TPT volunteers, alongside staff, shared their lived experience to inform the training and maximise its impact

Access Designing highways and transportation for blind and partially sighted people online course for free

The online course, Designing Highways and Transportation for Blind and Partially Sighted People, draws on the lived experiences of blind and partially sighted TPT staff and its Sight Loss Council volunteers to help professionals design more accessible streets, public spaces and transport infrastructure. Through practical guidance, real-world examples and expert insight, learners gain the knowledge needed to create safer and more inclusive environments.

Accessibility and inclusive design are becoming increasingly important considerations in transport planning and highway design. However, many practitioners have had limited opportunity to develop specialist knowledge in this area. 

By making a course informed by lived experience available to all, CIHT and TPT hope to encourage uptake and support better outcomes for blind and partially sighted people across the UK.

Charles Colquhoun, Chief Executive Officer at Thomas Pocklington Trust, said:

“When streets and transport systems are designed without considering the needs of blind and partially sighted people, they can create barriers that have a real impact on people's independence and everyday lives.

“In response to this, we have helped shape this training through the lived experience of our staff and Sight Loss Council volunteers to reflect the real-world experiences of blind and partially sighted people. We have also helped make it freely available to all practitioners.”

“We want professionals across the country to have access to the knowledge in this course and, crucially, to put it into practice. By reaching the people who design and deliver our streets, public spaces and transport networks, we have an opportunity to create lasting change and make independent travel a reality for more blind and partially sighted people.”

Cat Goumal, CIHT Director of Education, Learning and Training, said:

"We are delighted that our partnership with Thomas Pocklington Trust has enabled this course to be made freely available to all.

"TPT's expertise and the contributions of blind and partially sighted people have been invaluable in shaping the training, ensuring it is grounded in lived experience and addresses the challenges people encounter in their everyday journeys.

"Designing streets, public spaces and transport systems that work for blind and partially sighted people is fundamental to creating inclusive environments. By removing the cost barrier, we hope to support more professionals in developing the knowledge and confidence to embed inclusive design in their work."

Sight Loss Councils (SLC) share their lived experience within local communities to help shape a more accessible environment. Pictured, SLC Senior Engagement Manager Louise Connop (left), shares accessibility insights with staff at the grounds of the IBSA Games in Birmingham.

The course is designed for highways engineers, transport planners, urban designers, project managers, consultants, local authority officers and anyone involved in shaping the built environment.

It covers the impact of vision impairment, relevant accessibility and disability legislation, common barriers to independent travel, and practical approaches to inclusive design. It also highlights the importance of involving blind and partially sighted people in the design process to ensure that infrastructure and services meet the needs of those who use them.

Making the course freely available represents a further step in CIHT and TPT's shared commitment to improving accessibility across the UK. By combining professional training with the knowledge and lived experiences of blind and partially sighted people, the partnership aims to support meaningful improvements in how streets, public spaces and transport networks are planned, designed and delivered.

Professionals can access Designing Highways and Transportation for Blind and Partially Sighted People free of charge through CIHT Learn.

About CIHT
The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) is the leading professional body for highways and transportation professionals. CIHT supports members and the sector through professional development, learning, qualifications, technical excellence and thought leadership, helping to create sustainable and inclusive transport systems.
 
About CIHT Learn 
CIHT Learn is CIHT’s professional online learning platform, providing accessible, flexible and practical development opportunities for highways, transportation and infrastructure professionals. Through a growing portfolio of e-learning, webinars, qualifications and professional development resources, CIHT Learn supports individuals and organisations to build technical knowledge, develop professional competence and respond to emerging industry challenges. Courses are designed by sector experts and aligned to the needs of today's transportation profession, helping learners develop the skills required to create safer, more sustainable and more inclusive transport networks.
 
About Thomas Pocklington Trust
Thomas Pocklington Trust is a national sight loss charity led by lived experience, that works together with blind and partially sighted people to drive transformational social change.
 
From learning to earning and everything along the way, we remove barriers and create opportunities with blind and partially sighted people in education, employment and everyday life.
 
The voices of blind and partially sighted people shape everything we do. Our UK-wide Sight Loss Councils connect local insights to national impact, ensuring we campaign for the changes that matter. From campaigns such as ‘Give me Access to College’ to ‘Streets For All’, we make sure that lived experience drives lasting impact.
 
Together, we are confronting stereotypes, creating opportunities and building a society where blind and partially sighted people have the power to shape their own lives - no barriers, no limits, no exceptions.