Guidance for helping visually impaired people

Posted on: June 23, 2020

Content from Peter Blackman, Chairman of South Woodham Ferrers Health & Social Care Group and Volunteer Guide Dog Puppy Walker


Blind, Visually Impaired & disabled people struggling in lockdown

Have you noticed people struggling to keep a social distance? Are they able to see? Is their mobility restricted? We all need to keep our eyes open and up our observation skills during lockdown and distancing restrictions. And we are doing a good job.

However, some people are struggling. I happen to be a volunteer trainer of Guide Dog Puppies and I was terribly sad to read that one Guide Dog Owner has said he’s decided not to take Kika, his Guide Dog, out alone any more, thus taking him back to the permanent lockdown which engulfs many Visually Impaired People (VIPs). In recent weeks so many people seem not to have noticed him, haven’t bothered moving and instead brush or bump into him. The pavements are now too busy for VIPs to maintain social distancing. This is one step back for equality and independence.

Also I’ve heard people complain when VIPs with Guide Dogs have seemed to ignore queues. The Guide Dogs are trained to take their VIP in straight lines and they haven’t learnt about queuing. My present 6 month old pup Clarkie is getting a lot of experience of queuing! Perhaps that will be a new skill for future Guide Dogs! But in the meantime, Please, Please, can we, all of us, blessed with sight use it and not discriminate against the VIPs.


‘Be There’ Campaign

Guide Dogs have launched a public awareness campaign to highlight the challenges faced by blind and partially sighted people around the social distancing measures.  We have come up with three tips to help the public understand how they can help people with sight loss cope with the challenges of social distancing. We are calling the campaign  ‘Be There’ to emphasise that although social distancing is important, we want the public to be there to offer help, if needed.  A big thank you to those I spoke to last week who gave feedback on the tips which are;

  1. Keep your distance, but don’t disappear – People with sight loss may find it challenging to social distance, so if you see someone with a guide dog or a long cane then you can help them by making sure you keep two meters away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also offer your help.
  2. Say hello and offer your help – Simply by letting someone with sight loss know you are nearby; you are giving them the opportunity to ask for any help if they need it. People often feel unsure about their ability to help someone with sight loss, but their request could be a simple as finding out where a shopping queue starts, or if there is a safer place to cross a road.
  3. Describe the scene – We’ve all had to adapt to unusual sights during lockdown – people standing apart in long lines outside of supermarkets for example. But those with sight loss haven’t always witnessed this to the same extent, which can be isolating and confusing. By describing what you can see to someone with sight loss, you can help them to understand the environment and navigate accordingly.

Author: Steering Member
Posted:
Categories: News

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

‘Feeding the Family’ is looking for a dedicated Trustee…

Feeding the Family are looking for a passionate individual to join our Board of Trustees and help shape the future of their work.. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to make a real impact in the Basildon community. Key details:• Role: Trustee (voluntary position)• Charity Focus: Tackling loneliness & Isolation through food and community• Commitment: 7
Read more…

Read more...

Greggs Foundation Community Grants Now Open for Tilbury Organisations

The Greggs Foundation is delighted to announce the opening of its latest round of Community Grants, specifically targeting not-for-profit organisations operating within Tilbury, Essex. This initiative underscores the Foundation’s commitment to supporting local communities by addressing pressing needs and fostering positive change.​ Funding Details: Grant Amount: Up to £20,000 per year​ Duration: Two years​ Number
Read more…

Read more...

Greater Essex devolution consultation

The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation. The consultation seeks views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on: the proposed geography the effect
Read more…

Read more...