Making Contact
When approaching a person who is blind or partially sighted, introduce yourself and ask whether they would like your help. Do not grab or pull at them.
If they indicate they would like assistance, verbally offer your arm and brush it against theirs.
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Taking a Seat
When possible approach a chair from the front or side. Tell the blind person they're at the front or side and slowly bring them up to it until their knees or shins touch the seat. Say whether the chair has arms.Place your hand on the chair back and let them follow your arm down to locate it with the hand they have been grasping your arm with.Allow blind people to seat themselves. Do not help them physically or move the chair or other furniture unless asked to. Say if there is a table.Unless frail or otherwise disabled, blind people are capable of getting up from a chair without help. Once they are standing, the correct stance and grasp techniques can be used.
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Guide Dogs
Guide Dogs are there to guide but there are occasions when a blind person needs the help of a sighted person in addition to their dog. The same techniques apply but always determine how the blind person prefers to be guided.
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Grasp
The blind person should grasp your arm just above the elbow with their fingers on the inside near your waist and their thumb on the outside. The grasp must be firm to be maintained while walking, yet not so tight as to cause discomfort. If the grip is too tight, say so.
This technique allows you flexibility and freedom of motion with both of your hands, and gives the blind person a sense of your body motion.
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Stance
Hold your arm relaxed and steady at your side. The blind person's arm is at a 90- degree angle and held close to their side. They should proceed by being one halfstep behind you. The blind person will follow your movements. Do not steer them.
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Support Grasp
Some blind people are frail. Others have balance problems that make use of the standard grasp inadequate. Rather than holding your arm above the elbow, a blind person may prefer to link their arm with yours. This will decrease the space between the two of you and provide added support. To accommodate a blind person's unsteadiness you likely will need to slow your walking pace. However this is only necessary if the blind person requires this added support. |
Narrow-Area Stance When you are approaching areas that are crowded or narrow, such as a doorway, move your forearm and hand so that they rest against the lower portion of your
back, with your elbow at a 90- degree angle and your palm facing outward. The blind person will take this cue, slide their hand down to your wrist and move directly behind you at an arm's length, while still maintaining a firm grip. Take smaller steps and walk slower as you move through the narrow area. For comfort have the blind person move their grasp from above your elbow to your wrist. After walking through the narrow area, return your arm to the guide position and walk normally.
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Doors
When approaching a door, assume the narrow-area stance and tell the blind person in which direction the door opens. This allows them to help you by holding the door with their free hand while passing through it. Do not try to turn around to hold the door open. This is awkward and diverts your attention.
Children's Grasp
The standard grasp often is too high for children, so it may be best to have them grasp your wrist or hold your hand. This gives you and the child greater comfort and sense of control. |
Stairs
Six feet before reaching the first step, tell the blind person you are guiding that you are approaching stairs. Approach them directly and in such a way that the blind
person's free hand is closest to the rail. Mention whether the stairs go up or down and how many there are. Pause to allow them to locate the first step and the
railing. Always remain a step ahead and proceed as you normally would. Remain to the right-hand side of stairs to avoid a collision with others. Pause at each landing to allow the blind person to stand beside you and to cue them that there are no more steps until you begin to move again. Tell the blind person when you have reached the top or bottom of the stairs.
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