There is something I want sighted people to understand about blind people. If you see a blind person heading toward a wall, tree, bench, or any other object they might bump into and potentially get injured, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should immediately try to pull them out of the way. It's completely natural to feel concerned, but a better approach would be to just warn them and ask if they need help. While there are times when it's actually needed, it might also be that they are going toward a landmark they use for orientation, and as unfortunate as it is, you might unintentionally get them confused and disorientated. I often purposely look for such objects to better remember the route, and not all places are accessible enough for me to be able to get back on track if I take a wrong turn. Your help and concern are really appreciated a lot, but sometimes things are different from how they seem, and that's why it's always better to ask first.
@Caoimhe You know, I have been in touch with someone who is using an opportunity given her to educate on blindness next week. She was asking for suggestions of things to mention, and this one is really good. I think I’ll mention it in my conversation with her. Thank you.
@nycki96 No problem! You can also check out this post, I'll include the link below, in which I wrote about the most important things I wish people knew when leading me somewhere. Maybe you'll find it useful as well:
@Caoimhe Hi! how are you? I am curious on your nick here in mastodon! Caoimhe is an Irish name, as I supose you know ;) are you maybe living in Ireland? I do.
@Amaterasu Hey, I'm good! How about you? No I'm actually from Ukraine. I just liked this name and picked it as my nickname
@Caoimhe i imagine getting grabbed out of nowhere with no warning is quite spooky too. Thanks for sharing
@Caoimhe I learned this when I saw a blind person looking disoriented and I asked, "can I help?" and they asked questions about the street and its direction and landmarks 'cause they were basically familiar with everything and had gotten turned around.
@Caoimhe If I remember right, she clarified my location (between her and Illinois street), so she could orient to me
@Caoimhe may I please check how best to do that?
If you don't know them and just say like, hey sir, ma'am, or just 'hey there' - how close do we need to be before it's clear who we're talking to? Is a touch on the arm OK?
Usually blind people here have a white stick or a dog - and their skill with the stick does the job fine long before I get close enough to warn them :)
@sarajw The only thing I can suggest is not to stand too far away, and if you say hi or greet them in some other way, just get straight to what you want to say without waiting for them to respond. I personally don’t always realize someone is talking to me if they only say hi, unless they call my name or make it clear in some other way. You could also touch their arm if they don’t react, though I usually do notice when someone is speaking to me. I’m not sure how, but it just works.
@Caoimhe okay thank you!
Yes there's probably some part of the hearing sense that can pick out when someone is talking directly at you - would be hard to test or describe.
Obviously if I saw anyone heading straight off a platform onto some train tracks, I'd get straight to the yanking anyway, whoever they were or whatever they could see!
People mostly seem fine anyway - I've occasionally asked whether help is needed, usually it isn't. One day it might be.
@sarajw that's a good atitude IMO
@Caoimhe or they have issues with legs and need to sit on the bench, crap happens.