Member News
New MPs were invited to find out what it would be like living with sight loss, at a reception in Parliament on Tuesday.
The event, held by RNIB, was designed to introduce MPs to some of the difficulties faced by people with sight loss in going about their everyday life.
MPs were invited to partake in several challenges blindfolded; simple everyday tasks such as withdrawing money from a cashpoint, and making a cup of tea.
Louise Bagshawe, the new Conservative MP for Corby, stepped up to demonstrate the difficulties of making a cup of tea without the aid of sight.
Thanks to a simple liquid-level-indicator device provided by RNIB, which emits a signal once the water reaches the brim of the cup, she was able to pour her cup of tea without incident.
MPs stepping up to the cashpoint were not so lucky. John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, who hosted the event on behalf of RNIB, entered his PIN unsuccessfully three times, and was told he would then have the misfortune of being unable to get home.
Talking about the important work that RNIB does, Mr Baron said:
"On average there are 3,000 blind or partially sighted people in every constituency. We should never underestimate the feeling of isolation, particularly for those who were born with their sight and then lose it. RNIB does a tremendous amount to help people in those situations."
Many new MPs attended the event, among them MPs Lilian Greenwood, Luciana Berger, Mark Menzies, Nicola Blackwood, Penny Mordaunt, Peter Aldous, Simon Kirby, Susan Jones, Therese Coffey and Yvonne Fovargue.
RNIB staff handed out short 20-page toolkits to MPs, in easy-to-read and accessible format. Talking about the toolkit, Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at RNIB, said:
"The toolkit provides useful information on how MPs should go about communicating with blind and partially sighted people, and asks them to think carefully when designing their website and producing written communications, so that they can be easily accessed."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd