Hospitality staff have been reminded that they can access free online training in how to act as a ‘sighted guide’ for customers with visual impairment.
The Guide Dogs charity offers the training to anyone aged 18 and over who would like to learn the basics of sighted guiding, describing it as ‘ideal for anyone who works with members of the public’.
The charity’s aim is to increase the number of people in the UK who know how to sighted guide, to help create a more inclusive society for people with vision impairment.
Guide Dogs’ Emma Brown explained: “Much like learning how to perform first aid, sighted guiding is a useful life skill. It will give people confidence when they meet people who are blind or partially sighted, and the guiding techniques to help them if they need it.
“Our Introduction to Sighted Guide Training is a live online session open to the public, delivered by one of our expert staff who is available to answer questions and provide advice.
The training covers how to start a conversation when you meet someone who is blind or partially sighted; having the confidence to ask someone if they need assistance; basic guiding techniques for getting around obstacles, crossing roads and getting in and out of cars; an introduction to common eye conditions and their impact; and awareness of access rights and barriers to independence.
To book onto a session, visit: www.guidedogs.org.uk/sightedguiding
“Taking a few moments to help a person with sight loss can make a huge difference to their experience,” said Emma.
Previous participants on the course have commented that it felt like something everyone should do, and had left them much more confident about approaching a person with sight loss to offer assistance if needed.
