Sign up to save your podcastsEmail addressPasswordRegisterOrContinue with GoogleAlready have an account? Log in here.
FAQs about In Touch:How many episodes does In Touch have?The podcast currently has 468 episodes available.
June 29, 2017Why Can't I Sleep?Blind people with no light perception can suffer from a variety of sleep problems. Its now been proved that for the majority of blind people with no light perception, the lack of light makes it impossible for a gland situated in the brain to produce sufficient levels of a hormone called melatonin. This can lead to circadian sleep disorders which can occur when the body clock does not fall into a regular rhythm. Blind listeners tell In Touch about the impact poor sleep can have on their quality of life. We also hear from Lynn McGovern of The Circadian Sleep Disorders Network, a support and advocacy group which works on raising awareness of disrupted sleep, . Russell Foster, a Professor of Circadian Neuroscience and Head of Ophthalmology at Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosiences, Oxford University has spent many years researching sleep problems in blind people and he tells Peter about the current thinking on why blind people persistently suffer from problems sleeping.Producer: Lee KumutatPresenter: Peter White....more27minPlay
June 20, 2017Retirement angst, Self-defenceListener Mike Kelly lost his sight in his thirties, shortly after he'd finished his training as an architect. He underwent intensive rehabilitation and has had a successful full time career in the civil service. Now aged 65 Mike has chosen to retire. Mixed in with the excitement of starting a new chapter in his life, he has some fears and concerns as well.David Black who has Retinitis Pigmentosa was attacked three times. Despite having studied martial arts he felt unable to defend himself as a blind person. He sought help from a charity in Scotland which runs self-defence courses for disabled people. David's confidence has sky-rocketed since and he now teaches the same course which helped to boost his confidence, to other blind people. Emma Tracey from BBC Ouch went along to meet David and and pick up one or two self-defence tricks.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Lee Kumutat....more19minPlay
June 13, 2017New partially sighted MP Marsha De CordovaAfter a ten year career holding various roles in national blindness charities, in 2014 Marsha De Cordova entered the world of politics when she became a councillor in Lambeth, south-east London. Last Thursday evening, she unexpectedly won the seat of Battersea from the Conservative minister Jane Ellison with a 10% swing. Born with nystagmus, a condition which makes it difficult for the eyes to focus, she is planning to champion disability rights as she takes her seat in Parliament later this week.We bring you this exclusive interview from Central Lobby in the Palace of Westminster.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Lee Kumutat....more18minPlay
June 06, 2017VotingRachael Andrews wanted to vote in the general election held in 2015, but when she and her blind husband arrived at her polling station, the device that was supposed to be in place to help them vote secretly and independently couldn't be found. She launched a legal challenge against her local authority to try to change the situation. She tells us why and what the outcome was.Don't worry if you haven't waded through all seven political party manifestoes, BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue has, and he'll be picking out some of the key policies of interest to blind and partially sighted people.In the RNIB's latest survey of blind and partially sighted voters, half say they weren't able to vote secretly or independently on polling day. Campaign manager Hugh Huddy tells us what the RNIB is doing to change this situation. Back in March, listener Ian Brooks was offered a job interview as a programmer, until the company heard he had a guide dog, when the interview was cancelled. Three months on, and ian's back to tell us what happened next.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Lee Kumutat....more19minPlay
May 30, 2017Daniel and Michael SmithDue to a genetic eye condition, identical twins Daniel and Michael Smith both lost their sight when they were 18.Now, seven years on and following their much published story, the brothers talk to Peter White about the impact their blindness has had on their lives in the intervening years.They speak candidly about the stress they have experienced working in very visual jobs in the City of London. Michael is about the qualify as a lawyer and Dan is working as an investment banker.They last appeared on In Touch three years ago and in this programme speak of the changes they have experienced since last meeting Peter.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Cheryl Gabriel....more19minPlay
May 23, 2017Lovers not CarersKirsten Hearn and Red Szell join Peter White to talk about their personal experiences of having their lovers mistaken for carers, when they are out together.The panel all offer advice on how to deal with awkward situations, including when a member of the public or shop assistant asks a 'does he take sugar?' type question.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Cheryl Gabriel....more19minPlay
May 17, 2017The Braille Legacy Musical, International Blind TennisPeter White talks to the author of The Braille Legacy - a musical currently staged at The Charing Cross Theatre in London, which dramatises the life and achievements of Louis Braille, who invented the tactile writing system. Ellie Southwood who has been to see the show, gives a review from a blind person's perspective.Last week in Spain the first international blind tennis tournament was held with 12 countries competing for international rankings. Chris Baily came home with a trophy for Great Britain and the title of World Number One in blind tennis. He tells us what it means to him and his hopes that one day Blind Tennis will be a paralympic sport.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Lee Kumutat....more19minPlay
May 09, 2017Andrew Bastawrous, Bristol blind running clubAndrew Bastawrous CEO Peek, which is a social enterprise providing technology and support to healthcare providers, which will help them screen people for eye disease. He is currently doing this work in Africa as part of a campaign called Clearly, which aims to find global solutions to improve vision correction.Tom Walker reports from a running club in Bristol which encourages blind and visually-impaired people to run with a guide....more19minPlay
April 18, 2017RNIB library services, Football commentaryTracy Pearson, Leader of RNIB's Reader Services responds to listeners queries about talking books. Tracy tells Peter White that the service is in good shape and that where problems have been pointed out by customers, they have tried to take them on board and make appropriate improvements.Tom Walker meets visually impaired MKDons supporter Jeff Newell and they go to watch his team play Southend United at Southend's ground. Jeff has to use his monocular to watch the action as the ground does not have an audio commentary for blind fans.Peter also talks to Tony Taylor from Level Playing Field, a charity which promotes access for disabled football fans.Southend United said that they are planning a move to a new stadium, which will be accessible.Presenter: Peter WhiteProducer: Cheryl Gabriel....more19minPlay
April 11, 2017Sitarist Baluji Shrivastav OBE and Corinna Bauer, Harvard researchBaluji Shrivastav is one of India's greatest sitar players and musicians. Now UK based, he has formed the Inner Vision Orchestra, comprised of blind and visually-impaired musicians from around the world. Baluji talks to Peter about his long held passion for music and in particular the sitar, for which he is probably best known.Corinna Bauer is one of the leading researchers at Harvard, who has found that there are anatomical and functional differences in the brains of early blind people, which enable their occipital lobe (the part of the brain used for seeing), to take on other roles, including that of hearing. The effect is that a blind person may experience improved hearing as a result....more19minPlay
FAQs about In Touch:How many episodes does In Touch have?The podcast currently has 468 episodes available.