I have been trying to reach the relevant staff in Camden Council who deal with people with sensory needs such as myself. I have experienced yet again serious difficulties with the Camden Council switchboard. It seems to be impossible as a blind person to progress my query.

The phone system uses voice recognition which would on the surface help a blind person but the system does not understand my voice. There is also no separate number for sensory needs such as exists for waste, parking etc so that you can be easily put through to the relevant department.

I was then connected to the switchboard staff (Contact Camden) who had no idea about sensory impairments, were unaware that such a department existed within the Council and were unable to transfer me direct to anyone.

From my experience, the current system works to discriminate against disabled users.

They then transferred me back to the voice recognition so I ended up going round in circles, with no luck.

The Council needs to ensure that its switchboard staff (Contact Camden) are better trained to deal with people with sensory impairments and are aware that there is a Sensory Needs Service within the Council that deals with sensory needs.

In an ideal world, the sensory needs service and other services for people with condition should have separate Council contact numbers as from my experience, the current system works to discriminate against Disabled users.