Update on Touch Screen Card Machines
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
4d ago
Back in November 2021, In Touch looked at accessibility problems with touch screen payment card machines. Fast forward to 2025 and the amount of contact we're still getting about this suggests very little progress has been made. In this episode, we talk to representatives from RNIB and the hospitality and finance industries to ask why card machines are still so high on our list of accessibility gripes. We also hear what manufacturers of these machines have to say on the matter, and we report on the development of a card which is raising hopes of a solution. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Fer ..read more
Visit website
Unknown Unknowns!
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
1w ago
What are the things you don't know that you don't know?! That was the question posed to us by blind listener Lexi Hibberd who told us that there were aspects of everyday life like eye contact and other body language which hadn't been explained to her. What else then, she asked, didn't she know? We were so intrigued by Lexi's question that we thought we should explore it further. Joining us to do just that is blind writer and broadcaster Lyndall Bywater, audio description writer Liz Gutman, Richard Lane who lost his sight in his early 20s, and of course Lexi herself. We discuss a range of issue ..read more
Visit website
Regulator rejects macular disease treatment; Optomap
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
2w ago
The treatment of Geographic Atrophy (GA) or late stage dry age-related macular degeneration as it's also known, is proving to be a pretty tough nut to crack. Hopes had been high that a treatment available in the USA would also be approved for use here in the UK. However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has rejected the application. Ed Holloway, Chief Executive of the Macular Society and Bill Best who has lived with GA for many years join us to discuss the MHRA decision. Optomap is an imaging system which produces significantly more detailed information about the ..read more
Visit website
SEND Crisis; Period Detection
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
3w ago
In Touch assesses the findings of a report that looks at the ways special educational needs care is being delivered to the children who need it. The report gives little to no mention of the challenges of specific groups of pupils and so, with the help of Rachael Hewett of the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research at Birmingham University and the Thomas Pocklington Trust's Tara Chattaway, we review the implications of a system in crisis for visually impaired pupils. When it is your time of the month and you're visually impaired, it can be tricky to know when your period has arrived ..read more
Visit website
Repairing your Perkins Brailler; The Blind Professional Wrestler
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
1M ago
Where do you go if you need to repair your Perkins brailler? That is the type-writer like machine that allows braillists to produce writing for school, work or leisure. Recent publicity that the UK’s last certified visually impaired repairer of the Perkins, Alan Thorpe, is looking for an apprentice to continue his work, may have left the impression that there's no one else who can repair it for you. This is not the case. We speak to the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) about the repair service that they offer. Peter White is rarely surprised by the different things blind people do fo ..read more
Visit website
Macular Society's New CEO, Ed Holloway; New OCT Scanner Technology
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
1M ago
The Macular Society has a new CEO, Ed Holloway. With Macular disease being the most common form of sight loss in the UK, its important that the charity continue their work in supporting people with the condition, but also push towards more research and the discovery of new treatments. Ed Holloway describes what his plans are in these areas and other ambitions he has for the future of the charity. Siloton are a medical equipment manufacturing company that also have big ambitions within this space. Ben Hunt is one of their co-founders and he describes to In Touch about a new form of OCT scanner ..read more
Visit website
Living Through War: A Year On
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
1M ago
Last year, we heard from two blind women about their experiences of living through the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas. In Touch has invited them back, just over a year on, to hear how their lives have been impacted since the war began. Dalal Al-Taji is from Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip and Heather Stone lives in the northern area of Tel Aviv in Israel. They speak frankly about how their lives have changed dramatically over the past year and how they are dealing with the uncertainties of being blind amongst war. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Co ..read more
Visit website
Christmas Eve: With Chris McCausland and Betsy Griffin
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
1M ago
What a year it has been for blind comedian Chris McCausland. Having just been crowned Strictly Come Dancing's 2024 winner, Chris joins the In Touch team for a very special Christmas edition of the programme, co-hosted by 11-year-old author and YouTube star Betsy Griffin. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: David Baguley Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is wearing a dark green jumper. Above Peter's head is the BBC logo (three separate white squares house each of the three letters). Bottom centre and overlayi ..read more
Visit website
The UK's First Blind Female CEO
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
2M ago
Sandi Wassmer is thought to be the UK's only blind female CEO. She heads the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, which is a membership organisation offering companies training and services to make their workplaces more inclusive. Sandi tells In Touch how she worked her way up to get to where she is today, how the impact of losing her vision nearly halted her career and how she no longer deals with 'cane rage'. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings Production Coordinator: David Baguley Website image description: Peter White sits smiling in the centre of the image and he is we ..read more
Visit website
Safety on the London Underground, Coming Out Twice
In Touch
by BBC Radio 4
2M ago
Transport for London describe what plans they have for making the London Underground system safer for blind and partially sighted passengers. This follows a recent incident involving Lord Blunkett falling between a train and the platform edge. Nick Dent, TfL’s Director of Customer Operations, describes their plans and how quickly they can be implemented. Elaine Macgougan, from Belfast, describes the notion of feeling like she is having to 'come out twice' to the people she meets. Firstly as visually impaired and then as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth He ..read more
Visit website

Follow In Touch on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR