At the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the UK we are working extensively to improve access to holiday and travel opportunities for blind and partially sighted people. RNIB is one of the biggest and most diverse charities in the UK. We provide a wide range of services for over 2 million people with serious sight problems.

RNIB's national Helpline provides holiday information and advice to people with sight loss and their families. Our National Leisure Service also run vacation schemes for children to enable them to meet with other blind and partially sighted peers.

We have also devised a unique weekend peer support break called 'Finding your feet' , for adults who have recently been diagnosed with sight loss. This break offers the opportunity to meet with other people who are coming to terms with sight loss. It is fun, informative and interactive and demonstrates that life does not have to stop if you lose your sight, in fact, it may be just about to begin.

Along with RNIB's free Holiday Ideas fact sheet, we have also published 3 unique hotel guides (cost £5.99) for blind and partially sighted people available in large print, braille and audio. RNIB's hotel guide is made up of over 100 recommendations, of hotels and guest houses in the UK, from blind and partially sighted people for others with sight loss. Our last guide was produced in 2006 and we hope to be able to update this information soon.

RNIB work extensively with the tourist industry to raise awareness of how they can improve the quality of their services for blind and partially sighted people. We deliver seminars and training with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Visit England and Tourism for All UK to raise awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and to improve access to leisure and tourism.

Accessibility includes:

• Producing accessible and accurate information on tourism services.
• Providing an accessible environment (ensuring safe walkways, clear lighting and accessible signage)
• Having staff that are trained and experienced in dealing with issues around disability.

RNIB have provided good practice guidance for businesses to help them to produce accessible information, signage and, increasingly importantly, websites. Details of RNIB's See It Right pack are available via our website.

A few years ago we campaigned for and contributed to the inclusion of sensory impairment criteria for the UK's National Accessible Accommodation Scheme run by Visit Britain. This work is now being reviewed and updated to form good practice guidance for the UK tourist industry. We have also shared good practice and contributed to EU forums, which are looking at harmonising access criteria across Europe to ensure a 'level playing field' for people who have a disability.

We would like to see all tourism businesses, big or small, making an effort to pro-actively welcome customers with sight loss. It is not difficult to do. Small changes to the way you operate can make a huge difference to a person's enjoyment and ability to take a holiday. We would like to see this aspiration become a reality. 

RNIB helps blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as people who are sighted.

A range of products, information and advice is available, from accessible technology to talking books; advice on employment and benefits to help in taking a holiday.

Susan Thomas
Royal National Institute of Blind People
RNIB
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
helpline@rnib.org.uk
http://www.rnib.org.uk