Rnib Conversations

As theatres, museums, galleries, and other arts venues re-open their doors and welcome back blind and partially sighted people 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 weekly email newsletter. Items highlighted this week include: Recorded audio described guide of architecture installations at the British Pavilion, Venice Biennale Adult Children - Virtual reality experience with audio described introduction, , Wednesday 6 October - Sunday 17 October 11am to 9pm at 26 Leak Street London Can I Live -  online audio described performance, Monday 4 October to Sunday 10 October 7.30pm NW Trilogy -  audio described performance, Kiln Theatre, London, Thursday 7 October 7.30pm, touch tour 6pm Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - audio described performance, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, Saturday 9 October 2.30pm

With the night's drawing in and the evenings getting darker there are some people who find it difficult with mood changes at this time of the year and we do hear the term SAD mentioned quite a lot too.   So in this week's RNIB Connect Radio catch up with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow our Toby Davey finds out from Elizabeth what seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is and how to cope with it through autumn and winter. Elizabeth began by explaining to Toby what Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is and the exact cause of the condition. Toby asked Elizabeth what type of treatment their might be for SAD and whether taking vitamin D through the winter might help at all.  There is some us useful information and helpful resources relating to Seasonal Affective Disorder on the MIND website which can be found by visiting the following link -  https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/about-sad/ To get in touch with E

Martin Tickle talks to RNIB Connect Radio about the joy of meeting RealSAM customers, as he returns to face to face events. Image is of RNIB Connect Radio logo:  'RNIB' written in black capital letters on a white background and underlined with a bold pink line, with the words 'See differently' underneath.

As theatres, museums, galleries, and other arts venues re-open their doors and welcome back blind and partially sighted people 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 weekly email newsletter. Items highlighted this week include: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Bristol Hippodrome, audio described performance Thursday 16 Sep 7.30pm Disney’s The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre, London , audio described performance Sunday  19 September 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre, London, audio described performance Wednesday 22 September 7.30pm  Six: The Musical, Leicester Curve, audio described performance Wednesday 29 September 8pm, 5.30pm 10 Nights, Bush Theatre, London all performances audio described from Thursday 7 October to Saturday  6 November performances 8pm, touch tou

During 2020 Hilary Lester, along with the guide dog, Portia, virtually walked the Wales Coast Path.  When thinking of what she could do in 2021, Hilary challenged herself to walk 2021 miles. RNIB Connect Radio's Lynne Morgan caught up with Hilary to find out how she was getting on. Image is of a medal for walking the Camino de Santiago, virtually.

With the start of the school autumn term and the night's drawing in, it might be that time again for a note from our GP to say it is time for our annual flu vaccination. So in this week's RNIB Connect Radio catch up with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow, our Toby Davey finds out from Elizabeth what has been happening to the roll out of this year's flu vaccinations and whether we should be worried at all.  Elizabeth began by explaining to Toby that there may be more to the delays than what is being talked about in the press with regards to Brexit and the lack of lorry drivers.   With more of us going back to work and mixing with more people than we may have done last autumn Toby asked Elizabeth whether the flu season will be different this year.  Toby ended by asking Elizabeth if there is anything to report at the moment of any update to the Covid booster vaccinations that we have heard so much about over the summer and the news is that there is no news at the moment! To

Get a delicious autumn recipe from blind chef Kim Jaye. To follow Kim and her recipes search for 'Kim Jaye Cooks' on Facebook and YouTube. Image shows Kim Jaye. 

With the Paralympics on at the moment we all might be feeling we could maybe try and get a bit fitter and over all the lockdowns perhaps some of us may have put on an extra pound or two.   So in this week's catch up with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow, Connect Radio's Toby Davey finds out from Elizabeth how being overweight can have an effect on recovery from Covid, what being obese means for your health, how measuring obesity has changed from BMI (body mass index) and some tips on how to lose a few pounds. Elizabeth also comments on recent reports on antibody testing which indicates that the vaccine cover may be waning and that some people may in fact benefit from booster vaccination jabs as we come into autumn and early winter. To get in touch with Elizabeth Roddick email  Elizabeth.r@newlifepharmacy.co.uk or for more information visit https://newlifepharmacy.co.uk. Image:  Picture showing Elizabeth standing in her pharmacy, dressed in her white pharmacist coat an

World's biggest art festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is back and our Paulina Kuchorew had a look at what audio-described events we can enjoy at the moment, but without having to leave our house. For each of the mentioned shows, you can book online by visiting: https://www.edfringe.com/  Or contact the access booking team.  Phone: 0131 226 0002 Email: accessbookings@edfringe.com Textphone number: 07860 018 299 Image shows: Fringe logo. 

A Boston non profit organisation called Our Space Our Place is changing the lives of young people living with sight loss. Offering a range of after school activities, from career exploration  workshops, sports activities, to cooking classes and much more, the group aims to help them connect with others in a similar situation, whilst building their  self-confidence and independent living skills. RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew caught up with founder and director of the group,  Cheryl Cummings, to chat how the pandemic and the past months have affected how they continue their work. For more information visit: Welcome to Our Space Our Place | Boston area programs for blind youth Image shows Our Space Our Place logo. White background with capital letters O. and S. in the top row, and O. and P. bellow. 

Guide Dogs UK has just launched their 'Tech for All' initiative and through it they are offering a free Apple iPad or iPhone to children and young people (aged 3-18) with visual impairments, to use outside of school. RNIB Connect Radio's Lynne Morgan spoke with Nathan Foy at Guide Dogs to find out more.  For more information about 'Tech For All' contact the Guide Dogs Guideline on 0800 781 1444 Image shows a young boy and girl sitting at a table and using an iPad. 

As theatres, museums, galleries, and other arts venues start to re-open their doors 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 weekly email newsletter. Items highlighted this week include: Priscilla Queen of The Desert, New Theatre Oxford  - audio described performance Wednesday 25 August at 2.30pm Bagdad Café, the Old Vic, London, audio described Livestream from Wednesday 25 August  7pm Mamma Mia at Harewood House, audio described performance Thursday 26 August at 8pm A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, audio described performance Tuesday 31 August at 2pm Singin in the Rain, Sadler’s Wells, London, audio described performance Saturday 4 September at 2.30pm. To find out more about these and other up-coming audio-described arts events as well as details about how to sign up

It has been fantastic to hear about the success of the GB Olympic Team, all the medals they have one in Tokyo over the last couple of weeks and hoping for similar success at the Paralympic Games too. It was very clear during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games how much mental health plays a part in determining outcomes for athletes.  So in this week's Connect Radio catch up with Pharmacist Elizabeth Roddick from New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow our Toby Davey began by asking Elizabeth whether there is enough emphasis on mental health as we come out of lockdown and restrictions. Elizabeth explained how it helps to share mental health issues with someone whether it is a family member, a close friend, a person from a befriending service in your local area, speaking to your GP about mental health issues, contacting Counselling services, attending mindfulness classes, etc. Elizabeth also talked  about the potential autumn booster Covid vaccinations and the possible benefits of having a different vaccine for the booster

World's biggest art festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is back and our Paulina Kuchorew had a look at what audio-described events we can enjoy at the moment. For each of the mentioned shows, you can book online by visiting: https://www.edfringe.com/  Or contact the access booking team.  Phone: 0131 226 0002 Email: accessbookings@edfringe.com Textphone number: 07860 018 299 Image shows: Fringe logo. 

NFBUK, the National Federation of the Blind UK, is campaigning for a national rehabilitation strategy.  President, Andrew Hodgson, spoke to RNIB Connect Radio about the campaign.  Image is of the NFBUK logo: the letters NFBUK in bright green with the K extending into an arrow, with the words The Voice of Blind People, beneath in black.  

You should be able to get your Covid 19 vaccine without any difficulty.  Nathan Foy, who attended a vaccination centre in Cardiff, found it difficult to get into the centre, as security did not want to let him through because of his guide dog, Mason.  Nathan spoke about his experience to RNIB Connect Radio and RNIB Cymru Country Director, Ansley Workman, gave her thoughts on the incident. Image is of Nathan with his guide dog, Mason.

Great news, world's largest arts festival - Edinburgh Festival Fringe, returns this month to thrill us with an explosion of creative energy and unique talents from all genres of arts.  As one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet, we can expect three weeks of some of the most unique shows, including some accessible ones. But how do we find out about them and how will the fringe look this year?  Our Paulina Kuchorew caught up with their CEO Lyndsey Jackson to find out. Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs this year from Friday 6th till Monday 30th of August, to find out more visit: https://www.edfringe.com/ Image shows a group of people holding up letters making up the word 'fringe'. 

Audio description seems to slowly become more present in our media, but there are still gaps, especially when it comes to music videos or film, TV show, and game trailers.  Well, Social Audio Description, a cooperative that champions diversity and the human voice, is bridging this gap, and they're doing it in a collaborative way.    RNIB Connect Radio's Paulina Kuchorew spoke with one of their members, Robert Kingett, a totally blind author and accessibility advocate, to find out more about the group and their work. Find out more: https://adcomrade.wordpress.com/ Image shows AD logo. 

Meet Blind Chef Kim Jaye as she speaks about her love of cooking with the Happy Hour's Paulina Kuchorew. To follow Kim and her recipes search for 'Kim Jaye Cooks' on Facebook and YouTube. Image shows Kim Jaye. 

As theatres, museums, galleries, and other arts venues start to re-open their doors 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 weekly email newsletter. Items highlighted this week include: The Hatchling Outdoors in Plymouth City Centre - audio described performance, Sunday 15 August at 12noon Magic Goes Wrong at Cambridge Arts Theatre - audio described performance, Saturday 21 August at 2.30pm Be More Chill at Shaftesbury Theatre, London - audio described performance Tuesday 24 August 7.30pm Bedknobs and Broomsticks The Musical at Marlowe Theatre - audio described performance, Sunday 29 August at 1pm (Touch Tour 11.30am) British Museum: Thomas Becket: murder and the making of a Saint – audio described talk (online, Saturday 14 August at 11am) Royal Opera House: Jette Parker Young Artists S