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Sighted Guide - How to Safely Guide Person who is Vision-Impaired

Making Contact

Touch the back of your hand against the back of the hand of the person who is vision impaired.

Grip

The person who is vision impaired takes hold of your arm

Stance

Keep your arm relaxed. The person's arm should also be relaxed, bent at 90 degrees and held next to his/her side. He/she will take up a position beside you but about half a pace behind you.

"I've had people who speak to the guide dog and not to me. It's very rude."

Narrow spaces

For narrow spaces, aisles, doorways and other places too narrow to walk two abreast, change position by making a definite movement with your arm backwards and to the centre of your back.

The person with a vision impairment responds by straightening his/her arm and stepping in behind you. Now you are in single file with one full step between you. When you have passed through the narrow space, return your arm to the normal position. The person will respond by moving back to normal position.

Stairs

Tell the person you are approaching stairs and whether you are going up or down. Always approach at right angles and stop at the edge of the first step.

Offer him/her the handrail and allow him/her to change sides by moving behind you if needed. When he/she is oriented ask them to move up next to you. You take the first step allowing him/her to judge the side of the step and then continue together in rhythm. Stop briefly at the last step to indicate that you have reached the top or bottom and then move away from the stairs. 

Opening Doors

A person with a vision impairment must be on the same side as the hinges. As you approach the door say which way the door opens; "The door opens towards us and to the left". He/she then knows to be on your left side.

Open the door with your right hand and then ask him/her to take control of the door and to close the door after you.

For doors opening away from you and to the left the procedure is the same. For doors opening to the right the procedure needs to be reversed.

Getting into a car

Place the person's hand on the door handle and tell him/her which way the car is facing.

The other hand is used to locate the edge of the roof and then the back of the seat.

If you open the car door place one of his/her hands on the top corner of the door and his/her other hand on the edge of the roof.