The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games reached its conclusion yesterday. The event is held for blind and partially sighted athletes and is one of the largest high-level events, with over 70 different nations and more than 1000 competitors taking part. It is staged every four years and outside of the Paralympic Games is the pinnacle of the international sporting calendar. This year Birmingham proudly hosted the multi-sport event, following a successful combined bid between British Blind Sport, UK Sport, Birmingham City Council, the University of Birmingham and Sport Birmingham. To read more about this fantastic event and future events being held, visit the IBSA website.


The great success of these games helps to highlight a harsh reality, that many people across the world are living with visual impairments. In fact, according to the NHS, in the UK alone there are over 2 million people living with site loss. And globally, The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), predicted that in 2020, there were 1.1 billion people living with vision loss, of which 43 million people were in fact blind, which is a staggering figure that perhaps would surprise most.


With so many people living with visual impairments it remains vital that everywhere is made as accessible and safe as possible. One such way to assist those with vision loss is by ensuring that tactile installations are prevalent. Blister paving tiles or tactile paving tiles, also known as warning blocks, were first created in Japan in 1965, to act as a warning to possible hazards and as a primary navigation tool for the visually impaired, though they also have the benefit of having excellent anti-slip properties to help avoid trips and falls especially in wet conditions. Tactile studs have since been created and are also readily available for this purpose. You will notice them out in public areas, particularly those with a high footfall. They provide a distinct surface patten of truncated domes, which can easily be detected with a cane or underfoot. Installing products like these is essential for many people across the world, take a look at all of our tactile products here.


If you have any queries about tactile installations contact our knowledgeable customer service team.