Since October is Blindness Awareness Month, I thought I’d share with you my 15 ways of how to interact with a blind person. These have evolved over the years from personal experience and I’ve shared them numerous times with groups when speaking. Please know I’m aware that you don’t mean harm by your statements and/or actions. These Do’s and Don’ts are only meant for educational purposes. Part one deals with personal interactions and practicalities while part two deals with mobility and the importance of guide dog protocols. These blogs are a little longer than my norm, and yet, I’m hoping you’ll understand. If you want the condensed version, feel free to contact me.

 

1. Use your same speed and volume of voice when talking with us. Don’t yell at us when speaking with us, our hearing is fine! … I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a restaurant and the waitperson raises her voice, thinking I’ll understand her better. Being blind does not equate with being deaf. I’d prefer you presume I can hear than go out of your way to make us both uncomfortable, and, the way to do this, is to lower your volume to a normal level when speaking to me.
2. Talk to us directly. Don’t ask other people questions about us or answer for us. … In the above scenario, the waitperson says, “What does she want to order?” Not speaking to me dismisses me as a person and presumes I don’t have the intelligence to interact or make decisions myself. When in doubt, just ask me.
3. Keep your language the same. Using words like “See” and “Watch” are okay. Don’t change words because you are embarrassed, “Did you listen to that show last night?” When first meeting me, people freak out when they catch themselves using words invoking sight. I often remind them that I didn’t wake up this morning finding myself blind. I’m okay with these words and am not offended. I see with my ears, hands, nose, and even feet to detect my world whereas you use your eyes. Be gentle with you, all is well.
4. Involve and include us in conversations. Don’t isolate or ignore us. Whereas sighted people, you can read facial expressions, make eye contact, and know when to enter into, and exit a conversation. As a blind person, I don’t have these cues. Often times I can be excluded from conversations. If you notice this happening, find a way to guide the conversation in such a way that includes me back into the fold.
5. Make audible sounds of confirmation when conversing with us . . . such as “hmm.” Don’t smile and nod your head. Even when I remind folks to laugh, or to say if they do or don’t understand, or feel free to interact with me, usually halfway through a conversation, speech, or zoom call I have to remind them again. I say, “Are you nodding again?” They confirm and I reply, “Remember, I’m still blind.” They laugh, remembering and/or forgetting. It’s natural, you’re still human. All we both can do is laugh.
6. Have the same expectations of us as you would have of anyone else. Don’t presume we can’t do … we can, just differently. Often times when I go onto websites with my sighted friends, they will say, “Go to the blue box.” I’m sorry, blue boxes don’t mean much to me. I navigate the screen via the up and down arrows and the screen reader, Jaws, reads to me what’s there. In time, I get to where I need to go; however, just not the same way as you can. The important thing is, to allow me the time and space to do it and to hold me in high expectations.
7. Know we are human and we have imperfections just like anyone else. Don’t assume we are gifted just because we are blind. Sometimes, all I have to do is to stand on a street corner and someone will say, “Aren’t you remarkable!” That might be; however, at that moment I’m waiting for the light to change, listening to the traffic patterns, and trying not to get killed in the process. Because it takes more effort for me to cross that street than you, I may snap in the moment asking you to be quiet. I’m not perfect. I’m human and doing the best I can to navigate my world. You can admire me; however, how about admiring me for getting to the other side of the street safe and sound.
8. Inform us when you are leaving our presence. Don’t suddenly walk away. We can’t see you have left! Too many times to count, I’ve been in a conversation with someone and after asking a question, I hear dead silence. If I’m in a group, I wonder if others are thinking, “There’s that blind woman, talking to herself again!” I know sighted people get distracted and wander off. I know too, that you forget I’m blind, and that I should see you go. Spoiler alert, I don’t. Just say to me, “I’ll be back in a second.” Trust me, you will not offend me.
9. Leave objects and lights as you found them in our homes or place of work. Don’t leave chairs pulled out or glasses of liquid in unexpected places. Over the years, I’ve discovered glasses of water on my piano, lights on that must have been that way for days, and, most exciting of all, is a chair in the middle of the floor allowing me to do a faceplant over it. I have learned to laugh at these events, not sweat the small stuff, and more importantly, to check my environment out after someone leaves. So, if you think I need a little humor, keep on keeping on. However, if you can remember, I’d appreciate it if you could pay a little attention to leaving the surroundings as you found them.

I hope these first nine Do’s and Don’ts have caused you pause, awareness, and insights into the life of one blind woman’s world. For the next six, please read the blog entitled, Do’s and Don’ts Regarding Blind People, Part Two.