08/09/2024
Community Awareness
If you are sighted, most of us who are blind or who have low vision would appreciate you reading these tips.
Please identify yourself as you approach us. Example. “Hello I am Tammy, would you like help crossing the street?” Using your name helps those of us who cannot see, make a connection with you that we cannot do visually.
Often when someone is talking, we do not always know if you are actually talking to us or to someone else. Let”s say you are one of ten people in a room. If Everyone were to close their eyes, when someone speaks would you know who was being spoken to? It is helpful If you know our name and use it, saying “ Hi Gina” it lets me know for sure that you are speaking to me.
If you say “Hi Gina, I am Kris we met at the bus stop a couple of times,” then we know for sure you are talking to us and we then also know who we are talking to. Again we visually cannot see who you are.
It can be difficult at times to recognize a person by voice alone, even someone we know well. Remember, we do not have the visual cues that people with full sight use to recognize each other easily.
Our surrounding environment has many noises like traffic, people talking, kids playing outside, the photocopier printing, a radio playing, or other background noises that make the sound of your voice more difficult to pick out especially in settings where we normally do not interact.
Being quiet around those of us who are blind or legally blind is not helpful. It can be very unsettling even terrifying for some of us when someone near by does not speak. “Envision a really foggy evening where you can see the shadow or shape of a person but you cannot make out details or see that persons intentions, it can be very unsettling for some of us.
Please, please, please NEVER grab us, our cane or our guide dogs harness. This takes away our ability to effectively use our cane, it is disorientating, and is frighening for the majority of us. The grabbing itself can also cause injury or make us fall. If you perceive danger yell “Lady with the white cane. Stop, there is a bike on your left.” This identifies that you are speaking to me, you’ve told me what to do and why. Yelling stop, look out and watch out is not helpful. 
We really do appreciate your verbal “hello." We visually cannot see your friendly smile, wave or nod. When you give us your verbal “hello” we take it as that kind gesture people who are sighted give each other throughout the day. Your “hello” treats us like you treat everyone else and that is all anyone wants.
If you see us and we don’t acknowledge you, please do get our attention and say “hi” we would like to know you are there so we can extend a friendly hello, back.
When you leave, please say goodbye as we may not see that you have gone.
If you are curious about someone or unsure how to best offer your assistance, please ask the person you are curious about and follow our lead as we know best what we need. Every person on earth is different from each other, In our abilities, confidence, preferences, strenghths and stretches.
“Having a disability does not change who we are, it changes our interactions with the world “ Gina Martin
I am here to help spread awareness that most people have not thought about because it has not impacted them or anyone they know. I offer many programs that help by taking the guess work out. 👇🏽
www.DiverseAbilities.ca
Photo description. Two ladies standing on a cobble stone path in a garden. They are facing each other and talking. One lady is holding a white cane.
