I think it is always polite and appreciated if you ask any disabled person if you can assist them. I am totally blind in one eye and have about 20% field of vision in the other eye. I have admit I am very independent/stubborn, however I do appreciate the awareness and offered assistance others offer. So thank you for asking and everyone have a wonderful day.

I believe that if someone is walking down the sidewalk with a white cane by them self they almost certainly know exactly where they are and where they’re going. It’s just not necessary to ask every blind person if they need help continuously. If I get lost, believe me I’ll ask for help. I’ve had people had people slow down and asked me from their car window if I wanted a ride somewhere. Unbelievable. I realize people are trying to be helpful but honestly it does get rather tiring to be constantly ask if you need help.

​

Definitely ask, but don't touch or interfere. Just ask from a distance, and they'll let you know if they need your help. Even if they don't need your help, I promise you they will appreciate the gesture of compassion.

​

Please don't touch blind folks though without their permission. I can only speak for myself, but when people grab me by the arm unannounced to help me cross the street or something, totally freaks me out. I'm surprised I haven't accidentally broken someone's nose yet. We're blind, so when all of a sudden we feel someone touching / grabbing us, we don't know what's going on.

​

But yeah, definitely ask if they need asistance.

Hi, I have a couple of friends who take the cart pulling there items home. They then bring the cart back to the store. It was alright not to say anything, because the person could take the cart back. It would have been different if the person was going in the wrong direction.

It is hard to judge with strangers. As someone with a visually impaired family member I'm much more aware of those around me now and try to figure out what can be an way to help without assuming the person's ability. Running across the parking lot to "help" is different than already being conveniently close and able to offer the courtesy as you would to anyone else. Its a balancing of you acknowledging the person's differences and trusting that they know their own abilities.

Just like you might do for an elderly person or a parent with a young child, just ask, "Can I take that basket/cart back for you?" But don't get offended if they say no.

"I've got the door for ya!" is a courtesy that anyone can appreciate but saying it allowed to someone with a cane gives that extra level of showing you acknowledge their difference without assuming.

Yeah was odd. So he was passenger in the car. The car pulled up on curb and he got out to return the basket. He did have a cane. I wanted to be nice and ask if I could return it for him but assumed that the driver of the car could have done it if he wanted.

I wanted to be nice and ask but thought it might be rude or something.

Makes sense what you say I’m just wondering and would like to be helpful

I think it depends, if he was driving it would have been nice to ask because I assume he was alone, if he was a passenger i would assume the person he was with would have asked him or Visa versa.

If a cane was present I'd say it would have been okay to ask. If not it can be rude. People who dont use canes typically dont because it draws attention, while people who do are usually okay with accepting help.

It really depends on circumstances.

Asking is cool but if the person does not need your help, don't worry about it. I'm totally blind and can do things on my own most of the time. People do ask if they can help me though and depending on if I need it, I accept it.

Just be polite and not treat them as helpless or worthless.

Your tone of voice really matters, too.

Our ears hear things the "sighties" often don't.

[deleted]