In Touch Folgen

Peter White talks to the Acting Chief Executive of Guide Dogs Steve Vaid about his plans for its future, and asks whether waiting lists for dogs are too long and whether the organisation is spreading itself too thinly. We also hear from Aleksandra Surla, who's moved to the UK from Slovenia, about her struggle to keep her guide dog Pingo with her. Presenter: Peter White Producer: Cheryl Gabriel.

Professor Pete Coffey from UCL reacts to the recent US case, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, of three women who paid for stem cell treatment in a private clinic, in which cells from their own body fat were injected into their eyes and which left them all with virtually no vision. Prof Coffey explains the difference between the US and UK procedures. He also updates us on his own trials, seeking to treat Macular Degeneration. The GDBA on people who decide to return their Guide Dogs.

Ian Brooks is a very experienced computer programmer and was approached by a job agency about a position for which he was ideally qualified. All went well and the agency told Ian to expect a call from the prospective client. However, after revealing that he had a guide dog, the interview offer was suddenly withdrawn, as the employers claimed they would not be able to accommodate a dog in the office. Lawyer Declan O'Dempsey explains the legal implications of a similar situation and says that in cases like this, under equality legislation, both the agency and their client would be deemed to be acting in a manner which would be deemed discriminatory, by not making reasonable adjustment for a disabled applicant. Tom Walker visits one of Pure Gyms premises and speaks to a blind woman who has been helped to use the equipment by a personal trainer. This is part of a new initiative by RNIB to train the trainers at Pure Gyms to make their places accessible to blind and visually-impaired people. One of the new features which has been introduced is a wrist-band worn by a vip, which they pass over the security pad to gain entry to the gym, rather than being required to key-in a code number, which had previously been the case.Presenter: Peter White Producer: Cheryl Gabriel.