Campaigns

Access to information events

Summary: Find out about your rights to access to information.

• The campaign
• One day events in 2008
• Cardiff event - 4 March 2008
• Further information

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The campaign

Improving access to information was RNIB's overarching campaign for 2007.

Lots of blind and partially sighted people have told us that they still find it difficult to get the everyday information they need including: confidential test results from the GP or hospital, personal account statements from the bank and information about changes to services, like refuse collection, from their local authorities. RNIB focused on improving access to information as the main campaign for 2007 to raise awareness of these problems and to help service providers find solutions to give you what you need.

RNIB is going out on the road with a series of improving access to information events where service providers like local authorities and businesses can come face to face with people with sight loss.

One day events in 2008

We will be running a number of one-day events throughout 2008. Come and join us to:

• Find out about your rights
• Speak with people from local councils and business - the people who supply you with information
• Tell us your main concerns to help us campaign for your rights
• Socialise and share experiences about how you can campaign to get information in a format you use.

Event dates

• Stoke on Trent - Wednesday 14 May at the North Stafford Hotel
• Derry/Londonderry - Thursday 29 May at the City Hotel
• Bournemouth - Wednesday 11 June at the Best Western Connaught Hotel

Places are limited so to book your place or find out more please call 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk

Cardiff event - 4 March 2008

Our Cardiff access to information event included the launching of a report “Turning Policies into Practice” at the Senedd, the home of the National Assembly for Wales. Over 15 blind and partially sighted people and their companions were joined by around 21 local service providers including local authorities, health providers and private companies to discuss the importance of accessible information.

Blind and partially sighted people

During the morning local blind and partially sighted people talked about problems they face getting information they can read. The group also explored their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

"A lovely day. I learnt a lot of things I didn't know and it was good to share with everyone. There was lots of understanding and empathy." Verna from Cardiff

Service providers

Around 21 local service providers spent time exploring their DDA obligations and found out more about the information needs of blind and partially sighted people.

The two groups then came together for a Question and Answer session with a panel made up of service providers and service users chaired by Ruth Marks, Director of RNIB Cymru. The group discussed how companies should be keeping records of their customers’ format requirements and the importance of staff training. One service provider asked for advice from blind and partially sighted people about the provision of statutory notices that they had to include in local newspapers.

"I found the Q&A panel session very useful; hearing real experience is always a bonus” Linda, Cardiff Library.

Report launch

The group then moved over to the Senedd and were welcomed by Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones for the launch of “Turning Policies into Practice”. The report found that although 96 per cent of organisations in Cymru were aware of their obligations to provide accessible information under the DDA only 57 per cent were able to provide information in audio tape to their blind and partially sighted customers.

You can download the full version of the report

• Turning policies into practice (pdf)
• Turning policies into practice Welsh version (pdf )
• Turning policies into practice (word)

This event was one in a series of access to information events and will be included in a report we will be producing during Summer 2008.

Find at what happened at previous events

• Chester - 26 July 2007
• Nottingham - 27 November 2007

Further information

If you would like to find out more about the improving access to information campaign and events, call the Campaigns team on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk

Tell us about your experiences of getting information you can read. Positive or negative we want to hear from you. You can also read other people's comments

On 25 April 2007, RNIB launched a series of leaflets called 'Information is Power'. The leaflets look at a number of key areas that show how society can empower blind and partially sighted people and each leaflet identifies five priorities for action.

Back to Access to Information home page

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 09/04/2008 11:08