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Table
of Contents Practical
Pointer
Topic
of Interest
Vision
and Hearing |
Helping
Blind and Visually Impaired People
As a person ages there are subtle changes in
vision. The following are some
of the things you think about when you encounter a visually impaired person?
Does he or she need my help? How can I help or should I help at all? This
list of tips will give you some good ideas of what to do.
Causes
Four conditions - macular degeneration,
cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma are responsible for a
significant portion of blindness and vision loss.
Symptoms
-
Common
problems encountered as a result of the aging of eye tissues include:
-
Requiring
more light to see.
-
Difficulty
distinguishing between some colors particularly shades of blue and
green.
-
Difficulty
focusing on things that are near.
-
Difficulty adjusting to glare and
darkness.
Compensation
-
Introduce yourself by name & role, even if you have met before.
Don't expect to be recognized. Never play "guess who"!
-
Always excuse yourself when you leave. They may not hear you leave, and
are left talking to themselves.
- Don't be afraid of using words like
"see", "look", "watch", BUT
"there", "here" and "over there" have no
meaning.
- To give directions, be precise. It is
helpful to use the number positions on the clock.
- If you are handing something to a visually
impaired person or placing something near them, TELL THEM where you have
put it.
- If touching a visually impaired person is
necessary, give them some warning. Explain what you are doing or what is
happening.
-
If you want to know if a visually impaired person needs help, ASK THEM
- Remember, blind people are PEOPLE, too.
They just can't
- see!
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