Assessment of how inclusive are shopping centers for blind people

Abstract

Due to the difficulties experienced by blind and weak-sighted people within shopping centers, these people often avoid to visit these spaces, being excluded from the same experience as sighted people. The aim of this study was to determine the current situation of Guadalajara’s shopping centers and to address guidelines to enhance inclusivity for people with visual impairment in shopping centers. Nine subjects, with sight disabilities, took part in a semi-structured interview to register their previous experience visiting shopping centers. After that, each subject executed a Verbal Protocol Analysis while walking through a shopping center. Data were transcribed and thematically analyzed. The results from this study suggest that Guadalajara’s shopping centers do not have an inclusive design for users with visual impairments. The participants of this study think their experience in shopping centers could be enhanced if, at least, people around them had an “inclusive culture” and offered them any help.