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Information for MPs

More people than ever before are experiencing sight loss, making you more likely than ever to meet a blind or partially sighted constituents. Below are some practical suggestions that are intended to help you provide an accessible experience to voters with sight loss.

A group of campaigners in Stockton posing for a photograph.

Become an RNIB Champion

The RNIB Champion scheme was set up as an informal way for MPs to pledge their commitment to support their constituents living with sight loss. This lets their constituents with sight loss know that their MP will have access to expert training on how to make their services accessible. With over 170 MPs currently signed up, RNIB Champions receive personalised briefings ahead of debates containing key statistics and facts about sight loss in their constituency. If you are interested in the scheme or would like to sign up, please email us.

Key points to remember

  • Always introduce yourself.
  • If you’re not sure what support a voter may need, ask them how you can best help.
  • Pictures and printed text don’t work for everyone. Remember to offer alternatives in your communications.
  • In conversation verbalise what you are doing rather than relying on visual cues - for example, do not walk away without saying you are going to do so.
  • Keep accessible versions of key documents on hand.
  • Use image descriptions on your website and social media.

On social media and websites

Blind and partially sighted people use different tools to read online materials, including screen readers - which read text out loud - and magnification. Screen readers cannot make sense of information in images so avoid sharing any written information as screenshots or images as these are not accessible.

Hashtags

Make sure you capitalise the first letter of every word in a hashtag so screen readers can read them out correctly, and magnification users can see it more clearly. 

Why use image descriptions

Image descriptions ensure the information from your image reaches everyone. Websites and social media often offer ways to insert a text description of the image, which can be read out by a screen reader, allowing the viewer to build up a mental picture of the scene.

How to write an image description

Describe broadly what your image shows, thinking about which details are most important to the people you're trying to reach. Just pick out a few key details that paint the picture. 

How to add your image description

  • Twitter: Write your tweet and when you add a picture, you’ll notice “Add description” pops up in white writing on the bottom right of your image. Click on the button to insert your description.
  • Facebook: Include a description in the text post accompanying your picture. Write any other text first and then include the description afterwards. Type a square bracket, write “Image description:”, describe your image, close the square brackets and then insert your image into the post. 
  • Instagram: Upload your photo and edit it as required. On the caption page, add your caption and then click on “advanced settings” and then “write alt text” (both are at the bottom of the screens). Insert your image description into the alt text section and in square brackets in your caption.
  • Websites: On most content management systems when you upload an image there is an option to add an image description. Please make sure you always complete this.

In the constituency office and at surgeries

  • Make sure you have accessible ways for constituents attending surgeries to fill in enquiry forms, and accessible copies of key information that you often share, for example details of local services. This could be large print, braille or electronic formats - the RNIB can help produce these.
  • Pre-arranged meetings If a constituent lets you know they are blind or partially sighted ahead of a meeting:
  • Give clear instructions describing where you will be in advance and check whether they will require assistance from you or your team on arrival. 
  • Check whether they are bringing another person to support them, who might need another chair, or a guide dog who will need a water bowl. 
  • Ask your constituent what format they will want any documentation or follow up materials in. This will often be a larger print or email, but may be braille or audio, which RNIB can help with.

In conversation

Always introduce yourself, and if you’d like to shake hands let your constituent know. For example, you could say: ‘Hello it’s Richard, I am just extending my hand to you’. If there are several people in a meeting make sure you introduce each person and if anyone needs to leave the room, tell the group so the constituent is not left talking to an empty space. 

The direction of your voice is important; always face the constituent when speaking. Avoid visual gestures like nodding, using verbal assent instead. Let them know what you’re doing in quiet moments: ‘I am just going to make a few notes, bear with me while I write’. If you’re offering refreshments be clear about where you are placing them, especially drinks.

Guiding a blind or partially sighted person

  • Your constituent may want to be guided to where your meeting will be held using your bent elbow or by putting their hand on your shoulder. Ask which side is preferred, they will have been guided many times before so will be used to explaining what they need from you.
  • Walk at a normal relaxed pace, advising of any hazards, uneven surfaces, and when you are approaching doors or steps. When approaching a door, explain which way it opens, and on moving through let your constituent know when you are passing the door’s weight to them.
  • If you reach steps or a ramp explain whether they go up or down and ask how you can help. Long cane or guide dog users may prefer to navigate for themselves. Guide the person’s hand to the handrail and advise when they are at the start and end of a flight. If there are any gaps in the handrail offer your arm again.
  • Help your visitor to sit down by guiding them to a chair and placing his or her hand on the back of it. That way the person will be able to find their way to the seat. Remember to tell them if the chair is pushed under a table, if it has arms and never offer a chair with wheels.

Building a world ready for sight loss – RNIB’s asks to the UK Government

We want every blind and partially sighted person to live in a society that works for them, confident that they will be included and made welcome everywhere, and able to explore and fulfil their ambitions. But society is not yet ready to deal with sight loss.

Our ask is simple – play your part in creating a fairer world with and for people with sight loss. With the help and support of the UK Government, that world can become reality.

Download our full set of asks:

How RNIB can help you

RNIB business services provide written materials accessibly including braille and audio formats. Contact us if you would like any of your materials transcribed.

If you want to find out about how a current policy is affecting blind and partially sighted people in your constituency or nationally, get in touch. We receive calls every month and we can share this insight with you.

RNIB’s legal rights service provide advice to blind and partially sighted people who wish to challenge their benefits decisions. Let us know if you have constituents who come to you about their UC, PIP or ESA decisions and we can put your caseworkers in touch with our in-house specialist solicitors.

RNIB can also help with the accessibility of websites, just let us know if you want to hear from our experts.