Martha McClelland from Derry
Martha McClelland said she hardly ever goes out for something to eat without someone to support her, but believes using technology to read out food items audibly is a fantastic idea.
Derry City and Strabane District Council said it will work with the local hospitality sector to implement QR codes on menus for customers who are visually impaired.
The hope is that this would encourage blind or partially-sighted people to visit more restaurants in the area independently, without relying on the aid of someone else.
Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Mrs McClelland said: “I would usually go out with friends or my husband comes with me to restaurants,”
“If I was by myself, I would need to have the server read the menu to me, which can be difficult sometimes if it’s a crowded restaurant with a lot of noise.
“I think a QR code is a great idea where I could maybe listen back a few times to what is on offer on the phone [through headphones].
“I am vegan so it could tell me what is vegan and also tell me what the price is.”
She said it would also help staff interact better with people who are visually impaired.
“There are 55,000 people in Northern Ireland who are blind or partially-sighted so I think it could help a lot of people.”
Local SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid put forward the motion before the council.
She said the council will work with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and visually impaired charity Angel Eyes NI to help develop the more-inclusive menus.
“During Covid-19, most restaurants and takeaways developed a QR code for their menu and ordering systems and this was all about taking that one step further,” she said.
“I think it’s just can we make sure that QR code takes you to an accessible menu.
“We believe that such an app could be something that increases text on menus to a bigger print, and also read back menus audibly.
“Just because you’re visually impaired doesn’t mean you should miss out on the great hospitality available here.
“Imagine going in and not being able to choose for yourself and relying on other people – it’s about giving people more independence.”
Ms McDaid added that she believes they are the first council in the North of Ireland to introduce such a scheme and hopes it will encourage other local authorities across the North to follow suit.
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