Aim

To buy an accessible telephone switchboard so that visually impaired students gain skills and experience working on the College reception.

Who are we?

Blindcare was established in 1993 as a charity to support people with sight loss. This was achieved by providing various sight loss charities with funds to help them further their charitable purpose. Since 2019, Blindcare has had to make the decision to concentrate all its efforts on one aspect of life for a visually impaired person. The charity chose to support the education and training of visually impaired young people, as we believe that intervention at this stage of life will make the individual more independent and less reliant on others. We have decided to partner with The Royal National College for the Blind for this project.

What does The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) do?

RNC is the only specialist college of further education specifically for blind and visually impaired people. Some of the students have additional disabilities but they are all visually impaired which is what RNC focus on. Visual impairment is a relatively low incidence but high impact disability, which affects every aspect of an individual's life.

Students can study GCSEs, A/AS levels, OCRs, BTECS and NVQs. There is an emphasis both on academic learning and work-based learning so our students feel ready to take the next step in their career when they leave RNC. 

Academic qualifications alone are not enough. All students receive tuition in braille, ICT, mobility and independence skills. They receive as much support as necessary. Digital advancements are bridging the gap between visually impaired and sighted individuals. Accessible software means that people with sight problems are able to access a wealth of information. There is still however, much information which can only be accessed by hard copy/touch, and for this, braille is the answer.

The mobility training that students receive includes walking with a cane/guide dog, crossing a road safely, and using public transport (and anything else that the student needs.) Independence includes every task that they will use in their life after RNC, for example changing a bed and cooking a basic meal. Budgeting skills and money management is also part of independence training, and covers such topics as shopping and cooking wisely (bulk buying, freezing food) and comparing and switching utility providers.

RNC's vision and track record

RNC's vision is of a world where visually impaired people have true equality, and are continually working towards this. Students that study at RNC are getting closer to this ideal. They learn skills that which will help them get and keep employment, and independence and mobility training to help give them the ability to live successful lives.

RNC's  2017/18 College Self-Assessment Report states that, of the students leaving at the end of the academic year, 

•  22% went straight into employment (including self-employment and voluntary work)
•  44% went on to further and higher education providers and 
•  34% were job-seeking. 

Of those going straight into employment, massage and complementary therapy, and personal training are strong paths into employment, with many starting their own business. Ex students have also had careers in audio media work and business administration roles, to name only a few. RNC ensures that visually impaired students are able to follow their dreams as much as possible and reach their full potential. One of their students last year is currently studying medicine at Trinity College, Oxford University.

What we need funding for

We are raising money for an accessible telephone switchboard that RNC students can use to make, receive and direct telephone calls around the College. They work on their customer service skills in their business administration lessons and an accessible switchboard would mean that they can practice those skills on a real, busy working reception. Research has shown that working in a customer service environment can be a really good career path for visually impaired people (callcentrehelper.com's report on employing visually impaired people in call centres). This is at a time when RNIB estimate, that of the 20,000 visually impaired people of working age in the UK, only 25% are in work.

Student perspective on accessible office equipment 

Having spoken to students studying business administration at RNC, many of them spoke about the need for a level playing field and fairness in employment. Equipment that is accessible for all should be the standard. 

Student James highlights the importance of having accessible equipment to practice skills on, while still at college. "Going into an office or reception environment is daunting enough (having to overcome the problems already encountered with vision) so being exposed to a live reception environment at College reduces the anxiety and nervousness of the unknown."

Sam had a fully sighted childhood and lost his sight later in life. He says "Using accessible equipment like telephone systems ...[gives me] the best chance of earning a living as I could before I lost my sight."

Tanya told me that she had previously worked as a telephonist where the switchboard was accessible and told me about the difference that this seemingly small adjustment can make to life as a visually impaired person. "The switchboard was tactile with small pins that moved up and down. This enabled me to carry out my work successfully and equally to everyone else. I felt a useful member of society."

Total costs  

The total cost of a switchboard is £13,062 but RNC have very luckily already received a grant of £4,000 towards the project and £3,540 from a computer supplier for recycling their old PCs. This has brought our total target down to £5,522. 

(The photograph is of student Yash, working on the reception at St Michael's Hospice during work experience week in February 2020. Photo taken by Chris Smart.)

This project successfully funded on 15th July 2020