Sighted Guide Volunteer Training

National Sighted Guide Training Programme

National Sighted Guide Training

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Course Objectives

• To assure introductory knowledge of being a sighted guide

• For people to receive additional technical training in how to be a sighted guide

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

• To understand the risks and benefits of delivering a sighted guide service as a volunteer

Agenda20 mins Introductions and welcome

30 mins Recap of basic guidelines for being a sighted guide

60 mins Communication awareness and training

20 mins Tea Break

80 mins Boundaries and safeguarding

20 mins Tea break

30 mins Creating independence, not supporting dependence

15 mins Arranging your practice

What is a 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

Other modules and roles

Everyday Sighted Guide• Requires learning at module

1• An Everyday Guide

confidently and effectively provides sighted guide assistance

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

• To successfully complete this module, you have to complete some learning online and a learning log

• This learning is assessed by your assessor (usually the same person as your trainer today)

Online learning

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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

Introductions

Hopes and Fears

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

Communication

Visual cues we rely on

• Eye contact• Arm position• Body position• Tilting your head• Nodding and shaking your head• Fidgeting • Wriggling around• Tapping feet...

Communication

• During a conversation, 7% of the cues we take are verbal.• 93% are visual and rely on body

language

James Borg, Author

Dealing with Awkwardness

• Don’t expect to be perfect• Ask for understanding if you are nervous• Be honest and respectful in your questions• Immediacy is best – say right away when you

think there is a problem

Problem solving by being person centred

• Ask the person you are supporting if they mind explaining how much vision they have. This will help you respond individually.

• Don’t just rely on tips or techniques for good communication with a person with visual impairment – everyone is different

• If in doubt, ask honestly and respectfully for some help

Entering a room

• When you enter a room, don’t assume the visually impaired person knows you are there

• Sit either where you can be seen, let the person know where you are sitting or ask where to sit

Description

• Don’t be overly descriptive• If in doubt, ask• Be specific and clear

Break

Boundaries and Safeguarding

Setting boundaries

• Always agree the boundaries of your relationship at the first meeting

• Agree the length of time you will be involved• Agree the goals the person wants to achieve• Decide how you will both know if the goals

have been met

It’s my job to...

• Be your sighted guide for “x” number of weeks

• Increase your independence, not make you become reliant on me

• Help you feel confident about getting out and about yourself

• Direct you to any organisations that might be able to help you

Supporting independence

Not creating dependency

Summary points from discussion

• The person you support might have been isolated and alone for some time.

• The volunteer might be the first helpful person in their life for a long time

• Do you want to do for or with?• You must believe in the person’s potential

Support plans

• Are clear about roles and boundaries• Help people set goals and identify what they

want to achieve• Need creative and imaginative planners (i.e.

you!) to help the person you support set goals• Describe how you both will meet the goals• Help you think about what’s worked and what

hasn’t worked?

Tips for support planning

• Listen without judgement• The goals must be relevant• “I don’t...” is not the same as “I can’t...”• Plan an exit strategy, e.g. who will be the

people that you organise to have sighted guide training, to support the person in the long term.

Goals

• What do you (the visually impaired person) want to achieve using your sighted guide volunteer ?For example:– Independently travel to a particular place?– Improved confidence in independent travel?– Discover more about your local community?– Meet more people?

Finishing a service

• This should never be sudden• A good finish, relies on a good beginning• Encourage the person to see how far they have

come• Look for opportunities to pass on sighted guide

techniques to the person’s friends and family • Make sure you have been able to refer them to

helpful services where appropriate