Royal National Institute of Blind People

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is a charity with its headquarters based in London, England, set up by Thomas Rhodes Armitage to lobby for and help people who are blind or partially sighted. Its patron is the Queen.

It helps anyone in the UK with a sight problem - whether they have been recently diagnosed or have a long-term condition.

It is active in promoting and building accessible website designs.

RNIB's library has merged with the National Library for the Blind to form the RNIB National Library Service.

RNIB's campaign work over the next three years will be around six priority areas: RNIB will also continue to campaign on reactive issues.
 * eliminating avoidable sight loss;
 * improving access to health and social care;
 * improving access to information and information systems;
 * increasing employment amongst blind and partially sighted people;
 * increasing income for blind and partially sighted people;
 * improving access to television, audio visual culture and life-long learning.

RNIB campaigns and lobbies to influence decision makers. It has strong links with government in the EU and Westminster and the devolved administrations in the UK. It works in partnership with other organisations to maximise the effectiveness of campaigns.

Links with other organisations
Galloway's Society for the Blind acts as the local agent in Lancashire for the distribution and supply of RNIB equipment.

Trivia
Dame Jean Conan Doyle's will stipulated that some copyrights to her father's creations (such as remaining copyrights to Sherlock Holmes) were to be transferred to the RNIB. As most of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work had reached the public domain by the time of her death in 1997 it is unlikely that much revenue was generated from this.