Mark provides helping hand to partially-sighted customer
Mark Skelton holds clinics at the 02 store in Keighley’s Airedale Shopping Centre, advising blind and partially sighted customers on how to make the most of their phones and tablets.
Mark said: “As an assistant manager with O2, I must have sold thousands of phones in my time. However, since I started this new role, I could probably name every customer I’ve helped make the most of their phones, with voice activated devices and recognition software.
“I’ve had diabetes since my 21st birthday when I was diagnosed and had problems on and off with my sight - but at the beginning of 2013 the problems got worse. I had to have three operations but by then I had a lot of scar tissue and developed retinopathy, where my retinas started to detach themselves. Now I am completely blind in my right eye and have just 20 per cent vision in the right. All that happened in six months but in some ways I’m glad it was so short. There wasn’t anything I could do about it, so if it had been gradual over a long period of time I just would have been worrying and waiting.”
Mark knew he would not be able to carry out his previous role at O2 and feared for his future, once he was registered as blind.
“The company has been absolutely fantastic. The MD came back and suggested using the situation for something positive and we came up with this new role. I use a lot of technology to help my with my sight problems but there are so many people who don’t know how much they can do with their phones and tablets to make life easier for them. I know how a blind person feels but I also know about all the technology.”
Mark, who travels to stores in West Yorkshire form his home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has introduced dozens of people to a world of communication they didn’t think was available to them. He has also helped train up ‘Gurus’ in each branch and finds his new job so fulfilling he now loves coming in to work every day.
Holding a special clinic at the Airedale branch of O2, Mark’s work was praised by local members of the Guide Dogs charity who welcomed his regular sessions.
Debbie Linford Community Engagement Officer said: “Helping people with sight loss to develop skills and build confidence in regards to technology can make life easier. “The fear of the unknown, cost and overwhelming choice can put many people off. There is such a huge range of mobile phones for people to choose from and as sight loss can vary so much from individual to individual, it’s difficult to know where to start and if a device is accessible to you. Any scheme which can help someone with sight loss make informed decisions and get tech advice is very welcomed.”
Airedale Shopping Centre manager, Steve Seymour, said he was delighted at Mr Skelton's role. "It is a great asset to the community of Keighley to have Mark available in this capacity to share his personal experiences of sight loss and also his technical knowledge and explain how it can help others," he said.
Colleagues in the O2 Keighley branch are now planning events later in the year to raise money for Guide Dogs, while the company as a whole aims to raise £5,000 to sponsor a puppy.
As well as offering in-store instruction, Mark now works closely with the Royal Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and the Guide Dogs charity to spread the word to other blind people about what helpful technology is out there.
