Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Debbie: Sighted guide is a term
that's used when a person is guiding
a person who has vision loss.
Matthew: A sighted guide is someone
who helps guide someone
with vision loss.
A sighted guide
doesn't need any specific,
special training.
Anyone can be a sighted guide.
Debbie: Being a sighted guide is basically common sense.
When a person who wishes
to offer assistance to a person with vision loss,
they come,
they stand beside the person and
identify themselves and say "How can I help you?",
"Do you need assistance?"
and if that's the case,
the person will say,
"Yes, I need assistance and this is what I need"
or "No, I'm okay".
Matthew: A support person usually has more specialised
training and is helping them specifically with one goal.
They also usually are more involved with the person.
Debbie: The term support person refers to a person in a broader sense.
A person may require assistance with other things
other than being guided from point A to B.
Matthew: You don't want to assume someone needs help,
they might just be waiting around
because they're waiting for someone
rather than wanting to cross the street.
Debbie: If they do take you up on your offer to assist,
then the next question is
"How can I assist you?
"What would you like me to do?"
"Where do you want to go?"
Matthew: As you're walking along,
it would nice to tell the client
what things are around them.
If there's any doors,
if there's any steps down,
any obstructions that may be in the way.
Debbie: Always walk ahead of the person,
do not grab the person's elbow
and push them ahead of you.
Matthew: The important thing isn't to talk to the guide
but talk to the person.
A guide is just helping them get around.
But if you're talking to someone directly
you want to face them and talk to them.