Principles
of Successful Interaction with the Public
As a deaf-blind person you should:
1. Always assume that others don't understand
the situation and don't know what to do, and explain it to them (repeatedly, if
needed!).
Many
will not understand the first time it is explained because they are:
·
dumfounded,
·
weren't paying attention,
·
incredulous
2. Always have back-up plan or alternative
ways to communicate / get attention.
This is because no
strategy for communication or getting attention always works every time for
everyone – sometimes it doesn’t succeed.
When it doesn’t succeed, you need to try something else (a “back-up”
plan).
3. Know your needs and how to advocate for
them
Before asking for
help, figure out
1)
what you need;
2)
exactly how you want the others to help; and
3)
how you can get others' attention and explain your
needs / communicate with them
(For an example of a card developed with
these principles, see Effective use of cards for
soliciting assistance to cross streets)
4. Always explain:
FIRST:
what you want;
SECOND:
what they can do to help
THIRD:
your visual/hearing impairment
5.
Know your rights and how to assert them:
·
Only you know what is best for you. Do not
assume that others understand and know what is best for you.
·
You know when you need help and what kind of
help is best.
·
If people offer you help that you are not sure
you need, you can ask for more information (why do they want to help you? Is
there a danger or problem of which you were unaware?) With this information YOU
decide if you need their help or not.
·
If people insist on helping when you do not
need it:
a. Act confident when refusing the help
b. "Release" them from the
obligation they feel about helping by explaining that you are fine and don't
need help. Avoid long explanations. If
you explain what you're doing, or how you travel, they will usually continue to
feel that they should help you.
c. If all else fails, just move away
from them and continue on your way. You are not obligated to convince them that
you do not need assistance, nor are you required to accept their help even if
they think that you need it.
d. If this is a recurring problem,
prepare a professional-looking card that explains that you can travel
independently.
·
If you choose to be guided, assume control by
taking the person's arm, don’t let them take your arm (see illustration of the Hines Break to take the
guide’s arm).
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