the news and information service for those in the UK who live with sight loss

We no longer have an archive section, as such, as we think it's best to make sure everything on our web site is up-to-date and relevant.
 

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Media information

Talking newspaper groups, radio stations and other information providers -
all these Infosound Library audio features may be downloaded and redistributed. For more information please refer to our
Media Support section.

We mainly produce fairly short audio items on one specific topic, which only last between 2 and 6 minutes.

These can be found in the Select section of this site.

But this Infosound Library offers some longer audio features on broader topics that are more general in nature; and, as they tend to last between 10 and 15 minutes, they have more time to cover a particular subject in a little more depth.

With each feature we give the date when it was first produced, the date when some of the content may possibly no longer be relevant, we'll also give its duration and, if available, a link to further information (external to this web site) on the subject.
 

The Infosound Library

Gardening for blind and partially-sighted people. We find out how the charity THRIVE champions the benefits of gardening and offers training and practical solutions so that anyone with a disability can enjoy green-fingered pursuits. Cathy Rickhuss, from THRIVE, talks to us about the support they specifically offer blind and partially-sighted people, however and wherever they want to make things grow.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 11.54 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 16 April 2012 ¦ Relevant until 22 April 2012 ¦

The Macular Disease Society. We find out about the support offered by the UK-wide charity that supports those who have the most common cause of vision impairment in the UK by talking to Tim Goddard, from the Macular Disease Society, who outlines the type of ways they can offer help, advice and support, both nationally and, through mutual support, locally as well.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 12.18 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 09 April 2012 ¦ Relevant until 15 April 2012 ¦

The DAISY format for listening to audio publications and DAISY players. We find out about what 'DAISY' is and how it improves the ease with which a blind or partially-sighted person can move around a publication - much like a sighted person thumbs through the pages. Paul Porter, from RNIB's High Tech Sales and Support Team, also talks to us about the growing variety of devices used to play DAISY publications, such as talking books and catalogues of information.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 10:52 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 02 April 2012 ¦ Relevant until 31 Jul 2012 ¦

Considering guide dog ownership. We speak with Tony Murray, Service Delivery Manager for Guide Dogs' Coventry Mobility Team and he talks us through just what's involved in considering, applying for, training with and living with a guide dog.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:16 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 26 March 2012 ¦ Relevant until 31 Jul 2012 ¦

National Talking Newspapers and Magazines' full text service. We find out how National Talking Newspapers and Magazines can now deliver roughly half of its 200 magazine and newspaper titles, in a mainly unabridged form, direct to blind and partially-sighted people with daily newspapers arriving at the same time, or maybe even before, they appear on the news seller's stands each morning.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 12:33 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 19 Mar 2012 ¦ Relevant until 31 Jul 2012 ¦

Talking, tactile and easy-to-see wrist watches. We find out about the extensive range of watches that are now manufactured specifically for those who live with sight loss by talking to Sandra Taylor, from RNIB's Products and Publications team.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 10:38 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 12 Mar 2012 ¦ Relevant until 31 Jul 2012 ¦

Simple ways to make living in the home easier and safer. We talk to Peter Hodgson, an architect who works for the Thomas Pocklington Trust, which advises on the home environment for blind and partially-sighted people. We hear about the simple, but effective, things that can be done around the home to improve safety and ease of living.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:16 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 05 Mar 2012 ¦ Relevant until 31 Jul 2012 ¦

Employment options and support for blind and partially-sighted people. We talk to Janet West, Employment Officer at Action for Blind People about employment – applying for work, staying in your job, setting up your own business and the help and support that they, and others, can provide.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:06 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 27 Feb 2012 ¦ Relevant until 30 Jun 2012 ¦

The accessibility of public transport. We try to get a true feel for exactly how accessible public transport in the UK is to blind and partially-sighted people. We talk to David Cowdrey, Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, about the different modes of transport that many of us rely on, about getting journey information and booking tickets and about the attitude of public transport staff to vision-impaired passengers. And we find out why, for the charity Guide Dogs, getting talking buses across the UK to provide journey information in audio is their main priority.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:17 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 20 Feb 2012 ¦ Relevant until 30 Jun 2012 ¦

Voice recorders. We find out about voice recorders and the different ways they can be used. We talk to James Bartlett, from RNIB, about simple devices like talking tins and talking greetings cards to more sophisticated, multi-function audio devices that can record hundreds of hours of audio in different formats. But they all fulfil the role of an audio notebook.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:32 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 13 Feb 2012 ¦ Relevant until 30 Jun 2012 ¦

Audio describing 'the Arts'. We talk to Toby Davey, Deputy Director of the charity Vocaleyes, which for the past 12 years has been spearheading the audio description of 'the Arts' in the UK - drama, musicals, dance, museums, galleries and buildings. We discover a little about what it takes to make these art forms accessible to blind and partially-sighted people.

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:41 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 06 Feb 2012 ¦ Relevant until 30 Jun 2012 ¦

RNIB products. We find out about RNIB's range of about 1,200 products, all of which are geared towards making life a little easier for those who live with sight loss. We ask John Godber, Corporate Manager, Products & Publications for RNIB, who oversees the whole operation, how they go about selecting, promoting, selling – and in some cases, inventing – these products, who decides what comes in, what stays and what goes from their product range and what determines the prices you pay for their products?

¦ play/download item ¦ duration: 13:21 ¦ further information ¦ Published on 30 Jan 2012 ¦ Relevant until 30 Jun 2012 ¦