Kelly Barton, Engagement Manager for the North East, stands with Merseyside Sight Loss Council member Carolyn, SLC Coordinator David, and two representatives from a local deaf charity during the accessibility walkaround at Aintree Hospital. They are standing outside the Emergency Department Entrance, smiling at the camera.

Hospitals often rely on visual systems - screens, signage, layouts - that don’t work for everyone.

Last week, members of Merseyside SLC joined an accessibility walkaround at Aintree Hospital to highlight the barriers blind and partially sighted people face as they try to #MakeHealthAccessible.

Arthur, a 1st year Orthoptics student, pictured with a female colleague during a recent VI Awareness Session at Liverpool University. Both are wearing simulation glasses which highlight specific sight loss conditions, and looking at the camera.

“Today’s session helped me better appreciate the everyday impact of sight loss.”

A first-year Orthoptics student at University of Liverpool reflected after a Vision Awareness session with Merseyside Sight Loss Council.

This is how lived experience shapes future healthcare. #MakeHealthAccessible

Kelly, Salman, David, and Dawn before the session started. They're in a group, smiling at the camera.

David and Salman demonstrating sighted guiding techniques in the lecture hall. Kelly is seen in the background, looking on.

A huge well done to our Lancashire Sight Loss Council team for engaging 300 first-year medical students in one session 👏

Starting these conversations early helps future doctors better understand the experiences of blind and partially sighted people.

#MakeHealthAccessible #AccessibilityMatters

A lecture room at Edge Hill University, filled with 1st year medical students seated at long desks and facing forward towards presentation screens titled 'Sighted Guiding'. Kelly Barton, EM for the North West, and SLC coordinator David, are demonstrating sighted guiding techniques to the students.

68 trainee doctors at Edge Hill University learned from Merseyside Sight Loss Council, and volunteers Mike and Mick about the realities of sight loss - and why awareness is vital for healthcare professionals.

#MakeHealthAccessible #AccessibleHealth

Naomi, Merseyside SLC member, is stood with her guide dog, addressing students. Mick, fellow SLC member is sat beside her, looking on.

Two female students during the sighted guiding session. Two fellow students are behind them, also learning sighted guiding techniques..

#Merseyside SLCs met 2nd-year radiography students at the @liverpooluni.bsky.social for a vision awareness session.

Great questions, lots of engagement, and plenty of love for guide dogs Dotty and Kip. An essential step toward more accessible healthcare 👏

#MakeHealthAccessible #InclusiveHealth

Two female nursing students during the vision awareness session. One is wearing sim-specs, and being guided down the stairs in the lecture hall. Fellow students are looking on from their seats.

Great to see #Merseyside SLC back at @liverpooluni.bsky.social for the third year, helping nursing students gain the skills to support blind and partially sighted people.

This work is key to our #MakeHealthAccessible campaign to embed inclusive care from day one.

Louise and Alex from BCHT are stood smiling at the camera. Louise is holding a framed award as the runners up in the 'Personalisation of Care' category at hashtag #PEN25 and Alex is holding a purple poster with the same information. Behind them is an awards backdrop with picker experience network logos.

We are proud with @pocklington.bsky.social to be runners-up in the ‘Personalisation of Care’ category at the Picker Experience Network Awards with @bhamcommunity.bsky.social! Huge thanks to our team & volunteers working to #MakeHealthAccessible 💙

#InclusiveHealthcare #SightLossCouncils

A group of six people stood in a line in the hospital in front of a glass cabinet smiling and looking to the right. SLC volunteer Paresh (far right) is holding a navigation cane. SLC Co-ordinator Liam (second from the right) is holding an umbrella. They are joined by staff and volunteers from the Oriel Advisory Group, along with representatives from the contractors, Sutherland DotDash.

👣 North London Sight Loss Council has joined the Oriel team at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital to review signage and wayfinding (navigation) for the new @moorfields.bsky.social's site helping ensure accessibility is built in from the start.
We look forward to our next visit! #MakeHealthAccessible

👁️ Big news for accessibility in healthcare! From 30 June, @england.nhs.uk launched a new Self-Assessment Framework for the Accessible Information Standard. A huge step forward to #MakeHealthAccessible & drive a #VisionForChange 💬 #SightLossCouncils #AIS

Two male participants wearing sim-specs, one is trying to read medicine packaging, the other a hospital letter.

Three female attendees sitting at the table in sim-specs. Two are trying to read hospital letters/prescriptions, the other is holding a medicine packet and trying to read what it says.

Two male attendees during the sighted guiding session. One is wearing sim specs and being guided by the other, in a narrow corridor.

During the sighted guided session, a volunteer is practising guiding someone to a chair. The lady she is working with is wearing sim specs, and sitting in a chair.

Yesterday, London @slcouncils.bsky.social delivered a #VisionAwareness session to Hillingdon Hospital volunteers.

Volunteers learned how to support blind & partially sighted patients and sighted guiding techniques.

A brilliant start to a new partnership to #MakeHealthAccessible 💙

Looking forward to discussing how we can improve equity of access to services and #MakeHealthAccessible @pocklington.bsky.social @visionaryuk.bsky.social @slcouncils.bsky.social @rnibcampaigns.bsky.social @healthwatchengland.bsky.social @nationalvoices.bsky.social

Support @SignHealth's efforts for better healthcare access for the deaf community. Everyone deserves equal care! #MakeHealthAccessible #HealthcareForAll

West of England SLC Delivers Change with Sirona Care & Social - Sight Loss Council West of England SLC delivers change with Sirona Health & Social by leading the charge for accessible healthcare through Vision Impairment (VI) Awareness training for healthcare professionals and administrative staff across Sirona Healthcare.

#WestofEngland SLC is transforming healthcare with Sirona Health & Social! 🌟 Hundreds of Sirona staff have undergone vision awareness sessions, leading to lasting changes in support for #blind and #PartiallySighted people. 💪 Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bTFH0C #MakeHealthAccessible #VisionForChange

#Merseyside Sight Loss Council - led by #blind and #PartiallySighted volunteers - is recruiting new volunteer members. Learn how you can get involved in their work to #MakeHealthAccessible and join us today: www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/join-us

An elderly gentleman is sat down in a garden, with his hands on a walking stick. He is smiling at his carer. His carer has her hand on top of his and is smiling warmly at him.

#Northumberland SLC is delivering further vision awareness sessions to care home workers.

Staff at Summer hill, The Grange, abbeyfeild, dolphin view and De Baliol care homes will learn how they can best support their blind and partially sighted residents. 

#MakeHealthAccessible #VisionForChange

Side view of a lady dressed in black with a grey cardigan is wearing sim-specs, which simulate no vision. Another lady stands to her left with her elbow bent, signalling she is guiding.

A lady in a black dress is wearing sim-specs simulating misty vision. She is being guided by another lady who stands to her left dressed in a red dress and navy blue jacket.

#GreaterManchester SLC held a Vision Awareness session at #Fairfield Hospital. 25 staff learned about challenges faced by #blind and #PartiallySighted patients. SLC member Gill said: "Vision Awareness sessions introduce the daily challenges of living with sight loss." #MakeHealthAccessible #AIS

#Merseyside SLC visited Mere Lane Medical Centre to delivered a vision awareness session, promoting the Accessible Information standard #AIS for #blind and #PartiallySighted patients. Learn more: bit.ly/3BRJYSk #MakeHealthAccessible

Kelly, David and Naomi delivering the session

Two staff members paired up to have a go at guiding

Group of staff trying on sim specs

View of everyone sat round the table participating in the session

Yesterday Merseyside @slcouncils.bsky.social delivered a vision awareness session to staff at a #Liverpool medical centre

We explained the challenges #blind & #PartiallySighted people often face in health settings & looked at how the centre could become even more inclusive.

#MakeHealthAccessible

[Image 1: Two women standing side by side. The woman on the left is in wearing a black and grey baseball jacket and darkened glasses, mimicking total sight loss. She is being guided by the woman next to her, who is wearing a black coat.]

[Image 2: Volunteer Naiomi is standing at the front of a classroom with guide dog Kip, wearing a blue t-shirt and black trousers. There is a presentation slide projected on a screen behind her. Coordinator David is also sitting on a blue chair to the left of the screen, wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans.]

#MakeHealthAccessible Hospitals can be challenging for #blind and #PartiallySighted people. Merseyside SLC delivered a vision awareness session at Aintree Hospital. Members shared experiences and best practices. Support our work to improve the Accessible Information Standard: https://bit.ly/3BRJYSk

London Sight Loss Councils supported @rnibcampaigns.bsky.social today as they handed an inaccessible hospital letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

#SightLossCouncils are working to #MakeHealthAccessible for BPS people. An important moment to raise awareness on the importance of the AIS.