Campaigns

Improving access to information and information systems

Summary: One of RNIB's priority campaigns is for information to be more accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

• Why is this a priority?
• News and events
• Current campaigns
• Past campaigns
• Get involved

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Why is this a priority?

Barriers to information continue to pose fundamental challenges to the independence and choice of blind and partially sighted people. Health, consumer, personal and cultural information, is often inaccessible, as are educational materials and new forms of e-learning.

We will campaign for:

• legislation that requires all Government funded information, communications and technology systems to conform to accessibility and usability standards
• a national 'file deposit' and access to enable speedy on demand transcription, and promote DAISY as a better way to read and publish
• implementation of WAI and UK Government accessibility and usability standards. We will monitor and promote these as well as work for improvement in the usability aspects of those standards.

News and events

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting access to information issues and will keep you updated as events are planned.

• A year on from the children's lobby of Parliament and despite initial action and commitment from the Government after the lobby, there has been no real progress in providing accessible textbooks.
• We will be holding one-day events in UK towns providing information and advocacy to blind and partially sighted people and services providers.
• We took the "Thinker" stand to all three party conferences during September and October 2007.
• On 25 April 2007, RNIB launched a series of leaflets called 'Information is Power'.
• On 16-18 April we took 'The Thinker' stand to the London Book Fair. This gave us the opportunity to talk to publishers.
• On 26 March 2007 we launched the new See it Right book and CD-Rom, which gives advice about designing information.

Current campaigns

Three million people with reading disabilities want to read the same book, at the same time, at the same price as their peers. The Right to Read Alliance is campaigning to make this a reality. Sign our Right to Read Declaration

As part of the Right to Read campaign, we continue to work for fair copyright laws and regulations at national and international level.

Making sure blind and partially sighted voters are informed of their voting rights. Find out how the European Parliament Elections work.

Further information about accessible information.

Past campaigns

• Since 14 February 2006, unless you have a Chip and Signature card you are no longer able to sign when using your card. If you are blind or partially sighted and unable to use the PIN pads you need to act now.
• The Government changed the way in which pension and benefit recipients claim their money. Will the change to direct payment of benefit and pension payments affect you or someone you know who is blind or partially sighted? The Government has announced an alternative method of payment for people unable to use the existing options - the “Exceptions Scheme”.
• The Copyright (Visually Impaired Persons) Act allows individuals and educational establishments to make copies of printed material in other formats, such as braille, without applying for permission.
• A long-term RNIB campaign has resulted in the Articles for the Blind scheme being extended to include large print items. Other changes have also been made to improve the service.
• RNIB, in coalition with other partners including Age Concern, began a Parliamentary campaign to amend the Communications Act: to take account of the needs of people with sensory, physical and learning disabilities and achieved a number of successes.

Get involved

There are many ways you can get involved. Each campaign has information about the ways that you can take part. From writing to your MP, to helping us spread the word, there is something for everyone.

Do you have a story to tell? Personal experiences are a very effective way of getting the message across. Contact us about how you could feature as a case study.

Our campaign toolkit has further information and advice for people wanting to campaign on our behalf.

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 11/04/2008 15:41