Engagement & Communication with Blind Persons

Engagement and Communication Practices with Persons who are Blind or have Low Vision

Disability engagement and communication requires some planning and thought, especially when you are working toward being a church where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. Many people have not thought about ways to make interactions with those of us who are disabled easier and more relaxed. To start with, remember that each person is unique and all of us are made in the image of God. If you encounter a disabled person who may need assistance, ask if help is wanted and exactly how you can help.

Who is considered blind or to have low vision?

While some individuals in this category have no vision and cannot even perceive light from dark, the majority of people who are legally blind (20/200 or worse uncorrectable visual acuity in the better eye) or have low vision (uncorrectable visual acuity 20/70 or worse in the better eye) do have some visual perception. Some lack central vision or have tunnel vision, others perceive the whole field but have impaired acuity or distorted vision. Common diagnoses include Usher Syndrome (which usually also includes hearing loss or deafness), glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cortical visual impairment. Many conditions become more severe as the person ages.

When you are with a person who is blind, Deaf-blind, or has vision loss:

  • Identify yourself when approaching the person and say where you are standing in relation to that person. (e.g., “Hello, I am John, standing on your left.”)

  • Do not assume the person cannot see you at all.

  • Use a natural conversational volume and an ordinary tone of voice.

  • When speaking to a blind person, make an effort to be verbally descriptive. Instead of saying "over there" or "this way", try to give a more detailed picture of things, such as "thirty paces in front of you" or "turn right where the carpet ends".

  • Never touch, distract, or offer food to a service animal unless you have permission from the owner. See Guide Dog and Service Animal Guidelines and Etiquette for additional tips.

  • Don’t touch a person with low vision or no vision (blind or deaf-blind), without warning unless it is an emergency. If you see someone about to encounter a dangerous situation, be calm and clear about your warning. For example, if the person is about to bump into a pole, calmly and clearly call out, “Wait there for a moment; there is a pole in front of you.”

Guide Dog and Service Animal Guidelines and Etiquette (Google Drive link)

  • Do not hold the arm of the person while walking. Let the person hold your bent arm at your elbow. This will allow the person to walk slightly behind you and the motion of your body will indicate what the person can expect. Offer verbal cues as to what is ahead when you approach steps, curbs, escalators, or doors.

  • Ask the individual if help is needed and how you can best give that help. For example, offer to describe foods at a potluck and assist the person to fill his or her plate.

  • During a conversation, give verbal feedback to let the person know you are listening. He or she may not be able to see the expression on your face or a head nodding.

  • Ask if the person wants you to describe who is nearby what is happening.

  • It really is okay to say things like “See you soon.” Feel comfortable using everyday words relating to vision, like “look,” “see,” or “read.”

  • When you leave, say you are leaving. Never leave a person who has low vision or is blind in an open area, such as the middle of a room unless they say they are fine there. Instead, ask where he or she would like to go, such as the side of the room, to a chair, or to some other landmark, and lead the person there. If in an unfamiliar area, offer a point of reference, verbally or through touch, such as a counter, wall, or piece of furniture.

For More Information

Revised April 2024 by Rev. Debbie Hills, Deaconess Lynn Swedberg, and Tim Vermande. Based on a 2009 adaptation by Dr. Charlotte Shepard, Rev. Wineva Hankamer, and Rev. Dr. Devorah Greenstein of the 2004 National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA Equal Access Guide, pages 24–25.