final everyday sighted guide training

Everyday Sighted Guide Training

National Sighted Guide Training Programme

National Sighted Guide Training

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Course Objectives

• For people to understand the emotional and practical consequences of visual impairment, and the role of sighted guiding in increasing independence.

• For people to receive technical training in how to be an everyday sighted guide

• For people to practice and improve their skills at being an everyday sighted guide

Agenda

20 mins Introduction and welcome45 mins Awareness of visual impairment15 mins Practice 110 mins Feedback30 mins Sighted guide techniques30 mins Practice 210 mins Feedback20 mins More tips for sighted guides

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What is an Everyday Sighted Guide?

• Requires learning at module 1

• An Everyday Guide confidently and effectively provides sighted guide assistance

Other modules and roles

Sighted Guide Volunteer • Requires learning,

assessment and practice at modules 1 and 2

• Provides a sighted guide service for an agreed period to enhance the client’s independence through getting out and about

Sighted Guide Practitioner• Requires learning,

assessment and practice at modules 1, 2 and 3

• Provides training and support to everyday and volunteer guides and works with more complex clients to enhance their independence

Assessment options

• If you are interested in becoming a sighted guide volunteer or practitioner, you will need to complete an assessment after this course.

• Only people who want to progress further need to complete an assessment.

• Please let your trainer know if you want to progress further.

Guidelines to help the course run smoothly

• Mobile phones off or on silent please• We all agree for only one person to speak at a

time• Relax! • Say what you think• Be respectful at all times

True or False?

Exercise

Personal stories

• The emotional consequences of sight loss

• The impact of sighted guiding

Barriers to Independence

• Can’t drive• How would I do my job?• Going to new places• Unable to apply make-

up• How would I look after

my children?• How would I feel about

cooking

• People are anxious about approaching me

• I used to be chatty on the bus stop but lack of eye contact changes that

• Change in job situation may mean I have less money

Emotional consequences of visual impairment

• Isolation• Depression• Feeling cut off from

friends and family• Low confidence• Low self-esteem• Poor self-image• Loneliness

• Changed relationships if family are also carers

• The world becomes smaller

• Higher levels of anxiety

Practice 1

What does it feel like?

Why we practice

We practice because:• It makes us better guides• It is the best way to

understand personally what’s most important when being guided

• It allows us to practice in a safe, friendly environment

• You can feel what it’s like to be guided well

Important!• We do not want you to feel

scared or worried• You do not have to pretend

to completely understand being visually impaired

• If at any point, you feel too uncomfortable to continue, please tell your partner and stop

Tips for sighted guides

How to guide a visually impaired person

Being person centred

• These tips are the best practice for sighted guides

• Always use these techniques as a starting point but be prepared to alter them depending on the particular requirements of the person you support

• As long as you and the person you guide are safe, it is ok to vary these tips

Safety Tips • Is there a medical condition you need to be aware of?• Try and avoid unfamiliar/unknown surroundings that could

cause either party to feel uncomfortable, threatened or concerned

• Be aware regarding unknown persons coming into contact with client/sighted guide causing a collision or being aggressive or violent

• Make sure you are aware of what to do in the event of a fire, incident and other emergency situations

• Avoid lifting or restraining a client (to prevent a fall) when you can so you don’t get hurt

• Look out for unseen object/person to avoid tripping and slipping • Think about the weather conditions i.e. ice, snow, extreme heat,

how could this effect your trip

Natasha Fuchs

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Approaching someone and setting off

• Introduce yourself and offer help

• Ask where the person wants to go

• Stand by their side and let them hold your arm above elbow

• You start walking and they will follow about half a step behind

• If they have a guide dog, approach from the opposite side

• Insert approach image from Sighted Guide leaflet

In a narrow space or busy area

• Walk in single file• Straighten your arm and

move it to the middle of your back

• The person will step in behind you

• Slow your pace a little

• Insert image from Sighted Guide leaflet

Crossing a road

• Say if the kerb is a step up or step down

• Pause before you take the step so that the person can get ready

• Describe to the person where they are before you leave them


Going up or down stairs or steps• Say whether the steps go up

or down• The persons free hand should

be on the side of the handrail• Going up – pause for the

person to locate the bottom step then proceed. They will follow one step below you

• Going down- Let them find the handrail and first step down before moving off. They will follow one step behind

• Say when you have reached the top or the bottom and pause


Getting through doorways

• Say whether the door opens towards or away from you and to the left or the right

• Open the door with your guiding arm

• As you walk through the person you’re guiding should hold it open before following you through

• Insert image from sighted guide leaflet

Taking a seat• Describe the type of seat,

whether it has arms, and if there’s a table in front

• Put your guiding hand on the back of the chair and allow the person to slide their arm down to find the chair

• If it is a row of seats, side step along the row until the person is in front of their seat with the backs of their knees touching it. They will then sit down


Getting into a car• Place your guiding hand

on the door handle and say of the car is facing left or right

• The person you’re guiding will slide their hand down your arm to find the handle

• Use your guiding hand to indicate the top of the door frame as they get in


Leaving or finishing assistance

• Always check with the person you are guiding that they know where they are before you leave

• Tell the person clearly that you will be leaving them now

• Leave them in a safe place, away from danger

More tips and techniques

How to guide a client with a guide dog

• A guide dog owner will show they need help by lying the handle of the harness on the dog’s back

• Approach from the opposite side of the dog

• Talk to the person, not the dog

• Never take the lead or harness handle

• Guide the person as you would anyone else

• Insert image of guide dog user requiring assistance

Toilets

• Use your guiding hand on the handle of the door to the toilet

• The person you are guiding will slide their hand down your arm to find the door handle

• Agree with the person whether you will wait for them outside or if you are leaving

Getting on or off a bus or train

• Tell the person you are guiding how high any steps are and if there is a gap between the train and the platform

• Guide the person as you step on or off, walking in front

• Walk down aisles in single file


Before you go...

• If you are progressing to module 2, leave your details with the trainer

• Take your copy of the DVD

• Don’t forget your handouts

• Thank you for coming!

END

final everyday sighted guide training

Health & Medicine