Fun in the caves with Wiltshire Sight and improved accessibility at Vodafone

I haven't written for a while because it became far too busy with Christmas preparations and I had to focus on that. Now it is the new year and I have some more time!

This is a photo of the caves at Wookey Hole

Just before Christmas we had a lovely outing with Wiltshire Sight Zoom Club to visit Wookey Hole Caves and Father Christmas. Wiltshire Sight Zoom Club brings together children and their families who are affected by sight loss - whether it is the children or parents who have visual impairment. It provides a support network and various activities where families can share experiences and it can help with any feelings of isolation.

It is good for the children in particular because when you are growing up with a disability, whether it is sight loss or any other impairment, life is harder and you can feel very different from your peer group. I remember feeling very isolated, had very little confidence and it was hard joining in with all the activities my peers were doing. At secondary school I most wanted to be able to walk around school with a rucksack on my back, as all my friends did, because at the time I thought it was a really 'cool' normal thing to be able to do and I couldn't achieve this. It is the little things that can make such a difference to making you feel included. Times have changed, and there is far more support for people with disabilities, including Wiltshire Sight who do an amazing job with supporting people with sight loss by providing advice about equipment and services, workshops and general support with making the most of your sight.

This is a photo of the mirror maze -
Anthony and Charlotte can be seen many times!

Wookey Hole is very accommodating to people with disabilities. Although the caves are not wheelchair accessible, they have provided a film, that is shown in a quiet room, which takes the viewer on a tour of the caves and talks about the different stories that are linked to them, some are factual, others less so! I've wanted to visited the caves since childhood, to see the Witch of Wookey Hole, so I was a bit disappointed to learn that the caves are not suitable for wheelchair users. However, the film is very informative and I do feel like I have an idea of what they look like and an understanding of their history. There is a lot to do at Wookey Hole, we thoroughly enjoyed the circus show performed by the children from the village at Wookey Hole. They were all competent in so many skills such as magic tricks, acrobatics, unicycles and aerial work. The mirror maze was good fun and Anthony and Charlotte loved visiting Father Christmas. Apart from the caves, all the activities we did were accessible and all the staff were very helpful and welcoming. Thank you to Wiltshire Sight for arranging such a lovely day out.

Yesterday I visited Vodafone in Marlborough to discuss my phone. As with many of the shops in Marlborough, Vodafone has several big steps leading up to it. This time, I noticed a touch sensitive panel on the window, which was for people with disabilities to press for assistance. I did this and someone came out very quickly. They asked if I would like to use the ramp and got it for me. Unfortunately the ramp did not go over the step of the door frame, and I decided not to go over it because it probably wouldn't be safe to go back out again. However, the two members of staff were so helpful, and immediately took photos of ramp showing the step that was causing the problem. They said that they would send them to the person who organised the ramp. I was the first person to use it so they didn't realise it was a problem. I am really appreciative that they had purchased a ramp and of the way in which they dealt with the situation.