Etiquette
These sites offer advice on courtesy and etiquette when interacting socially or professionally with people who are blind or visually impaired.
Below is a list of topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic:
Healthcare Professionals
Caring for Patients who are Blind or have Low Vision, Vision Australia
Guidelines for making hospital stays as easy and comfortable as possible for patients who are blind or visually impaired.
Guidelines for Medical Professionals, Earle Baum Center of the Blind
Advice for medical staff members providing care to patients who are blind or visually impaired.
Tips for Hospital Staff Members and Caregivers, Blindskills, Inc.
Tips for hospital personnel caring for people who are blind or visually impaired; including suggestions for communication, guiding, and orienting the person to the room.
Visual Impairment and People with Learning Disabilities, National Library for Health
Definitions, guidelines, and recommendations for professionals working with people who have visual impairments and learning disabilities.
Social and Professional Settings
Blind Etiquette, WebMD
In this video, a teen talks about the top etiquette blunders committed by sighted people.
The Encounter, The State of Nebraska Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Visually Impaired
An amusing animated guide to considerate behavior when meeting a person who is blind. The video is in two parts: Clip 1 and Clip 2
Etiquette, American Foundation for the Blind
Advice for conversing, giving directions, and acting as a sighted guide, as well as guidelines for behaving with tact and consideration, and respecting the independence of a person who is blind.
Interacting With a Blind Person, Blindskills, Inc.
Easy-to-understand tips for behaving courteously when interacting with a blind individual.
Meeting a Guide Dog Team: Some Words of Advice, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Following this advice allows the guide dog to do its work safely.
Top 5 Phrases That Bother People Who Are Deaf-Blind
Dismissive phrases that exclude people who are deaf-blind from decisions and interactions.
When You Meet a Person Who is Blind, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Guidelines for treating people with blindness courteously and considerately.
People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Ms. Whozit, National Federation of the Blind
Ms. Whozit is an advice columnist in the NFB's Braille Monitor. She addresses questions from people with visual impairments on dealing with sighted people who are often thoughtless or rude. At the NFB website, enter "Ms. Whozit" in the search field.
