Before offering assistance to a person who is blind or visually impaired, assistance must be requested first. Unsolicited help can be startling or dangerous. The sighted guide provides a safe, efficient, and respectful path through an environment. Introduce yourself clearly and ask a specific question, such as, “Would you like me to guide you to the door?”. This approach honors the person’s autonomy.
Establishing the Sighted Guide Technique
The proper physical technique, often called the Sighted Guide Technique, begins with the visually impaired person lightly grasping the guide’s arm just above the elbow. This grip should be firm enough to maintain contact but relaxed enough to allow for comfort. The person being guided places their fingers on the inside of the arm and their thumb on the outside.
The guide should keep their arm relaxed and straight at their side, maintaining a comfortable pace. The person being guided walks alongside the guide but positioned about a half-step behind. This slight offset allows the guided person to use the guide’s body as a buffer and provides tactile feedback about upcoming movements.
The guide’s body movements serve as cues for the person following. When the guide changes direction or prepares for a maneuver, the gentle movement of the arm alerts the person holding it. For individuals who require more physical stability, the guide may bend the supporting arm parallel to the ground, allowing the guided person to apply additional weight for support.
Essential Communication and Respectful Interaction
Verbal communication must be clear, direct, and descriptive throughout the guiding process. When speaking, always address the visually impaired person directly, rather than speaking through a companion or addressing a guide dog. Using the person’s name helps ensure they know they are the intended recipient of the information.
Specific directional language is necessary, avoiding vague phrases like “over there” or pointing gestures. Use precise terms such as “turn left in three steps” or “the counter is directly in front of you.” Detailed descriptions of the immediate environment help the person build a mental map of their surroundings.
Describe changes in flooring, such as approaching a carpeted area or a change in pavement texture. The guide should also announce potential hazards, including protruding objects or sudden changes in terrain. This descriptive language promotes confidence for the person being assisted.
Handling Common Environmental Challenges
Approaching narrow spaces, such as doorways or crowded aisles, requires the guide to transition the pair into single file. The guide should move their guiding arm behind their back, signaling the person to slide their hand down and move directly behind them. This technique ensures the person being guided remains safely at an arm’s length to avoid stepping on the guide’s heels.
When approaching stairs or curbs, the guide must first pause briefly and announce whether the elevation goes up or down. The guide should also indicate the location of any handrail, positioning the person on the side closest to it if possible. The guide then takes the first step, remaining one step ahead and allowing the change in arm position to cue the guided person to begin.
For doors, the guide should announce the type—whether it is a push or pull door—and then position the person on the side closest to the hinges. The guide opens the door with their free hand and proceeds through first, allowing the guided person to use the guide’s body or the door itself to maintain orientation.
To guide someone to a seat, approach the chair until their knees gently contact the edge. Place their hand on the back or armrest of the chair. This allows the person to orient themselves and sit down independently.
Situations to Avoid and Safety Reminders
Never physically grab, push, or pull the visually impaired person’s arm, hand, or shoulder without permission. Unexpected physical contact is startling and undermines the guiding technique, which relies on the person holding the guide’s arm. The guide must also maintain awareness of potential overhead hazards, such as low-hanging branches or signs, which the person cannot detect with a cane.
It is unsafe and disrespectful to allow the person to walk into an obstacle to “teach them a lesson” about the environment. The guide is responsible for navigating safely and providing verbal cues ahead of time to prevent collisions. When the guiding is complete, the guide must not leave without announcing their departure.
Before ending the contact, ensure the person is oriented to a stable object, such as a wall, railing, or piece of furniture. This final point of reference allows the person to safely reorient themselves. Always respect the person’s wishes if they decline assistance, and never insist upon helping if the offer is refused.