Princesshay bringing Braille to restaurants

Princesshay has introduced Braille menus into its restaurants and cafes to show support for Princesshay’s new charity of the year for 2013, WESC Foundation: The specialist centre for visual impairment.

The new initiative aims to help Princesshay restaurants alleviate the issues faced by blind or partially sighted people when choosing what to order.

WESC Foundation, located on Topsham Road provides specialist care, education and therapy to children and young people with visual impairment and complex needs. More than 100 children and young people attend WESC daily, weekly or all year round from all over the UK.

WESC Foundation Fundraising Manager, Caroline Burkie says: “Tasks that sighted people often take for granted can be a challenge for visually impaired people. If a visually impaired person is not accompanied by a sighted person, ordering off a menu isn’t possible. The young people at WESC Foundation are looking forward to going out in Princesshay knowing that they will be able to independently order from the menu. That’s how it should be.”

WESC Foundation has worked with Princesshay to create the braille menus. The menus are now available in Princesshay restaurants and cafes including wagamamas, Carluccios, Coal, Strada, La Tasca and Costa Coffee.

Natalie Mercieca, Restaurant Manager at Coal Grill & Bar says, “We’re really pleased to be able to offer Braille menus to our customers should they request one. It’s a simple thing to do but yet makes such a difference to people with a visual impairment.”

WESC Foundation supports visually impaired children and young people with practical life skills to ensure they have the very best education, care and experiences to reach their full potential. Princesshay is a favoured destination for the students to practice mobility and social skills and this initiative will strengthen Princesshay as a destination for both learning and leisure.

Wayne Pearce, Princesshay Centre Manager says, “As part of our year long partnership, we want to work with WESC Foundation to make Princesshay as accessible as possible for its students. It’s great that so many of our restaurants have got on board to provide the option of Braille menus for diners.”