Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, learns more about the challenges facing blind and partially sighted people on our streets.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister, was recently invited to walk from Llandudno Railway Station to the promenade, near Venue Cymru and back and see for himself the common barriers they face simply trying to get around.
He said:
I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet up with Rachel Jones, and her guide dog, Flick, and be taken around the town and to actually see and hear about the challenges she has every day.
I was able to wear a reality headset which can simulate different eye conditions and gives the perspective of what it’s like to navigate the streets and built environment with impaired vision.
This certainly gave me food for thought as you just don’t realise the many different challenges a blind or partially sighted person has to face when they walk around the town.
I was very grateful to Rachel for raising the matter with me and allowing me to accompany her on her walk.
I fully support the work of the Royal National Institute of Blind People and I am more than happy to help raise awareness of this issue in the Welsh Parliament.
Sam Rowlands AS yn darganfod yr heriau sy'n wynebu pobl ddall a rhannol ddall
Mae Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros y Gogledd, yn dysgu mwy am yr heriau sy'n wynebu pobl ddall a rhannol ar ein strydoedd.
Yn ddiweddar, gwahoddwyd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Iechyd yr Wrthblaid, i gerdded o Orsaf Reilffordd Llandudno i'r promenâd, ger Venue Cymru ac yn ôl a gweld drosto'i hun y rhwystrau cyffredin y maen nhw’n eu hwynebu wrth geisio mynd o un lle i’r llall.
Meddai:
Roeddwn i wrth fy modd cael y cyfle i gwrdd â Rachel Jones, a'i chi tywys, Flick, a chael fy nhywys o amgylch y dref a gweld a chlywed am yr heriau mae hi'n eu hwynebu bob dydd.
Mi ges i wisgo penset realiti a all efelychu gwahanol gyflyrau llygaid a chael persbectif ar sut beth yw cerdded o gwmpas y strydoedd a’r amgylchedd adeiledig gydag amhariad ar eich golwg.
Yn sicr, rhoddodd hyn bethau i mi eu hystyried gan nad oeddwn i’n sylweddoli cymaint o wahanol heriau y mae'n rhaid i berson dall neu rannol ddall eu hwynebu wrth gerdded o amgylch y dref.
Roeddwn i’n ddiolchgar iawn i Rachel am godi'r mater gyda mi a rhoi cyfle i mi fynd gyda hi ar ei thaith gerdded.
Rwy'n llwyr gefnogi gwaith Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol Pobl Ddall ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r mater hwn yn y Senedd.
