How we provide help for blind people

by TM Maria Be a king in your own kingdom

The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that 4.3 million people in that country are blind or visually impaired. Many people know blind people and want to be helpful, but they are not sure how to behave in a useful way. Notifying the person when you enter the room, asking how you can help and using language that is not uncomfortable are ways you can be courteous to the blind person. Above all, your behavior must communicate respect and awareness that the person you are helping is more than a blind person.

help for blind people

Knowing the basic label

Say hello to the person aloud. When you enter a room where a blind person is, immediately say something that alerts you to your presence. Being quiet until you are at your side can make you feel that you want to appear suddenly and that is not comfortable for anyone.

Let him know when you leave the room. It may not be intuitive, but you should always say something when you are about to leave. Do not just assume that the person will listen when you leave. It is not polite to leave the room without saying anything, because you will leave the person talking alone. This is frustrating and embarrassing.

Ask him if he would like help. If it seems that the person needs help, the best thing to do is ask instead of assuming they require your help. I just politely said, "Would you like help?" If the answer is positive, ask him what he would like you to do. But if the answer is negative, it is discourteous to insist. Many blind people are perfectly capable of moving without help.

Ask questions directly to the person. Many people who have no experience with the blind are not sure how to approach them, so they address their partner. In a restaurant, for example, it is common for waiters to ask the person sitting next to the blind person, if they want more water, a letter or something similar. Blind people can hear without problems and there is no reason not to address them as you would with everyone else.

Helping the blind person to mobilize

Do not move furniture without telling it. Blind people memorize where furniture is in homes, classrooms, offices and other places they often go to. If you move the furniture you can confuse the person and possibly it will be dangerous.

Offer your arm to serve as a guide. If the person has asked for help to walk from one side to another, offer your arm making it touch the back of it, just above the elbow. This is a comfortable place for the person to take your arm while walking. When you start moving, walk half a step forward and not very fast.

Helping people who have been blind recently

Explain that blindness is not a tragedy. If you have a friend or family member who has just become blind, you are likely to have problems and be scared. Possibly spend a lot of time with doctors or therapists to make a different life transition. It is difficult to know what to say, but many blind people lead full and wonderful lives with a rich school or work life and normal relationships.

Provide information about charities for the blind. Joining organizations for blind people is an essential way to make the transition from sighted to blind. Talking to other people who have gone through the same thing also helps, because they have a lot to teach and changes to make. Here you will find some charities for the blind that are dedicated to helping blind people have full and active lives.

Talk about rights and resources. Living a blind life has become easier due to modern inventions, policies and laws aimed at facilitating the needs of blind people. If you know someone who has been blind recently, help him find resources that will give him access to everything from equipment designed to help people read online to social security benefits to receive counseling, and so on.