From the BBC:
“Blind 'not vulnerable enough'
for food deliveries”
A blind couple struggling to get
online food deliveries because they are not considered vulnerable enough are
calling on the government to ensure they have access to priority shopping. Glen
and Rowan Graham, from Devon, said they are scared because they cannot drive
themselves to the supermarket. The Royal National Institute of Blind People
(RNIB) is campaigning to class blind people as vulnerable. The government said
it was "working to identify others who may need support". The RNIB
said the government’s category of vulnerable people currently only includes
those at risk of developing coronavirus. After receiving an “enormous amount”
of inquiries by struggling people, the RNIB launched a petition, which the
Grahams, both 49, are supporting. The petition calls on the government to give
the blind priority.
'Frightening'” Ms Graham, who is self-isolating due to
underlying health conditions, said the situation was "quite
frightening" as blind people were being “blocked" from accessing
essential goods. "The trouble is a blind person can't navigate a
supermarket, they can't go and find the items they want," she said. “Long
term it’s quite frightening because how will people such as ourselves get
shopping, how are you going to feed yourself, how are you going to feed your
dogs, your cats? How are you going to do that?” Mr Graham said isolation
"tipped blind people into a vulnerable position or an extremely vulnerable
position that they didn't have before". The government said: “Up to 1.5
million people in England have been identified as being the most clinically vulnerable
and at higher risk of severe illness if they contract coronavirus.” It said in
a statement it was working with retailers and volunteer groups “to identify
others who may still need support in getting essential food supplies”.
^ Any person (politician or ordinary
person) that doesn’t believe be blind makes you vulnerable needs to wear a
blindfold and go one full day without being able to see. They will quickly change
their stance. ^
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-52115030
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