Changing people's attitudes.

A CHARITY which specialises in assisting visually impaired and blind people in the region, is set to guide businesses on how they can become more accessible to people with sight loss.

Warwickshire Association for the Blind, which was formed in 1911, is set to engage local businesses and raise awareness of what action the Disability Discrimination Act legally requires companies to take and how else they can help.

WAB, which aims to provide support to the estimated 16,000 Warwickshire residents with a visual impairment as well as their friends and families, has recently moved to a new base at Budbroke, Warwick from their former home in Sydenham, Leamington.

Susie Murray, part of the fundraising team for WAB, said: "Our aim is to help companies change the way they operate in order to comply with existing laws that they may not be aware of.

"It is not just about making businesses more accessible, it is about changing people's attitudes and enabling individuals to aid visually impaired people more effectively.

"It is estimated that around 75 per cent of the county's visually impaired population are unemployed and that is an issue we are keen to address in conjunction with other local voluntary services."

Leamington and Coventry-based financial experts, Harrison Beale and Owen, have worked with the charity for the past seven years.

Director Mark Ashfield said: "This is a very important initiative and we are happy to be able to offer our support to the Warwickshire Association for the Blind."

To find out more visit www.wa4b.org.uk or call 01926 411311.

CAPTION(S):

AWARENESS... WAB manager John Davis with Carla Kelly and Mark Ashfield of HB&O, WAB chairman Peter Soles, Vaughan Rees, vice chairman of WAB andWebster the guide dog.