The Blind Mobility Research Unit: 1965-1995

Abstract

In March of this year the Department of Health ceased to support the work of the Blind Mobility Research Unit. In anticipation of this, its Director, Dr Allan Dodds, approached a number of organisations, including the University of Nottingham and the major charities for the blind, in an attempt to stave off closure of the Unit. In spite of receiving over fifty letters of support from the academic community all over the world, no long-term funding resulted from these approaches, although the RNIB had found themselves able to support half a Research Assistant for two years. The Unit no longer exists and the purpose of this article is to remind ourselves of what we have lost as well as to mark the end of an era of applied research.