Campaign highlights challenges of distancing for blind and visually-impaired

As lockdown eases, blind and partially sighted people face a growing list of social distancing challenges.

Research from RNIB shows how social distancing is near-impossible for many blind and partially sighted people, while inaccessible signage and fears about how the public will react to them are causing additional stress and worry.

Guide Dogs research found only 22% of the general public would feel ‘completely comfortable’ offering to help someone with sight loss while social distancing measures were in place. Reasons included not knowing how to help from two metres away (50%) and being concerned about making physical contact (37%).

In response, Greater Manchester and Merseyside Sight Loss Councils have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issues and provide guidance to local businesses.

Iain Mitchell, Engagement Manager for Greater Manchester and Merseyside Sight Loss Councils, said: “Shops have one-way systems that are difficult to navigate due to floor markings that visually impaired people often cannot see.

“Guide dogs do not understand social distancing measures and blind and partially sighted people often will simply not see a queue. We’ve had reports of people angrily shouting at visually impaired people due to this misunderstanding, particularly in supermarkets, which has added to the stressful situation.”

This is not a small problem, as there are more than two million blind and partially sighted people in the UK. In Greater Manchester alone, this totals 47,200 people.

Sight Loss Council members have created a suite of best practice guides for local transport providers, healthcare settings, retail outlets and other businesses to highlight what measures they could put in place to help blind and partially sighted people social distance.

The guides are available on the SLC website: www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/resources

The SLC is also calling all blind and partially sighted people in Greater Manchester to share their social distancing stories.

Iain explained: “Using the hashtag #DistancingBlind, we want to raise public awareness by sharing short videos, blogs or quotes of visually impaired people’s experiences of social distancing and life in lockdown.”

This week Sight Loss Councils across the UK will be sharing their stories on how social distancing is affecting them.

These will be shared on the SLC website www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/distancingblind and through social media.

The Sight Loss Councils have a dedicated page on their website with information and advice for blind and partially sighted during Covid-19 and what support is available: www.sightlosscouncils.org.uk/coronavirus