Lighthouse for the Blind photograph
Lighthouse for the Blind employee Debbie Sommer (left) learns how to walk down the street with her white cane. With her is instructor David Miller.

Miller, who is sighted, travels south on 24th Avenue Northwest to the Burke Gillman Trail, to Fremont and through downtown.

Making a similar trip on the bus and on foot can tremendous challenge for a blind person, or someone who is both blind and deaf.

As an orientation and mobility specialist, Miller teaches his clients how to do the basic things like crossing the street and taking the bus.

Miller has a master’s degree in rehabilitation services for the blind and visually impaired from the University of California - Los Angeles.

One of his clients is a woman who lives in Port Orchard. She boards a Washington State Ferry each morning to downtown Seattle. From there, she takes the bus to Swedish Medical Center on First Hill.

Learning how to make such a trip without the benefit of eyesight would not be possible without people like Miller.

Miller provides hands-on, one-on-one training to help blind and deaf people learn how to travel through the city on pre-selected routes.

“I’m a personal trainer for getting around the community,” said Miller.

He communicates with deaf clients using sign language. Miller wears dark clothing so clients with limited vision can see his hands more clearly.

Some of his clients have varying degrees of hearing and sight. Some have remaining vision to enable them to see street signs and walk signals.

“People I work with have some usable vision, but are very restricted compared to normal people,” said Miller.

Flash cards are used to ask people on the street for assistance in crossing intersections or to catching a particular bus.

“The average person on the street can help them,” said Miller.

Seattle is considered a very friendly city with people open to cultural differences. People here are well-known for their willingness to help people with disabilities. This city has the second largest deaf blind community in the country because of that.

Deciding on the use of a cane or guide dog is a personal decision. It often depends on how well a person functions with the vision they have left.

Some people have Ushers Syndrome where their field of vision may be limited to 20 degrees. They lose their peripheral vision, don’t see movement from the side and can’t see well at night.

Those who are deaf can be hard of hearing or be profoundly deaf.

For those with more limited vision or hearing, or none at all, Miller helps develop the safest and most efficient routes for them to learn.

He calls this “repeatable routes” to minimize traffic hazards.

His clients may wear badges with “I am deaf and blind,” on it to alert others. Some carry high tech Miniguides, a handheld device that emits ultrasonic sounds to measure the distance between objects in front of a person.

The Miniguide vibrates when it comes near objects and obstacles. It’s a good supplement to a white cane, which can’t detect tree branches and other things on the street.

The Miniguide can distinguish between a narrow street pole and a wider object like a wall.

Metro bus drivers are trained to assist the blind. “There is a lot of cooperation from Metro drivers. Without this accommodation it (travel) would not be possible,” said Miller.

Some of Miller’s clients carry cards specifying what bus stop they need to get off at. Drivers keep the cards in front of them as they drive and return the card to the blind person when they get off.

To a sighted person, the thought of being blind and walking around the city streets can be frightening.

Miller says it is an inspiration working with his clients because of their tenacity.

Most of his clients are employees of the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind. Others are referred to him by state agencies. “I’ll work with anyone who needs training,” said Miller.

“I like what I do. I develop personal relationships with people over the years and the nature of those relationships is more like a community or family,” he added.