People with sight problems `at risk`

People with sight problems in the UK face unnecessary risks
every day because information is not available to them in
accessible formats.

A survey of more than 1,000 people with sight problems by the
Royal National Institute for the Blind shows that nearly three
quarters could be at risk because they struggle to read
instructions on medicines or letters from their doctor.

The RNIB proposes simple solutions which could make life much
easier for those with sight problems including larger print on food
preparation instructions, a variety of formats for medical
information, and talking information points at bus stops.

Ian Bruce, RNIB director, said: “The Disability Discrimination
Act requires that people providing a service must ensure that it is
accessible by providing information about the service in
alternative formats. The Human Rights Act also has important
ramifications for the production of information in a format that
people can read.”

For ‘Access to written information: the views of 1,000 people
with sight problems’ click
here