Visably (offering free digital radios for blind people)
Visably offers free loan of techy devices for blind people. So no-one has to miss out on life’s big moments. Blind people can then get to the big match, if they can’t afford a radio.
To qualify, you must be a UK resident registered with sight loss, and receive benefits to prove low income.
- For adults, there are a number of quality radios available including a Talking Easy Music player.
- For children, it offers screen-free audio book players and starter packs, smart smeakers with child-friendly designs and screen-free sleep aids that let youngsters listen to soothing stories at night.
Keep batteries away from young children and pets.
The benefits of free radios for blind people
Radio can be much more than a source of entertainment. For people who are blind or living with sight loss, it can provide companionship, information, entertainment and a valuable connection to the wider world.
Staying connected to the world
Radio provides access to news, current affairs, weather, sport and local information without relying on a screen. For someone who finds reading printed information or using visual digital devices difficult, radio can be an easy and accessible way to stay informed.
A familiar daily routine
For many people, radio can become part of a comforting routine. Listening to the morning news, a particular presenter or a favourite programme can help structure the day.
Regular routines can be especially valuable when changes in sight make previously familiar activities more difficult.
Entertainment and enjoyment
From music and comedy to drama, documentaries and podcasts, radio offers a huge variety of entertainment. Importantly, it doesn’t require the listener to see a screen, making it an naturally accessible form of media.
Whether it’s listening to a favourite music station over breakfast or settling down for an evening drama, radio can provide enjoyment throughout the day.
Greater independence
Access to information and entertainment without assistance can help people maintain their independence. A radio is relatively simple to operate, meaning listeners can choose what they want to hear without needing someone else to read or operate a television or computer for them.
Free books for blind people
Listening Books is a charity that lends out books to anyone with sight problems. For around £25 a year (with discounts for low incomes), the books include Wild City, about our urban wildlife (listen to a sample online). There are also school memberships.
Calibre is £3 a month (free for under 18s) and gives access to over 23,000 books in 70 categories, with new titles added each week. Books are also recorded by volunteer narrators, if not available elsewhere on audio.
Living Paintings (touch-to-see books)
Living Paintings offers touch-to-see books for children & adults. Everything is dispatched for free through RNIB’s Articles for the Blind program.
