Misconceptions about VIPs and blind people

(Visually Impaired Persons) and blind people.

What people may not realise is…

⚫ You don’t have to be totally blind to have a guide dog.

⚫ Not everyone with a symbol cane is totally blind.

⚫ You can say… Figuratively.. ‘I see’… Or ‘I see what you mean’. It’s all part of speech and conversation. They won’t think you are taking the mick.

⚫ People with low vision…. Don’t always… ‘Look like they have low vision’ or have any sight loss at all. If you maybe watched me long enough you would maybe guess. To look at me you would never know.

⚫ Can wear makeup and will have adapted how they have put it on and taken alot of time.

⚫ May have sunglasses on when nobody else has, due to photophobia (severe light sensitivity)

⚫ Those yellow glasses you see? They are to block blue light, subdue glare and give more definition.

⚫ Don’t want help unless they ask for it.

⚫ Be patient. It maybe frustrating whilst waiting for a VIP to look at something, pay by cash, look for something on their phone to show you, you may even want to do it for them… but believe me… It’s much more frustrating for us. Especially if we can sense that impatience.

⚫ My hearing hasn’t improved… Yet. Although I’ve always had superman like hearing. I do rely on my hearing more when I’m crossing the road as I don’t trust my eyes like I used to completely.

⚫ You might see someone with a guide dog look on their phone. Don’t be surprised. It’s not that they’re pretending to be blind.

⚫ Ask questions if you don’t understand. I personally would rather you ask than think… How can she see that.. But then not that. Maybe even ‘why can\’t you see very well?’ Than that old pearler… ‘you need glasses’.

⚫ Talk. Not just to their sighted friend instead if they are with one. Unless they have the symbol cane with red stripes (deaf & blind) they can hear you. Just lightly touch them on their arm and get chatting.

⚫ Please don’t touch or stroke the Guide dogs while they are working. They are the eyes of the person handling them. They are focused and concentrating to help the VIP or blind person get around safely. Wait to have a chat with the person and a fuss of the doggo if at a cafe for example. When they are off duty.

⚫ Don’t refuse if they link arms with you. Might be especially struggling that day or even want to let that part of the brain to shut off for a bit so they can relax, without concentrating most of the time.

Feeling you can fall any minute isn’t nice. Just an extra bit of reassurance.

⚫ Someone most likely don’t … ‘You need glasses mate’… If they seem to have their phone at the end of their nose whilst reading it. It’s the best way for them to see, for them. They probably haven’t… ‘forgot your glasses?’ either. It’s not funny also if your see someone do this.

⚫ This isn’t just ‘bad eyesight’ that can be corrected ultimately by glasses.

⚫ Glasses don’t correct blind spots.

⚫ We don’t wear our sunglasses all the time to… ‘look cool’ 😎

⚫ Leave them to cross the road on their own unless they ask you. Ask by all means. Don’t grab someone or tell them to run. Leave us to just do what we normally do on our own.

We will probably be the last over the road, have patience.

⚫ Just have patience ☺