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Social Etiquette

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated July 21, 2018

People who are sighted can often feel apprehensive when encountering, conversing with or teaching a student who is blind or visually impaired. They question what to say or what not to say. As part of an In-Service meeting, help educators and team members understand how to interact with the student who is blind visually impaired.

How does a person respectfully treat people who are blind? The following guidelines will assist you in remembering to emphasize "people" first, before the disability, to avoid negative connotations or patronizing language and tips on interacting with people who are blind.

Use: People with disabilities, instead of: The disabled or handicapped
Use: People who are blind, instead of: Blind people
Use: Has (specify the disability), instead of: "Afflicted with"
Use: Born with (specify the disability), instead of: Has a birth defect
Use: Uses a wheelchair, instead of: confined to a wheelchair
Use: People who are deaf, instead of: Deaf and dumb, deaf-mute, or
        hearing impaired people
Use: Products created by people who are blind, instead of: Blind-made
        products.

Interacting with Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

It is helpful to provide a description when you introduce the student to other people. You might tell the student something about what a person’s job is or a friend they have in common.

Always introduce yourself by stating your name when you meet and/or greet the student and encourage other students and staff to do the same. (ex. “Hi, Karen, this is Mrs. Willings. How are you today?) Avoid asking the student “Who am I?” or “Who is this?” as this guessing game puts the student on the spot and can be embarrassing.
Calling the student’s name is like making eye contact with a sighted person. Touch his/her arm or shoulder lightly as you do so, to be sure the student knows you are addressing him/her.
When the student is with you, and you greet someone in passing, be sure to greet anyone you meet by name so the student knows who it is. Encourage the student to follow your lead and say hello even before the person greets her.
Speak naturally and don’t feel you need to change your vocabulary when you talk. Don’t be afraid to use words that refer to seeing. Phrases like, “Do you see?” and “Look at that!” are common expressions that everyone uses. Remember that you are trying to help the student who is visually impaired live in a sighted world.
The words “here” and “there” are too general for descriptive use. Be specific and label objects that give direction and location.
It is an important skill to teach the student to allow others to take their turn. A student with visual impairments often needs a direct reminder to wait their turn and listen to the other person during a conversation.
Encourage the student to stay on a topic long enough to let their partner reply. When the student listens, they get feedback on ideas they have expressed and may get additional information. Help a student stay on the topic by adding a little information or by asking a question.
Model how to change subjects by using phrases such as “that reminds me of…” or “I just noticed that…”
Try not to disappear during your interactions. Tell the student when you are leaving and encourage the sighted students to do the same.

Jewish Guild for the Blind Guidelines

The following suggestions were developed and published by the Jewish Guild for the Blind to help sighted people know how to interact with people who are blind.

Introduce yourself. Not everyone recognizes voices or remembers them.
Don't shout. Visually impaired or blind does not mean hearing impaired.
Don't leave a person who is blind, talking to themselves. Let them know when you are leaving.
Don't use hand signals. People with severe visual impairments can't see waving or pointing hands.
Don't omit words like, "See" or "Look". People with visual impairments are not offended by these words and understand that these words are part of normal conversations.
Do feel free to photograph someone who is blind or visually impaired. Everyone likes to capture special moments to save and show to others.
Do speak directly to a person who is blind. Don't speak to a family member or friend and ignore the person who is blind. Remember they can speak for themselves.
Don't push, pull or grab a person who is blind. This can cause accidents and is often embarrassing.
Do offer your arm for assistance. A person who is blind would rather take your arm than have you take their arm.

"For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise." -Benjamin Franklin

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