RNIB Conversations

ITV’s Vidar Hjardeng returns with a review of an audio-described performance of the famous musical ‘Les Misérables’. Based on Victor Hugo's novel, the story follows Jean Valjean on his journey to redemption. Swept into the chaos of the Paris Uprising, Jean Valjean’s struggle for forgiveness will reach its peak in this riveting musical production. Vidar spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley.  

(Photo looks up onto a barricade with five young men standing on top of it, their backs turned to us. Bright lights shine down onto the man standing tallest and waving a bright red flag) 

Summer’s around the corner but new research shows that almost 80% us do not consider how hygienic garden furniture is before using it.  TV’s Dr Hilary Jones warns against the serious health risks that can come from venturing out in our own backyard.   Dr Hilary spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. For more information visit: https://www.jeyesfluid.co.uk/help-advice/

(Photo shows a woman strolling through a bright green garden. She's holding a white cane as she walks by a rose bush)

New research shows that more than 4 million motorists admit to driving illegally by not checking their eyesight regularly or not wearing the correct eye-wear.  Former Top Gear’s 'Stig' Ben Collins and optician Shailesh Varsani from Asda Opticians spoke with RNIB Connect Radio about the need to take our eye-health seriously.  Ben and Shailesh spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. 

For more information visit: https://opticians.asda.com/

(Photo: A dramatic image of Ben dressed in his 'Stig' suit with the helmet tucked under his arm. Flames and explosions are visible behind him with a plane flying just off screen leaving a trail of smoke in its wake) 

Would you dive 14,000 feet out of a plane to help raise funds for a good cause? The Wirral Society of the Blind and Partially Sighted (WSBPS) is celebrating its 30th Anniversary and Sue Hadley is taking a leap of faith in support of the charity by Skydiving later this month.  Sue spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley.

To support Sue’s skydiving challenge go to her fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/susan-hadleyskydive 

(Photo shows Sue Hadley wearing a cream woolly jumper and sunglasses, she’s holding up a bouquet of flowers and has her arm around a black Labrador) 

New Life Pharmacy’s Elizabeth Roddick is back to answer all of your burning medical questions. This time Elizabeth advises on how to keep hay fever at bay and looks at the latest medical headlines relating to Alzheimer’s disease. Elizabeth spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. 

Almost 15 percent of Britons have dyslexia, yet despite such big numbers many consider being dyslexic a burden.

But can we look at dyslexia differently? Campaigner and author of 'The Dyslexic Code', Karl de Leeuw hopes to launch the world’s first International Celebration of Dyslexia (ICD) event next year. He spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley about the event and what being dyslexic means to him. For more information about the event visit: https://www.icd.world/

(Photo: On top of a black background, yellow capital letters: I, C, D, with the ‘I’ replaced by a pen. Letters are underscored in yellow and with ‘International Celebration of Dyslexia’ written under the line) 

Last summer was one of the hottest on record and left many of us struggling to sleep; adding even more stress and exhaustion to our holiday period.  RNIB Connect Radio spoke with legendary Meteorologist, AccuWeather’s Elliot Abrams and Chief Development Officer at Soak&Sleep Sarah Smith to find out how we can brave this year’s summer. Elliot and Sarah spoke with RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley. For more tips and advice visit: https://www.soakandsleep.com/better-sleep

(Photo: Young woman sleeping on her side, hand tucked under her head. Copyright: GETTY)

Blind singer and songwriter Rik Jones is back from a well-deserved holiday to speak with us about his latest film success.

Rik’s song ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ appears in the film ‘7 Days: The Story of Blind Dave Heeley’.

Chatting about music and production, Rik explains to RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley how his song has taken on a life of its own. 

To listen to Rik’s song ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYfoqMWbNc&list=PLWFsV-Vmhi_4VRU35cl4NHzApID3Xqf4_&index=2&t=0s 

(Photo: Rik jones dressed in a dark t-shirt and strumming his guitar. Rik is staring ahead, everything around him enveloped by shadows)

The OrCam MyEye 2.0 is an artificial vision device with a lightweight smart camera that instantly reads text aloud- from any surface – and recognises faces, products and money notes in real time. 

Rangers Football Club recently bought one for their blind & partially sighted supporters... becoming the first UK club to do so. Will other clubs now follow suit?

RNIB Connect Radio's Barry Snell caught up with OrCam's trainer Ian White 
to learn more about this exciting product.

Lego have recently announced some exciting news for blind and partially sited people. RNIB Connect Radio’s Basil Oxtoby spoke to Stine Storm and Morten Bonde to find out more.