Shopping

Our Orientation and Mobility Instructors train people to travel confidently around shopping areas.

Moving around shopping centres can prove rather challenging, with buskers, furniture, and advertising boards obstructing the path of travel. People with vision impairment are faced with this difficulty at the local shops, not to mention the crowded shopping centres and central business districts.

Our Orientation and Mobility Instructors train people to travel confidently around shopping areas. We work with people to plan and travel the best route to the shopping area, which may include the use of public transport and road crossings. We also provide orientation training within the shopping area itself, locating specific destinations such as the post office or bank.

This training is tailored to the specific needs of individuals. People can learn to use low vision aids (such as a magnifier or monocular) to locate signs or read prices. We can teach people how to identify their money, seek assistance from shop assistants, or use a public telephone.

We can advocate for shopping centres and specific shops to be made accessible for people with vision impairment. For example, we may request for the path to the door to be clear, with no obstacles such as tables and chairs, unmarked stairs or hazards at head height.

We also provide educational seminars for the commercial sector that are tailored to the needs of the business, whether it be an organisation with specific concerns or a shop assistant who wishes to assist a person with vision impairment.

It should be remembered that people who are accompanied by a Guide Dog have legal rights to enter all public places, including shops and restaurants.