Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd Working together WITH visually impaired people FOR visually impaired people OUT AND ABOUT WITH VIPS Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006
OUT AND ABOUT WITH VIPs Visually impaired people use a variety of canes to help with their mobility. This information booklet lists all the canes, how to recognise them and how they are used. It will also give you some ideas about how guide dogs work and how to work with guide dog owners and their dogs. We have also included some useful Do s and Don ts to help you and an A Z of obstacles to watch out for. Please use this booklet as a reference to help you and your visually impaired companion enjoy your time out and about together. It can be fun for everyone! Baton WHITE CANES The baton is a very short, thin cane, usually used by guide dog owners. It folds into a very neat, compact unit and is quickly and easily extended when needed. It has a narrow, flat tip. The baton is designed to help locate such things as the control panel on a Pelicon or Twocon crossing. A guide dog will take its owner to the crossing but the panel is not always in the same place! The baton can be used to locate it. When in use, the baton is usually held vertically in front of the body, acting as a further sign of visual impairment. The user will use it as a probe to locate items once their dog has guided them to the required location. Some guide dog owners use the baton when waiting to cross a road or when actually crossing the road. It can offer that little bit more confidence. Little training is needed to use a baton and this will be offered during the training with a guide dog. Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 2
Symbol cane The symbol cane is longer and more substantial than the baton. It folds into a compact, easy to carry unit and can be quickly extended when needed. It has a small, flat tip. It is never long enough to reach the ground! The symbol cane is used purely as a sign that the person has a visual impairment. It is NOT used as a mobility aid. When in use, the symbol cane is extended and carried diagonally across the body, and is most often used when waiting to cross a road or in crowded situations. A person using a symbol cane will probably have had little training as this cane is not a mobility aid. They will have been shown how to use it to make others aware of their visual impairment. Guide cane The guide cane is longer and more rigid than a symbol cane. It, too, folds into a fairly compact unit to make it easier to carry when not in use. It usually has a smallish, rounded tip. A guide cane is used to help the visually impaired person to locate such things as kerbs, steps etc. It is not a full mobility aid but gives a good idea of the surrounding area and acts as a visual signal to others. A guide cane needs to be measured correctly to suit the individual. Training is needed before a visually impaired person can safely use a guide cane and this is generally offered by a Rehabilitation Officer. Long cane The long cane is a full mobility aid. There are several types of long cane. Most fold up for ease of use. A long cane is much more substantial than any of the other canes and can have a variety of different tips. The most commonly used tips are the pear tip and the roller tip. Some long canes do not fold and are a long, rigid cane, again with the choice of several different tips. Some long canes have a rubber grip handle whilst others have a crook and others have both. Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 3
The type of long cane used is usually a matter of personal choice. The roller tip can be a standard type or a Canadian tip. Both work in the same way. The cane is held with the flat side of the handle against the index finger and the arm moved in a sweeping movement with a fishtail action. As the person walks along, the cane must move in such a way as to be in front of the back foot so as to ensure the way is clear for that foot to move forward. It takes quite a bit of co-ordination and concentration! With a pear tip cane, the action is different. Again the cane is held in the same way but used in the two point tap method. Again, the cane must be in front of the back foot so as to check the way ahead is clear. The back foot then moves into the space and so on. Both types of long cane will, after considerable training and practice, give a very good idea of the ground underfoot and will locate kerbs, steps etc. A long cane must be properly measured, taking into account a person s height and speed of walking. A long training period is needed to ensure the visually impaired person is using the cane safely, correctly and with confidence. This training is usually offered by a Rehabilitation Officer. White walking stick The white walking stick will be used by a visually impaired person who needs a little more support when walking. This will be someone who perhaps has a balance problem or needs a walking stick to walk. It will be used just as a normal walking stick is used but at the same time it is an indication the user has a visual impairment. The red stripe Any one of the above canes can be equipped with red stripes. The canes are all used in the usual way but the red stripe indicates that the person using it not only has a VISUAL impairment but also a hearing impairment. Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 4
GUIDE DOGS Guide dog owners undergo extensive training with their dogs before they are allowed to venture out as a fully qualified partnership. All guide dog owners have a follow up visit each year to make sure all is well. Usually, you will find guide dog owners are confident with their mobility and trust their dogs to guide them safely. When working with a guide dog owner and dog there are a few points to note: When the owner is holding the handle attached to the harness the dog is working. Please respect this and do not try to fuss or talk to the dog. Some dogs can be distracted from their work by this kind of attention. When the handle is dropped the dog is not working. A guide dog owner will drop the handle for several reasons: o They could be standing at a kerbside waiting to cross a road and be in need of assistance. Please speak to the person and ask if they require help to cross the road. Do not assume this is what they want and propel them across! If the person does require assistance, allow them to take your left upper arm to be guided. A guide dog is trained to always remain on the owner s left hand side. Please do speak to the person as you guide them as this helps to allow them to know what is going on. o They may just be having a chat with a friend and drop the handle please ask before fussing or talking to the dog as some dogs can be distracted easily. o They may have become disoriented and in need of assistance please speak to the person and ask if they require assistance. If they do, please explain where they are and ask where they want to go and direct them accordingly. Once they know where they are they will usually be confident to continue their journey. Guide dogs are kept on a carefully balanced diet and so are not allowed treats of any kind, especially when working. Offering treats to a guide dog can upset its spending routine, feeding pattern and distract it when it is working. Please do not try to offer a guide dog treats of any kind. Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 5
Guide dogs are trained to relieve themselves before going out and so rarely need to spend when working. However, accidents can happen! A guide dog owner will be very appreciative if you offer to pick up after their dog if an accident occurs. It is virtually impossible for a guide dog owner to locate the offending item! When getting into a car or onto a bus or train, the guide dog owner needs to remove the dog s harness. This can mean they have a dog, harness and bag to manipulate. An offer of assistance in these circumstances is usually appreciated. When travelling by car, a guide dog will either sit in the footwell of the passenger seat between its owner s feet or in the back if the car is an estate. Guide dogs are not allowed to travel on the rear seat of a car. Guide dogs are trained to follow a straight path not necessarily in a straight line but with no deviations until told to change direction. They will stop at down kerbs, steps or obstacles. A guide dog owner needs to know where they are to give their dog the correct directions. If a guide dog owner is in unfamiliar surroundings please remember to let them know about changes of direction in plenty of time so that they can pass on the relevant commands to their dog. Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 6
SOME DOs AND DON Ts! When out and about with a visually impaired person: DO speak to the visually impaired person! DO introduce yourself and tell them your name if they don t know you! DO let them know where they are and what is around them DO tell them if the ground underfoot is uneven or muddy DO give clear and accurate directions DO warn of overhanging branches especially if it has been raining! DO describe anything of interest or scenery etc DO ask if they require assistance DO assist them in and out of vehicles if they have a dog and a bag DO help them in and out of vehicles if they use a cane and carry a bag DO ask if the VIP would prefer to use disabled toilet not everyone does! DO describe where items are in the toilet DO offer to look after a guide dog when the owner uses the toilet DO allow a VIP time to adjust to light levels when moving from light to dark or dark to light DO offer to carry drinks especially hot drinks Do keep your dog under control when a guide dog is present DO keep a look out for a patch of rough ground where a guide dog can relieve itself without causing offence Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 7
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DON T fuss or distract a guide dog when it is working DON T offer treats to a guide dog at any time DON T grab a guide dog harness, handle or lead DON T propel a VIP in front of you let them take your arm DON T push a VIP down into a chair put their hand on the back and allow them to find the seat for themselves DON T drag or push a VIP up or down steps or stairs. Put their hand on the handrail and let them find their own way telling them if the steps are uneven or, for example, spiral Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 9
SLALOM STREET! An A to Z of obstacles (Courtesy of Guide Dogs) Here are a few things to look out for and to avoid when out and about with a visually impaired person. A A-boards B - Bollards C Cyclists and discarded bicycles D Debris from building work, eg, piles of sand E Electric and other cables F Food (discarded food can distract guide dogs) G Gum (discarded chewing gum can stick to guide dogs hair or paws) H Hedges overgrown I Irregular walking surfaces J Jagged glass (broken glass can cut guide dogs paws) K Kerb stones L Lamp posts M Mess from other dogs N Narrow walkways as a result of obstructions O OBSTACLES P Potholes in badly maintained pavements Q - Queues R Roadworks badly fenced Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 10
S - Scaffolding T Trash (discarded bin bags and other rubbish) U - Umbrellas V Vehicles parked on pavements W Wheelie bins X X-ings (lack of aids for vision impaired people) Y Youngsters on roller blades and skateboards Z Zigzagging around unnecessary street obstacles Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 11
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd Write to: 194 Westward Road Ebley Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 4ST Telephone: 01453 757 047 Email: info@modern-eyes.co.uk Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England Registration Number: 5731306 Modern-Eyes Training Services Ltd: October 2006 Page 12