Online shopping

This is one area where more accessibility is needed for blind and partially sighted persons. What am I referring to today? It is this! When it comes to online shopping, blind and partially sighted persons still have great difficulty accessing websites, and because of this they need to either depend on sighted assistance to help them complete their online shopping or they would have to do their shopping via phone.

In many cases, companies do not provide a phone contact and even if they do, there are very few live customer service reps on hand to be of assistance. I have had personal experiences where live customer reps have tried to refer me to their website to complete my shopping, but after I tell them that I am unable to do so because I am blind, it is smooth sailing from there on in.

My one request to those companies that provide online shopping is this: If you make your online shopping facilities more accessible to blind and partially sighted persons, you will also be attracting consumers who are technically shy, like seniors and those who did not grow up in the era of technology.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and spread the word to companies about the benefits of making their online shopping more accessible to blind and partially sighted shoppers. Visit www.afb.org to learn more.