Dear Editor
With social distancing now part of everyday life it is important to highlight that not everyone can maintain the required distance as easily as others.
People who are blind and partially sighted can struggle to know when they are getting closer to someone, or if someone is approaching them. And guide dogs, of course, aren’t trained to help in this regard.
There have been occasions when individuals have been aggressively berated for coming in to too close proximity to others, when the reality is they simply weren’t aware of it.
In such uncertain times, tensions over distancing can rise. But we would ask that if you feel someone seems to be ignoring the restrictions, consider for a moment whether that person, rather than being careless, might not be able to fully see you.
Thousands of people in Scotland are living with a degree of sight loss. Please be aware that some people do need just a little extra thought.
James Adams
Director
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland
12-14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh
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