There are nearly 2 million blind and partially sighted people living in the UK. Many of these people struggle to properly access leisure and retail facilities.
Whether you work in a management position or in a customer-facing role, the way you provide access to your products and services for blind and partially sighted customers may need to change due to the introduction of the Equality Act.
This section highlights areas that you might need to think about, as well as pointing you to more in-depth information.
Serving blind or partially sighted customers
Blind and partially sighted people enjoy getting out and about, shopping and accessing retail services, and are able to pay for products and services.
Ensuring your products and services are accessible to blind and partially sighted people not only complies with changes in UK policy under the Equality Act, but makes shopping easier for nearly 2 million customers across the UK.
Remember that your business or service is liable for staff members who are not aware of - or are not following - the correct procedures. You may have to make changes to how you address the needs of blind and partially sighted customers, ensuring your staff are fully equipped to be able to deal with their enquiries or any additional requirements.
RNIB solutions
Other resources
-
The Government Equalities Office provides a series of "Quick Start" guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Printed information
The Equality Act clearly outlines that 'reasonable adjustments' must be made to ensure customers do not experience any barriers to accessing information or services.
Leisure and retail professionals, need to make sure that they can be flexible enough to implement 'reasonable adjustments' and that they are in place for blind and partially sighted customers.
If you are a large organisation, it may be reasonable for you to have internal policies, procedures or technical solutions that ensure access to printed materials is routinely available to blind and partially sighted people in preferred or alternative formats they can access, such as putting information in audible formats or providing helpline support.
For large retail or grocery stores, it may be reasonable to have staff that are specifically trained in guiding blind or partially sighted people around the store and helping them select and pay for the products they want.
Small or medium-sized organisations still have to consider the needs of blind and partially sighted customers, but it may be reasonable for them to employ less technically dependent alternative formats.
For example, staff members could guide blind or partially sighted people to seats in restaurants and read out menu options.
RNIB solutions
Other resources
-
The Government Equalities Office provides a series of "Quick Start" guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Your premises
It is important to ensure that your premises are accessible. This goes beyond structural accessibility as defined by Building Regulations.
It is helpful to ensure that areas where customers or employees are likely to occupy have clear signage and good lighting.
Blind and partially sighted people also benefit from heightened contrast between walls and doors, in order to help them find their way around premises more easily.
As retail professionals, you may need to think about access to a number of stores and venues, as well as floor layout and signage to additional departments.
RNIB solutions
Other resources
-
The Government Equalities Office provides a series of "Quick Start" guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Websites and email communication
Your website is a great way to publicise your accessibility credentials to your customers and service users - but it has to be accessible too.
You should ensure that any content, such as booking forms, downloadable instructions, maps and directions should be fully accessible.
Where technical functionality of a website prevents a truly accessible service, then an accessible alternative should be offered, for example, offering downloadable PDFs as Word documents, so that they can be read more easily by screen-reader software.
RNIB offers advice, information and training for those interested in how to ensure their website meets the requirements of blind and partially sighted customers or service users.
RNIB solutions
Other resources
-
The Government Equalities Office provides a series of "Quick Start" guides to help you understand the implications of the Equality Act on your business or organisation.
Further information and support
There are a number of organisations that offer more in-depth information about the Act. You can find some of these organisations on our Equality Act - further information and support page.