People First

I am continually dumbfounded at how my friends and clients who are blind are treated by the general public.  Chris and I have been friends and colleagues for many years.  She is completely blind and has a guide dog that supports her while traveling.  Chris and I are friends because we like each other, not because I pity her disability. 

 

• Get off of the pity train.  People with visual impairments are just that – people.  They do not need to be told how sorry you feel that they are not able to view the world with typical vision. 

Chris and I frequently go shopping together.  During each outing we almost always encounter a store employee who feels that I am the translator.  Chris will ask a question to the employee and they will respond to me as if I should relay the information back to Chris.  Often, she will politely respond to the team member to speak directly to her.  Generally, this works, but the employee will feel the need to talk in an extremely loud and overly articulate voice. 

• Talk directly to the person and not through another individual.  Their eyes may not work well, but their ears usually do.

• Talk in a normal voice and do not scream at the person with a visual impairment.  Again, their ears are usually fine.

Chris is currently attending college where she is majoring in psychology.  She generally knows where she is at in relation to buildings on campus.  Her guide dog supports her in safely arriving at each location.  However, it is not uncommon for a stranger to come take her arm and practically drag her to her destination.

• Do not randomly grab people with a visual impairment to help them.  Most blind people have extensive training in orientation and mobility to travel efficiently in the environment.  Let the person ask for help if they need it.

Do not worry about being politically correct.  Remember, individuals with a visual impairment are people first.  Treat them as you would any person you run into.