Warwickshire Vision Support
There are over 16 million disabled people in the UK, and their combined spending power, known as the ‘purple pound’, is estimated to be around £274 billion per year. So tapping this market makes business sense, as well as being socially responsible. There are over 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. Dealing with customers who have a visual impairment can be a little awkward, knowing how to approach them and make them feel comfortable can seem difficult if you are not sure what to do.
Warwickshire Vision are Warwickshire’s local sight loss charity and we support blind and partially sighted people across the county. We have some Top Tips to help you feel more confident when you have visually impaired customers:
· Introduce yourself. It is possible the customer can’t see you, so let them know you are there, who you are and that you are ready to serve them.
Speak to them directly. Don’t assume that a sighted guide or other companion is there to speak on their behalf.
· Know your service. Be confident in your knowledge of what you are offering, having a braille menu is great, but many blind people cannot read braille. It is often better to be able to describe what is on offer.
· Ask how you can help. There are many simple things you can do, from carrying food and drinks to a table, to guiding a customer to a seat. Sometimes a visually impaired customer may not be confident in asking for help, so make the effort and offer them help.
· Use precise language. When giving directions, use words like ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘in front’. Or use exact descriptions such as “your coffee is a foot in front of you at 11 o’clock”
· Be patient and polite. It can be nerve wracking for visually impaired people to be in new environments, so give them time to settle.
· Don’t fuss the dog. If the customer has a guide dog with them, allow them to do their job. You may get the opportunity to say hello once they are settled, but don’t distract the dog when you meet them.
