SOME TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU MEET A BLIND PERSON

  1. Remember a blind person is a person who happens to be blind.
  2. Feel free to offer your assistance to a person who is blind, but be guided by the individual's response. If you aren't sure exactly what to do, ask the person to explain how you should help.
  3. When talking to a blind person, use a normal tone and speed of voice. Blindness does not affect hearing or intelligence.
  4. Speak directly to the person, not to a third party. Don't consider a companion to be a kind of interpreter.
  5. Introduce yourself and remember the blind person's name. Address the person by name when initiating a conversation. Otherwise, he or she may not realize whom you are talking to.
  6. When you are leaving the room, say so. Anyone would feel foolish talking into thin air.
  7. Speaking when you enter a room allows the blind person to know who is in the room with him or her.
  8. Inform the blind person if there is something unusual in the room of which they may be unaware. (Eg. quiet pets)
  9. Don't grab a blind person by the arm to guide them. Allow the blind person to take your arm and walk a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.
  10. Be specific in giving directions. If a person is to make a turn, say whether it should be left or right. If you are unsure how to give directions, ask the person how you may best assist them.
  11. When using stairs describe the number of steps, landings, and anything unusual about them. Indicate the location of the handrail.
  12. When showing a blind person to a seat, direct the blind person to the back or arm of a chair.
  13. Warn the person of steps, ramps, narrow spots, and overhead obstacles.
  14. When handing objects to a blind person, tell him or her you are doing so and then place it in his or her hands.
  15. A blind person is generally accustomed to using words like, "see" and "look". Feel free to use them too.
  16. Resist the temptatIon to pat or make eye contact with a working guide dog. Always ask permission of the owner before interacting with the dog.
  17. The door to a room, cabinet, or to a car left partially open can be a hazard to the blind.
  18. Blind persons may rely more on their sense of smell, hearing and touch but that does not mean that blind people have superhuman abilities in smelling, hearing or in feeling objects.
  19. When you are the last person that exit from the lift and notice a blind waiting to enter in the lift, tell him/her when she can enter.

Last updated: Friday 22 June 2007.

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