1. Blind does not mean can’t nor does it mean stupid. It is only a physical challenge.
2. Bear in mind that blind people treat their guide dogs and white canes as extensions of their bodies. Never distract,feed, flert, and pet guide dogs from their job or touch, move or grab a cane without the owner’s permission. Imagine if someone moved your keys once you've established a location in which you can readily and quickly retrieve them. That’d slow you down. Plus, it’s personal property. The keys allow the sighted person to drive a car which is a mobility tool and the white cane and or the guide dog allows the blind individual to travel effectively, independently and safely which also acts as a mobility tool.
3. Identify yourself and others who may be with you when meeting someone who is blind. Ideally, instead of saying "This is John" (or whoever), have those who are with you introduce themselves, one at a time, to the blind person. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking, i.e. using their name — otherwise the blind person will be confused as to whether or not you are speaking to them. Remember: they can't see when you are and when you're not addressing them, so the use of names in conversation is essential for them to get their bearings and build a 'visual' image in their mind of everyone's positions and surrounding objects. Never talk to a third party who might be with them such as their driver, reader, teacher, tutor, guide dog etc. Remember, you are addressing them.
4. If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen or ask for instructions. Many blind people will accept help; however, make sure that they are aware that you are going to help them and offer your arm, not your whole body. Never touch or grab a blind person in efforts to assist. This is socially awkward.
to guide a blind persone: identify yourself, offer your services and, if accepted, offer your arm to the student's hand. Tell them if they have to step up or step down, let them know if the door is to their left or right, and warn them of possible hazards.
The sighted guide is responsible for the safety of the blind person at all times, regardless of the errors on the blind person's part. The guide must be especially careful to monitor obstacles at various levels from head to toe. These obstacles not only include furniture, fixtures and people, but also overhanging head-high obstacles as well as slight irregularities in the walking surface, such as carpets, doorway moldings and changes of texture in the walking surface. If the blind person trips, it is the guide's responsibility to support the blind person. The guide should choose or adjust walking pace to accommodate the needs of the blind person.
Never place an item in their pockets or grab an item of theirs in efforts to assist. This is socially awkward.
Remember: they are blind, not quadriplegic.
5. Do not clap, point, repeat or sing when attempting to guide a blind person. This would be somewhat rude, imagine how you would feel if someone was guiding you with clapping, pointing, or singing. Be consistent and specific when you are describing things and giving directions. The more accuracy, the more consistency, the more direct and the more description you use, the more effective your interaction will be. Blind people respond to intelligence.
6. Do not do for them what they can do for themselves such as serving themselves, finding things, getting things, carrying things etc. The last thing anyone needs is enablement for disablement.
7. Do not shout; speaking loudly to the blind person is not going to make him or her see you. just speak in a normal tone of voice as usual. Remember: they are blind, not deaf.
8. Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you use common expressions such as “See you later” or “Did you watch this?” that seems to relate to a person who is blind. Just as a person who uses a wheelchair still goes for a walk, a blind person will still be pleased — or not — to see you. In other words, blind people use the same expressions as those who are sighted.
9. Avoid stigmatizing words such as 'handicapped'. Blind people do not use that word in reference to themselves and few sighted people use it. Many blind individuals go as far to not use it. Don't use the word 'disabled' as it doesn't accurately describe them. Instead, go ahead and use the word 'blind' when describing them and talking to them.
10. do not treat blind people like they are stupid. Asking stupid questions or dumbing-down a conversation is completely ridiculous. In most cases, the blind person is highly educated and conversation with a blind person can be a learning experience.
11. give them the respect that you would give anyone else and don't treat them differently. While stupidity may be contagious, blindness is not.
12. if you are going to ask a blind person about their blindness, for goodness sake, just ask. In most cases, they do not mind answering your questions, however, wording it in a way that is insulting to their intelligence is not recommended.
13. When a blind person is ready to order at a restaurant, please do not assume that they are not of mental capacity to place the order for themselves.
Nothing makes a blind person angrier than when a waiter or waitress asks the person sitting with the blind person what they want to eat.
14. Make efforts to understand blindness and blind individuals through interaction and research.
15. Drop the negative/misleading attitudes/beliefs.
16. Don't assume that they can see you or they will know who you are just from hearing your voice.
17. Spread the word .
2. Bear in mind that blind people treat their guide dogs and white canes as extensions of their bodies. Never distract,feed, flert, and pet guide dogs from their job or touch, move or grab a cane without the owner’s permission. Imagine if someone moved your keys once you've established a location in which you can readily and quickly retrieve them. That’d slow you down. Plus, it’s personal property. The keys allow the sighted person to drive a car which is a mobility tool and the white cane and or the guide dog allows the blind individual to travel effectively, independently and safely which also acts as a mobility tool.
3. Identify yourself and others who may be with you when meeting someone who is blind. Ideally, instead of saying "This is John" (or whoever), have those who are with you introduce themselves, one at a time, to the blind person. When conversing in a group, remember to identify the person to whom you are speaking, i.e. using their name — otherwise the blind person will be confused as to whether or not you are speaking to them. Remember: they can't see when you are and when you're not addressing them, so the use of names in conversation is essential for them to get their bearings and build a 'visual' image in their mind of everyone's positions and surrounding objects. Never talk to a third party who might be with them such as their driver, reader, teacher, tutor, guide dog etc. Remember, you are addressing them.
4. If you offer assistance, wait until the offer is accepted. Then listen or ask for instructions. Many blind people will accept help; however, make sure that they are aware that you are going to help them and offer your arm, not your whole body. Never touch or grab a blind person in efforts to assist. This is socially awkward.
to guide a blind persone: identify yourself, offer your services and, if accepted, offer your arm to the student's hand. Tell them if they have to step up or step down, let them know if the door is to their left or right, and warn them of possible hazards.
The sighted guide is responsible for the safety of the blind person at all times, regardless of the errors on the blind person's part. The guide must be especially careful to monitor obstacles at various levels from head to toe. These obstacles not only include furniture, fixtures and people, but also overhanging head-high obstacles as well as slight irregularities in the walking surface, such as carpets, doorway moldings and changes of texture in the walking surface. If the blind person trips, it is the guide's responsibility to support the blind person. The guide should choose or adjust walking pace to accommodate the needs of the blind person.
Never place an item in their pockets or grab an item of theirs in efforts to assist. This is socially awkward.
Remember: they are blind, not quadriplegic.
5. Do not clap, point, repeat or sing when attempting to guide a blind person. This would be somewhat rude, imagine how you would feel if someone was guiding you with clapping, pointing, or singing. Be consistent and specific when you are describing things and giving directions. The more accuracy, the more consistency, the more direct and the more description you use, the more effective your interaction will be. Blind people respond to intelligence.
6. Do not do for them what they can do for themselves such as serving themselves, finding things, getting things, carrying things etc. The last thing anyone needs is enablement for disablement.
7. Do not shout; speaking loudly to the blind person is not going to make him or her see you. just speak in a normal tone of voice as usual. Remember: they are blind, not deaf.
8. Relax. Don’t be embarrassed if you use common expressions such as “See you later” or “Did you watch this?” that seems to relate to a person who is blind. Just as a person who uses a wheelchair still goes for a walk, a blind person will still be pleased — or not — to see you. In other words, blind people use the same expressions as those who are sighted.
9. Avoid stigmatizing words such as 'handicapped'. Blind people do not use that word in reference to themselves and few sighted people use it. Many blind individuals go as far to not use it. Don't use the word 'disabled' as it doesn't accurately describe them. Instead, go ahead and use the word 'blind' when describing them and talking to them.
10. do not treat blind people like they are stupid. Asking stupid questions or dumbing-down a conversation is completely ridiculous. In most cases, the blind person is highly educated and conversation with a blind person can be a learning experience.
11. give them the respect that you would give anyone else and don't treat them differently. While stupidity may be contagious, blindness is not.
12. if you are going to ask a blind person about their blindness, for goodness sake, just ask. In most cases, they do not mind answering your questions, however, wording it in a way that is insulting to their intelligence is not recommended.
13. When a blind person is ready to order at a restaurant, please do not assume that they are not of mental capacity to place the order for themselves.
Nothing makes a blind person angrier than when a waiter or waitress asks the person sitting with the blind person what they want to eat.
14. Make efforts to understand blindness and blind individuals through interaction and research.
15. Drop the negative/misleading attitudes/beliefs.
16. Don't assume that they can see you or they will know who you are just from hearing your voice.
17. Spread the word .
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