Advices and Suggestions

 

Many people with disabilities get help from an assistant or a chaperone. Of course it is well understood that one should welcome both with kindness and open hands. Always direct your attention to the person you’re speaking to. Never speak as if a person with disability is not in the room, for example “would he like a room on the first floor” etc.

 

IF THE PERSON IS IN THE WHEELCHAIR

- ask before you help;

- when talking to a person in a wheelchair never lean toward them, rather sit down;

- if you need a person in a wheelchair to sign something, get out from behind the reception counter and place the paper on a surface the person can reach;

- when in a restaurant – discretely remove the usual seat, don’t make a lot of fuss about it.

 

IF THE PERSON IS HARD OF HEARING

- always maintain eye contact in a conversation;

- inform the guest if the hotel has a hearing aid loop;

- avoid background music;

- have plenty of bright light, foggy lights cause sense of insecurity;

- when in a restaurant – ask the guest if he would like a table with the least noise;

- when communicating through a sign language interpreter, maintain eye contact with the guest;

- speak normally;

- offer vibration alarm clock;

- fire alarm – enter the room, switch lights on and off to simulate alarm going off.

Although there is a variety of well thought out tourist information materials about the city, sightseeing with the help of sign language is an invaluable service for groups of hard of hearing tourists.

 

IF THE PERSON IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED OR BLIND

- always use clean contact when welcoming – approach the guest if possible;

- communicate, a visually impaired person can speak its own mind;

- lead the person in a way that they hold your upper arm, and always be one step in front of them;

- start walking slowly and talk to the guest until you reach your goal;

- make slow turns;

- squeeze their hand gently when faced with smaller objects;

- tell the blind person when passing something interesting;

- never speak on the visually impaired person’s behalf;

- when approaching a closed door, say “the door opens toward us, the handle is on your side”, and stop. You stop the movement, you open and close doors, enter the room and lead the guest;

- when approaching stairs – say if they lead upwards or downwards, slow down and place the visually impaired person’s hand on the handrail;

- when the blind/visually impaired person wants to sit down place their hand on the back of the chair;

- never leave a blind/visually impaired person in the middle of the room, always have them orientate according to a wall or a piece of furniture;

- when in a restaurant – before speaking, touch the guests hand, inform him what is served; explain how the food is served on the plate using the clock wise orientation; meat is at six o’clock, potatoes and vegetables are at 3, etc.

 

• GUIDE DOG

A guide dog should be allowed to escort, lead a blind person to a restaurant. Of course exception should be made in cases of allergies.

Never disturb the guide dog when he is working, because it can disturb the person he leads.

A guide dog is harmless because he is trained to be!

 

• HOW TO LEAD A BLIND PERSON?

Techniques used by blind people when moving around and by which they can be recognized are: a long white cane, guide dog, a healthy sighted person or electronic devices.

Blind people sometimes need help of others when moving around, so even when they can manage on their own. A person with healthy sight who isn’t trained to help, can make mistakes, which can make blind person feel insecure and uncomfortable. Techniques recommended here are perfected by practice, as most skills are.

 

Approaching a blind person

When approaching a blind person speak to them in a calm voice offering help. If the person declines, don’t get offended, because there are reasons for it, and it doesn’t mean that someone else will turn down your help.

 

Guiding hand

When walking side by side in closed or open spaces, have your hands relaxed at your side. The other person should hold your hand just above the elbow, while maintaining a bent elbow. In that position the blind person will be half a step behind you which will enable the person to follow your movement rhythm.

Under no circumstances should you hold the blind person’s hand and push him in front of you. Not only does it make the person uncomfortable, it can also be life threatening.

 

Walking in a line

Is often used in stores, restaurants, and traffic jams. For a blind person to know he should step behind you, move your guiding hand to the centre of your back. The partner will follow you with stretched arm walking behind instead in front of you.

If there is enough room for slow walk, place the hand in its usual position by your side and resume the walk.

 

Kerbs 

Regardless of the fact that finding kerbs is simple, people often don’t know what to do. Pause for a while before taking a step on or off the kerb, and your partner will feel the change in the arm’s position.

Many moden crossroads have wide and curved kerbs. Make sure that your partner doesn’t find himself on the road before you (regardless of the correct guiding hand position) because of the distinct curviness of the kerb.

 

Staircase

When coming to a staircase always face them. Regardless if you’re climbing up or coming down you have to be a step in front of your partner so that he wouldn’t try to step a stair that isn’t there. When approaching a staircase warn if the stairs lead upward or downward. Before the descent some blind people like to drag their foot over the edge of the step in order to determine the length before the start. While descending down the stair you are one step in front of the partner. When you reach the end, stop and wait for your partner to reach the final step. While ascending your partner will notice that your arm is raising. Following your movement he will always be one step behind. When reaching the top, take a wider step in order for your partner to feel that you are on the same level.

 

Sitting down

Never push a blind person in the chair back first!

Regardless of the side you approached the chair, always place the guiding hand on the back of the chair. That movement will indicate the position of the chair, and tell your partner to move in and sit down. If the chair is at the table warn your partner of the position of the table. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to help a blind to find their seat in a theatre or a concert hall, act accordingly.

Lead the partner to the target row, sidestep into it, with your back turned toward the seats. Stop when the partner reaches his seat. When exiting the row do the same.

 

Doors

While going through a door always open them with your guiding hand, so your partner knows which way they open. Make sure that your partner is on the same side as the door knob so you can close the door with the free hand after going through.

Warn the partner when reaching automatic doors. When using revolving doors you should asses if there is enough for two people to go through. If your partner uses the white cane or a guide dog, open doors and let him through on his own.

 

Means of transportation

There aren’t strict rules for entering or exiting cars, buses, trams, trains because it is determined by its design.

Here are some general guidelines for you:

- when entering and exiting means of transportation, always use the front doors;

- approach the vehicle door so that your partner can easily find the handrail with his free hand;

- walk in a line when using stairs, or passing between seats;

- when reaching an empty seats, take a seat first and let your partner follow you.

 

Pools

Ramps, elevators and carriages are small steps that range from setting up platforms and enabling swimmers gradually entering and exiting the pool. While building the above ground pool, a small barrier is recommended, so that a person in a wheelchair can access the water as simply as possible. Ground level pools are equipped with ramps, which help with water access. The bottom of the ramp should be at chest level for people in wheelchair, so that they can start floating immediately. Many experts recommend keeping all ages in mind, before building the pool.

But already built pools can be adapted to special needs. Many companies build elevators, and other assistance equipment, used for pool access.

Most elevators use watering hoses connected to a faucet in order to lift and lower the swimmer with hydraulics. Fresh water enters the elevator and lifts the seat, while flowing away into the pool during lowering.

Before building any assistant device it is important to find out will the person with disability use the assistant equipment on his own or will he need help.

Also it’s good to have special wheelchair for entering the water, so as not to damage the regular ones. Waterproof wheelchairs are usually plastic, and thus rust resistant.