BMI-baby being sued for inaccessible website

The RNIB have taken the lead in fighting the inaccessibility of the Internet and are suing the airline compnay BMI-baby for its inaccessible website. Screen reader users are unable to select the dates they want to travel on making it impossible for them to take advantage of cheap flights which are only available by booking online. Radio 4′s In Touch covered this last week and the programme is  available to listen to at this link here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bb705 There is also an article on the  ComputerWorldUK website at this link here http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/it-business/3332901/bmibaby-sued-over-inaccessible-website/ Apart from these, the media is largely silent. This is a shame because inspite of the incompatibility between most websites and screen readers, there have only been two cases of digital discrimination which have gone to court. Both were instigated by the RNIB and both settled privately without the company names being revealed.  It would be good to see this new case headlining the BBC News and all the major newspapers too. This would raise awareness of the importance of ensuring digital inclusion for everyone, not just those who can use a mouse and  see the screen, which is the how the vast majority of Internet content is designed.

Talking Cash Machines

In America, cash machines talk. One in every four cash machines has a voice option which guides blind and partially sighted users through their transactions.  In Britain, only one in a thousand cash machines have this facility even though many already have the socket for users to plug in their headphones. To be unable to independently use a cash machine is a discrimination and the RNIB have started a campaign to get banks to make their cash machines talk. Barclays has recently committed to this but there are plenty more banking companies who have yet to follow their lead. Click this link http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/yourmoney/cashmachine/Pages/take_action.aspx  to find out more about the RNIB campaign and their Make Money Talk publication. Here you can also access information on how to contact your bank and make your request for talking cash machines.

New stem cell treatment for sight loss

Some may view this treatment as controversial, others may see it as a vital step forward in eradicating some forms of sight loss. Where do you stand?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/6305501/Stem-cell-treatment-improves-eyesight#share

Free podcasts about reading and authors from the RNIB

The RNIB Online Community http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/onlinecommunity/Pages/online_community.aspx is worth joining for a number of reasons which we will be looking at in the next few posts. The first reasons is access to free podcasts including a series about reading and authors. The Reading Podcasts can be accessed directly from the page by clicking this link here http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/onlinecommunity/podcasts/readingpodcast/Pages/reading_podcast.aspx

Authors include Alexander McCall Smith creator of the No 1 Ladies’ Detective series and the poet Simon Armitage with Jo Brand talking about latest biographical writings. There are also podcasts about audio books and large print.  Let us know what you think of these by clicking the ‘Leave a comment’ link and putting your reply in the box below to share your views.

New research into the availability of accessible publications

New research into the availability of accessible publications has been completed for RNIB. Two research reports suggest only seven percent of books published overall are accessible in that they are available in Braille, large print and audio. Of the top 1000 book titles in 2010, only 54% were available in in Braille, large print and audio. The ideal would be 100 percent of all publications by default are available in fully accessible formats. The reports can be accessed from the RNIB  Accessible Publishing pages on the RNIB website.  On these pages there is also free accessibility advice, guidance and best practice to help in the design and delivery of accessible printed publications.

RNIB offer a useful guide to for producing accessible letters, posters, leaflets and other printed materials. Called ‘See it Right’ the book and accompanying CD costs £15 and is ideal for anyone who produces printed text in either hard copy or digital formats. Details of the book and how to order can be found on the RNIB Accessible Information  on the RNIB website.  Alternatively you can  order a copy by calling 0303 123 9999 and quoting the order code PR12098CDRom. 

In Touch – Mobile Phones

On the last episode of In Touch on BBC Radio 4, the programme for people who are blind are partically sighted, Peter White introduced the subject of mobile phones and recent developments in their accesibility. The programme lasts 20 minutes and can be heard again here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018xs8r.

Transcripts for recent In Touch programmes can be found here (they are usually a week or so behind) http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/in-touch/transcripts/

Blind ex-sailor Alan Lock completes South Pole trek

A former Royal Navy sailor has become the first visually impaired person to trek to the South Pole.  Alan Lock, 31, from Clevedon, North Somerset, was part of a team which battled temperatures as low as -35C to cover almost 1,000km in 39 days.  Mr Lock lost his sight to macular degeneration,  in just six weeks, while training as a Royal Navy officer nine years ago.  Since then, he has undertaken challenges including 10 marathons, and set a Guinness World Record in 2008 when he became the first visually impaired person to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Read more about this fantastic achievement on the BBC News Website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-16415942

Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to everyone from HERIB.

 

Paralympic media coverage

It’s great to see sports people with visual impairments receiving such high profile media coverage. but isn’t it a shame that it takes David Beckham’s involvment for them to receive such deserved recognition?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2065576/David-Beckham-blindfolded-Paralympics-football-session.html

In Touch BBC Radio 4 Podcasts and the ‘Seeing It My Way’ initiative

 In Touch is broadcast every Tuesday evening from 20:40 on BBC Radio 4.  Presented by Peter White, the programme offers news, views and information for people who are blind or visually impaired. There are also podcasts available to download from the BBC In Touch Podcast site here at http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/intouch 

The latest Podcast includes  the  “Seeing it my Way”  report into the services that visually impaired people really want.  ‘Seeing it my way’ is a new initiative developed so that every person with sight loss across the UK gets the support they need. For more information on Seeing It My Way go to the RNIB site at http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/ukvisionstrategy/Pages/seeingitmyway.aspx