RNIB Connect

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’ giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Simon Mellins Digital Publishing Consultant who works on accessible publishing and took part in the removing barriers through accessible design panel discussion. 

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’, giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Emma Steel from Every Cherry a publisher of special educational needs books who took part in the panel discussion about equal access begins with accessible formats.

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’, giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Beth O’Brien, visually impaired best-selling Author of ‘Wolf Siren’ who delivered the key note speech at the conference. 

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’, giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Hannah Whitcombe, RNIB Corporate Partnerships Manager, to find out why it is so important for the RNIB and CPI to bring everyone from across the publishing and access sector together to ensure that there is equal access to books for everyone .

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’, giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Elizabeth Kellingley Accessibility Manager at Bloomsbury publishing who took part in the Inclusion Creates Commercial Opportunity panel discussion. 

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

On Thursday 17 September 2026 at the RNIB’s Grimaldi Building in London, CPI and the RNIB brought publishers, authors, accessibility specialists, technology providers and industry partners together for the ‘Accessible Publishing Conference – Writing a New Chapter of Inclusion’, giving people the opportunity to have have meaningful conversations, share valuable insights and spark new ideas ensuring that visually impaired people and everyone no matter how they read will have equal access to books and the joy they bring too.

RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was there and caught up with Laura Dolan from CPI publishing the main organisation behind the conference.

To find out more about making books and reading accessible to blind and partially sighted people do visit the following pages of the RNIB website - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/leisure/reading-and-books/ 

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.

Sight Support Ryedale have an event on Monday for National Eye Health Week.

The event is free and features variety of talks, technology demonstrations and more. Chief Officer Victorian Dean told Amelia what people can enjoy on the day.

The event takes palce on the 21st September 2026, at Sight Support Ryedale, Commercial Street, Norton, YO17 9ES, from 10.30-3.30pm.

Learn more on the Sight Support Ryedale Website - Home | Sight Support | Visually Impaired | North Yorkshire

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 another audio described theatre review.

This week we step into the dressing room of three comedy heroes - Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse as the current tour of ‘The Last Laugh’ visited the Wolverhampton Grand theatre with description by Professional Audio Describer Nicola Williams.

About ‘The Last Laugh’ 

The Last Laugh is a “brilliant” (The Telegraph) smash-hit, West End play which imagines three of Britain’s all-time greatest comedy heroes – Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse, in a dressing room, discussing the secret of life, death, comedy and what it means to be funny… really funny!

“Lovingly written and directed” (Sunday Times) by the award-winning Paul Hendy, The Last Laugh features Damian Williams as Cooper, Simon Cartwright as Monkhouse and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steve Royle as Morecambe.

The show consists of an 80-minute first act, a 20-minute interval, and a 30-minute post-show Q&A with the cast – the full 2 hour and 10 minute experience includes the Q&A.

For more about the tour of ‘The Last Laugh’ do visit the productions’ website - https://thelastlaughplay.co.uk

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.

This week is Pension Awareness week and HMRC is encoring everyone to look at their state pension forecast. David Hogg finds out 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.

Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by some of RNIB Northern Ireland’s Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re working on.
This month’s topics include engaging with political parties ahead of next year’s double elections and work to make claiming heating oil support accessible.
If you’d like to find out more, or get involved in campaigning, email [email protected]

#RNIBConnect

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