"When I take a walk in my neighborhood, my white hair, dark glasses, and white cane shout to the world that I am an older blind man. Some passers-by assume that I am lost and ask if I need help. It is true that blind people sometimes need help when using a mobility aid (a white cane or guide dog) to navigate their physical environment. However, once a person becomes proficient at traveling with a mobility aid, they typically need much less help."
"But many sighted people seem to assume that blind people need constant help when moving about. For example, I recently attended a get-together where I was the only blind person. One man insisted on giving me directions every time I entered the room, even after I asked him to stop. He believed that sighted people have a moral duty to help people who are blind."
Blind people sometimes need help navigating public spaces with a white cane or guide dog. Experienced mobility aid users typically require less assistance. Many sighted people assume blind people need constant help and offer unsolicited assistance. Some helpers persist in giving directions after being asked to stop. The tragic view of blindness treats blindness as devastating and reduces expectations for a happy, productive life. Surveys found 88% of U.K. adults ranked sight as their most valued sense and almost half of American adults chose blindness as the worst possible health outcome. Sighted helpers should ask verbally before assisting and should not assume what kind of help is needed.
Read at Psychology Today
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