Meeting a Person with Vision Loss

Etiquette and Tips

Seeing Differently

Vision loss is not black and white. There are many eye conditions each affecting people in different ways. Did you know 97% of people who are legally blind are able to see something, whether this is light and shadows, or a pinhole of perfect vision? To throw in some extra spice, two people with the same eye condition may see in very different ways with varying degrees of functional vision.

It may not be easy to understand what and how each person sees, but the following information will make it easy to support a person with vision loss in a respectful and appropriate way. When in doubt, don’t assume people need assistance; simply ask what they may need at that time and how best you can provide that support.

Introduce/Identify:

Introduce yourself when you approach. This is important even if the person has met you before; never play the “guess who I am” game
Try not to touch a person with vision loss. If absolutely necessary, lightly touch their arm to get their attention
Openly ask questions about the person’s eye condition, what they can and can’t see, and how you can best support them
Ask if sighted guide is necessary/wanted; never assume this is necessary
Always speak to the person rather than their support worker or travel companions, people with vision loss can and should answer for themselves
Let the person know if you are walking away to avoid the embarrassment of the person speaking to themselves

Directional details are important:

Ensure directions are clear by using left, right, straight ahead, rather than “over there”
If using sighted guide, give informative information about the travel environment such as “We are approaching a flight of stairs that go down to the next level”
Remember your left is their right when facing each other

The environment matters:

Always return items to their original spot to ensure a person with vision loss can easily locate the item next time
Lighting needs are unique for each individual. Some people with vision loss prefer more lighting, while others prefer less
Ensure chairs are pushed in when applicable
Where possible, keep doors all the way open or all the way closed as a general rule

Look at Me:

When meeting a person with a dog guide, remember the dog is working and needs to remain focused
Speak to the person, not the dog guide
Avoid patting or interacting in any way with the dog guide so he/she remains on task

General tips:

Use language naturally; phrases such as “good to see you” are not disrespectful
Lots of information and descriptive words is better than too little
Ask, ask, ask! You won’t know how best to assist, if you don’t ask!