Problems at the Shopping Mall

Almost everyone often encounters some type of problem or other at the shopping mall, but today I'd like to focus on some of the more common ones for blind and sight impaired persons.  So, here is my list.

 

Customer service staff in stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets who do not know how to interact with those who are blind and sight impaired.  They often speak a bit too loudly to us, they are not sure how to guide us, and they are uncertain as to how to describe things to us.  Sometimes, they come across as being a bit abrupt and rude but in most cases they do not really mean it.  It's not what you say but how you say it.

 

Aisles that are cluttered with objects such as shopping carts, bins loaded with merchandise for sale, stands, plus more.  People who do not watch where they're going and who run right into us without taking the time to say sorry. 

Shelves that are extremely difficult to reach.

Racks that are jammed pack with clothing.

Stores that use point of sale devices that are inaccessible to blind and sight impaired persons.  In this case, a blind or sight impaired customer has to depend on sighted assistance to enter their personal information when they come to purchase an item.

Malls that are crowded with kiosks in the middle of them.

 

This list is by no means complete and these are also problems that many mainstream persons encounter.  However, they are the ones that most affect blind and sight impaired persons.  If you would like to learn more, then you can visit www.afb.org, or www.nfb.org.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world.