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I'm going ice skating with my blind friend tomorrow (self.Blind)
submitted by laurines
How can I help to make this whole experience the best for her? Any advice is welcome.
doodoobrown530 3 points 3y ago
Just some ideas since I don’t know her level of vision:
Maybe review human guide techniques. Her holding your arm above the elbow or having her hold your wrist extended behind your back and having her skate behind at an arms length. (I imagine a night of this could be painful for your shoulder, but just an idea)
If it’s in a rink trailing the outside may be beneficial.
Giving her information about her surroundings will be helpful. Be careful not to describe everything but make her aware of potential hazards.
Otherwise treat her like you would treat anyone else you go skating with. Have fun!
Maybe review human guide techniques. Her holding your arm above the elbow or having her hold your wrist extended behind your back and having her skate behind at an arms length. (I imagine a night of this could be painful for your shoulder, but just an idea)
If it’s in a rink trailing the outside may be beneficial.
Giving her information about her surroundings will be helpful. Be careful not to describe everything but make her aware of potential hazards.
Otherwise treat her like you would treat anyone else you go skating with. Have fun!
Flyaway-Rainbow16 1 points 3y ago
Hey. Mostly blind too, I don't have any usable vision. I went skating with my friend for the first time. I went around the rink, honestly just holding onto the side. I fell twice, but it was fun. I've gone skating reasonably often since then. The 2 most memorable times were with a friend who asked someone to help her out and helped me get away from the wall for the first time ever... That was absolutely terrifying. I couldn't get the rhythm of it at all and just felt like a burden. The second time was with a very good, very cute friend of mine... He held my one hand the entire time and caught me every time I slipped. His thinking was that, if I could get to a point where I could balance evenly, even if I did have the wall on one side and him on the other, it was the first step to balancing properly on the ice, and thus the first step to skating without the wall.
Basically, it comes down to this:
1. If your friend gets uncomfortable, let her get off, recollect, and then go back on.
2. If you want to go on the ice alone for a while, just to skate away from her for a lap or two, just ask. I'm sure she'll be fine with that.
3. If she's uncomfortable trying to step away from the wall, please don't force it. It is her first time, and I'm almost sure you won't, but it's super damaging to be that afraid in a crowd and in a place that is way beyond normal...
Good luck and have fun and let us know how it went.
Basically, it comes down to this:
1. If your friend gets uncomfortable, let her get off, recollect, and then go back on.
2. If you want to go on the ice alone for a while, just to skate away from her for a lap or two, just ask. I'm sure she'll be fine with that.
3. If she's uncomfortable trying to step away from the wall, please don't force it. It is her first time, and I'm almost sure you won't, but it's super damaging to be that afraid in a crowd and in a place that is way beyond normal...
Good luck and have fun and let us know how it went.
laurines [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Thank you so much for the ideas! She cannot see anything, that's why I want to make sure she can have the best fun while still being safe and not completely relying on me :)
TrippingWithoutSight 1 points 3y ago
You're an amazing friend. <3
BlueRock956 2 points 3y ago
How did it go?
laurines [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Hey! Actually we postponed it and will look for another place to go since this one has very loud music and she told me she would be more comfortable if she could hear people surrounding her. We still had a great time visiting the christmas market around the ice skating palce :)
BlueRock956 1 points 3y ago
That is understandable. Perhaps asking the DJ or the maneager to lower the volume for half an hour could help. I have a friend who's son is autistic and he gets to enjoy ice scating quite often, and the location is occomodating for his needs. When I iced scated the location didn't have any music, and that helpped because although I was using my cane to check in front of me, I would stop and slow down because I could hear people in front of me.
BlueRock956 2 points 3y ago
Hi, go early, as there may be less people than the rush times. I take my cane with me, and use a pencil grip. I follow the wall, just like the other people who do not feel comfortable scating in the lane. When I went, I had a friend tell me when the wall was free for a few yards, and I would go faster at that point. And if I go with someone who knows how to scate I can go quite fast on the ice. I hold them by the hand.
hopesthoughts 1 points 3y ago
I'm pretty good at skating myself, but no one likes to let me skate alone. Unless I'm skating near the wall that is. It definitely isn't a balance issue for me.
People are afraid I'll go too fast and crash into someone who isn't paying attention, and doesn't get out of the way in time. I probably will, fun for me, not much fun for them.
People are afraid I'll go too fast and crash into someone who isn't paying attention, and doesn't get out of the way in time. I probably will, fun for me, not much fun for them.
oncenightvaler 1 points 3y ago
I liked ice skating the couple of times I tried it. I always went to the local rink and stayed close to the wall, the edge of the rink. I did alright, but it's not my favourite sport because it involves ice.
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