Call to help blind in post lockdown stores
A CHARITY has written to businesses to raise issues that people with sight loss may experience on their premises.
The East Cheshire Eye Society, based on Queen Victoria Street, Macclesfield, has sent letters as part of its work with the East Cheshire Visual Impairment Forum.
The letters have been sent to organisations such as supermarkets, banks and garden centres.
Matters covered include difficulty maintaining social distancing, seeing no entry signs and one way systems, noticing if and where there is a queue and entering shops without carers. It is hoped businesses will be able to offer support to improve the experience and safety of customers with a visual impairment.
Alan Chappell, from East Cheshire Eye Society, said: “Although there have been positive experiences of such help being given, unfortunately this has not been universal.
“We would ask for just a bit of understanding towards the difficulties being faced by people with sight loss in these circumstances.
“We realise these are difficult and stressful times for everybody, including staff in these organisations who we know are doing a great job in keeping services open.
“It’s not all been negative, we have had some really good reports of individuals who have gone out of their way to help and have made the experience of people with sight loss so much more positive and reassuring.”