I’m proud to support RNIB
170,000 people in Scotland have sight loss and, whether you have it from early on in life or experience deteriorating eyesight in later life, it can be a lifechanging challenge.
Every day in Scotland, 250 people begin to lose their sight.
In Victorian times, blind people were often reduced to begging on the streets, and it was against this background that the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) was formed 150 years ago this month. Its original name was the “British and Foreign Society for Improving Embossed Literature for the Blind” – not a title to inspire a modern PR expert!
This week I attended the Civic Reception in Edinburgh to recognise this landmark – and heard an inspiring blind musician reading music from Braille, a blind university graduate starting a job in the insurance industry and the inspirational Sandra Wilson, Chair of RNIB Scotland - and saw a number of the new IT developments available.
I also patted many superb guide dogs who are, indeed, both guide and friend to many people!
I have known the work of RNIB Scotland – and of other organisations like Guide Dogs - for many years, and was Convener of the Cross Party Group on Visual Impairment in the Scottish Parliament.
RNIB are one of the most effective of the campaign organisations I have dealt with. They have a major record of achievement on many fronts.
RNIB Scotland were behind the successful introduction of free eye checks brought in by Liberal Democrats in government in Scotland in 2005 – which has itself secured early identification of many sight problems and avoided the need for urgent unplanned hospital admissions in many cases.
RNIB have pioneered the development of Braille, the talking books service, and innovative support for visually impaired people moving into employment.
They have campaigned to reduce stigma and widen opportunities for people with eyesight problems.
They have an innovative project to reach people in ethnic minority communities with eyesight problems – the risk of diabetic disease is three times greater for people from South Asia for example.
The modern era of technological and IT wonders also means a much-widened potential to make life better for people with seeing difficulty – whether it be labelling food items, changing domestic lighting, talking clocks or greater choice in accessing alternative formats on your computer. Whatever the issue, RNIB can help.
We do, however, need to remember visually impaired people when we clutter pavements with street furniture, allow surfaces to become potholed, or make crossing the road unnecessarily difficult.
I like RNIB’s mission statement which is about “encouraging the public to see the person, not the sight loss”.
They want a world “where there are no barriers to people with sight loss.”