The Hardest Hit
Further coverage of The Hardest Hit campaign, which has been organised by a coalition of charities including RNIB, has been gained nationally and regionally, following more regional action. "The Tipping Point", a report authored by the Hardest Hit coalition, was highly critical of the Government's attitude to disabled people, claiming there has been a £500 million drop in disability support since George Osborne's 2010 Emergency Budget.
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ITV.com; Sunderland Echo 23/10/12; NESSN.org.uk; Sunderland Echo 29/10/12; Tyne Tees 28/10/12;
RNIB's Andy Kaye has written about the Hardest Hit coalition's report in the blog Left Foot Forward, as well as being referenced in a piece on the subject in the Huffington Post.
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Leftfootforward.org.; Huffington Post 22/10/12
RNIB Scotland's Ian Brown was interviewed on various radio stations discussing the Government's proposed changes to the benefit system for people with disabilities.
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Borders Radio, 23/10/12; West Sound 23/10/12; Moray Firth FM 23/10/12
Financial inclusion gap
A new study from the Payments Council, in collaboration with a range of charities and research organisations including Age UK, Citizens Advice and RNIB, has conclusively lifted the lid on the serious barriers faced by elderly, disabled and poorer people, pointing to an ever-widening financial inclusion gap.
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The Independent on Sunday 28/10/12
Blindness awareness month
The Daily Express lists ten things you never knew about blindness to mark Blindness Awareness Month, with special emphasis on Read for RNIB Day events that have supported work for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB's contact details are listed.
Audio books withdrawal in Suffolk
A decision to withdraw audio books from some people with sight problems has led to Suffolk County Council coming under fire from the official watchdog. The Local Government Ombudsman found the county acted wrongly when it cancelled the subscription of 250 people to the audio books service provided by RNIB. The story was covered by BBC Radio 4's In Touch, as well as various regional publications.
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BBC Radio 4, In Touch 23/10/12; The Star 22/10/12; Bury Free Press 23/10/12; Suffolk Free Press 25/10/12; Eastern Daily Press 20/10/12; East Anglian Daily Times 19/10/12; Southwold Journal 26/10/12 Bury Free Press 26/10/12;
Lucentis news
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidance recommending Lucentis as a treatment option for visual impairment caused by diabetic macular oedema (DMO). RNIB's head of policy and campaigns, Steve Winyard said: "We are pleased as this is something RNIB, along with a number of other charities, has been calling for since last year's initial decision not to make the treatment available."
Braille displays
Low cost refreshable braille displays for use with eBooks are likely to be available next year. A project to find a cheaper method of producing braille cells - bringing down the cost of a cell from $100 to a target of $25 per cell - is close to completion. The Daisy Consortium and RNIB have been considering three different technologies drawn from over 50 contenders.
Load2Learn
Dyslexia Action and RNIB have launched a service for learners who cannot read standard print. Load2Learn is an online resource for schools to better support learners with dyslexia and those who are blind or partially sighted.
Welsh text-to-speak
The trend towards using synthetic voices in local accents and dialects for assistive technology solutions gathers pace. RNIB and text-to-speech company IVONA have just produced natural sounding Welsh language text-to-speech voices.
Read for RNIB Day rumbles on
The actor Michael Sheen recorded lines from a selection of well-known children's books in support of Read for RNIB Day, which took place on 19 October.
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Third Sector 22/10/12 ; Optometry Today 17/10/12
The blog Love Being a Mummy has a feature looking at an upcoming Read for RNIB Day event at the Outlet Mall in Salford Quays, Manchester: "Step through the looking glass into our pop-up shop to discover bargains galore, ways to keep the kids entertained and chances to win some fabulous prizes this half term."
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Love Being a mummy.blogspot.com
The Bookseller features a picture taken at RNIB's pop up "literary wonderland" for Read for RNIB Day.
Bookworm Zoe Brownlie has set herself a reading challenge to help more people enjoy her favourite hobby. The seven-year-old is planning to read seven books in seven days to raise cash as part of Read for RNIB Day.
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Glasgow Evening Times 25/10/12; Bishopbriggs Herald 24/10/12; Evening Times Online 25/10/12
A blind youngster from Flackwell Heath says she is often left frustrated by a lack of books written in braille. Keen reader Anna Foo has starred in a video for RNIB to highlight the importance of reading for blind and partially sighted children.
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Star (South Bucks) 17/10/12; Maidenhead Advertiser 18/10/12
A blind youngster stars in a new online film highlighting the importance for children who are blind or partially sighted to enjoy reading. Joseph Johnson joined forces with RNIB to help make the video, which highlights the importance of reading for blind and partially sighted children.
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Ormskirk Champion 17/10/12; Skelmersdale Champion 17/10/12;
Six year old Quinn Kirby from Upwell has been involved in a national charity video project to highlight that just seven per cent of books are available to blind and partially sighted people. The video, made by RNIB, takes a light-hearted look at a nationwide problem to highlight its Read for RNIB Day appeal.
More than 400 pupils at a Bishop Auckland school took part in a variety of activities to raise awareness of the challenges faced by blind people, after being inspired by the work of RNIB.
Various RNIB Talking Book members discuss their love of the service in the Bromley News Shopper, to coincide with Read for RNIB Day.
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News Shopper Bromley 24/10/12
Hidden Majority
Euractiv.com has an interview with Fred Reid, an RNIB trustee who has co-authored a series of reports with RNIB's Philippa Simkiss called The Hidden Majority, which looks at the employment situation of blind people across Europe.
RNIB NI Appeal
On Sunday morning (28 October), 08.55am and Monday (29 October) afternoon 2.55pm, BBC radio Ulster broadcasted an RNIB NI appeal.
Blindfolded walk
South Tyneside planning chief John Wood took part in a blindfolded walk in South Shields town centre. The route was deliberately chosen as the area of town has a number of hazards to blind and partially sighted people. Henri Murison, RNIB's regional campaigns officers said: "RNIB welcomes South Tyneside Council's commitment."
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The Journal (Newcastle) 23/10/12
MPs discuss sight loss
MP Edward Timpson visited RNIB's sight loss simulator to experience common sight conditions first hand.
Ledbury's MP Bill Wiggin is urging people to look after their sight after paying a visit to RNIB's sight loss simulator - SOS Pod.
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Worcester News 25/10/12; Hereford Times 25/10/12;
Eye health in Birmingham
The Birmingham Mail has a large feature about eye health following the release of pictures by RNIB of what famous Birmingham landmarks would look like to people with different eye conditions. RNIB's Clara Eaglen is quoted saying: "Although it looks like something from outer space, the pod has a serious message we hope will encourage people to make their eye health a priority."
Stop for me, speak to me
RNIB's Stop for me, speak to me bus campaign has seen more letters to editors in regional papers as well as another feature with a case study explaining why transport can be difficult for blind and partially sighted people.
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West End Extra 19/10/12; Fakenham and Wells Times 18/10/12; Brixton & South London Press 19/10/12; Deptford, New Cross & South London Press 19/10/12; Streatham & South London Press; Wimbledon & South London Press; Get Reading 22/10/12; Staffordshire Newsletter 25/10/12; Brackness Standard 18/10/12
Scottish reading hour
Scots are being encouraged to pick up their favourite book and take part in a nationwide reading hour on St Andrew's Day. The event is part of the programme for the inaugural Book Week Scotland. RNIB Scotland will open the doors of its Transcription Centre in Partick, Glasgow, during Book Week and invite the public to learn how to create a piece of work in braille.
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Dundee Courier & Advertiser 25/10/12 ; Perth Courier & Advertiser 25/10/12; Angus Courier & Advertiser 25/10/1;