04/29/2024
When you come across someone who is blind/visually impaired who may have a guide dog with them:
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* Treat a person who is blind the same as you would anyone else. People who are blind do the same things as you, but may use different accommodations to go about their day. We can hear you by the way!! 😉
* People who are blind/visually impaired are people first. Please talk directly to the person, not to their guide dog.
* Consider not asking about causes of the person's blindness. This is personal information.
* Please, Do not steer, pull, or grab someone who is visually impaired. If they are asking for help, do ask how they prefer to be helped. If you notice a dangerous situation, make sure to voice calmly and clearly what is going on.
* Be considerate. If you notice a spot or stain on someone’s clothing, tell them privately (just as you would like to be told).
* Give a clear word picture when describing things to an individual with a visual impairment. Include details such as colour, texture, shape and landmarks.
* Remember that their dog guide is a WORKING dog.
A guide dog is responsible for leading someone who is visually impaired. This person’s safety depends upon their dog’s alertness and concentration. Do not distract the dog from its job.
Remember blindness is a spectrum! Many people who are visually impaired have some sort of remaining vision.
The definition of visual impairment is “a decrease in the ability to see to a certain degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, such as glasses.” Blindness is “the state of being unable to see due to injury, disease or genetic condition.”
// sources : Guide Dogs for the Blind
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