How to safely guide a person who is vision impaired

Making Contact

Ask the vision impaired person if they need assistance. Then touch the back of your hand against the back of theirs. This is the signal for them to take your hand.

Grip

The vision impaired person takes hold of your arm just above your elbow - with their four fingers on the inside and thumb on the outside of your arm. Their grips should be firm but not tight enough to cause discomfort.

Stance

Keep your arm relaxed. The vision impaired person's arm should also be relaxed, bent at about 90 degrees and held close to their side. They should stand beside you, about half a pace behind.

Narrow Places

For narrow aisles, doorways and other places where it is difficult to walk two abreast, warn them that you are approaching a narrow space, and make a definite move with your arm backwards and over to the centre of your back.

The vision impaired person responds by straightening out their arm and stepping directly behind you. Now you are in single file, one full pace apart. Their arm must remain fully extended to prevent either of you from tripping over each other's feet.

When you have passed through the narrow place, return your arm to its normal position (by your side). The vision impaired person responds by returning to their normal position.

Opening Doors

The viison impaired person must be on the hinge side of the door to ensure ease of movement through the door. If they are not on the hinge side, ask them to change sides. As you are approaching the door, asy to them for example, "We are coming to a door. It opens away from us and to the right."

Take the doorknob in your free hand and open the door. Ask the person to hold the door until you have both passed through, then they shut the door and release their hold from the doorknob.

For doors opening towards you the procedure is the same.

Stairs

Tell the viison impaired person you are approaching stairs and whether they are going up or down. Always approach stairs and kerbs from straight ahead and stop as you reach them.

If the vision impaired person is not on the handrail side, tell them and let them change sides if they wish. Place their hand on the handrail. As you step down, remain one step ahead, then proceed together in rhythm.

Stop at the end of the stairs and tell the person that you have done so. This gives them a chance to prepare to stop.

Until they are quite familiar with your signals, you should explain to them where you are going and what you want them to do. This may feel awkward but will be very helpful to the vision impaired person.

Getting onto a Chair

Place the vision impaired person's hand on the back or side of the chair. You should always mention which way the chair is facing, for example "You are standing behind the chair". With this assistance most people can then get themselves seated.

Getting into a Car

Place the person's hand on the door handle. When the door is opened, the vision impaired person places their hand on the outside corner of the car roof. It can then be brought down to contact the back of the car seat if necessary.