Derry and Strabane striving to be ‘visually aware’ spaces

An action plan which aims to make the Derry City and Strabane District Council area a “visually aware space” has received the backing of the members of Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning committee.

Supporting the action plan, Cllr Sandra Duffy (Sinn Féin), who originally proposed the idea during her year as Mayor, said it was particularly relevant to her as “somebody who is partially sighted and lives with a lot of the challenges there”.

“I have to say, a lot of the work that has been undertaken by Council, in conjunction with RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) has been really good, really powerful in moving things forward,” added Cllr Duffy.

“It is that equality of opportunity, where people can enjoy life and thrive and engage in all that is so very, very important.

“I would also just like to comment on the work that was undertaken in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium for people who are visually impaired to enjoy the joy of a football match - sometimes not always the joy of it unfortunately - but certainly to take part.

“We are moving in the right direction and we just need to continue to engage with RNIB in relation to it.

“There are still a lot of challenges out there, for example, I tripped the other day in a shop that had a black stool on a black floor. There is still a lot of awareness we need to raise, so people understand the challenges people face if they are blind or partially sighted,” said Cllr Duffy.

Cllr Duffy’s original motion had read: “That this Council commences the process to make the City and District a visually aware space, welcoming to all our residents who are blind or partially sighted.

“From difficulty accessing treatment and services, navigating public spaces, to a lack of emotional and practical support, blind and partially sighted people each face their own set of challenges every day.

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“The Council recognises the expertise of the RNIB, their vision for a world where blind and partially sighted people participate equally, and their goal of breaking down the barriers for blind and partially sighted people.

“This Council will therefore commence work with RNIB, in partnership with Northwest Regional College and the College's Design Innovation for Assisted Living (DIAL) Centre, towards making the City and District a visually aware space, through the provision of training, information and best practice guidelines to civic institutions and local businesses.

“And this Council commits to work towards training all public facing staff members and elected members in understanding sight loss.”

Council officers have subsequently been engaging with RNIB and the Design Innovation for Assisted Living (DIAL) Centre at the NWRC in taking forward a number of initiatives, including training to help improve awareness of the challenges facing people who are blind or partially sighted and to improve access to services.

Council’s ‘Visually Aware’ action plan encapsulates a number of activities being / to be progressed across the Council that will support the objective of a visually aware city and district, through ensuring that best practice is actioned; It will be reviewed on an annual basis and engagement with RNIB will be ongoing.

The plan aims to help promote equality of opportunity for people who are blind or partially sighted and individual activities will also benefit other stakeholders, for example older people.