Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
29
↓
How can I tell a blind person the distance of something or give them directions? (self.Blind)
submitted by Maber711
I saw a blind man walking near the post office. A section of the path had been taped off because people were working on the roof above. I told him to stop and that the path was blocked. I asked if I could show him to the edge of the tape so he could walk past the taped off area. He agreed and I gently led him to the opposite side of the path. He then asked me how far the taped off area went along the path. And I said “oh about a metre” and then left. It wasn’t until about 10 minutes later that I realised how stupid I was. How would he know what a metre was if he can’t see it. I feel really stupid and if this guy is on this subreddit I’d like to apologise.
Can I please ask the community how best to give directions to a blind person? I’d like to educate myself and be more helpful in the future.
Can I please ask the community how best to give directions to a blind person? I’d like to educate myself and be more helpful in the future.
bscross32 38 points 3y ago
We learn to estimate distances the same as you. If he needed further clarification, he would have asked. it sounds like you did just fine ☺
​
Oh god, I used an emoji on Reddit... let the downvotes commence!
​
Oh god, I used an emoji on Reddit... let the downvotes commence!
Maber711 [OP] 13 points 3y ago
Thank you for letting me know. And I appreciate your smiley face 😊
bscross32 7 points 3y ago
Now you've just been added to the emoji tracker. They hate that. They are coming for you, lock your doors and windows!
Maber711 [OP] 6 points 3y ago
Haha oh no! Well I barely know how to use Reddit anyway so they can’t do that much harm to me. It will mean nothing. I’m invulnerable. ☺️😊😊😊
bscross32 4 points 3y ago
Lol go do that in a popular sub 🤣 and see what happens.
[deleted] 3 points 3y ago
[deleted]
the_cnara 3 points 3y ago
One emoji is permitted.
bjayernaeiy 13 points 3y ago
Not really, if you told me about a meter I'd be pretty ok with the descriptions. I'm aware how big a meter is sso, personally, if I were in the shoes of the blind man you guided around, I'd be fine with it.
You did a good job, but if you want to give better descriptions next time maybe try to give a general verbal view of the area around you.
Also, we're just blind. It doesn't stop us from knowing weights and distances, heh. For instance, the easiest for me to do in the span of the moment is calculate with my cane. It's about 160CM so if anyone told me 3 meters I'd quickly do some mental maths to figure out how many white canes that'd be 😂
You did a good job, but if you want to give better descriptions next time maybe try to give a general verbal view of the area around you.
Also, we're just blind. It doesn't stop us from knowing weights and distances, heh. For instance, the easiest for me to do in the span of the moment is calculate with my cane. It's about 160CM so if anyone told me 3 meters I'd quickly do some mental maths to figure out how many white canes that'd be 😂
Maber711 [OP] 6 points 3y ago
You’re right, sorry if I sounded ignorant. I just associate short distances with sight and then presumed it would be difficult for him. Tbh I’m rubbish at calculating distance myself so you’d probably be better at it than me anyway.
JynxBJJ 6 points 3y ago
Clock face.
“It’s at your 3 O’clock.”
“It’s at your 3 O’clock.”
Superfreq2 3 points 3y ago
in math class we feel metre sticks and people in our lives would say things like "that guy is almost 2 metres tall" or "it's about a half metre step down".
Never feel bad for being ignorant if your willing to ask questions! 👍
And don't worry about the emoji, most people who use Reddit have screen readers that do fine with them, and when they don't, the speech just skips them anyway in almost all cases.
Never feel bad for being ignorant if your willing to ask questions! 👍
And don't worry about the emoji, most people who use Reddit have screen readers that do fine with them, and when they don't, the speech just skips them anyway in almost all cases.
oncenightvaler 3 points 3y ago
I would ask the blind person themself but here's good ways to start.
Assume the blind person will be navigating by GPS on their phone or some such way even though they got lost blind people are still usually as capable with tech as sighted people and some would say we depend upon it more.
Also, assume that the blind person is familiar with the local measurements, and give approximation of distance either in street blocks or in what you judge to be the measurement.
Third, point out land marks like bus shelters or plazas, mailboxes, whatever you think would be noticeable.
If all else fails and you have a good amount of time ask them if they need you to walk with them. I have had to do this sometimes and people are usually quite accomodating with this.
Assume the blind person will be navigating by GPS on their phone or some such way even though they got lost blind people are still usually as capable with tech as sighted people and some would say we depend upon it more.
Also, assume that the blind person is familiar with the local measurements, and give approximation of distance either in street blocks or in what you judge to be the measurement.
Third, point out land marks like bus shelters or plazas, mailboxes, whatever you think would be noticeable.
If all else fails and you have a good amount of time ask them if they need you to walk with them. I have had to do this sometimes and people are usually quite accomodating with this.
[deleted] 3 points 3y ago
[deleted]
Eriona89 2 points 3y ago
Till approximately 5 metres I can understand but anything further than that is just a guess. I measure in footsteps but they are not always accurate.
bradley22 1 points 3y ago
Personally I prefer something like it’s 5 minutes away.
I’m bad at metres, yards, and all that.
Don’t worry though. If we don’t know something we’ll ask.
I’m bad at metres, yards, and all that.
Don’t worry though. If we don’t know something we’ll ask.
honestduane 1 points 3y ago
I find I generally prefer English myself, but others may disagree.
We are still human; and chances are we have taught ourselves things about distance a sighted may not understand.
We are still human; and chances are we have taught ourselves things about distance a sighted may not understand.
swt1021 1 points 3y ago
What you do is walk w them have them hold on to you and you show them by walking to the place. And you treat them like a person the cane they have helps to guide them.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.