How to be a Human Guide / Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision

Elizabeth, our Orientation & Mobility specialist shares with us proper techniques to being a human guide. Make sure to share this with your friends & family so we can spread awareness!
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[@charlessmith263]

Sometimes, when you are a human guide, one important technique you need to do is when you approach terrain that can make a blind person slip or fall, or trip, you need to first physically lead the blind person to stop moving, and say stuff like....
"There is a pothole on the sidewalk, I need to lead you to deviate from it using either the left or right."
"There is an unforeseen buckle on the sidewalk block. I need you to step with your first lead foot slowly over it, and then the trail foot."
Of course, the biggest challenge for both a blind person and guide is on icy surfaces in winter, and the biggest sneaky hazard is "black ice" on sidewalks. So it is up to the guide to find such patches of ice and either deviate the blind person from the hazard, or, if that blind person goes on the ice and is about to slip, use yourself as a brace so that the blind person will not fall down. Even if you have to hold that person on strongly.

[@charlessmith263]

0:38 - In the olden days, forcibly grabbing someone else's arm was a bit like "loose talk at work" in the 1920s. Nowadays, this grabbing can be considered harassment - because it is like trying to force a dance partner in a social dance to dance with you when that partner declines your dancing request - which is also inappropriate and definitely against propriety and decency. Aka a severe breach of etiquette.
Instead, before touching the blind person, say, "Do you want to be your human guide?" If the request is declined, don't touch that person's arm. If the request is accepted, gently grasp the person's arm, and slowly, so that way the blind person will gain trust with your touch--not distrust. You need to be sure the blind person can accept your trust with your physical touches--at all times!

[@frankbarbina9973]

I'm a certified guide/scribe for the blind. How or where do I start looking for a job working with the blind?

[@magic49r]

Awesome!!