Spring 2007

Each year, The Lighthouse for the Blind hosts dozens of Blindness Awareness Trainings for both new Lighthouse employees and for the community at large.

“The training provides attendees with information about the challenges and issues faced by blind and visually-impaired persons in our community,” says Recruiter Tony Jorgensen. Tony presents workshops to employees on a monthly basis and to outside organizations every few months. “As it relates to working with fellow employees who are blind, these trainings aid employees in creating stronger and more comfortable relationships here at the Lighthouse.”

The workshop consists of several segments, including videos about etiquette when interacting with blind people, information about guide dogs, practical tips for guiding and interacting with blind and Deaf-Blind individuals, and an experiential segment where refreshments are served to blind-folded participants to give them a brief simulation of performing tasks without relying on sight.  “In addition to offering useful information, we try to have fun too,” says Tony.

An excerpt from the Blindness Awareness Workshop’s written tips on guiding people who are blind and Deaf-Blind reads:

Guiding a Person Who Is Blind

1. There is no need to talk with a person who is blind through a third party. Identify yourself directly to the person who is blind. 
2. Do not avoid words such as "blind" or "see."  These words are common to everyone's vocabulary.  Most people who are blind are not particularly sensitive to their use.
3. Ask the person who is blind if he or she would like assistance.  This is an individual decision, so do not insist on helping.
4. Offer your arm or elbow when walking with a person who is blind. 
5. When guiding a person who is blind to a chair, put your hand under your companion’s hand and guide it to the back or arm.  They will do the rest.  Use a car roof in the same way.  State if the car is facing left or right.
6. Give specific directions.  For example, do say, "Watch out, someone is trying to get around you on your right."  Don't say, "Watch out, someone is coming your way."
7. When at a set of stairs, tell your companion if the banister is left or right.  Announce the stairs as ascending or descending and also when you have again reached a level spot.  Announce curbs too.  Use the same procedures on an escalator.
8. Do not be afraid to identify yourself as an inexperienced sighted guide and ask the person who is blind for tips on how to improve.
9. If you see a person who is blind on a street corner, apparently waiting to cross, ask the person if assistance is needed.  If so, offer your elbow and accompany them across the full width of the street.  If he or she asks for directions, be specific in terms of distance and whether they should proceed to the right, the left, or straight ahead.  Pointing or using visual landmarks is inappropriate.

Tips for Guiding Deaf Blind Co-workers

1. Get the Deaf-Blind person's attention. To do this, gently touch him or her on the shoulder.  Leave your fingertips on their shoulder until they make eye contact with you (if they communicate visually), or offer their hand to receive information (if they communicate tactually). The Deaf-Blind person may need to finish what they are doing before being able to make contact: put down their work, brush off their hands, etc.
2. Identify yourself to the Deaf-Blind person. Do this first thing, every time, even if they have usable vision.  Use one of the following methods:
   1. For visual communicators:
      1. Fingerspell your name 
      2. Use your name-sign, if you have one
      3. Write on a piece of paper with a black felt tip pen or marker
   2. For tactile communicators:
      1. Fingerspell your name
      2. Use your name-sign, if you have one
      3. Use your index finger to draw your name on their palm.  Print one capital letter at a time, slowly, clearly.
3. If the Deaf-Blind person wants a guide, they might indicate yes and "look" for your elbow.  You can:
   1. Give them a tactile clue by lightly contacting their arm with your elbow.  When they find your elbow, they will grasp the back of it.
   2. Put your left hand under their left hand and place it at the back of your right elbow. Note: Sometimes the Deaf-Blind person will grasp your shoulder rather than your elbow, particularly if he or she is quite a bit taller than you.
4. The guide always leads the way, with the Deaf-Blind person slightly behind.  Relax your arm, take your time.  When you are a guide, you are responsible to attend to safety issues.  It is helpful to think of your body as the width of one-and-a half persons and the height of the Deaf-Blind person, (particularly if they are taller than you).
5. To indicate a change in terrain, pause slightly: street to curb, pavement to grass, level to slope, tile to carpet, up or down stairs.
6. To guide a Deaf-Blind person's hand to a rail, a chair or other object, use the "under- the-hand" technique.
   1. Put the back of your hand under the Deaf-Blind person's palm
   2. Reach for the object and let your hand rest on it first
   3. Slowly withdraw your hand
7. For stairs:
   1. Stop before the first step, take the first step and pause.  When the Deaf-Blind person feels the upward or downward movement, he or she will know you are at a stairway and its direction.
   2. Check to see if they are searching for a handrail and if so, guide their hand to it  (see Number 6).
   3. When the Deaf-Blind person is ready, proceed, keeping one step ahead.
   4. When you've completed the last step, pause to indicate this, proceed.
8. Some doors are easier or harder depending on whether they open in or out, toward you or toward the Deaf Blind person.  Let the Deaf-Blind person help hold the door when that makes sense.
9. If you are walking through a crowded area, between chairs or other objects you might need to become "narrower".  To indicate this, move your elbow from your side to behind your back.  The Deaf-Blind person will know this means to walk directly behind you.  When you can return to normal walking, return your arm back to your side.
10. Never leave a Deaf-Blind person in an open area without something to "anchor" onto, such as a chair, wall, or table.  To be Deaf and blind means relying on touch for information, stability, balance, and connection to the world.

Interested in signing your organization up for a Blindness Awareness Workshop? Contact Tony Jorgensen at (206) 436-2215 or emailtjorgensen@seattlelh.org 

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