Shufersal unexpectedly canceled the telephone reservation service intended for the blind and visually impaired population. Dozens of inquiries came to the center for the blind as a result. The network explains that “The telephone reservation service provided to the visually impaired population began to operate in the days when Shufersal did not yet have an online website for making reservations. Today, the website is accessible for people with disabilities accompanied by the Israel Accessibility Association”
At the beginning of this month, the Shufersell chain canceled the telephone reservation service it established for the blind and visually impaired population. This is a service used by thousands of visually impaired people who would have been assisted by service representatives over the phone to place an online order on the chain’s website.
The director of the legal department and government relations at the Center for the Blind, Dr. Guy Akoka, referred to this in an interview with the program ‘The Color of Silver’ on ‘Khan Reshet B’ and said that dozens of requests were received from visually impaired people who can no longer make orders from the network. Akoka added that Shufersel explained to them that it was a management decision.
According to him, the possibility to order through a telephone representative gives a feeling of independence and ability, and the alternatives that the chain now offers are not accessible and effective for many of them.
From Shufersal stated: “The telephone reservation service provided to the visually impaired population began operating in the days when Shufersal did not yet have an online website for making orders. Today, the website is accessible for people with disabilities accompanied by the Israel Accessibility Association, and Shufersal’s customer service team, which has received special training, is available at any time to help With guidance and full support for all our customers who need it.”
“We are working to add additional accessibility tools to improve the shopping experience of people with disabilities. Also, Shufersal is the first retail chain in Israel and in the world to make its branches accessible through the orientation and guidance system of the Right Hear company, thus enabling blind people, visually impaired people and people with various orientation difficulties to make Shopping at the supermarket in an equal, private and independent way.” The language of the response.