NEWS

Tesco’s ‘exciting’plans for staff with sight loss

TESCO has been recognised as a Visibly Better Employer by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The charity’s quality standard encourages employers to provide more opportunities for blind and partially sighted people.

Marie Clarkson, RNIB’s project co-ordinator, said: “The employment rate of blind and partially sighted people is unacceptably low, with 11,000 currently looking for work in the UK. ”

Toni McKay, Tesco Head of Diversity and Inclusion, said: “We recognise that people with sight loss face many barriers to success at work, and with RNIB’s help are excited to change that for our existing and future colleagues. ”

n RNIB Helpline: Tel. 0303 123 9999

Ministers are all talk – unlike the buses!

Bring in vital technology for blind people NOW, Government told

Something to be proud of

I LOVE the way All Together NOW!

gives help and support to people with all kinds of disabilities. It’s something to be proud of. It’s interesting, informative and FREE to

anyone who needs it. Mrs D Grant, BookerAvenue, Liverpool

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

WELL into the 21st Century, it doesn’t seem unreasonable that a blind person should catch a bus safe in the knowledge that they will reach their destination.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps and his then accesibility minister Nusrat Ghani said so three years ago.

Mr Shapps insisted then: “It’s unacceptable that people still feel they cannot travel by bus because of a lack of basic route and destination information. ” The ministers were announcing £2m of funding for bus operators to bring in audio visual announcements on their vehicles.

But campaigners haven revealed that not a penny of that money has been spent, and are now calling on the Government to take immediate action.

Sight Loss Councils say a lack of progress in implementing technology to announce routes, destinations and stops is cutting off a “vital lifeline” to more than two million blind and partially sighted people in the UK.

The Bus ServicesAct 2017 introduced a range of measures to improve bus services, including a requirement to bring in audio visual technology.

The £2m funding was made available in 2019 as part of the Government’s National Bus Strategy, and was later boosted by another £1.5m.

However, information obtained by Sight Loss Councils under the Freedom of InformationAct shows that, to date, the money remains untouched.

Mike Bell, Sight Loss Councils’ head of campaigns, said: “Buses are a vital way for blind and partially sighted people to get around freely and independently, but many feel excluded from bus travel because of a lack of accessible information.

“At present there is inconsistency within and between bus companies.

“Some routes are fitted with audio visual technology but on many buses in the same area, passengers who are visually impaired have no assistance at all.

“Despite the warm words, the pace of change on this has been too slow.

“Five years on from creating powers to require bus companies to implement audio visual announcements, the Government has not used them.

“Nearly three years after announcing funding to improve the rollout of audio-visual announcements, not a penny has been spent

Disabled people leading change

DISABILITY Rights UK is the largest national charity led by, run by, and working for disabled people.

It works with Disabled People’s Organisations and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for disabled people.

DR UK’s distinctive position means it can put concerns strongly and directly to government, infrastructure and service providers, and care regulators. It was strongly involved in lobbying the major supermarkets to provide priority shopping and online delivery slots for disabled customers.

It continues to provide vital information to disabled people across the country through its helplines, news updates and factsheets.

Unique services, such as its Student Helpline, provide information about how to access support at university. It also partners with various grass roots organisations in the North West to run projects enabling disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity.

Naturally, the charity’s resources were stretched during the Covid-19 pandemic and donations are very welcome at

www.justgiving.com/disabilityrightsuk

Everything you need to know

THE Disability Rights Handbook provides in-depth, comprehensive guidance on the benefits system, explains how social care operates around the UK and includes information about other services and resources for disabled people.

And it’s full of tools and tactics to help you make a successful claim.

Written in plain English by benefits specialists and legally referenced, it’s the only user-friendly benefits guide designed for both claimants and advisers.

Fully updated for 2022/23 and easy to find your way around, it has the answers you need, to claim what you’re entitled to, or challenge an unsuccessful application for benefits or social care.

n Reduced price copies of the Handbook for individuals are available online at www.disabilityrightsuk.org/shop or by calling 020 3687 0790.

“It is just not good enough!”

Genuine Radar NKS Key

Get priority access to accessible public toilets

If you have a health condition or disability, finding an accessible toilet that’s clean, tidy and available for you to use can be a challenge.

And they’re often kept locked.

l The Radar key gives you access to over 9,000 locked disabled public toilets around the UK.

l Disability Rights UK manages the Radar NKS Scheme and relies on key sales to maintain it.

l Don’t risk buying a cheap copy that may not work.

l All keys manufactured and guaranteed by the makers of the Radar locks themselves

Genuine Radar Key £5.00 including P&P

Available from: www.disabilityrightsuk.org/shop

Alternatively call 020 3687 0790

You can also send a £5 cheque made payable to ‘Disability Rights UK’ Disability Rights UK, Plexal, 14 East Bay Lane, Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London E20 3BS