team. Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font.

At the recent ‘Touch Beyond Vision' exhibition and event at the Oxo Tower in London on Monday 15 September 2025 Carveco was showcasing how their AI tools are turning images into accessible tactile relief works of art, bringing photographs and images to life for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey was joined by Robert Newman, Managing Director of Carveco, to explain more about how their AI tools are being used to turn images into accessible tactile relief artworks for blind and partially sighted people. You can find out more about the Touch Beyond Vision' exhibition and event by visiting the following website - https://touch-beyond-vision.com And for more about Carveco do visit there website - https://carveco.com (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underlined with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

A new digital archive has launched where you can explore 40 years of campaign for accessible transport. Amelia spoke to Cat Whitehouse, Co-CEO of Transport For All, to learn more. You can learn more and visit the archive on the Transport For All website - Disabled Campaigners Mark Accessible Transport History | Transport for All Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Nature In Art museum and gallery in Gloucester have launched their totally tactile exhibition. Visitors can explore exhibits using touch from wood to metal, from realistic animals to abstract interpretations. They're also rolling out other accessibility features including audio guides and tablets with high contrast images. Amelia spoke to Hattie Revans, Collections and Marketing Officer, to learn more… Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity. This week Matt talks about some big accessibility events at the London HQ and political work ahead of the party conferences. 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 call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask your Amazon device to call RNIB's Helpline. Image Shows A Smiling Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, Wearing Glasses And A Grey Jacket.

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next of his regular audio described theatre reviews. This time we have the European premier of ‘fat Ham' at the Royal Shakespeare Company's swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, written by playwright James Ijames and Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with description by Professional Describers Julia Grundy and Ess Grange.  About ‘Fat Ham'  Uninvited guests are one thing. Uninvited ghosts are quite another. Juicy is a queer, Southern college kid, already grappling with some serious questions of identity, when the ghost of his father shows up in their backyard, demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. The story is familiar, but what's different is Juicy himself, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man trying to break the cycles of trauma and violence in service of his own liberation. From an uproarious family barbecue emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, ‘Fat Ham' is a delectable comic tragedy written by the award-winning playwright James Ijames, originally co-produced off-Broadway by The Public Theatre and National Black Theatre. Original Direction by Saheem Ali, directed for the Swan Theatre by Sideeq Heard. For more about access at the royal Shakespeare Company including details of audio described performances of their productions do visit - https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/access (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

The RNIB's Accessible Media Symposium (16 - 17 September 2025) brought together broadcasters, streamers, technology companies, creatives, researchers and people with lived experience to explore the future of accessible media. As storytelling, platforms and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about access. This two-day event is a chance to share ideas, highlight innovation, and shape what accessible media looks like in the years ahead. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Jonathan Penny, Access Services Manager at Channel 4 to find out how the last two days of the symposium have been for him and what he might take back to Channel 4. (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

The RNIB's Accessible Media Symposium (16 - 17 September 2025) brought together broadcasters, streamers, technology companies, creatives, researchers and people with lived experience to explore the future of accessible media. As storytelling, platforms and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about access. This two-day event is a chance to share ideas, highlight innovation, and shape what accessible media looks like in the years ahead. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Marie Campbell, Audio Description Excellence Lead at Red Bee Media about how audio description might be having to change in line with more streaming services and the impact of AI on AD from the Describers point of view.  (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

The RNIB's Accessible Media Symposium (16 - 17 September 2025) brought together broadcasters, streamers, technology companies, creatives, researchers and people with lived experience to explore the future of accessible media. As storytelling, platforms and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about access. This two-day event is a chance to share ideas, highlight innovation, and shape what accessible media looks like in the years ahead. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Professor Sabine Braun from the University of Surrey to discuss the findings of the AI Generated AD Project report.  The project explored how AI could be used to generate AD for factual content, and what that meant for quality, creativity and viewer experience. It engaged blind and partially sighted audiences and highlighted where human input remains essential.   (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

Tate Modern is inviting visitors to enter ‘Theatre Picasso', a major exhibition marking the centenary of Picasso's painting ‘The Three Dancers' 1925. The exhibition will bring together around 50 works by one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, exploring how he imbued his work with a sense of theatricality.  Coinciding with Tate Modern's 25th anniversary year, ‘Theatre Picasso' will continue the gallery's history of presenting foundational figures from art history in fresh light. At the Press view of ‘Theatre Picasso' on Monday 15 September 2025 RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Andrew de Brún, Assistant Curator for International Art at Tate for an insight into the ‘Theatre Picasso' exhibition looking at Picasso's work, maybe going behind the mask of the Artist himself and looking at the influence of his work today too. The ‘Theatre Picasso' exhibition continues at Tate Modern until 12 April 2026.  Audio described tours of the exhibition with one of Tate's Visitor Engagement Assistants can be booked in advance by either emailing hello@tate.org.uk or calling 020 7887 8888.   More details about the ‘Theatre Picasso' exhibition can be found on the following pages of the Tate website - https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/theatre-picasso Image shows: 'Bottle of Vieux Marc, Glass, Guitar and Newspaper' (1913) Tate. © Succession Picasso DACS, London 2025. 

The RNIB's Accessible Media Symposium (16 - 17 September 2025) brought together broadcasters, streamers, technology companies, creatives, researchers and people with lived experience to explore the future of accessible media. As storytelling, platforms and technologies evolve, so too must the ways we think about access. This two-day event is a chance to share ideas, highlight innovation, and shape what accessible media looks like in the years ahead. RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Sonali Rai, RNIB's lead on Media, Culture and Immersive Technology to find out how day one went and some of the highlights for day two. (Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font)

At the Scottish Vision Strategy Conference 2025, our David Hogg spoke with Susan Shippey to learn more about the rebranded Vision Collaborative Scotland. Image shows a large ballroom, with conference delegates sitting around tables, all facing the front of the room where there are two screens with conference branding. James Adams, RNIB Scotland Country Director is speaking at the lectern.

More from Scottish Vision Strategy Conference 2025 as David Hogg caught up with one of the keynote speakers Nicoletta Primo. Image shows a large ballroom, with conference delegates sitting around tables, all facing the front of the room where there are two screens with conference branding. James Adams, RNIB Scotland Country Director is speaking at the lectern.

Our David Hogg was at the Scottish Vision Strategy Conference 2025 and spoke with RNIB NI's Country director Robert Shilliday. Image shows a large ballroom, with conference delegates sitting around tables, all facing the front of the room where there are two screens with conference branding. James Adams, RNIB Scotland Country Director is speaking at the lectern.