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Improve Accessibility For People With Sight Loss

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11 October 2017

By Lauren H

In an attempt to discover what life is really like with sight loss, Newcastle Central MP, Chi Onwurah, attempted to navigate around Newcastle Central Station wearing severely scratched glasses, stimulating the daily challenges blind people face.

Commenting on her experience, she said:

I’m so glad I had people around who me who could tell me what to do. It’s very disorientating.

You are trying to do so many things and people are coming at you and it seems very fast.

It was really, really enlightening experience to see just for a few minutes to what it is like.

But, why did she do this? Well, it’s all in aid of a joint campaign with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and Guide Dogs UK. These charities are urging local authorities to sign up to a street charter, which would improve accessibility for people with sight loss.

Emphasising the need for better accessibility, Ms Onwurah added:

People with sight loss, they still want to be able to work. They want to be able to enjoy our fantastic city.

I think it’s essential for the station, but also the streets as well, that people should be able to have that independence.

It’s part of what we can do as a city not only for visitors but also for those who work and live here is to be open and accessible.

What do you think?

 

 

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