This week, 4-10 August 2024, is International Assistance Dog Week and one of the most instantly recognisable assistance dogs are those guiding the blind or partially sighted. Let’s take this opportunity to look at what we can do to help those with a visual impairment. Dog people often spend more time outside the home than the average person, simply because they are walking with their dogs. This makes it more likely to meet a visually impaired person, particularly if walking in a more urban environment, or to encounter situations that may be difficult for them.
In my previous job teaching at the university it was mandatory to undertake regular disability and inclusivity training, and rightly so. That’s why I decided to do the same this Assistance Dog Week and do some further awareness training with a document provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). It explains how a sighted person can help those with vision impairment when out and about. A free copy can be accessed here.
The first thing before one can help someone is to recognise that they may need help. Persons with sight loss can often be recognised either by using a long or shorter cane or by being accompanied by a guide dog who wears a special vest and harness. Please remember to never pet a working guide dog, which may distract them from their job and put the disabled person at risk. However, if a guide dog wearing their vest and/or harness is approaching you without their person, please waste no time and follow the dog. It is their job to guide you back to their person who urgently needs help! There are also other ways to recognise a visually impaired person, who might wear dark sunglasses due to light sensitivity or hold their phone close to their face. The vast majority of visually impaired people are not completely blind but can see a little, such a colours or shapes.
What is hugely important to remember is that most disabled people value their independence and derive much confidence from the fact that they are able to do things without help. That’s why it is crucial to ask before stepping in to help and to not be offended if any help is declined. Grabbing a visually impaired person without asking first is very confusing for them and is also a rather patronizing thing to do. It is much better to quickly introduce yourself and ask whether any assistance is required. If the person wants some help, ask them how and what you can do. This can be telling them things they can’t see such as a bus number, or actually guiding them somewhere. But wait for them to take the lead before jumping in and doing what you think is best. Disabled people are still independent people who have a right to decide what they want and what they don’t.
If you physically guide someone, please tell them what to expect while they are walking, such as steps going up or down, or any other barriers such as kerbs, lampposts, bollards, gates or doors. When they have arrived where they want to be help them by guiding them to a place from which they can reorient themselves again, such as a seat, and do let them know you are leaving, so they know what is going on. It’s always good to be polite too! If you are not coming with them but giving directions instead be as specific as possible, such as using a clockface or clear left/right directions. This helps sighted persons too!
There are other scenarios where a visually impaired person might need help, such as reading labels in a supermarket. In this case, it is easy to offer to clarify anything. Another is shared pedestrian and cycle paths. I know how tricky they can be as there are a number of them where I live. Even if you are sighted it can be difficult to keep to the correct side of the path, be it that you are distracted, not hearing properly, wearing earphones, looking at or talking on your mobile phone, or looking after your children or dogs. A cyclist quickly approaching you from behind may go unnoticed until the very last minute and a collision narrowly avoided. Now imagine the same for a visually impaired person who may be walking on the wrong side of the path simply because they don’t know it is a shared one! If you are out and about with your dog and see this happening, please ask them if you can guide them back to safety. If you are cycling or using a scooter yourself, it helps to wear bright colours, switch on your lights and use your voice rather than the bell to alert people that you are approaching. Always slow down and give space to those on foot. This applies to everyone, not just the disabled!
Even when not out walking with their dogs, dog people can do a lot to help from home. Not leaving things such as bins on the pavement where they block the way is always a good idea, not just to help the visually impaired but also people with pushchairs or mobility scooters. The same goes for parking on the pavement, sadly something I see too frequently when out and about with the dog. Another thing is overhanging vegetation that partially blocks the pavement such as hedges or overhanging branches. We always monitor the growth of the hedge in front of our house that borders the pavement and have it professionally cut back every year. But not everyone is aware of the problem their garden might cause other people, again it’s not just the visually impaired but anyone that needs a bit more space! If it’s vegetation on public land that is causing problems, do not hesitate to report it to the council. The same goes for dangerous potholes on paths or faulty crossings.
Living with a disability is always challenging. Receiving some help from those around you can make life that little bit easier. So next time you are out and about with your dog and see a visually impaired person looking a little bit lost, just ask if you can help.
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