How and When to Offer Assistance to a Blind or Visually Impaired Person

Some Do's and Don'ts for People Who Just Want to Help

It's a Shame

One of my babies is in trouble today. He didn't do what and adult advised. He's not supposed to treat his cane like a toy and he thought it would be fun to spin around and around in the cafeteria after a strong warning not to. He thought it would be cool to stick it out there when another kid walked by and to tap out a dance rhythm, then take the cane and run down the hall with it.

I've warned him and told his child specific para that if he treated his cane like a baby does then he has to walk like a baby without a cane and hold onto her and have timeout wherever she thinks appropriate. So when I arrived back at the school this afternoon, I could hear him jabbering in the boys' room. He was ticked off and was trying to change the subject when he heard her telling me of his antics during the day.

"Why, I am so disappointed.I know you know better," I said. "What's up with that baby behavior? Just felt like being goofy because it's Friday?"

"Yep!" he giggled. This is my toy tester who then requested that he go play with some toys in my room.

"I don't think so brother! I'm not smiling and I am not rewarding you for being a mess with Ms. Jesse!" I scolded. "I've told you several times, your cane is not a toy. I will not defend you when you do wrong with Ms. Jesse. And guess what? The principal is on to you, too. If have to be punished like any other kid at this school, you will! No excuses for someone who is old enough to know better! The rule is NO ONE RUNS IN THE HALLS!"

Love him to death, we do. In doing so we have to expect more when we know he can do more and set boundaries. That's life. That's learning. That's loving them--whether they have vision or not.

Blind Ettiquette

A friend of mine, Theresa Parker McAdams, and I came up with this list. She was blind and I was a teacher of the blind so the principal thought it would be a good idea for us to share an office/classroom that year.The list was inspired by how atrociously I felt she was being treated at that school and how I had to fight for my students. Later another teacher, Janice Woods and I added to the list. We had a computer class together and she helped as a person who had never worked with the blind by asking the right questions.

• If I bump into you with my cane, I will say, "Excuse me." If you should see me coming, say: "Good morning"--speak to me and call my name so that I will know that you are there. That will greatly help with my not bumping into you.
  
• I am not deaf. Please use your normal tone of voice. I don't have "super-human" hearing either but I do rely on my hearing more.
• Warn me of things I am about to touch things that are about to touch me. Say: "Here's a wet paper towel." "Here's a cold can of soda." Please don't just plop things into my hands, start wiping my face, give me an injection or push or pull me somewhere.
  
• Don't drag me places or push me in front of you. Even with 20/20 vision you cannot see through me to get either of us from one place to another. Nor do you need to drag me like a puppy. Let me walk with you using the sighted guide technique.
• You don't have to change your language to avoid sight references. I also say "See ya later" and "Let me see that."
• Don't talk around me as if I'm not in the room. Don't ask my sighted friend what I would want or how I feel. I can speak for myself.
• I should face you when I speak to you. Please reciprocate that courtesy by facing me when you talk to me. I can hear your voice go off to the side.
  
• When you speak to me in a crowd, call my name or touch me to let me know that you are talking to me.
  
• In class, if you are writing on the board or pointing to a chart speak in specifics. I cannot see what you're talking about when you say this or that. Instead say this plant or that chair. Use "it's on the left" and not "it's over there."
  
• Don't project your feelings. If you are thinking "Gosh, if I were blind, I wouldn't be able to.." and then assume that to be true of me. That is projecting and it most often does me a disservice rather than a service for me.
• Ask me if I will need help with a task---or I will ask for your assistance if it is needed. Do not assume that I need your help and start helping.
• Don't assume that I don't read books, watch TV and movies, send emails, read newspapers, surf the "net" or participate in sports.
• Knock before entering a room. Speak to me and let me now your are there and who you are. Isn't that a common courtesy afforded to anyone?
• I can maneuver steps and staircases. Don't assume I need to avoid them because of my eyes. If my legs work just fine, my cane helps to detect drop-offs.
• Don't "blind-spy." It is the ultimate in rudeness to ask someone to get my reaction while you listen in without making your presence known to me.
• Replace furniture. In a classroom, office or lunchroom, I'd appreciate you pushing chair back in place and putting any of my things back where you found them.
  
• My cane is a tool which helps me explore my environment. It is not a toy or a stick. Please respect it.
• My dog is a tool like my cane. When its harness is up it is working. Please do not distract it from its work.