A helping hand to navigate a public space may be welcomed some people who are blind or have low vision, provided it’s done in the appropriate way.
With this in mind, Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) members recently worked with Vision Australia Orientation and Mobility staff to learn the correct way to approach and assist people who are blind or have low vision.
Vision Australia Orientation and Mobility Specialist Bashir Ebrahim OAM said efforts by the wider community to learn correct techniques go a long way to creating a more inclusive and accessible society.
“People who are blind or have low vision use a range of different techniques to navigate public places. That may include a Seeing Eye Dog, a mobility cane, echolocation or a piece of assistive technology to navigate their way through complex environments, and approaching them in the incorrect manner can easily disrupt that,” Mr Ebrahim OAM said.
“Despite it potentially coming from a place of good intentions, simply grabbing somebody who is blind or has low vision in an attempt to guide them or offering unsolicited navigation advice is rude at best and can be dangerous,” he said.
Vision Australia staff worked with more than 30 SLSQ members from across the Brisbane region, providing them with theoretical and practical examples on approaching and assisting members of the public who are blind or low vision.
Mr Ebrahim OAM said its always pleasing when organisations make the effort to better understand how they should interact with people who are blind or have low vision.
“It’s always a positive when we can help the wider society better understand how they be inclusive of people who are blind or have low vision or how to offer assistance when it might be necessary,” he said.
“For people who are sighted going to the beach probably isn’t a big deal, but it’s a location that can present some challenges to people who are blind or have low vision when you take into account the things like crowds and different surfaces.
“Hopefully by working with SLSQ at the South Bank Beach and pool areas, people who are blind or have low vision will be able to feel more confident about heading to the beach and taking part in activities others take for granted.
“South Bank is a great place to visit by yourself, with family or friends, and knowing that SLSQ Lifeguards are there and trained to assist people who are blind or have low vision is very encouraging.”
Interested in learning more from Vision Australia on how to approach or assist people who are blind or have low vision? Email [email protected] or call 1300 84 74 66.
You can find out more about Vision Australia’s Orientation and Mobility specialists here.