Business owners and motorists have to be more mindful of those with visual impairments in their day to day activities.
That's according to a local partially sighted man as the National Council for the Blind launched its "Clear Our Paths" campaign this week.
The awareness project aims to highlight the struggles faced by visually impaired people in towns and cities.
The introduction of outdoor dining in recent years has led to more footpaths and disabled parking spots being filled up with hazardous street furniture.
Motorists parking up on footpaths has also been highlighted as a major issue for people with sight loss.
Speaking to Let's Talk today, Leitrim man Des Keeney says that unthinking actions by people can put partially sighted people at risk:
What happens when people pull up on pavements. like i use a guide dog named Paige.
She's trained only to take me through a gap two of us can fit through.
So if there's only room for one person to walk past the car, then she stops.
Then I have a problem, so really what i have to do is walk around it and that means walking onto the road.
Because I can't see traffic coming for more than 10 or 12 metres I have to stand there and listen.
If it's a busy road then It's really difficult.
