How Can I Help a Blind Person When I Meet One?

Address and Greetings

When you meet a visually impaired person, you need to start the conversation, regardless of the age, sex or position of the person, since you are the one who sees better. Greet the person in a normal tone of voice and you may touch the person lightly on the forearm to make him understand that you are speaking to him. If you know each other, it is a good idea to call the person’s name first and then to identify yourself (Do not expect that a visually impaired person will always identify you by voice.) The interaction can be very natural. And do not be afraid to shake hands with the person – blindness is not contagious.

Always make sure that you address the person before you touch him. In the other case the visually impaired person would take fright, just try to imagine…

Saying good-bye is similar. You need to make sure that the visually impaired person knows you are leaving. No “French leaving”, no uncertainty. It would be very impolite to let the visually impaired person keep talking to you when you have already gone.

Conversation

When speaking, face each other. Although a visually impaired person cannot see, he can tell when you turn your face somewhere else. Sometimes, he even can tell whether you are smiling, nervous, focused or bored by the tone of your voice. People generally control their facial expressions and gestures more than their voice. When you speak to a purblind person, try to position yourself in such a way that light falls onto your face, as the purblind person will be able to see you better and will not be dazzled by direct light.

When talking to a visually impaired person, you do not need to try hard to avoid such expressions as "read", "look", "see you soon" etc. Visually impaired people do not mind such words.

Do not rely on gestures and try to express and describe exactly what you want to say. Expressions such as "there", or "that one" do not carry much meaning for the visually impaired.

When speaking to a visually impaired person, some people automatically raise their voice, exaggerate articulation or speak in simple sentences. It sounds comical and unnatural. There is also a myth that you have to speak all the time when you are in a company of a visually impaired person, so that he knows that you are there. Just think of visually people as ordinary people, the only difference being that they cannot see.

Walking with a visually impaired person

A visually impaired person, especially in unknown surroundings, will very much appreciate the help of a sighted person. Just make sure, that you never drag a visually impaired person by his sleeve or push him in front of you. This would not only be rude but it would also violate his safe walking. The best and most natural way of walking is when you offer the person your arm, which he holds with one hand above your elbow and let him walk more or less one step behind you, usually on the side that he prefers or the safer one. Thus the visually impaired person will be able to promptly react to all the obstacles in the way (kerbs, steps, doors, branches, potholes, uneven surface, etc), which you should also indicate in words for him, e.g.: "Mind the step!".

Bear in mind, that you only“ offer you help, which means that the visually impaired person can but does not have to accept. There are places, which the visually person knows very well and where he can walk with his white stick completely independently. On the other hand, there are many situations, such as crossing a busy road or orientation in unknown surroundings or in a shopping centre, where the visually impaired person needs your help to manage safely. In such situations, your help will be more than welcome.

Narrowed space, going through the door, sitting down

Walking straight ahead on an even surface is not difficult. However, there are always some obstacles in the way that can cause problems. In all circumstances, there is a golden rule which says that the guide is always one step before the visually impaired person.

In the case of narrow spaces, the guide moves his arm behind his back and thus lets the visually impaired person know that he should line up behind him. At the same time, the guide can tell the person what is happening. We might need to walk sideways in the narrowest part.

Going through a door can be achieved in several different ways. The guide and the visually impaired person need to be well coordinated in order to do it smoothly. It is always better when the visually impaired person is on the side of the hinges. The guide uses his free hand to open the door. Then, he holds the doorhandle with the hand which the visually impaired person holds to which means that the visually impaired person will easily find the doorhandle himself and close the door behind him. Thus they will go through the door smoothly without any unnecessary turning and going back.

Every obstacle becomes less dangerous when the visually impaired person knows about it in advance, if he can directly touch it and thus have it under control.

When there are steps, kerbs and similar obstacles, we always approach them perpendicularly. Before you get to the stairs, let the visually impaired person know what is coming and do not forget to tell him whether the steps lead up or down. When you get to the first step, slow down or stop completely so that the person knows where exactly the beginning of the steps is. It is not necessary to report how many steps there are, the visually impaired sense the steps by the movement of the arm of the guide who is in front of them. When you get to the last step, let the person know about it and slow down. It is better if the visually impaired person walks on the side of the handrail, although he might not need to use it.

Sitting down at a table starts with the guide finding free seats and telling the visually impaired person what type of seat it is (chair, armchair, bench). The guide places his hand on the armrest and the visually impaired person slides his hand down the guide’s arm to find the armrest himself. Then the visually impaired person checks the seat himself, finds the edge of the table and sits down. The same way of sitting down can be used when using public transport.

The guide’s role

When you walk with a visually impaired person, you become his guide. This, however, does not mean that you make decisions for him and that you act on his behalf. Some people try to communicate with the visually impaired person through his guide: "Young lady, can the gentleman sign this himself?" Make sure that you always rouse such conduct or you can try to make a joke of it: "Ask him directly, my husband will not bite you…"

Sighted people are used to starting any communication with eye-contact. When there is no eye-contact, they often feel a little bit confused. This might explain their behaviour, yet it does not excuse it. A visually impaired person is a person of his own right!

It is very helpful when the guide describes to the visually impaired person the surroundings in which they find themselves (landscape, street, room, etc.). To be able to give a concise account of the surroundings demands certain practice and maybe even some talent.

Do not be afraid to tell the visually impaired person about little “accidents that he is not aware of, e.g. when you see that his tie is smeared with sauce after lunch. In such a situation it would not be a very good idea to keep silent, on the contrary. Tell the person about it tactfully and then help him to clean it. The fact that the person is visually impaired does not mean that he does not mind what he looks like.

Other tips and recommendation

When dealing with a visually impaired person, act naturally. Nothing should be forced.

The above described techniques may vary according to individual needs and the habits of the visually impaired person.

Follow customary manners.

Try to ensure that the acoustics of the place where you are with the visually impaired person are acceptable. If possible, do away with unnecessary noise and disturbances.

Help to do away with possible obstacles for the visually impaired person (open drawers, half open display cases and shop windows, holes in the ground without a fence around, branches or parts of scaffolding sticking out at the head level, etc.).

Avoid expressions of excessive sympathy and actively help where necessary.