Designing for all: blind and partially sighted perspectives

Lewis Winton

Lewis Winton is the area campaigns lead at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). He is responsible for driving local and regional campaigning activity across the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire. 

Lewis works closely with stakeholders, volunteers and local authorities to influence positive outcomes and ensure the voices of blind and partially sighted people are at the heart of decision making across key policy areas.  

Erik Matthies

Erik Matthies is policy lead for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on Inclusive Journeys, which covers everything to do with public transport and pedestrian journeys. This policy area is a strategic priority for RNIB, reflecting how crucial it is to the lives of blind and partially sighted people.

Terri Balon

Terri has over 25 years of working in and with the voluntary, public and private sectors on access and accessibility matters, including teams across local authority services.

In her current role Terri, along with other blind or partially sighted people, delivers sessions such as guided walks which provides participants, designers, local authority officers, decision-makers etc with an opportunity to gain an insight into how blind or partially sighted people navigate the environment and the difficulties they might experience in a safe, structured and informative manner.  

As well as highlighting the need for accessible consultation materials and sources of support to facilitate this, she has contributed to consultation sessions and submitted RNIB responses on proposed developments across the North West.

As a member of train operator access panels like Northern, ongoing work has resulted in informed improvements to their stations. This includes the Royal National Institute for Blind People's (RNIB) accessible 'Tactile Maps for All' at Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street.

Terri's direct and indirect experience enhances her role and ability to advocate and provide informed information and guidance.