Some people may call me a Grinch for not liking the snow, but I had my own set of reasons for disliking this trick from mother nature.

I’m severely sight impaired and whilst many people have their own reasons to like or dislike the snow, mine are specific to being disabled.

One of my eye conditions is called mild Photophobia – a condition that makes looking at bright light uncomfortable and sometimes painful.

Imagine my despair when walking outside to find a stark, white, snow covered landscape glistening brightly in the sunlight?

Although it certainly is a beautiful sight to behold, for me it’s also a rather uncomfortable one.

I can usually go for a few minutes in the snow, enough to take an aesthetic photo, but then out come the sunglasses before a rather painful headache ensues.

But for me, that is a minor inconvenience compared to the main issues I face when going out in the snow as a visually impaired person.

I’m a guide dog owner and as a result going out in the snow can be incredibly hazardous for both me and my guide dog.

During cold weather we are often inundated with warnings from animal charities about the dangers of taking our dogs out on newly gritted roads and pavements.

The rock salt they use to grit the pavement can be incredibly toxic if ingested and can also burn their pads if not cleaned away after a walk.

But being a guide dog owner, I travel from place to place quite frequently and so when the weather is icy outside like today, I have to make the decision not to walk my dog and instead stay at home.

In my current role this isn’t an issue, but previously when I worked in retail this would often mean that I would have to miss out on pay due to not being able to get there.

Similarly, traveling with a guide dog in the snow is also dangerous when trying to navigate things like curbs and pavements, especially if there has been a fresh snowfall.

This is because the snow can conceal things like curbs and crossings that guide dogs like Rosie are specially trained to look for.

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Guide dogs in the UK are not accustomed to working in snow and so working them in these unfamiliar conditions can be risky for both the guide dog and the handler.

Snow and ice also have the wonderful ability to turn this normally capable and independent woman into a living, breathing comedy act.

This morning when I went outside to put the bins out, I found myself skittering across the icy pathway like something out of Scooby Doo.

Being visually impaired with no peripheral vision, I can’t see areas on the floor that may be especially icy and so stepping out feels like I’m treading on eggshells with every step I take.

On the occasions that I do brave the snow and step out in on my own, the thing that always take me by surprise is the sound...or lack of it.

Whenever there has been a fresh snowfall it always seems to muffle every single sound that I use to navigate the world.

The sound of cars dies down to a low hum, the sound of my feet on different pavement textures can’t be heard and generally everything just becomes less distinct in my audible world.

As a visually impaired person, I rely heavily on sound to map out my world and know where I am, it’s both a tool and a comfort to me.

So, to suddenly navigate a world where the sound has been toned down by the snowfall can feel disconcerting.

Generally, snow and ice make life ten times harder for people like me who are disabled, it can make being mobile and getting around near-on impossible and generally it adds another element of risk to our daily lives.

Although I admire the beauty it brings on the rare occasions when it comes, as a disabled working adult it can be outweighed by the upheaval it brings to my everyday life.

In short, to a visually impaired person – snow is an absolute hell.

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