Bringing dignity & independence to those with sight loss

One difficulty I face when out is navigating a public toilet. I try to avoid touching everything but sometimes I have no choice!
@adiaccess have a great solution- the RoomMate is a device which offers visually impaired visitors audio description of the room.

I fully appreciate the need: my worse experience was being stuck in a disabled loo at Gar du Nord in Paris and not having a clue even how to find the door and escape.

I have travelled across six continents as a winner of the international Holman prize for blind people to achieve my Baking Blind adventure (www.bakingblind.com). Almost without exception, I have found problems using disabled toilets as they tend to be so big that it is difficult to locate the amenities. That means I need whoever is providing passenger assistance to come in to the toilet with me and guide me around. That doesn’t work well if one has an urgent need or, especially overseas, the assistant doesn’t speak my language.
I often have similar problems during my frequent train journeys in the UK so anything that could help me be more independent would be wonderful. Sometimes it can be rather embarrassing to ask for such personal help so one avoids even asking for the toilet which can make a long day’s travel even more risky!

I first came across the device at The Lost Garden’s of Heligan. I was so excited I think I listened to the audio description three times! I then later came across another one at the Eden Project. It was such a delight to be able to access the toilet independently. It’s the little things that we take for granted when we can see. I had perfect vision up until 6 years ago so I now know how much we rely on our sight. It’s such an integral part of being independent and toilets are something that we as humans want to keep personal and independence is massively affected when you cannot see. I think the Roommate solves a great deal of access issues when it comes to toilets and accessibility for VIs so thank you.