Blindness
Suggestions to Improve Positive Interactions:
- To guide a person who is blind, let him or her take your arm.
If you encounter steps, curbs, or other obstacles, identify them.
- When sitting down, guide the person's hand to the back of the chair.
Tell him or her whether the chair has arms.
- When giving directions, be as clear and specific as possible.
Estimate the distance in steps, and point out obvious obstacles in the direct path of travel.
- Speak directly to the person in a normal tone and speed.
Do not shout or speak in a loud voice.
- Resist the temptation to pet or play with a working guide dog.
The dog is working and should not be distracted.
- When leaving a room, say so.
Anyone would feel foolish talking into thin air.
- When the person who has a visual impairment must meet many people, introduce them individually.
This helps the person to better associate names and voices for subsequent encounters.
Possible Solutions to Access Problems:
- To facilitate mobility on a path of travel, remove displays or other objects; avoid clutter; use large letter signs; raise low-hanging signs or lights.
- Written information is a problem. Try using talking calculators or computers. Increase the frequency of oral announcements; provide audiotapes or braille transcripts of frequently requested information; have staff read aloud brochures or important information.
- Add raised or Braille lettering to elevator control buttons.
- Install entrance indicators such as strips of textured material near doorways, elevators, etc.
- Use radio for announcements and advertising.
- Have optical magnifiers and other optical aids available for the person with a visual impairment to use.
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VSA
arts
of Nevada
Please direct questions and comments about VSA arts of Nevada to
meh@vsan.reno.nv.us
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