Rnib Conversations

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie - Saturday 23 March, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Peacock Theatre, London Descriptive Tour: The Time is Always Now - Tuesday 26 March, 2.30pm, National Portrait Gallery, London 2:22 A Ghost Story - Thursday 28 March, 7.30pm, Richmond Theatre Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank: Romeo and Juliet - Wednesday 3 April, 2pm, touch tour 12noon, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Mind Mangler - Sunday 7 April, 3pm, touch tour 1.15pm, Apollo Shaftesbury Avenue, London. To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter

Swan Lake is arguably one of the most famous ballets in the world but Scottish Ballet will give it a modern feel for their latest tour. RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Emma Jane, from Scottish Ballet, to hear more about the show, which will also have audio described dates for blind and partially sighted patrons. If you'd like more info on Scottish Ballet tours, go to www.scottishballet.co.uk #RNIBConnect Image shows Sophie Martin in the Swan-Lake production. One foot extended in front of her foot pointed, her back arched back and arms gracefully raised above. Her chin is pointing up as she looks above. Her costume is a silvery white body with feather like pattern detailed across her chest and a red jewel shape in the centre. [Photo credit: Scottish Ballet]

For Muslims, we’re in the holy month of Ramadan. But what’s it like to mark the month if you’re blind or partially sighted? Hywel Davies spoke with Tasneem Arshad to hear about her experiences. 

If you live in the Peterborough area, and you fancy giving chess a go, a new club has been launched which gives you the chance to do just that.

The first Meet The Sight Loss Councils event is taking place in Westminster later this month, where local MPs can find out about the work different Sight Loss Councils do. Is your MP invited? If not, Hubert has been finding out how you can help by inviting your MP to the event.

There is a phrase that goes along the lines of ‘you are what you eat’ and with a lot in the news about the impact on our health of healthy or unhealthy eating, for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about the impact of what we eat on our health. Elizabeth began by explaining to our Toby Davey about the nutritional value of healthy eating against unhealthy eating, to then what should we all be aiming for in a good diet and whether we might be all eating too much. Ending with some thoughts about the preparation of food and whether air fryers are a more healthy way of cooking. There is a lot of information and advice on the following pages of the NHS website about eating a healthy and balanced diet - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/ To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image:  Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist c

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The Merchant of Venice 1936 - Saturday 9 March, 2.30pm, Criterion Theatre, London Life of Pi - Wednesday 13 March, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester English Touring Opera - Manon Lescaut - Friday 15 March, 7.30pm, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Northern Ballet Romeo and Juliet - Saturday 16 March, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.15pm, Grand Theatre, Leeds  Harry Clarke - Wednesday 27 March, 7.30pm, Ambassadors Theatre, London To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk (Image sho

With the weather being all over the place at the moment and spring feeling more like summer the latest recommendations are to start medication for hay fever earlier than you might be thinking about. So for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick it is all about hay fever.  Elizabeth began by telling RNIB connect Radio’s Toby Davey why some people are recommending that medications for hay fever to be taken earlier this year. Elizabeth then went on to explain what exactly is happening when you have hay fever, what are the treatments and a reminder about the best prevention methods we could all use for hay fever. There is more about hay fever on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hay-fever/ To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana

Could small solar panels help people recover from sight loss? Hubert has been finding out more about research carried out by University Of Surrey on this topic.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: Turner Prize 2023 - on until 14 April, Towner, Eastbourne Othello - Saturday 24 February and Saturday 16 March, 2pm, touch tour 12 noon, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, London The Motive and the Cue - Thursday 29 February, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm and Saturday 16 March, 2pm, touch tour 12.30pm, Noel Coward Theatre, London   Plaza Suite - Wednesday 6 march, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.15pm, Savoy Theatre, London Come From Away - Saturday 9 March, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.45pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester The Full Monty - Thursday 14 March, 7.45pm, Lighthouse, Poole  To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as d

Have you ever wondered what a solar eclipse would sound like? If yes, then Harvard University might have come up with a solution for you, Hubert has been finding out more about their LightSound device. 

With news about HRH King Charles III cancer diagnosis and the recent banning of disposable vapes, for this week’s regular check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we discuss how the King’s cancer diagnosis has helped to raise awareness around cancer and also whether non-disposable vapes are a suitable substitute against cigarettes. Elizabeth and our Toby Davey first chatted about how the King’s diagnosis has helped to raise awareness around cancer along with how the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has developed over the years.   Then to the recent banning of disposable vapes and how non-disposable vapes could help people to quit smoking.  There is some useful information and advice regarding cancer on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/ To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com   or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image:  Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her

The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has been offering touch tours to its blind and partially sighted visitors, but how do they work? Hubert has been speaking to them to find out.

With some challenging weather conditions recently, including the cold weather and the storms, it’s important to know how to get out and about safely that is if you have the confidence to do so. Hubert has been getting some tips on how to be safe when going out.

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The King and I - Wednesday 7 February, 2.30pm, Dominion Theatre, London   Sister Act - Saturday 10 February, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.45pm, Curve, Leicester The Enfield Haunting - Saturday 17 February, 7.30pm, Ambassadors Theatre, London The Frogs - Thursday 29 February, 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm, Kiln Theatre, London The Woman in Black - Thursday 29 February, 7.45pm, touch tour, 6pm, Theatre Royal, Brighton To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk (Image shows the VocalEyes logo. A sp

Talking bus stops have been introduced in Leicester thanks to the work between Leicester City Council and local sight charity Vista. Hubert has been finding out more. 

A first-of-its-kind tactile learning device hopes to make hard scientific data available to students with sight loss. Barry Snell spoke to Bryan F. Shaw, Ph.D and Professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Baylor University to find out more Learn more about this ground breaking research {Image: Picture of a visually impaired student, holding the tactile device with her right hand. She is smiling and has her cane resting under her right shoulder. Professor Shaw is standing next to her as is another student. They are al wearing protestive glasses and seem to be in a Lab}

We have all probably been there having gone out for a more calorie filled dinner and experienced a bit of indigestion or heartburn. So for this week’s check in with Glasgow based Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick we will be finding out what exactly is indigestion and heartburn.  Elizabeth began by explaining  to our Toby Davey exactly what indigestion and heartburn actually is and whether it is a feeling of fullness or a bloated feeling. Followed by some really good advice about what we can do around indigestion or heartburn and what are the more serious problems we should all be looking out for? You will find out more about indigestion and heartburn on the following pages of the NHS website - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/indigestion/ To get in touch with Elizabeth you can email info@elizabethroddick.com or for more information visit - https://elizabethroddick.com Image: Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat and a colourful bandana around her neck, she's

Now for a roundup of accessible arts events as RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey catches up with Jess Beal from VocalEyes, the national audio description charity providing access to the arts for blind and partially sighted people to share some of the accessible events that are featured in their regular email newsletter. Audio described shows and events included: The Unfriend - Thursday 25 January, 7.30pm, Wyndham’s Theatre, London The Wizard of Oz - Thursday 8 February, 7pm, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury Stranger Things: The First Shadow - Saturday 10 February, 2pm, touch tour 1pm, Phoenix Theatre, London Jesus Christ, Superstar - Saturday 17 February, 2.15pm, touch tour 12.45pm, Curve Theatre, Leicester Mamma Mia! - Saturday 24 February, 3pm, Neville Theatre, London To find out more about these and other up-coming described arts events as well as details about how to sign up to the regular What’s On email newsletter do visit the VocalEyes website - https://vocaleyes.co.uk (Image shows the VocalEyes logo

Throughout 2023, visually impaired nature guide Andy Shipley from Natural Inclusion, took us on a sensory journey into the great outdoors. From the beautiful songs of wrens and robins, to some naughty hedgehogs and rambunctious wild boars, Andy and Happy Hour's Paulina reflect on their favourite sounds of the natural world. Find the full Sensory Reflections playlist guiding you through to sounds of nature from January till December here: Audioboom / Sensory Reflections With Andy Shipley on RNIB Connect Radio For more about Andy's work and to get in touch with him visit: Nature Connection And Sensory Immersion | Natural Inclusion (natural-inclusion.org) Image shows Andy. He's standing outside, with some bright green foliaged trees behind him. He's wearing a dark flat cap, a blue rolled scarf, and a dark blue checked top.  Sound credits: 'WILD BOAR GRUNTS AND SQUEALS SOUND' via Quick Sounds, 'hedgehog sounds' via soundspunos, 'Robin Singing' BY SPANAC.