How to Talk with a Blind Person

One of the most difficult aspects of being blind, or really for that matter, disabled in general, is how disabled people are treated by our sighted peers. Below are several suggestions as to how you can make communicating with, or talking with a blind person easier for everyone concerned.

A Good Rule of Thumb:

A good general rule you should follow when you are talking to someone who is disabled is to treat them as you would anyone else. Some blind people do prefer you to introduce yourself, or say something like “Hey, it’s so and so” until they can recognize your voice.

The 4 Most Important Things to Remember:

The number one rule is, always, always, always talk directly to the blind person themselves. Many people seem to believe that a blind person is not capable of speaking for themselves so they instead talk to whom ever that particular blind person is with. This is especially frustrating because it seems to indicate that people who do this think blind people are less intelligent, can't speak for themselves, and have to rely on a sighted friend to think and speak for them. Not to mention, it is quite rude to stand there asking questions and talking about someone who is also standing right there.

Secondly, when you are talking to a blind person, you do not need to raise your voice, or speak loudly. Most blind people can hear just as well as anyone else, and a lack of sight has no affect at all on someone's ability to hear you.

Another thing that really frustrates and irritates blind people is the number of people who insist upon talking to them like they are small children. This is also viewed as rude, and in some cases insulting. This goes back to the whole intelligence issue referred to above. By being talked to or treated like a child a blind person feels as though others may view him or her as less intelligent, or incapable of adult/average thought and or opinions. Again, it's important to remember, blindness only limits one's ability to see, and nothing else. It does not affect one's ability to think, hear, speak etc.

Many people when interacting with someone who is blind feel they should make physical contact with said blind person. This may be viewed as an invasion of personal space, and often makes the blind person uncomfortable. Many people do this to let the blind person know they are there, but anyone who is blind can tell someone is there without physical contact. Again, just like our sighted counterparts, physical contact while chatting or talking isn’t always welcome. Likewise, one should avoid grabbing the blind person’s cane or petting his or her guide dog. This is really no different than going up to someone and grabbing their glasses.

Silly Questions and Comments

Be careful of what questions or comments you may have for a blind person. Most are perfectly acceptable, but occasionally some really outrageous things come up. I am of course referring to comments and questions such as:

"Would telling you you're very pretty make you feel better about being blind?"

or

"Does someone have to look after you?"

And so forth. Both those questions bring up a whole other world of issues but we must return to one of the earlier points. Blind people should be treated like anyone else, as they are just like other people but with a lack of sight. Most people wouldn't go up to a sighted person and say things like that and the same needs to apply to someone who can't see.

One other important thing to mention. In the above paragraph I said "be careful of what questions or comments you may have for a blind person.". I'm only mentioning this because I want anyone reading this to understand that by saying that I did not mean watch what you say because a blind person could be hurt or offended. Blindies are like anyone else in that respect as well, no more or less easily offended than anyone else.

Other Good Things to Know

It’s quite common for a sighted person to approach a blind person and hand them money just because that individual is blind. This is another big no no in talking to any disabled person. Giving a blind person money may seem generous but may be viewed as demeaning, or rude. Most people would not just walk up to another sighted person and offer them money, and the same should be true when talking to someone who is blind. As well, most blind people are not so poor that they need anymore money, as most work and earn an income just like their sighted counterparts.