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Working with people who are blind or have low vision

Although most people who are vision impaired are not totally blind, not being able to see well has an impact on communication:

It is hard for someone with vision impairment to identify body language – this can lead to misinterpretation. It also means that they cannot pick up the cues that someone else wishes to speak
They may not be able to identify the speaker just by their voice
They may not be able to ascertain who else is present in the conversation
They are not able to take advantage of visual aides and displays.

Identify yourself and ask others in the room to do the same so that the person can locate them
When talking in a group/ classroom address people by name.
Explain sudden noises
Don't shout. People who are blind or vision impaired are not deaf
When seating a person who is blind or vision impaired guide their hand to the back of the chair and allow them to seat themselves
Talk about what you and others are doing
Show the person where things are placed and let them pick up and feel objects, where appropriate
Don't move objects without telling the student
Don't leave doors ajar. Close or open them fully
If you are leaving, tell the person where you are going, who is still with them and when you will be back. It is very embarrassing to find you are talking to someone who isn’t there
Give clear directions, don't talk about "here" and "there"
Speak directly to the person not through another person
It's OK to use words like "look" and "see"
It's OK to refer to colour when talking to the student
Let the person have hands-on experiences whenever possible. Don't force the person to touch new things if they are unsure about them
Ask if the person needs help rather than assuming they do and accept “No” if they don’t
Don't leave the person unless they know where they are