After 18 trying months, blind Nova Scotians say their pandemic needs haven't been met
CBC
Constantly changing pandemic restrictions and requirements have proven to be an increasing source of frustration for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Physical distancing instructions and directional signs are of little use to people who can't see them, and calls for clearer online guidance from individual businesses don't always get a response.
Louise Gillis, president of the Canadian Council of the Blind, said people who are blind often have to give up their independence to arrange for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
"Quite often somebody else has to assist with making the appointments for the person because all the websites and those types of things are not necessarily accessible for somebody with screen readers or need extra assistance in some way of navigating it," Gillis said.
The situation is made worse, she said, by uncertainty about how to get to a screening or vaccination site, knowing if it is accessible and how to navigate the space once there.
She said some communities have worked to provide better accommodations for their blind or low-vision residents but that isn't always the case. Some are left behind.
Public transport has also become more of an obstacle as buses no longer have restricted capacity. It is often impossible to know if there is a seat available or if that seat is in a safe location.
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