• Ask before you help.  Do not be offended if your offer is refused.

• Identify yourself when addressing a person with vision impairment.  Let the person know when you are leaving the room.

• Guide dogs need to pay attention to their work.  It is distracting to them if you talk to, pet or feed them.

• Offer the person your arm when walking.  This “sighted guide” technique makes it easy for the person to follow your movements.

• When giving directions, be specific, Say, “to the left,” “30 feet” or turn to 3 o’clock.”  Avoid pointing and saying “over there.”

• Talk directly to the person with  the visual impairment, not to their companion.

• Don’t assume you must talk louder than usual.

• Hand money to the person when giving change so they can separate and organize it.  Say,  “The $10 (or $5 or whatever) is on the top.”

• Go ahead and use words like  “look” and “see.”  You won’t offend.

• Relax and be yourself.

(Source: “The Brighter Side,” Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation, Wheaton, Ill.,February 2003). Reprinted by Permission

The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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