Blind and partially sighted people are used to navigating a complicated world. But coronavirus has turned the world upside down. As lockdown eases, changes to businesses, services and streets to enforce social distancing will make getting back to normal life much more difficult. #WorldUpsideDown
From 6th July, RNIB will be launching our World Upside Down campaign, a week of activity to raise awareness of the unique challenges that social distancing poses for blind and partially sighted people.
We’ve partnered with Europe’s biggest advertising display, Piccadilly Lights. Once an hour, the lights will run upturned displays as a representation of the World Upside Down that people with sight loss are facing with a message to the public to be kind, be aware and offer help. We have also created a video and social distancing quiz to build understanding of sight loss.
How you can help
To draw attention to the activity in the week of 6th July, we are asking for Members of the Senedd, the public, organisations and businesses to demonstrate their support by turning social media profiles and logos upside down.
- Turn your own social media profiles upside down in the week beginning 6th July and encourage your followers and supporters to do the same
- Take and share our quiz
- Share our videosand other content
- Promote the campaigner-led petitioncalling for action to make retail fully accessible to disabled people
Suggested wording for social media posts:
- “Social distancing has turned the #WorldUpSideDown for people with sight loss. This week, I am turning my profile upside down in support of @RNIBCymru’s campaign to raise awareness of these challenges and asking the public to be kind, be aware and offer help. Try their quiz to learn more.
- I support @RNIBCymru’s #WorldUpsideDown campaign highlighting the challenges many blind and partially sighted people are experiencing while trying to social distance. Be aware, and offer help if you can. Try their quiz to learn more.
Our policy calls
The #WorldUpSideDown campaign builds on work we have already been undertaking in Wales during the lockdown period to ensure the Welsh Government does everything possible to ensure blind and partially sighted people in Wales are not treated unfairly by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
We have been calling on the Welsh Government to:
- Issue guidance to service providers, businesses and employers to explain how to make social distancing measures accessible
- Raise public awareness of the difficulties faced by people with sight loss in observing social distancing, to reduce stigma
- Create tailored guidance for blind and partially sighted people on social distancing, including clear rules around guiding, to help people feel more confident that they are able to get around safely and recover their independence
- Take steps to ensure that all changes to public spaces are accessible for blind and partially sighted people.
