Carrie Writes ...
Holiday Shopping
With the holiday season right around the corner people are busy making gift lists and hitting the stores. Even though shopping can be fun it can also be very stressful for many.
People with disabilities face many challenges in stores and malls. For people using wheelchairs there are many barriers. While people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment can have difficulty communicating above the background noise.
I face several challenges with holiday shopping myself, such as noise confusion. It can be very difficult to hear in noisy stores. Plus I only buy what I can carry if shopping alone. When shopping I go first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds, as it is so much easier to communicate and shop in less crowded places. I also enjoy shopping with family and friends who help me with packages, reading price tags and communicating with sales associates. I always feel very comfortable with asking for help when I need it.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act public buildings must be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes automatic doors, ramps and facilities for wheelchair use. It is also required that bathrooms are wheelchair friendly.
Wheelchairs and scooters can also be rented at information desks at any mall. Also many malls have valet services which are nice in bad weather.
There is also an alternative method of shopping to make life easier. The Internet has a variety of web sites to shop at. Basically any thing can be brought on the Internet from books, clothing, movies and house hold items.
Shopping on the Internet has many benefits such as easy to read product information, and the opportunity to take your time browsing different merchants with out the hassle of noisy crowded stores.
Unfortunately there are several scams on the worldwide web waiting to rip you off. Some examples are free for a price deals and get rich schemes. But as long as you follow several safety guidelines you will have a good shopping experiences.
- Before shopping at any web site check its reliability with the better business bureau - if the web site store is not listed as a satisfactory member then I do not bother to browse the site.
- I always check to see if the web site has contact address and phone number if a problem arises.
- Always read the consumer policies regarding returns and refunds. Along with checking out the shipping charges and delivery schedule before making an order.
- Use a secure site with a privacy agreement to ensure your protection and make printed copies of all transitions.
I like shopping at our amazon.com and yahoo.com - my experience has been that both are very trustworthy and easy to navigate. I find the customer reviews of products very helpful on the sites and feel safe visiting.
Holiday shopping should be about giving to people we love not being stressed out.
Carrie Tynan.
Please email me if you have any comments, suggestions, or if you would like to meet online for a chat:
Email: carriewrites@yahoo.com
