RNIB

Talking to blind and partially sighted gamers about accessibility? Definitely underrated, as Robin Spinks says. 🎮 He and Jonny Marshall were at EGX talking about how developers can create titles that people with sight loss can enjoy. We know it’s not easy, which is why we’ve assembled a panel of blind and partially sighted gamers – like Robin and Jonny – to put games through their paces and give feedback based on lived experience. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/enjG4Uxu [Video description: Our panellists on-stage at EGX, sitting in front of a screen with the white and pink RNIB: Design For Every Gamer logo. Robin speaks first, he wears a black RNIB cap and t-shirt and blue jeans, reading from his iPad. Jonny speaks second, wearing a matching RNIB cap, as well as a sage green t-shirt and plaid blue shirt. In the middle of them is Robin Sloan, who has short brunette hair and stubble and wears black glasses. He nods and smiles as the other speak.] [Video transcript: Robin: And one of the biggest things that helps me to learn is talking to blind and partially sighted people. Very underrated. Yeah. They've always got interesting things to share. And I think for all of us, that's one way that we just constantly expand our toolkit and and, you know, we're able to do more and understand more because we're listening to people's experiences. Jonny: I think just having conversations with people teaches you different things that you didn't know before. And I guess particularly for students, which we're talking about, they may not have come across blind or partially sighted people before. So if you could get in every room and talk to them and talk about which games they want to play, which I would say is all of them because everyone loves games. So it's just thinking about talking to them and learning from what accessibility features they would find useful.]

"How do blind people get jobs?" The blind and partially sighted community are frequently asked questions loaded with misconceptions surrounding sight loss. Sometimes the questions can be inappropriate, hurtful or just plain daft! With #BeforeYouAsk, blind and partially sighted people banish misconceptions surrounding what it’s really like to live with sight loss in a fun and insightful way. Ask more questions with our video chat rnib.in/AskAQuestion [Transcript: Just like anyone else. It's usually based on skills and experience and talent. And with the right adjustments in place, whether that is, um, magnification software or voiceover settings or, um, navigational routes that have to be taken, it's totally capable of having a job. RNIB see differently.]

Attention all game developers, we’re excited to announce the launch of two new resources aimed at improving accessibility for blind and partially sighted gamers! The DevKit is a free, comprehensive toolkit designed to help game developers integrate essential accessibility features, such as scalable UI, audio cues, haptic feedback, and high-contrast modes. It introduces the CAPS Test—a framework focusing on Challenge, Ambience, Participation, and Story—ensuring that accessibility doesn’t compromise game enjoyment. In addition to the DevKit, we’ve launched the Player Testing Panel, a paid service that gives developers access to over 200 visually impaired gamers. These players, with a range of gaming preferences and experience levels, provide invaluable real-world feedback on accessibility features. Both the DevKit and Player Panel aim to make gaming more inclusive by supporting developers in creating better experiences for all players, regardless of their sight. The DevKit is available for free on our website here https://lnkd.in/enjG4Uxu, and developers can request access to the Player Panel by filling in our request form: https://lnkd.in/etVzQ65F These tools mark an exciting step forward in making gaming truly accessible to everyone. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at gaming@rnib.org.uk [Image description: RNIB Design For Every Gamer logo. To the left is a pink gaming icon with four buttons labeled 'D, F, E and G', the acronym for Design for Every Gamer.]

Accessibility has never been so tasty. 🎄 We’ve teamed up with Marks and Spencer to bring the magic of their Christmas food magazine to blind and partially sighted people in accessible formats. Being able to explore exclusive treats and festive recipes in braille and audio gives people the power to choose how they do Christmas. Hard copy braille versions of the M&S Food magazine can be ordered from brochurerequests@marks-and-spencer.com. Audio versions of the catalogue can be found here https://lnkd.in/e-C8k__a. [Image description: M&S braille Christmas magazine placed on a wooden table surrounded by tasty M&S treats. The magazine has a delicious stack of mince pies on the cover and reads “Christmas, this is not just Christmas food. This is M&S Christmas food. Bring on the magic. 450 new and exclusive seasonal products. Tom Kerridge’s fabulous festive recipes. In store must-buys guaranteed to wow + your guide to Christmas food to order." Around the edge of magazine is a flat lay of M&S treats. Some festive wheel and tube-shaped crisps are in a bowl on the bottom right corner, with the crisps are spilling onto the table. Below are two glass small bowls with one filled with orange, red, yellow and green jelly sweets, and one filled with chocolate covered popcorn pieces. Along the bottom are mince pies and tree shortbread biscuits laid out and next to a mini chocolate Colin the Caterpillar cake. Around the sides and top of the magazine are the same treats, including some gold chocolate coins scattered amongst the treats.]

A huge thank you to EGX for having us today for our talk: Cracking the Code, Designing Accessible Gaming for Everyone. We chatted about lived experience for blind and partially sighted gamers, as well as our handy Devkit and player testing panel for developers and studios. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eWMMkRQH [Our speakers sat on the Careers stage at EGX in front of a screen bearing the white and pink Design for Every Gamer logo on a black background. In the foreground, we’re holding up a flyer with the same logo on it. From left to right we have Jade Pughe who has blonde, shoulder length hair and a fringe, holding the microphone and talking to the audience. She’s wearing pastel pink cargo trousers with white and neon platform trainers and a white T-shirt with a pixelated rainbow unicorn. Next to her is Dan Northcote-Smith who has silver hair, he’s wearing all black with a logo T-shirt and khaki green trainers. Robin Spinks is in the middle wearing a black RNIB cap and T-shirt and blue jeans, reading from his iPad. Next to him is Robin Sloan who has short brunette hair and stubble. He wears black glasses and a black and grey T-shirt with grey jeans. On the right hand side is Jonny Marshall who is wearing a black RNIB cap and a blue plaid shirt over a sage green T-shirt.]

Cha-Cha-Change a little to help a lot. We're looking forward to seeing Chris on #Strictly tonight, so we've put together some handy tips for being a good ally to blind and partially sighted people. Find out more about how to be a good ally, here: https://lnkd.in/e98HECpK Image Descriptions Image 1: A pink and white graphic shows a sparkly glitter ball, with the following written below "Cha-Cha-Change a little to help a lot. Here’s 3 tips for being a good ally to blind and partially sighted people..." Image 2: A pink and white graphic says "Lots of blind and partially sighted people rely on accessibility tools like screen readers to access the internet. When you’re posting about Strictly, remember to add Alt Text to images, memes and GIFs, so everyone can join in on the fun!" Image 3: A pink and white graphic says "Getting from A to B when you’re blind can be really challenging, especially when there’s roadworks or bikes blocking the pavement (and you don’t have a great partner like Dianne)! If you see someone who looks like they need a hand getting from A to B just introduce yourself, ask if they’d like a hand getting somewhere, and ask how they’d like to be guided!" Image 4: A pink and white graphic says " As blind and partially sighted people, we’re frequently asked questions which are loaded with misconceptions. Questions that can be inappropriate, hurtful or just plain daft. Next time, #BeforeYouAsk a potentially awkward question, use our interactive video chat to get answers and learn about life as a blind person."

Let’s hit rewind to last year, when gamers and streamers teamed up as part of Jingle Jam to raise money for charities, including us. We’re so proud and grateful to everyone who leveled up their live streams throughout December and raised a game-changing £192,000 to support blind and partially sighted people, and our mission to make the gaming industry more accessible. This funding has been crucial in helping us to develop our dev-kit which will be freely available for gaming developers to keep accessibility at the forefront of projects and give blind and partially sighted people the freedom to enjoy games independently. If you’re interested in getting updates about this kit, please visit https://lnkd.in/enjG4Uxu. #DesignForEveryGamer #JingleJam2023 [Image description: Image 1: Text reads "£192,000 raised during Jingle Jam has..." Black background with small mini fluorescent green, red, and blue dots. There is a vibrant pink graphic of a game controller in the top left corner and an old-school vibrant green remote controller in the bottom right of the image. There are three white arrows indicating to swipe right. Image 2: Text reads "Partially funded our dev-kit which gaming developers can use to create inclusive and accessible games so blind and partially sighted people can play them too" Black background with small mini fluorescent green, red and blue dots. There is a vibrant pink graphic of a game controller in the top left corner and an old-school vibrant green remote controller in the bottom right of the image. There are three white arrows indicating to swipe right. Image 3: Text reads "Supported our Children, Young Persons, and Families service in continuing to provide crucial support so everyone has the opportunity to thrive" Black background with small mini fluorescent green, red, and blue dots. There is a vibrant pink graphic of a game controller in the top left corner and an old-school vibrant green remote controller on the bottom right of the image. There are three white arrows indicating to swipe right. Image 4: Logo in the center reads "Supported by The Jingle Jam" Black background with small mini fluorescent green, red, and blue dots. There is a vibrant pink graphic of a games controller in the top left corner and an old-school vibrant green remote controller on the bottom right of the image.]

🎉We're celebrating 30 years since our first hospital Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) pioneered our service, giving emotional and practical support to people diagnosed with an eye condition. There are now 130 ECLOs in hospitals across the UK! Linda Gough shares what seeing an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer meant to her, as we reflect on 30 years of ECLOs and the life-changing support they provide – and as we look towards their bright future. Read about the history of our ECLO service: rnib.in/ECLOServiceHistory Video transcript: [Linda is sitting holding her cane. She has short light brown hair, with dark eye shields sitting on the top of her head. She is wearing a black top with a West Highland White Terrier print.] I'm Linda Gough. I'm 65 and I lost my sight due to two central retinal artery occlusions just over a year ago. Before that happened, I was being treated for diabetic retinopathy. I was about six months into the treatment, not really sure of what was going on, quite concerned about the future. And one day at the clinic, I happened to see a notice that had a list of support and advice. And somewhere on that notice, it mentioned, if you're worried, if you're anxious, if you're frightened. All words that were what I was experiencing at the time. It said, contact this ECLO, this role, which I hadn't heard of before. I took a photograph of that poster and I think a week or two later, when I was feeling particularly frightened and worried, I rang the number on it and spoke to Kate. And hearing her calmness and her sympathy and her understanding made me feel better immediately.

“And I feel like I belong. I’ve finally found that family where I can be myself, and the stereotypes of blind people don't get in the way of me having fun and having friends. So go and do some volunteering! Help someone.” Eilidh volunteers both within and outside of the blind and partially sighted community. She’s a member of Haggeye, RNIB Scotland’s award-winning youth forum for blind and partially sighted young people. She’s one of two members who are part of the Scottish Youth Parliament, being a voice for the young people who attend the forum. Not only that, she’s also a Cub leader. For Eilidh, volunteering is more than giving up her time. It’s about being a role model to others, all whilst finding a sense of belonging. If Eilidh’s story has made you want to follow your passions and become a volunteer yourself, find out more about our volunteering opportunities: rnib.org.uk/volunteering [Video transcript: Hi, I'm Eilidh, I'm one of the MSYPs and members of Haggeye. I do a lot of volunteering within and out of my community. I think it’s a really good skill to have to help people with different things. I am a Cub leader. I've been involved with scouting since I was nine years old. And being a visually impaired person, it’s hard to fit in and make friends, and feel like you belong somewhere. And I didn't really feel that until I joined the Cubs when I was nine years old. And then I was a Scout Explorer, now I'm a Leader and a Network. Through being a Leader, I can be a role model for my Cubs to show that blind people can go hiking, they can go paddleboarding, we can camp in a tent for long nights, and go out venturing in the dark. We can read maps and compasses, there are no limits. But also when we do different badges, I can teach them skills. So if we do the Road Safety Badge, and teach them how to help a blind person across the road, so they're learning how to help a blind person, and hopefully they can transfer those skills To actually help a blind person in their community as well. So it is a bit of role modelling to show that you don't have to be fully sighted to climb a hill or a mountain. But also how we can help each other in the community. And I feel like I belong. I finally found that family where I can be myself, and the stereotypes of blind people don't get in the way of me having fun and having friends. So go and do some volunteering! Help someone.]

Hello, sighted people! #BeforeYouAsk a potentially awkward question of a blind person, visit rnib.in/BeforeYouAsk The blind and partially sighted community are frequently asked questions loaded with misconceptions surrounding sight loss. Sometimes the questions can be inappropriate, hurtful or just plain daft. With our fun film and interactive video chat, blind and partially sighted people will be banishing many misconceptions surrounding what it’s really like to live with sight loss in a fun and insightful way. Try the video chat now rnib.in/AskAQuestion [Video transcription: School gates. School dad: Great. Uh, I'll, uh, add you to the group. Can you use… School mum: Yes, I can use a phone. School dad: Great. See you tomorrow. Audio Description: The man goes. School mum’s phone: Lily's annoying dad muted. AD: in a pub. Footie fan: Yeah, I find it hard watching the footie. Not because of my sight loss. AD: He's watching a game. Footie Fan: Because I’m a blue. AD: A woman in bed. Girlfriend: Yeah, I can get a boyfriend. AD: He's behind the visually impaired woman. Girlfriend: Yeah, he's well fit. AD: On a bus. Bus passenger: Yeah, I can travel by myself. AD: A woman eats a big kebab beside him. Buss passenger: She's not with me. AD: Looking into the mirror in a club toilet. Fashionista: Yeah, I wear makeup and I pull a silly mascara face just like you do in. AD: A busy office. Colleagues laugh. Office worker: Yes, I have a job. And yes, my boss is an idiot. AD: She forces a laugh at his cringy dancing. Narrator: To see the person, not the sight loss, search RNIB see differently.]