RNIB Scotland

01/04/2026

"Books made such a difference to my life. That's where audio books come in handy... it's open up a new world for me.'

Earlier this year, we launched a community display at Kelvin Hall featuring stories of objects that our curators used to use. Krishna spoke to RNIB Connect Radio's Amelia all about radio and reading.

Listen in: https://bit.ly/41ASbWA

Don’t miss the display at Kelvin Hall, available until August.

[Image descriptions: 1. In the Glasgow Life museum archive, a group of participants standing and sitting around a table, looking towards Krishna speaking. 2. Krishna, wearing blue handling gloves, holds a radio. 3. Krishna speaks to two session facilitators, with braille books open in front of them.]

31/03/2026

What do tennis balls have to do with braille?

When learning braille, a muffin tin and tennis balls can be a simple, tactile way to understand the six-dot braille cell and how different letter patterns are formed.

If you’d like to learn braille, we offer free tutoring on Fridays at our Edinburgh community hub. Our sessions are open to anyone interested in learning braille, whether you’re completely new or already have some experience.

Classes run weekly with an experienced tutor. Pop us a message at: ScotlandCommunityConnection@rnib.org.uk to find out more.

[Image description: A photo of some hands touching some tennis balls sitting in a muffin tin. The muffin tin is oriented so its six cups resemble the six-dot layout of a braille cell.]

26/03/2026

Blind and partially sighted voters will soon be able to cast their vote more independently and in secret thanks to new card ballot paper overlays with audio support, being introduced for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections.

The new overlays align with ballot papers and work alongside an audio candidate list, helping voters confidently mark their choice. The video shows what you can expect when you go to vote this May.

[Video description: A point-of-view video of a person going to vote. They enter the polling station and approach polling officers who describe the ballot papers and voting aids. The new card overlay is attached to the ballot papers. In the polling booth, they call the helpline for the audio ballot paper, and go to make their vote. They put the folded ballot papers into the ballot boxes. With thanks to RNIB Scotland and the Electoral Management Board for Scotland.]

25/03/2026

Last week, we celebrated a fantastic milestone for our Swap With Me project with trainee bus drivers across Scotland- 100 sessions!

The lovely RNIB Connect Radio team were there to capture the event. Listen in at: https://audioboom.com/playlists/4635931-rnib-scotland-celebrates-100-swap-with-me-events

RNIB Scotland recently marked a milestone with it’s Swap With Me public transport project.

24/03/2026

Our wonderful colleague Roslyn is marking 5 years as an ECLO in the Highlands!

Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs) act as a vital bridge between hospital eye clinics and wider support services, offering patients a safe space to talk about the emotional impact of sight loss while also helping them access practical support to maintain their independence.

Based at the National Treatment Centre – Highland, Roslyn has supported over 1,000 patients at all stages of their eye health journey.

In one case, a patient who experienced sudden sight loss following a medical emergency was initially being considered for permanent care due to the level of support they were expected to need. After speaking with Roslyn, practical arrangements were put in place to help them return home safely.

Working alongside family members and support services, Roslyn helped arrange practical measures at home as well as advice on benefits and links to social and leisure activities. The patient has since been registered as severely sight impaired and has returned to many of the activities they enjoy.

“Finally! Someone gets it and gets me,” the patient said. “Everyone was so negative telling me what I couldn’t do, but you told me that I could do it all!”

Roslyn says supporting people through difficult moments is a key part of the role.

“I love my role as an ECLO and find it incredibly rewarding when you see that glimmer of hope and confidence return, however small.”

Well done Roslyn!

If you or someone you know would like to speak to an ECLO or get support in your area, contact RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

[Video shows Roslyn, standing in a medical corridor, talking to camera.]

20/03/2026

We're coming to a library near you!

Come and say hello at any of our upcoming drop-in sessions hosted in the libraries listed below. You can find out more about our services or seek support for someone you know living with sight loss. If you’d like to speak to anyone before your visit, please contact ScotlandCommunityConnection@rnib.org.uk.

Dates for your diary:
Lockerbie: Friday March 20th, 12:00 - 14:00.
Inverness: Tuesday March 24th, 10:30AM -2:00PM.
Aberdeen Central: Monday March 30th, 11:00AM - 2:00PM.
Coldstream: Tuesday March 31st, 1:00PM - 4:00PM.
Moffat: Wednesday April 1st, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM.
Ewart Library, Dumfries: Wednesday April 15th, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM.
Strathblane: Friday April 22nd, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
Bridge of Allan: Friday May 1st, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
Bannockburn (Stirling): Friday June 5th, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
St. Ninians (Stirling): Friday June 5th, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
Dunblane: Friday June 3rd, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

[Image description: James seated at an RNIB Scotland stall with pink table cloth, banner, and leaflets, speaking to someone sitting down holding a white cane.]

18/03/2026

Our ‘Swap with Me’ project has reached a major milestone- 100 sessions across Scotland!

The sessions have given nearly 1,000 trainee bus drivers from Lothian Buses, McGill's Buses, and First Bus, the opportunity to better understand the experiences of blind and partially sighted passengers.

In the sessions, drivers can wear sim-specs: glasses that simulate different eye conditions to experience first-hand the barriers that blind and partially sighted passengers face when trying to hail a bus, buy a ticket and board.

A huge thank you to our volunteers who share their experiences at every session, and the bus operators and drivers who have taken part in this work!

Sylvia, a blind volunteer who participates in the sessions said:

“Bus travel can be a lifeline for those of us who rely on it, but many blind and partially sighted people still face challenges when using services. I’ve experienced how difficult it can be at different points in a journey, from knowing when the right bus has arrived to feeling confident about where to get off.

“If drivers have a better understanding of the barriers people with sight loss face, they can take that extra bit of time to support passengers and make a real difference. Sharing these experiences helps make bus services better and more accessible for everyone.”

[Image description: 1. Group photo of volunteers, drivers, and RNIB Scotland colleagues outside Hillside Crescent in front of a Lothian bus. 2. RNIB Scotland's James Adams, Daniel from Lothian Buses, volunteer Janette with guide dog Esme, RNIB Scotland's Eileen Clarkson, Stevie from McGill's Buses and Stuart McMillan SNP MSP. 3. Alan, Georgea and Eileen cut the bus cake. 4. A close up of the bus cake, with pink icing, white windows, the number 100 and an RNIB plate number.]

17/03/2026

We're at Sight Village today!

If you're in Glasgow, come and speak to us about all things technology!

Or if you can't make it today, you can pop a message to our Product team at: https://shop.rnib.org.uk/pages/products-for-life-stores -store

[Image description: Anthoni, Daryl and Conor stand at a stall for RNIB Scotland, with pink tablecloths and banners, and lots of products and technology displayed on the tables.]

13/03/2026

What's alt-text and how do you include it?

Alt-text is a really simple way to make your posts more accessible. It describes what an image is of, and whether there's any text within it. For those using screen-readers to read aloud posts, they'll hear what an image is of, rather than a computer's guess, or just the word, 'image'!

On Facebook, you can add alt-text by first uploading your image, and then using the edit button, usually at the top left of the image. Select the alternative text option, and write a useful description of what is in the image. Don't forget to click 'Save'. You won't see your alt text on your post, but it'll be read aloud for those using screen readers.

It can also be useful to write an image description within your post or image caption as we've done below. Give it a go!

[Image description: Haggeye member Georgea with Sarah Boyack MSP presenting at a wooden podium in the chamber at the Scottish Parliament, as part of Scotland's Disability Summit last month. She is wearing her Haggeye hoodie and a lanyard.]

12/03/2026

Interested in improving your public speaking skills?

We're partnering again with Glasgow Speakers Club to run a weekly Public Speaking course for blind and partially sighted people this summer.

Participants will develop confidence speaking in different situations from social settings to job interviews. Our previous participants delivered fantastic speeches at Glasgow City Chambers, and we’re excited to do it again!

Let us know you're interested by popping a message to Conor.Joseph@rnib.org.uk

[Image description: Previous participants standing proudly next to a lectern at Glasgow City Chambers.]

11/03/2026

Today, Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Parliamentary Business, announced at the Cross Party Group for Visual Impairment that card ballot paper overlays, supported by audio, will be used for the first time in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in May.

This follows many years of work by RNIB Scotland to improve voting accessibility for blind and partially sighted people. Previously, voters could request a Tactile Voting Device (TVD), a plastic template with numbered flaps. However, it still required a sighted person to tell voters the candidate list, and could be too small or misalign with the ballot paper.

The new card overlays, accompanied by audio, are designed to fit the ballot paper for each constituency and region. The overlays have embossed and braille numbers and cut-out boxes that align with each box on the ballot. Voters can listen to an audio recording of the candidate list as many times as needed to place their mark confidently in the right box.

This new approach can help voters with sight loss cast their vote more independently and in secret. We’re incredibly proud to see this work lead to a real step forward for accessible voting. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and personal experience to help trial the overlay and take another step towards accessible voting. We look forward to continuing to work with partners to improve access to democracy for people with sight loss across Scotland.

[Image description: 1. The Cross Party Group attendees at Parliament. 2. Hands reading the braille numbers on the overlay, which is on top of a ballot paper. 3. Two sample ballot papers, a shorter purple and longer regional orange ballot, and two overlays that are sized to fit them exactly. 4. Two ballot paper overlays, with ballot papers underneath. A shorter ballot and overlay with 6 candidates, and a longer with 16.]

Forth Valley Sensory Centre Electoral Commission UK

09/03/2026

Last week we delivered a workshop to urban planning students at Heriot-Watt University. Kirin and Alan spoke to students about their experiences getting around, and how streets can be designed inclusively.

Gemma the guide dog got plenty of pets while she was off-duty!

[Image description: Kirin and Alan sat at a table, while some students approach to chat, and pet Gemma the Alsatian who is poking up from under the table.]