A friend of mine, Theresa, and I came up with this list. She was blind and I was a teacher of the blind so the principal thought it would be a good idea for us to share an office/classroom that year. The list was inspired by how atrociously I felt she was being treated at that school and how I had to fight for my students. Later another teacher, Janice, and I added to the list. We had a computer class together and she helped as a person who had never worked with the blind by asking the right questions.
- If I bump into you with my cane, I will say, “Excuse me.” If you should see me coming, say: “Good morning,” speak to me and call my name so that I will know that you are there. That will greatly help with my not bumping into you.
- I am not deaf. Please use your normal tone of voice. I don’t have “super-human” hearing either but I do rely on my hearing more.
- Warn me of things I am about to touch things that are about to touch me. Say: “Here’s a wet paper towel.” “Here’s a cold can of soda.” Please don’t just plop things into my hands, start wiping my face, give me an injection or push or pull me somewhere.
- Don’t drag me places or push me in front of you. Even with 20/20 vision you cannot see through me to get either of us from one place to another. Nor do you need to drag me like a puppy. Let me walk with you using the sighted guide technique.
- You don’t have to change your language to avoid sight references. I also say “See ya later” and “Let me see that.”
- Don’t talk around me as if I’m not in the room. Don’t ask my sighted friend what I would want or how I feel. I can speak for myself.
- I should face you when I speak to you. Please reciprocate that courtesy by facing me when you talk to me. I can hear your voice go off to the side.
- When you speak to me in a crowd, call my name or touch me to let me know that you are talking to me.
- In class, if you are writing on the board or pointing to a chart speak in specifics. I cannot see what you’re talking about when you say this or that. Instead say this plant or that chair. Use “it’s on the left” and not “it’s over there.”
- Don’t project your feelings. If you are thinking “Gosh, if I were blind, I wouldn’t be able to ...” and then assume that to be true of me. That is projecting and it most often does me a disservice rather than a service for me.
- Ask me if I will need help with a task—or I will ask for your assistance if it is needed. Do not assume that I need your help and start helping.
- Don’t assume that I don’t read books, watch TV and movies, send emails, read newspapers, surf the “net” or participate in sports.
- Knock before entering a room. Speak to me and let me now you are there and who you are. Isn’t that a common courtesy afforded to anyone?
- I can maneuver steps and staircases. Don’t assume I need to avoid them because of my eyes. If my legs work just fine, my cane helps to detect drop-offs.
- Don’t “blind-spy.” It is the ultimate in rudeness to ask someone to get my reaction while you listen in without making your presence known to me.
- Replace furniture. In a classroom, office, or lunchroom, I’d appreciate you pushing chair back in place and putting any of my things back where you found them.
- My cane is a tool which helps me explore my environment. It is not a toy or a stick. Please respect it.
