Working and Living With People Who Are Visually Impaired

• Introduction
• Communication
• Safety
• Walking, Travel and Guiding Techniques
• Modified Sighted Guide Techniques for Children
• Taking a Seat
• Stairs
• Doorways
• Narrow Passages
• About Face

Introduction

People are often unaware, uncomfortable or insensitive to the needs of a visually impaired person. Once they are made aware of simple courtesies, most sighted persons can be helpful in small ways that make a major difference. The following are some guidelines regarding communication, safety and providing travel assistance to a person with impaired sight:

Communication

When entering the area where there is a person with impaired sight, make your presence known. "Hi, Michael, this is Linda."

Never leave the person without announcing that you are leaving the room.

When communicating, speak directly to the person and not through a third party.

Ask the person if assistance is needed. Never assume the person does or doesn't need help.

Avoid expressions such as "over there," or "right here." Guide a person to the location or place their hand on the object.

Be honest. Tell the person what you see, even if it is unpleasant. "Michael, you spilled juice on your shirt."

Safety

Don't move anything in their surroundings without telling them first. If possible, explain and physically show them where the object was moved.

Make sure doors to rooms are closed or propped fully open.

Push chairs in under tables when finished with them. Encourage others to do the same.

Don't leave cabinet doors open.

Walking, Travel and Guiding Techniques

The person with low vision should always hold on to the sighted guide's arm (not vice versa.) To eliminate groping, the guide should put out a hand or arm to make contact. The person with a visual impairment should then take the guide's arm just above the elbow, four fingers on the inside, thumb on the outside. This allows use of the guide's hands for carrying and opening doors. The motion of the guide's body can be easily felt and followed.

By flexing the elbow to approximately 90 degrees, the person with low vision will maintain a half-step distance behind the guide, allowing time to interpret and react to the guide's movements. To avoid moving beyond the protection of the guide, the visually impaired person's arm should remain close to the body, with the shoulder directly behind the guide's opposite shoulder.

Modified Sighted Guide Techniques for Children

The basic sighted guide technique can be modified for a child by having the youth hold on to the wrist of the guide. This allows the young person to learn the technique at an earlier age.

Taking a Seat

The guide should lead the visually impaired person directly up to the chair, while providing a verbal exchange as to whether it is the back, front, or side, and if it is an armchair or bench. By placing a hand on the back of the chair, it is possible for the visually impaired person to become oriented to the chair. Before sitting, a visually impaired person can make sure the seat is clear by sweeping a hand across the seat of the chair. Then they can place the back of their legs against the seat and sit down squarely.

Stairs

The guide should offer a verbal warning that they are about to go up or down a flight of stairs. The guide always approaches stairs squarely and pauses at the foot or head. The person with impaired sight may or may not wish to switch to the side with the handrail. They should then bring one foot forward to locate the first step. The guide steps up or down and both proceed. As a cue that they have reached the bottom or top, the guide should pause again. For spiral staircases, the visually impaired person is kept to the center where stairs are at the most normal width. Pausing at tops and/or bottoms of stairways can be used with street curbs, as well.

Doorways

Technique 1 (used if the door is located on the same side as the visually impaired person's free hand): the guide passes through the door providing information as to the direction of the door (i.e., left or right). The visually impaired person then locates the door by sweeping a free arm from their midline until contact is made. The door is held open until cleared.

Technique 2 (used if the door is opposite the side with the free hand): the person with impaired sight should release the guide's arm and take hold of the same arm with the other hand, thus falling behind and in line. By straightening their arm, the visually impaired person will fall a full step behind the guide (to avoid walking on the guide's heel). The free arm is used to locate and hold the door in the same manner as Technique 1 and, when cleared, the normal position is resumed.

An alternative to Technique 2: the visually impaired person can shift from one side to the other in anticipation of doorways, then use the procedure as described in Technique 1.

Narrow Passages

When there is insufficient space for two people to walk abreast (i.e., narrow aisles, doorways), the narrow passage technique is used. The guide signals a change in position by moving his arm backward and to the center of his back. The visually impaired person steps behind the guide so that the two are in single file. To prevent stepping on the guide's heels, the visually impaired person can straighten one arm, thus placing them a full step apart. After leaving the narrow passage, the guide signals by moving his arm back to his side, and the normal position is resumed.

About Face

This procedure can be used anytime a 180 degree turn is necessary (i.e., elevators, locked doors). The person with a visual impairment should disengage their hand from the guide. Both parties then proceed to make a 180-degree turn independently. The guide makes contact with the opposite arm, and the normal position is resumed.

Last Updated: Monday, December 28th, 2009 at 03:22:12 Back to top