Three words most visually impaired people dread hearing:
It’s over there. It’s Just there.
and even
just over there.
Those words are linked to a magical land that is forever out of our reach.
Today while at the train station I ordered my coffee and moved to the end of the counter to listen for my name and await my drink.
But being busy the barista simply said my name, put my coffee on the counter and walked away.
Which for most customers this would be absolutely no issue, but for me it creates the opposite. Because a white coffee cup on a light coloured counter is really hard to make out, even more so when the cup is in such a position that I can’t make out the green branding.
No problem, a quick “Could you please hand me my coffee” and back came those magical words “it’s just there!”
Thankfully a man who was awaiting his order jumped in to help, he popped a collar on my cup and handed it to me; even explaining where the opening was. (Major brownie points!)
As I walked away I heard him ask the staff to do better.
He pointed out that I was stood at a distance from the counter so my guide dog was fully visible to the staff.
Thank You for kind strangers, I appreciate it.
But just a word of advice, “over there” is absolutely a magical land where both tomorrow and procrastination live.
Even more so when you walk through life with a visual impairment.
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