If he uses a cane, never ever grab the cane when he is walking. Describe things as it is without adding your personal flair to it, at least in the beginning. Don't do things for him unless he asks. Even if you do things out of the goodness of your heart, it still feels like we're helpless.

For walking outside, ask him if he wants to follow you or wants to hold on to your elbow. Describe all the turns you're taking, if there are stairs coming up or if there is any incline or decline. Describe what you see around you if that's what he wants.

Firstly, make sure he is holding on to you, not the other way around. The side of you he is on is upto what works best for you guys, but I'd recommend he holds on with his off hand so that he can still have the use of a cane in his primary hand. Normally the blind/VI person will hold on to the guide's elbow, but if the person isn't too tall I prefer to hold on to their shoulder myself.

When guiding, you need to think of yourself as being twice as wide as normal. So you want to position yourself more to the centre of a walkway to allow them to fit in beside you. Where a walkway narrows, advise as such, and the guided can shift themselves into a position that's more behind you.

Finally you have the advice you need to provide. Most important thing is to keep it short and simple. Advise of upcoming obstacles (e.g. changes in elevantion, chairs or signs that are sticking out etc), and directions (e.g. right, slight/deviate right, straight on).

Just as something additional, when you're sat down for a meal you can detail where things are with descriptions using left/right, close/far, but you might find it better to treat their plate as a clock face and drescribe from their. E.g.: your glass is at 1 o'clock (for an item on the table near their plate), chips at 10, salad at 2, meat right in front at 6 (for describing where food is on the plate).

Hope you find that useful. And for clarity, being VI I both guide (those who're totally blind), and am guided (by those who're fully or more sighted) at various times.

It's actually called "sighted guide". There are lots of videos on YouTube that demonstrate it.

Has your SO sought orientation and mobility training so that he can learn to travel independently with confidence?

I want to emphasise one point of advice from the others. Warn of hazards, especially kerbs and potholes and any other changes of surface and height underfoot.

I think we forget how unconsciously we'll see a kerb and step up or down or over without a second thought. A harsh trip or jarring drop happens so easily and so painfully.

While you are watching where your feet are, don't neglect head height hazards such as branches, overhanging hedges and street furniture.

Lastly, if your partner uses a cane then watch for it coming to a sudden halt when it catches in a pothole or large gap in the pavement stones. If the cane is in the hand closest to you, you really don't want to bang into the handle end which is usually a little below waist elevation.

It made me angry and frustrated too, sometimes it still does, but it's amazing how okay it can be in the long term.

What I'm about to say is based on some experience mentoring people (three so far). Mostly they have been in a situation like the one I was in as a young woman, but I guess this stuff works for a lot of people.

First, it might not you doing it wrong, it's just that the situation is really tough and you are likely to be the target for some of the anger and frustration. Everyone shares the bad stuff in their lives with the people they're close to. I know I did that to the my other half. I probably still do and I'm sure he thought I was just being a bitch. In the long term, though, if you're going to get angry, and you will, make sure you're angry at the situation, not each other. You should not have to absorb it. You are probably putting up with enough stress as it is. Obviously you won't want to start arguments over this but we're working towards an ideal here.

Second, and this is the main thing, there are a lot of ways to guide people. When I am talking to new people I do quite a bit of work on how to be guided as you can definitely do it wrong, and if you do it wrong then you can make the sighted person who is guiding you feel like a loser. That's not great as it leads to the sighted person being terrified of blind people, and the last thing I need is to feel like even more of a leper. I'm almost always going to be more experienced at being guided than the guide is at guiding people, so it is up to me to make sure everything goes well. Nobody's expecting anyone to be awesome at this first time.

Practically, I tend to stay a bit behind the person who's guiding me. If it's a good buddy I will just take an arm like anyone would. If it's someone I know less well and I don't want to seem like we're a couple, or to give the wrong impression, I'll just put my hand on the back of their arm (some places teach this as proper technique.) Since you're a couple anyway that's easier. Usually that's my left hand as I want my right hand free for the cane, or my phone, or whatever else I'm holding. Either way it's up to me if and when I let go and stop. Usually I will have the cane out, pretty close in so it doesn't hit people but in front of my legs in a position some people call "diagonal guard." This literally prevents people walking me into stuff, which does happen, and means that I just stop and they go "ooh!" and we have a laugh, rather than having it end in pain and apologies and them feeling bad. There are only a couple of people on the planet who I trust enough not to have the cane out. But the real point is that I'm holding you, not the other way around, so I can stop when I want. You're not shoving or pulling me, I'm following you, and however you do it, make sure that's the case.

Hope that helps!

Have him take orientation and mobility instruction. You can expect him to because become an independent traveler.

As a frequent Sighted Guide, I won't add much. Everyone here is amazing. But I'm located in a colder climate, I don't know where you are so I'll just say this just in case.

Always be wary of any climate hazards, like ice, puddles, frost heaves and ect. Sighted people always avoid them naturally. Keep it short and sweet too. When I was first guiding I was telling my mom about the pretty bubbles but then she fell before I could say that they were under a sheet of ice we were on. (I was 14. Please forgive me.)

Also clothes, if you are wearing a big puffy coat, make sure they have a grip on you, not just the clothes. My mom recently missed a queue from me and tripped over an ottoman. She was fine, just embarrassed. Turns out she had been loosely holding my coat not my elbow and neither one of us noticed.

It'll take a lot of patience, from both of you. But you can do this.

I am often a sighted guide a couple of my friends who are married. The husband uses a cane most of the time but sometimes I guide him too. They taught me that when you go through a door, let them know what side the door is opening on. Also, if you find that you have to guide more than one blind person, they will usually make a train or "conga line" on your shoulders. If you have any other questions you can ask me if you want.

You sound like a great partner :)
I say this as a blind man, do not Forget to take care of yourself and don’t be so hard on yourself, it is OK to get upset when you have difficulty guiding him but it’s not your fault you’re learning at the exact rate he is

My heart is with you both. My S/O lost his sight unexpectedly at age 50.

To echo what others have said, mobility training for him is an important place to start. Before my husband was trained, he was panicked if I left his side, even for a minute.

Second, the rest is a bit specific to the people involved. We started holding hands, but he felt like I was pulling him and squeezing his hand.

We moved toward him resting his hand on my shoulder (he’s taller than I am). He does NOT like a lot of directions (again a personal preference) because it’s overwhelming to him. I stop at curbs (up and down) and tell him when to duck or “hug me” (stay close), come in behind me (going between tables at a restaurant), or give me a “wide sweep” (with his white cane to clear crowds out of the way), “four wheel” (walking through grass or other uneven territory), “light cane” (for those pesky uneven sidewalks that catch canes and can jab users in the gut).

He’s with me now. He said to stress the importance of mobility training. We are both glad to talk to you two together or separately.

[removed]