Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Armbands for the blind in the UK? (self.Blind)
submitted by franzi8513
Hello! Here in Germany people who have visual impairments can wear yellow armbands with three black dots. Are the yellow armbands a German thing or do blind people in the UK wear them, too? I'm asking because I wanted to visit England or Scotland this year and I never go outside without my armbands. They help me a lot and I feel much safer with them.
vwlsmssng 10 points 5y ago
We have nothing like your armband in the UK.
A white stick is the most widely recognised sign of visual impairment, be it a long cane with a tip or a smaller symbol stick.
Some people will presume you are completely blind and get confused if you are partially sighted and when you appear to see something or if you use your gaze like a fully sighted person.
A white stick is the most widely recognised sign of visual impairment, be it a long cane with a tip or a smaller symbol stick.
Some people will presume you are completely blind and get confused if you are partially sighted and when you appear to see something or if you use your gaze like a fully sighted person.
franzi8513 [OP] 6 points 5y ago
Thank you so much for your answer! That's a pity that I can't wear my armbands there ... I don't need a cane, so people won't notice that I have a visual impairment. I think the yellow armbands should become an international symbol, because they help to prevent a lot of accidents.
vwlsmssng 5 points 5y ago
I've just found there is The Partially Sighted Society in the UK who sell lapel badges, arm-bands and lanyard badges.
E.g. the lanyard badge says "Visually Impaired - Please be aware!" and has a space for ICE "in case of emergency" info on the back.
These items have the shaded eye symbol.
https://www.partsight.org.uk/
Please call 01302 965195 for further information or email reception@partsight.org.uk for further information
> The shaded eye symbol was commissioned by the Partially Sighted Society in the early 1980s for use as its logo. In 1982 it was accepted by the Northern European Sector of the World Health Organisation as the International Symbol of Visual Disability.
> The Society has used the symbol in various ways so that people have a way of indicating that they have a visual impairment and may need assistance.
I have not heard of or dealt with this organisation before. They are a registered charity in the UK.
I have not seen anyone use these badges but they have a message in English for anyone who doesn't recognise the symbol.
E.g. the lanyard badge says "Visually Impaired - Please be aware!" and has a space for ICE "in case of emergency" info on the back.
These items have the shaded eye symbol.
https://www.partsight.org.uk/
Please call 01302 965195 for further information or email reception@partsight.org.uk for further information
> The shaded eye symbol was commissioned by the Partially Sighted Society in the early 1980s for use as its logo. In 1982 it was accepted by the Northern European Sector of the World Health Organisation as the International Symbol of Visual Disability.
> The Society has used the symbol in various ways so that people have a way of indicating that they have a visual impairment and may need assistance.
I have not heard of or dealt with this organisation before. They are a registered charity in the UK.
I have not seen anyone use these badges but they have a message in English for anyone who doesn't recognise the symbol.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 5y ago
You can still use an identification cane which isn’t meant for mobility but just to show people you are blind. Those are reasonably recognized.
franzi8513 [OP] 5 points 5y ago
No, because this would make walking even more difficult for me. I'm not blind, but I have a neuropsychological condition that affects my perception. I need to have my hands free.
Raf_AL 1 points 5y ago
You could get a telescopic cane and not fold it out completely. That way you can walk as usual, and people will still notice your visual impairment. I have one of those when I walk in school, since I know the place by heart now.
PolariChat 8 points 5y ago
Hi I am from Scotland. Never heard of the armband thing before.
franzi8513 [OP] 1 points 5y ago
Thank you for your answer!
KillerLag 5 points 5y ago
Never heard of anything like that in Canada. There has been some attempts to use a button, but it has not been very noticable.
Warthil 2 points 5y ago
I think in Canada the marker cane is more prevalent. However, provincial laws often prevent anyone other than those who are blind from using them. Not sure if anyone who is partially sighted has ever been fined. The definition of blind is often vague.
KillerLag 2 points 5y ago
I don't believe anyone has ever been fined. I've had some clients who used a white cane who don't really need to, but it's a comfort thing.
Warthil 3 points 5y ago
Yeah it would be a pretty ridiculous to fine someone. I feel like white cane laws are a throwback to a time when the blind were seen only in terms of charity and only those truly deserving of charity should identify themselves that way rather than understanding it is a tool.
Raf_AL 1 points 5y ago
We have buttons in Finland too, but no one notice them if you wear a blue hoodie for instance.
KillerLag 2 points 5y ago
The buttons aren't exactly easy to find. I didn't even know where to get them for the longest time
BLINDtorontonian 2 points 5y ago
Seriously... you guys in germany are trying arm bands again? For disabled people? Can i get one with a pink triangle for my gay friends or maybe a star for "das juden"?
franzi8513 [OP] 2 points 5y ago
Oh my god ... don't be so racist. Those armbands are extremely helpful for people who are visually impaired. I know many people who are blind and they have absolutely no problem with those armbands. No one is forced to wear them, but if you don't do it and a car accident happens, you are hold to be partially at fault for the accident. And in my opinion this is absolutely ok.
Armbands for the blind prevent accidents with cars and bicycles. When I want to cross a street, many car drivers stop their cars once they see my armband and let me cross the street safely. I feel so much safer outside when I wear my armbands. What's your problem with this? Why do you compare this to Nazi Germany and Jewish badges? Do you want blind people to get hurt?
I don't understand why people think those armbands are discriminating. I think it's discriminating that blind people in the UK have to walk around with canes when they want to be noticed by car drivers etc. ... I'm quite happy that visually impaired people in Germany can walk with their hands free and don't have to carry around canes all the time. It's really unpractical.
Armbands for the blind prevent accidents with cars and bicycles. When I want to cross a street, many car drivers stop their cars once they see my armband and let me cross the street safely. I feel so much safer outside when I wear my armbands. What's your problem with this? Why do you compare this to Nazi Germany and Jewish badges? Do you want blind people to get hurt?
I don't understand why people think those armbands are discriminating. I think it's discriminating that blind people in the UK have to walk around with canes when they want to be noticed by car drivers etc. ... I'm quite happy that visually impaired people in Germany can walk with their hands free and don't have to carry around canes all the time. It's really unpractical.
BLINDtorontonian 1 points 5y ago
>Oh my god ... don't be so racist.
Pointing out the blatant historic parallels of discriminatory arm bands in your country's recent history is "racist"? Against what race particularly, Germans? Glad to see the German education system does have some faults still, along with that iconic lack of humour or irony.
>And in my opinion this is absolutely ok.
Yes, lots of people supported discriminatory practices regarding these types of bands in your past as well. That is actually the issue.
> No one is forced to wear them, but if you don't do it and a car accident happens, you are hold to be partially at fault for the accident.
>Armbands for the blind prevent accidents with cars and bicycles.
A small band does absolutely nothing, specious logic at play on your part.
>When I want to cross a street, **many car drivers stop** their cars once they see my armband and let me cross the street safely.
Which also means many do not...
>. I feel so much safer outside when I wear my armbands.
Once again you forget that not long ago they meant something so very different. They were an implement of terror and hate. That your nation is so tonedeaf as to forget that is amazing.
>What's your problem with this? Why do you compare this to Nazi Germany and Jewish badges?
Because I have an understanding of the history involved that you seem to wish away.
>Do you want blind people to get hurt?
That was the threat used in the 30s as well...
Ps every other nation seems to be able to do without these arm bands, once again your spurious logic is at play.
>I don't understand why people think those armbands are discriminating.
Knowledge of history? Or lets use your bullshit reasoning:
>>think it's discriminating that blind people in the UK have to walk around with canes when they want to be noticed by car drivers
Ignoring that its a mobility device... wow youre off the deep end. Even id canes serve function for finding curbs and steps.
>I'm quite happy that visually impaired people in Germany can walk with their hands free and don't have to carry around canes all the time. It's really unpractical.
Just dont get caught without your mandated arm bands second class citizen. Those who did before were slaughtered, you might be lucky enough to just receive the threat we discussed earlier.
Utterly amazing. Take a trip to a museum and learn about the horrors these bands represent. Obviously they glanced over it in your schooling.
Pointing out the blatant historic parallels of discriminatory arm bands in your country's recent history is "racist"? Against what race particularly, Germans? Glad to see the German education system does have some faults still, along with that iconic lack of humour or irony.
>And in my opinion this is absolutely ok.
Yes, lots of people supported discriminatory practices regarding these types of bands in your past as well. That is actually the issue.
> No one is forced to wear them, but if you don't do it and a car accident happens, you are hold to be partially at fault for the accident.
>Armbands for the blind prevent accidents with cars and bicycles.
A small band does absolutely nothing, specious logic at play on your part.
>When I want to cross a street, **many car drivers stop** their cars once they see my armband and let me cross the street safely.
Which also means many do not...
>. I feel so much safer outside when I wear my armbands.
Once again you forget that not long ago they meant something so very different. They were an implement of terror and hate. That your nation is so tonedeaf as to forget that is amazing.
>What's your problem with this? Why do you compare this to Nazi Germany and Jewish badges?
Because I have an understanding of the history involved that you seem to wish away.
>Do you want blind people to get hurt?
That was the threat used in the 30s as well...
Ps every other nation seems to be able to do without these arm bands, once again your spurious logic is at play.
>I don't understand why people think those armbands are discriminating.
Knowledge of history? Or lets use your bullshit reasoning:
>>think it's discriminating that blind people in the UK have to walk around with canes when they want to be noticed by car drivers
Ignoring that its a mobility device... wow youre off the deep end. Even id canes serve function for finding curbs and steps.
>I'm quite happy that visually impaired people in Germany can walk with their hands free and don't have to carry around canes all the time. It's really unpractical.
Just dont get caught without your mandated arm bands second class citizen. Those who did before were slaughtered, you might be lucky enough to just receive the threat we discussed earlier.
Utterly amazing. Take a trip to a museum and learn about the horrors these bands represent. Obviously they glanced over it in your schooling.
franzi8513 [OP] 3 points 5y ago
Yes, you are racist. It's sad that you have so many prejudices against Germany. It's not my fault what happened 70 years ago and no, I don't wash history away just because I say that these armbands are very helpful for blind people. I visited concentration camps several times and imagine that, I'm well imformed about the horrors that happened during 1933 and 1945. I have the feeling that you are the person who does not know much about the German history, otherwise you would know the difference between Jewish badges and armbands for the blind.
For your information, many people who are visually impaired are NOT completely blind, so not everyone needs a cane as a mobility device. Some people just want to be noticed by car drivers and cyclists. And for people like me it's very, very unpractical to walk around with a cane all the time. I prefer armbands and this doesn't make me a Nazi or someone who doesn't care about Germany's history. You said that "a small band does absolutely nothing". This shows that you have absolutely no idea how these bands look like and you also don't understand the purpose of them.
In other countries I have to use something that is completely unpractical for me. In Germany you have the choice if you wear an armband or if you prefer to use a cane. So why the hell do you criticize how it is handled in Germany? I really don't understand it.
Enough said about this topic ..
For your information, many people who are visually impaired are NOT completely blind, so not everyone needs a cane as a mobility device. Some people just want to be noticed by car drivers and cyclists. And for people like me it's very, very unpractical to walk around with a cane all the time. I prefer armbands and this doesn't make me a Nazi or someone who doesn't care about Germany's history. You said that "a small band does absolutely nothing". This shows that you have absolutely no idea how these bands look like and you also don't understand the purpose of them.
In other countries I have to use something that is completely unpractical for me. In Germany you have the choice if you wear an armband or if you prefer to use a cane. So why the hell do you criticize how it is handled in Germany? I really don't understand it.
Enough said about this topic ..
Drunken_Idaho 1 points 5y ago
I can't imagine wearing an armband or a lanyard to tell the world you're blind. As a token blind American, this notion seems odd.
IF it works for you,go for it though!
IF it works for you,go for it though!
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