Apple Store

It’s always a bit challenging when you enter a store and you can’t see what you want, don’t know where to go, or who to ask. Apple do well on this front as they have people at the entrance who meet and greet you. If you need to venture upstairs they will tell you where the lift is or if you need help with the doors; lend you hand. If you’ve ordered something online for collection they bring it to you rather than you having to hunt down a collection point.

This was NOT a good experience. I went into the Apple Store to get my iPad fixed. I had my Face Mask Exempt badge From Euan’s Guide on and displayed clearly. I also had my long cane with me to show that I was Visually Impaired. When we arrived I was asked to put a face mask on. My parents explained that due to my visual impairment it was difficult for me to wear a face mask and that I didn’t need to - but the people in the store were adamant that I was to wear one. As I didn’t have a face mask, I was asked to put a visor on. This was particularly sore and very tight on my head, which has had a lot of surgery on it. I also have diabetes insipidus, meaning that if my medication runs out in my body, I need to drink a lot of water which passes through my body very quickly. When we asked if I could use the bathroom, they replied that the bathrooms were closed due to COVID-19. Dad then explained that it was a necessity. After a bit of hard persuading I was able to use the bathroom.

Great acces lots of space to move around but there are 2 very heavy doors leading to the lift both upstairs and downs which from a wheelchair users point of view were very hard to open.