• Always introduce yourself when you meet a blind or vision-impaired person. Even though they may know you, they may not recognise your voice.
• When leaving a room or conversation tell the blind or vision-impaired person you are leaving, so they are not left talking to themselves.
• When you are in a group introduce others in the group and use people's names so that the person who is blind or vision-impaired knows who you are speaking to.
• Always direct questions to the person who is blind or vision-impaired, not the person they are with. Just because their vision is less doesn't mean they can't talk.
• You don't need to shout or talk loudly to someone who is blind or vision-impaired, just talk clearly.
• Don't be afraid to use words like see, look and watch. People who are blind or vision-impaired use them too.
• When giving directions or passing something to a blind or vision-impaired person, use directions like "behind you on your left" or "I'm putting the cup by your right hand". Avoid "over here" or "there".
• If you are going to touch someone or guide them somewhere, let them know what you are doing before you do it, say "I'm just going to take your right arm" etc.
• Some people who are vision-impaired find it difficult to adjust to bright light or a dark room quickly. How much they can see can depend on how much light is around, sudden changes of light levels, whether they are tired or if they are somewhere unfamiliar. If you want to know how much they can see, ask them - "Can you see alright, or would you like me to help you?"

If you want to know if a person who is blind, deafblind or vision-impaired needs help – ask them

People who are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired are people just like you and me.

For more information please contact the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind

phone: 0800 24 33 33
visit our website: www.rnzfb.org.nz
email us: awareness