Visually Impaired Students Win Stop Motion Film Awards!
RNIB College Loughborough recently held its 3rd annual Stop Motion Film Competition (Stoppies 2018). Many of the students had more than one life challenge to contend with. RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley got to chat with three visually impaired winners: Sam, Harry and Jake as well as the the lady behind it all, Anna Janickyj. To view some of this year's entries visit: https://www.youtube.c...
8m May 17, 2018
8m
See The Funny Side Retrospective (Part 2)
Nicki Kelly is an RNIB Community Facilitator who wants to make you laugh – in fact, she wants YOU to make HER laugh! Nicki organised the recent See The Funny Side project with comedian Georgie Morrell. The RNIB initiative gave participants with sight loss the ability to take to the comedy stage and perform a full routine after a week of workshops with a professional stand-up comedian. Listen no...
22m May 17, 2018
22m
Dave Heeley Reflects on His Own Wedding Day
Getting married should be one of the biggest & happiest events in your lifetime, but what is the big day like if you are blind or partially sighted? Well ahead of Harry & Meghan's Royal Wedding, RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley caught up with blind Dave Heeley, to chat about Dave's memories and experiences of his own wedding day, thirteen years ago.
9m May 17, 2018
9m
Weddings From The Male Point Of View.
With lots of focus on the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Megan, we thought we should have a slightly different perspective on getting ready for the big day. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell & Steven Scott, get together to chat about planning a wedding from the male point of view & from the point of view of someone who is blind or partially sighted. It might not be quite what you expect! ...
13m May 17, 2018
13m
Equality Act: What Does It Mean For You?
Have you heard of the 2010 Equality Act but are not sure how it reinforces your rights? Maybe Paul Quigley can give you a hand in that. Chatting too RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley, Paul tells us what the Equality Act is, what it does, and how exactly does it help ensure equality for visually impaired people.
12m May 15, 2018
12m
From pastry to positivity facing sight loss
Neil Rowe was a chef at the Burgh Hotel in Devon living an idealic life with a real flair for pasty, celebrity friends and helping the people who needed inspiration. That all changed 7 months ago when Neil's sight loss journey began. He has been speaking to Kris Wallace on the Morning Mix to tell his incredible story.
16m May 15, 2018
16m
Blind Photographer Captures The World In Stunning Images
We all heard the saying: “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Which might be why, we so easily chose to document our day-to-day lives with quick snappy photos. But is it just as easy or as quick when you’re blind or partially sighted? Chatting to RNIB Connect Radio, blind photographer Brian Negus reveals why ones’ visual impairment shouldn’t stand in the way of taking beautiful photos. A ...
14m May 14, 2018
14m
Vidar Hjardeng Reviews The Audio Described Performance of Wicked
ITV's Vidar Hjardeng reviews the audio described performance of 'Wicked', which he watched recently at the Birmingham Hippodrome. An ingenious and witty re-imagining of the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students. Th...
9m May 11, 2018
9m
How Far Would You Go For A Possible Cure?
Liam Egalton was an avid marathon runner. Fit and just starting a new relationship, Liam was excited for what the future had in store for him. But that all changed, when four years ago, he started experiencing what doctor’s described as “depression”. Over time, Liam’s sight was gone, followed by his ability to walk comfortably. What was considered to be a mental health issue, turned out to b...
14m May 11, 2018
14m
How To Spruce Up Your Garden For Spring
Spring has finally arrived to the UK. With the weather getting warmer, many of us will start thinking about venturing outdoors to apply those much needed “green fingers” to our gardens. But what if you’re visually impaired or lack in outside space? Botanist James Wong brings his best advice on how to get into gardening, which plants are easy to grow indoors, and how to best keep our gardenin...
10m May 11, 2018
10m
Catching up with Julie Woods
Way back in 2016 we met Julie Woods from New Zealand who decided that becoming fully blind shouldn’t be a barrier to new experiences. So her philosophy became don’t say no, say WHY NOT?! Laura Kirker caught up with Julie to see where saying why not has taken her recently. We hear about brailling 1 million names, her one woman show and abseiling from a stadium roof.
10m May 11, 2018
10m
Reflections 'Bid For Freedom'
Simon Wilkes doesn’t let a little thing like blindness stop him feeling free. Open water swimming, horse riding (the faster the better), falconry, running his church’s mixing desk – listen and be inspired.
12m May 10, 2018
12m
Reflections 'Holidays With A Difference'
This week's programme is all about accessible holidays for blind and partially sighted people at the Torch Holiday and retreat Centre, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. So if you haven't decided on your holiday yet, or fancy an additional one, listen now to find out what you could be enjoying. First up is a guided holiday weekend to attend the Big Church Day Out - a great family festival of live music an...
9m May 10, 2018
9m
Libby's Eyes take to the London stage
Libby's Eyes is a play created by a visually impaired writer (starring two visually impaired actors) about disability, the benefits system and sight loss. It even has a unique form of audio description for non-sighted AND sighted audiences. RNIB's Kris Wallace chatted to the writer of Libby's Eyes, Amy Bethan Evans, and lead actress, Georgie Morrell, to discover the genesis of the play and what...
10m May 10, 2018
10m
Sight Loss Reunited Him With Lost Family
Robert Stuzer never thought he would get to meet his birth family. In fact, having been raised by his adopted family, the man didn’t even entertain the idea of meeting his birth parents. At least not until a few years ago, that is… After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare genetic disorder that involves permanent changes to vision, Robert set out on a search for long lost family...
12m May 09, 2018
12m
“Just Get On With It”
Daniel Forrest is a young student from England that is currently studying for his A Levels and also happens to be visually impaired. A confident young man, Danny loves Film Studies and doesn’t see his condition as an obstacle to achieving whatever he wants in life. At just 17 years old Daniel is also passionate about music and loves expressing his love for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and An...
8m May 09, 2018
8m
Scottish Social Security Service On Track.
The Scottish Parliament recently, unanimously, passed the Scottish Social Security Bill, paving the way for the transfer of a certain percentage of welfare payments from Westminster to Holyrood.  These payments will include Personal Independence Payment )PIP) which can be awarded to those who are registered as blind, or severely sight impaired.  RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Jea...
13m May 09, 2018
13m
Don’t Believe Your Eyes - Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Kirsty James is a young woman who at the young age of 13 was told she had Stargardt disease and little by little would lose her sight. However, the gradual loss of sight wasn’t the most confronting thing that Kirsty was faced with. Over time she started seeing visions: things that weren’t there, colours, faces sometimes familiar, sometimes ghoulish. She thought she was going mad. After suffe...
13m May 08, 2018
13m
Blind First Aider
Have you ever wanted to do something so bad, but found that everyone told you it can’t be done? Claire Potter, young students in Health and Social Care, found herself in that exact situation. Determined to become a certified first aider, Claire was met with a lack of understanding and repeatedly told that being blind would stand in the way of achieving her goal. However, not one to give up, ...
12m May 04, 2018
12m
Vocaleyes - AD Highlights For May 2018
Toby Davey of Vocaleyes brings us this month’s latest audio-described highlights. Find out what ballet left Toby charmed, which play brought back a classic monster to its stages, and what visual-comedy will leave you in stitches. Toby is talking to RNIB connect Radio's Simon Pauley. Vocaleyes is a charity that provide opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to experience the art...
10m May 04, 2018
10m
See The Funny Side Retrospective (Part 1)
Recently RNIB Community Facilitator Nicki Kelly and comedian Georgie Morrell organised workshops for blind & partially sighted people in Birmingham who wanted to See The Funny Side. These workshops culminated in an evening of performance where each of the successful applicants took to the stage and found themselves in the comedy spotlight. Kris Wallace recently caught up with two of the perfor...
20m May 04, 2018
20m
Dave Heeley's Blunders
RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley caught up with Blind Dave Heeley, to find out how his latest DIY project have been going, only to find out Dave's had a bit of a week of it.
10m May 03, 2018
10m
Rachel Riley explains how to conquer To-Do-List tensions
With the bank holiday weekend approaching many people will be wanting to conquer their ever growing to-do-lists...but where do we start and what are we forgetting? Channel 4 Countdown's Rachel Riley joined Kris Wallace on RNIB Connect Radio to share how she manages to remain super organised and how technology is helping blind & partially sighted people to share in the fulfilling feeling of scor...
8m May 03, 2018
8m
The Blind Soap Maker
Alex Mackie, founder and CEO of 'The Blind Soap Maker' gives a unique insight into the life of a blind business woman. Alex also talks about appearing on TV, living with the rare sight condition rod cone dystrophy and how her mother donated a kidney, so Alex could have a kidney transplant. Alex is chatting with RNIB Connect Radio's Barry Snell. If you would like to find out more about Alex's...
11m May 03, 2018
11m
Secondary School Competition Leads In Designing VI Friendly Toys And Gadgets
June Murray, principal of RNIB College Loughborough, talks about their recent collaboration with 3M, a science-based technology company that is committed to improving lives. In the challenge, students from secondary schools in the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire areas were asked to design and construct a sustainable toy or a gadget that can be used by a young person with sight loss. Chatti...
7m May 02, 2018
7m
White Cane Warrior
Moving houses can be a daunting process for anyone, but what happens when you are also blind and living on your own? Connect member Paul Quigley chats about learning how to navigate new surroundings since his move, letting yourself be vulnerable by asking for help, and how to stay safe when you are getting around. Paul spoke to RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley.
11m May 01, 2018
11m
A Marathon Step After Sight Loss
Mathew Rowcliffe is a young man that in 2015 was diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a rare condition that caused the loss of his central vision. After noticing that he was struggling to read a menu on the day celebrating his graduation, Mathew’s sight quickly deteriorated. Not giving up, Mathew continued to pursue success in his work as well as in his health. After a year of...
9m Apr 30, 2018
9m
Vidar Hjardeng Reviews 'Blood Brothers'
ITV's Vidar Hjardeng reviews the AD performance of ‘Blood Brothers – The Musical’, a gripping story of nature vs nurture in which twin brothers separated at birth are brought together by an unexpected twist of fate. Vidar is talking to RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley. ‘Blood Brothers – The Musical’ is currently on tour and will be visiting Southampton and Manchester in May 2018, before taki...
8m Apr 27, 2018
8m
Blind Bride-To-Be That Went Viral
Planning your wedding can be a stressful time, but even more so when you are visually impaired. Stephanie Agnew, a blind bride-to-be from Australia, has Cone-rod retinal dystrophy and became an internet sensation as her story of shopping for a wedding dress went viral. Stephanie’s friend and photographer, James Day captured the moment she was trying on wedding dresses and shared the beautiful...
13m Apr 27, 2018
13m
Erin Bennett is on A Little Alternative
Is it Rock, is it Prog Rock, is it Metal, or is it Pop? Fitting music into an easily identifiable genre doesn't always work. Discussing this, and more, on A Little Alternative David Hogg is joined in the studio by the brilliant Erin Bennett of EBB. The pair also discuss how Erin feels moving from solo artist to part of a band and the sound she was aiming for with her new album Post Sexy Post Tr...
14m Apr 27, 2018
14m
Blind Dave Heeley Gets Smooth
2018 is proving to be another busy year for Dave Heeley, as he looks toward the Great Wall challenge, which will see him fly out to China and attempt to walk a section of the Great Wall Of China. He still has some time for his DIY jobs though and he's currently making a desk & drawers. Today Dave is at the sanding stage… and talks Simon Pauley through the process.
10m Apr 26, 2018
10m
Blind Lawyer And Activist From Ethiopia – Yetnebersh Nigussie
Yetnebersh Nigussie is a successful lawyer, feminist, and activist from Ethiopia that fights for the rights of people with disabilities. Having lost her sight at just five years old, Yetnebersh found it a blessing in disguise as the loss of sight send her on route towards education rather than marriage at the age of 12. Since then, she has graduated the Addis Ababa University as one of the fi...
9m Apr 25, 2018
9m
Pushing For Social Change - Sabriye and Paul's Story
From teaching blind children in Tibet to starting an institute for social change in India… Sabriye Tenberken and Paul Kronenberg have been on an incredible journey together, helping some of society’s most marginalised people in the process. RNIB Connect Radio’s Barry Snell caught up with them, to learn more about their inspiring story. www.kanthari.org (https://www.kanthari.org/) www.braillew...
58m Apr 25, 2018
58m
Blind Rapper Reaches One Million Streams On Spotify
RNIB Connect Radio’s Barry Snell chats to aspiring rapper and pioneer NovaCain, who is currently trying to break into the U.S. hip hop scene and recently created his own piece of musical history. Get in touch with NovaCain: booking@novacainllc.com (mailto:booking@novacainllc.com)    @novacainllc (https://twitter.com/novacainllc)     braillemusictour.com (http://braillemusictour.com/)
12m Apr 24, 2018
12m
Travel Broadens The Mind And Helped Val Come To Terms With Sight Loss.
Val didn't know where to turn for help when she began to lose her sight.  After travelling abroad, she returned home with a new sense of purpose and a determination to get support to live a better life with her condition.  RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Val to learn more about the impact sight loss had on her and how RNIB and her local sight loss charity have given her a more pos...
12m Apr 24, 2018
12m
Interview With Blind Swimming Tutor, Alan North
Alan North has been visually impaired since childhood, but that didn’t stop him in excelling where others told him he would fail. A swimming coach for almost 30 years now, Alan manages his own swim school as well as provides training in First Aid and Lifesaving. Chatting to RNIB Connect Radio’s Simon Pauley, Alan tells us exactly why it’s important not to give up when you lose your sight and ...
15m Apr 23, 2018
15m
Public Service Broadcasting are on A Little Alternative
This week was a Public Service Broadcasting special on A Little Alternative. As well as a review of their gig at Edinburgh's Usher Hall and a collection of songs spanning their career - David Hogg also sat down with frontman J Willgoose Esq for an incredible interview. They discussed early musical influences, J Willgoose's hesitation to finally lay vocals on one of his tracks, and the importanc...
18m Apr 23, 2018
18m
Goodbye To Glasgow’s Kelvin Primary School.
Kelvin Primary was one of the first schools for partially sighted children, to give a mainstream education. The much loved institution closed it’s doors and moved to a new, shared, bespoke campus, as the original building, once an army barracks, was no longer fit for the 21st century. RNIB Connect Radio’s Allan Russell spoke to some of the former teachers and pupils, as they reminisced about ...
14m Apr 20, 2018
14m
Blind Sculptor Victoria Claire
Blind -  A Sixth Sense by the Artist Victoria Claire was shown recently at Beach Creative in Herne Bay, running from the 6th - 18th Feb 2018. The  first of its kind in the UK, Victoria created six sculptures from wood, each piece represented a sense, sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and a sixth piece which portrayed a sense of trust. RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley caught up with Victoria ...
14m Apr 19, 2018
14m
Dave Heeley Looks Ahead To The London Marathon
Fresh from a recent trip to New York with Deb's and the family, Dave looks ahead to the upcoming London marathon. Although not taking part himself this year, Dave had some invaluable advice for runners, as temperatures look set to soar. Dave also refelcts on the anniversary of his 7 marathons, in 7 days on 7 continents, which he completed back in 2008 and also looks forward to his Great Wall c...
12m Apr 19, 2018
12m
What Is The European Blind Union?
The European Blind Union (EBU) is an umbrella organisation that links sight loss charities from across Europe, including outside the European Union.  RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Wolfgang Angermann, EBU President, to learn more about the organisation, it's triumphs and current campaigns...  #RNIBConnect
17m Apr 18, 2018
17m
The Challenges Of Setting Up A New Home
Moving houses can be a daunting process for anyone, but what happens when you are also blind and living on your own? Paul Quigley relives the challenges of moving into a new house and discovering that he might soon find himself without electricity. How easy is it to set up a new power meter, and can we rely on the power companies to help us out in a pinch? Paul talked to RNIB Connect Radio's...
11m Apr 17, 2018
11m
Bizzare News - Things Not To Do In Lifts
Blind journalist Paul Bryce picks out more quirky and alternative news stories, including one about a young Chinese boy who got himself in a bit of a predicament whilst using the lifts of a local tower block. Paul is talking to RNIB Connect Radio's Simon Pauley.
9m Apr 16, 2018
9m
The Vignettes are on A Little Alternative
Band Of The Month for April The Vignettes popped by the A Little Alternative studio this week so Hamish and Innes could chat to David Hogg about their flamboyant stage performances, their Spinal Tap-esque rotation of Bass Players, and exactly who is the titular 'Jacqueline' of their latest single? Tune in to A Little Alternative on RNIB Connect Radio every Friday at 9pm or repeated Saturdays a...
12m Apr 13, 2018
12m
Steven Sutherland - The Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering has transformed the life of Steven Sutherland, Not only does he get pleasure from helping others, it’s also helped boost his own confidence and given him a new sense of direction. Steven is curently fundraising for the charity Crossing Countries and hopes to travel to Durban, South Africa, in July, to support disabled children and children who are victims of abuse. RNIB Connect ...
16m Apr 10, 2018
16m
Night Riots are on A Little Alternative
Host of A Little Alternative, David Hogg, has been chatting to lead singer Travis Hawley from Night Riots who David caught up with on tour this week to discuss the energy of UK audiences, a new minimalistic sound for the band, and what the upcoming album may (or may not!) be called. You can tune in to A Little Alternative every Friday night at 9pm, repeated Saturdays at 7pm, and if you miss an...
8m Apr 06, 2018
8m
What Is The World Blind Union?
The World Blind Union (WBU) is a group of global sight loss charities and associated organisations, who work together to highlight the needs of blind and partially sighted people, on a global platform.  They lobby for change from the UN, down through regional governments and the private sector to make sure that the rights of persons with sight loss are kept at the forefront of change.  RNIB C...
17m Mar 29, 2018
17m
Vidar Hjardeng Reviews 'Elephant'
ITV's Vidar Hjardeng reviews the AD performance of 'Elephant', Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti's sparky family drama. Directed by the Royal Court's Associate Director, Lucy Morrison and penned by the award-winning playwright of Khandan (Family), this unmissable new show chronicles the unravelling of a family with a secret. Vidar is talking to RNIB Connect Radio's Barry Snell.
10m Mar 23, 2018
10m
Nervus are on A Little Alternative
Nervus are a British punk rock band that have been releasing progressive and toe-tapping tunes since their formation in Watford, England, in 2015. Lead singer and guitarist Em Foster chatted to host of A Little Alternative, David Hogg, on the road recently when Nervus were supporting Milk Teeth to find out why it’s important to treat every gig like it’s your last…and why they dropped the O in t...
6m Mar 23, 2018
6m
Pale Waves are on A Little Alternative
Pale Waves are making…hmm, what's the word…a splash(?) in the music scene with upbeat tunes, a distinct look, catchy singles, and a series of amazing music videos. Founding member and lead singer Heather Baron-Gracie chatted to host of A Little Alternative, David Hogg, on the recent Pale Waves tour to talk about the band’s early days, how the Beast From The East has disrupted their tour, and th...
7m Mar 23, 2018
7m