In Touch Folgen

Home learning can be difficult for blind and visually impaired children. But the charity Guide Dogs is aiming to change that with their new Tech for All scheme. Within the pilot of the scheme, Guide Dogs are aiming to provide free iPads to around 3,500 children to help them with their school work and overall independence. We talk to the charity's Director of Operations, Peter Osborne about the background to the scheme and we hear from a family who have benefitted.If you've not heard of him already, we're introducing you to stand-up comedian Jamie MacDonald. We talk to him about his career to date, including his Radio 4 comedy series Life on the Blink and his latest project, a BBC 2 documentary called Blind Ambition. The documentary examines blindness in relation to the way creative people, across different professions, continue to create fantastic work despite losing their sight.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings

There has been more than a year of uncertainty about whether the Olympic and Paralympic games will actually go ahead in Tokyo this year. The Olympics are already in full swing and the Paralympic games will start on the 24th of August. Ahead of the games, we hear from two visually impaired para athletes, Alison Peasgood of triathlon and Elliot Stewart of judo, about how the past year has been. We hear about their training and fitness levels and how they're feeling about heading to Tokyo to compete. We'll also hear from Team GB's Paralympic Chef de Mission - the woman taking our athletes to the games, Penny Briscoe and BBC World Service's Mani Djazmi on the medal hopefuls for this year.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings

Plans to require voters to show photo ID at polling stations were recently introduced in Parliament under the Elections Bill. But The RNIB are concerned that this will make the electoral process even less accessible for blind and partially sighted voters, who are seemingly disproportionately less likely to hold a passport or driving licence. We talk to the RNIB's Director of Development Keith Valentine about the charity's concerns surrounding this.And we get some answers from Network Rail's Head of Public and Passenger Safety, Allan Spence about their plans for tactile paving across their network. There have been some promising signs emerging from Network Rail over the last 12 months, as they have installed tactile on a significant number of platform edges. However, their current plans to equip all stations by 2029 has been dubbed by charities as not being quick enough. Tonight, we're asking whether this installation could be sped up, what funds are available for said installation and whether any temporary safety measures are being put in place whilst these plans are being carried out.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Beth Hemmings