Sim spec walk with Leeds Councillors for World Sight Day
On World Sight Day (9 October), Councillors from Leeds Scrutiny Committees tried to navigate the city streets in Leeds. They did this wearing spectacles (sim specs) that simulate the various sight conditions some local residents have. The walk was featured on BBC radio Leeds and the BBC news website.
West Yorkshire Sight Loss Council (SLC) held the guided walk to highlight ongoing issues. These include a lack of tactile paving, controlled signal crossings, floating bus stops and cycle lanes. These cause obstructions for blind and partially sighted pedestrians, and the wider community.
West Yorkshire SLC volunteer members also attended to take the opportunity to share their own personal experiences of the problems that they face on a daily basis, as blind and partially sighted pedestrians. This includes Christopher Reason, West Yorkshire SLC volunteer member. He said ahead of the walk:
“I feel it is important for members of the council to find out what it is like to walk the streets of Leeds with a visual impairment and to better understand the challenges people blind and partially sighted people face each day. To take a walk in my shoes.”
Iain Mitchell, Senior Engagement Manager for West Yorkshire SLC, added:
“We appreciate that representatives from Leeds Scrutiny Committees agreed to participate in this exercise. Street furniture and obstacles really do impact on the movement and confidence of blind and partially sighted people accessing their local communities.
“The risk of falling and tripping over obstacles can create a fear of going out to do the everyday things, including to see friends, go to work or to the shops. We want to be able to access Leeds city centre without fear and enjoy the wonderful city that we are proud of.”
Councillor Stewart Golton, who attended the walk, said:
“Members of my Scrutiny Board want to ensure that the lived experience of different people in Leeds is captured, valued and used consistently to improve decision making at the Council. Understanding how sight loss affects someone’s experience of navigating the city centre will help us to improve how we examine council polices and decision making in future. We’re especially grateful to the Sight Loss Council for sharing their own experience with us.”
About Sight Loss Councils
Sight Loss Councils are led by blind and partially sighted members and funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust. We advocate the needs of visually impaired people in our communities and work to improve access to goods and services at a local and national level.
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Publication date: 24 October 2024