In Touch

In Touch

By BBC Radio 4Society & Culture
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In Touch episodes

  • Further Education Support; Braille versus Assistive Technology

    A longitudinal study by the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research at the University of Birmingham and the Thomas Pocklington Trust, identified key challenges experienced by blind and visually impaired people when they moved on to Further Education. It also found that many did not gain quality employment despite earning qualifications in line with the general population.

    And is assistive technology making the learning and usage of braille more scarce? We want to hear your views on this - email [email protected]

    We get things started by talking to Anna Janickyj, a braille teacher and personal tutor from Sense College Loughborough.

    19 min
  • Isolation; Echolocation

    The disability charity Sense are calling on the Government and local communities to prioritise disabled people as the country plans its way out of the Coronavirus restrictions. It's been laid out in their ‘Left out of Life’ report, which reveals the extent to which people feel worried about going out and anxious about measures like social distancing. We speak to the charity’s CEO, Richard Kramer.

    Echolocation has long been endorsed as a way of helping people who are blind or partially sighted to navigate the world. The University of Durham have been studying the potential of the technique for some years - we'll get an update from the author of the latest report. In the study, Echolocation was taught to people with and without sight, of varying ages and it revealed some rather surprising results…

    19 min
  • Accessible Covid Testing; Working from Home

    Rapid lateral flow tests for Covid-19 were criticised earlier in the year for not being accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. The government promised to do better, but did it happen? Spectators are making a welcome return to some of the big sporting events of the summer, including Test matches and the European Football Championship, but they are only allowed into stadiums if they can show proof of a negative lateral flow test or double vaccination.

    Are you itching to get back to water-cooler chat in the office? Or does the thought of commuting again fill you with dread? We discuss the merits of continuing to work from home versus returning to the office.

    19 min
  • Lighting in the Home; E-scooters Pt 2

    Getting the right lighting in the home can be life-changing for people who are blind or visually impaired. Tonight we get a preview of a new guide due to be published by the sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust which gives solutions to some common lighting problems. We invited one of our listeners, who emailed in about the subject, to put the questions to the author.

    And, after a big response from you on our item about e-scooters, we speak to one of the three operators of the trials starting in London this week. We'll find out about plans for audio warnings and how they intend to make sure scooters are parked safely.

    19 min
  • A Genetics Special

    In this special programme, we examine the role genetics plays in both the inheritance of sight loss and its future treatment. We hear about the latest breakthrough reported in the journal 'Nature Medicine' in which the vision of a completely blind man was partially restored using light-sensing proteins first found in algae. He was treated with a type of therapy called optogenetics, which uses the proteins to control cells at the back of his eye.

    And we discuss the merits of gene testing with the Chief Executive of Retina UK about how genetic testing can help people with inherited sight loss make future choices about their lives.

    19 min
  • Electric Scooters; Fans Return to Stadia

    New figures show there have been over 200 injuries and 1,100 complaints to local authorities since the trial of electric scooters began in 50 towns and cities across the UK. Sight loss charities are calling for stricter enforcement of existing regulations to keep people who are blind or visually impaired safe.

    And we speak to blind or visually impaired football fans as they make a welcome return to stadia.

    19 min
  • A Technology Special

    The pandemic has accelerated our use of the digital world, meaning accessible websites and apps have never been more important. So who's doing it well and who could do better?

    We've been collating your examples of website accessibility and put them to Robin Christopherson from AbilityNet, who offer advice for companies and public bodies on making their online platforms suitable for people who are blind or visually impaired.

    Also - we review the latest software to be included on the Amazon Alexa and Google Home platforms. And Josh Gregg from the University of York talks about his project to make sure future technologies like augmented reality are designed with accessibility in mind from inception. You can find out more about his research at bit.ly/audioar

    19 min
  • Voting; Extreme Sports

    Up until now it's been virtually impossible for people who are blind or visually impaired to cast their vote completely privately. But new technology trialled at polling booths in Norfolk last week could change all that. We hear from someone who took part.

    And after recovering from meningitis, a double lung transplant and seven cornea operations, Sam Roberts talks to Peter White about his newfound love of extreme sports.

    19 min
  • The Language of Disability

    How does language affect how we view disability; and who gets to decide what words we should use? Peter White discusses the changing terminology around visual impairment following a report by the charity Leonard Cheshire showing that nearly three quarters of disabled people feel more needs to be done for non-disabled people to understand that their words can offend.

    Presenter: Peter White

    Producer: Simon Hoban

    19 min
  • Applying for Jobs; Going out after Lockdown

    Only one in four registered blind and partially sighted people of working age are in employment and on tonight's programme we hear one woman's struggle to get a job. Angharad Paget Jones applied for 2,000 jobs and had 200 interviews before she was offered a position - and she believes discrimination was sometimes to blame.

    And now that restrictions are easing, how are you feeling about going out and about again? Lots of us have lost a bit of confidence in the pandemic - we hear from two listeners about their concerns.

    19 min

About In Touch

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News, views and information for people who are blind or partially sighted