How to Give Change

Hello.

My name is Sasaoka, and I work as a caregiver in Tokyo.

Today, I'd like to write about something I experienced while shopping with a visually impaired person.

Recently, they said they "really wanted a certain wallet," so I accompanied them to a major department store.

The wallet cost around 12,000 yen and seemed very practical.

They told me, "I want to pay myself," so I watched from a little distance.

By the way, they use a white cane, so it was immediately obvious to anyone around that they were visually impaired.

When they paid with a 20,000 yen bill and received 8,000 yen in change and coins, something struck me.

The cashier handed them the bills and coins all together.

The cashier wasn't doing anything wrong, but as expected, they fumbled when putting the change into their wallet, and a line started forming behind them.

What we take for granted in our daily lives can be incredibly difficult for people with disabilities.

I believe it's essential for more people to understand and be aware of such challenges for the future development of barrier-free environments.

It was only a matter of a few seconds, but it was a moment that made me think about many things.