RNIB Connect

Now for the next in our regular slots here on RNIB Connect Radio highlighting what is on offer at the National Theatre in London for blind and partially sighted people with audio description.
RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey was joined again by David Bellwood, Head of Access at the National Theatre to chat about a few up-coming audio described shows at the NT and a couple that are available online with audio description via NTatHome.com.
Audio described performances included:
Some Woman - Saturday 24 October, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm and Friday 20 November, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, National Theatre’s Dorfman Theatre,
cloud 9 - Saturday 28 November, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.30pm and Tuesday 12 January 2027, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.30pm, National Theatre’s Lyttelton Theatre,
The Jungle Book - Friday 8 January 2027, 7pm, touch tour 5pm and Saturday 30 January 2027, 1.30pm, touch tour 11.30am, National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre.
From NTAtHome.com with audio description David recommended Hamlet and London Road.
To find out more about the National Theatre’s audio description offer and services for blind and partially sighted people do either call the NT on 020 7452 3961 or visit the NT website-
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
And for more about NTatHome.com and to view many theatre
productions online with audio description do visit- https://www.ntathome.com

David Hogg learns more about Thomas Pocklington Trust’s Education Advice Service…
Image shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB’ written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio’ is written in black in a smaller font.

With recent news that a new weekly type 2 diabetes jab if approved could replace daily injections for people living with the condition, RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Dr Louise Gow, RNIB Head of Optometry, Low Vision and Eye Care Support along with Berni Warren who is visually impaired and has Type 1 diabetes to find out more about the connections between diabetes and sight loss as well as what life might be like living with the condition on a day-to-day bases as a blind or partially sighted person.
Louise talks about the different diabetes related eye conditions and how they can affect someones vision plus her thoughts on these new weekly injections and how easy it might all be to administer the injections as a blind or partially sighted person.
Berni talks about her life as a visually impaired person and how she copes with being a Type 1 diabetic, how accessible everything is around monitoring her condition and how she is able to live a full life as a visually impaired person as a diabetic too.
To find out more about diabetes related eye conditions do click onto the following link to the RNIB website or call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 for information and advice too - https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/diabetes-related-eye-conditions/

This time for our regular browse through the RNIB online shop with Charlee Jarvis, RNIB Shop’s Buying coordinator We have fantastic news that the Synapptic Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are now available with help, training and support too
The package of training and support is also available for visually impaired people if they need help with their Meta glasses even if they have not purchased them through the RNIB online shop.
Charlee also talks about the new range of Eye Shades that have just been added to the shop too.
to find out more about the Synapptic Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, the package of help, training and support plus the new Eye Shades along with many other great products do visit -
https://shop.rnib.org.uk/connect

We have highlights of some great Northern Ballet productions with audio described performances this autumn and into 2027 as RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey catches up with Northern Ballet’s Artistic Associate and Audio Describer Pippa Moore MBE.
Northern Ballet productions highlighted included -
Last chance to catch Gentleman Jack with audio described performances at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Saturday 5 September, 2.30pm, touch tour 12.15pm and at Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Friday 2 April 2027, 7.30pm, touch tour 5.45pm,
Michael Pink’s production of Cinderella for Milwaukee Ballet is brought to life at a number of venues this autumn and up to Christmas by Northern Ballet with described performances and touch tours at Nottingham Theatre Royal, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Norwich Theatre Royal and Leeds Grand Theatre,
and Northern Ballet’s production of Wuthering Heights will be touring through spring and into early summer 2027 with audio described performances and touch tours.
To find out more about the audio described performances of Gentleman Jack, Cinderella and Wuthering Heights plus many more do visit the access pages of the Northern Ballet website - https://northernballet.com/accessibility