Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I'm in an electric wheelchair. How do I let blind people know I'm there/ politely ask them to move to the side so I can get past? (self.Blind)
submitted by ViSaph
I'm in a wheelchair and if there's background noise you can't always hear it and I've had several awkward situations while passing blind people of them not knowing I'm there and I'm never quite sure of the etiquette for letting them know I'm there or asking them to stand to the side. Sorry if this seems like a silly question it's just I'm autistic and I always worry I'm doing the wrong thing.
queengemini 15 points 1y ago
Maybe similarly to cyclists when they're near a pedestrian (i.e., saying "On your left/ just behind you" etc.) to alert others that you are approaching when they cannot see you/ aren't facing you/ may not hear you otherwise.
ViSaph [OP] 3 points 1y ago
That seems logical thanks!
DrillInstructorJan 11 points 1y ago
Same way as with anyone else. First I'd just say excuse me, can I squeeze past you, and if it's clear the person isn't getting the idea because they can't see you or what's around them, say "maybe if you step to your left that'd be great." Or whatever. People constantly say "excuse me" to me and it's not always clear which way I should go. Beyond that, like I say, same as with anyone really.
ViSaph [OP] 4 points 1y ago
Thank you. If I don't need the person to move but I'm passing them should I say anything? There's a woman who shops at the same place I do and sometimes I pass her and worry she'll step in front of me not knowing I'm there and I'll accidentally run her over. Maybe something like "I'm in a wheelchair passing you to your left/right"? It's a very heavy one because it's hydraulic so it'd crush the foot of anyone who got run over.
marjjorts 2 points 1y ago
Hey there! I work with people who are blind and visually impaired. Yes! That is perfect. The more information the better.
nadmaximus 8 points 1y ago
Bicycle bell would be likely easy to mount by your control, and that sound is already used by cyclists for a similar purpose.
ViSaph [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I do actually have a horn in the control that makes a high pitched beeping sound but I've never used it because it seemed rude.
retrolental_morose 1 points 1y ago
if you are fed up of announcing yourself all the time, a brief signal on the horn isn't rude. assuming you can see a blind person yourself of course it's a great way of informing them that you're packing more than 2 feet. I'd far rather a noise than crushed toes!
[deleted] 4 points 1y ago
[deleted]
thatawkwardcosplayer 3 points 1y ago
On your left / on your right / behind etc! Just like a bike ^v^
laconicflow 2 points 1y ago
I would just say something like, "Hi, I'm in a wheel chair, and I realize you can't see, would you mind taking two steps to your right/left so I can get by you?" And they'll be like, "Yeah, no problem."
We know you're blind telling us something visual you can see we don't know won't generally offend us. You'd tell a blind guy to move if there was a tiger he didn't see, after all.
We know you're blind telling us something visual you can see we don't know won't generally offend us. You'd tell a blind guy to move if there was a tiger he didn't see, after all.
spider_lord 1 points 1y ago
I would just ask them politely to move because you're in a wheelchair. I'm sure they won't mind.
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