What would you do in situation?

[Anonymous]

I’d like to get a general idea of what people would do in these situations. If you were walking behind a completely blind person, and they were walking at a very slow pace because they were having to constantly feel around to make sure that there was nothing in front of them, would you get impatient, say nothing at all and let them keep feeling around? What would you do? Would you do anything differently if the path was completely clear versus if it was not?

[Anonymous]

I would walk on.

[Anonymous]

Walk around them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d like to get a general idea of what people would do in these situations. If you were walking behind a completely blind person, and they were walking at a very slow pace because they were having to constantly feel around to make sure that there was nothing in front of them, would you get impatient, say nothing at all and let them keep feeling around? What would you do? Would you do anything differently if the path was completely clear versus if it was not?

I have several blind family members. I cannot imagine a situation in public where this would even occur. My blind MIL is incredibly adept at using her mobility cane and walks down the sidewalk at a faster pace than I do.

But to answer your question- the blindness detail is irrelevant. Your question is simply "What would you do if somebody in front of you was moving slower than you want to move?" The reason doesn't matter. Could be because they are vision impaired. Could be because they are mobility impaired. Could be because they just finished a triathlon and are tired. Could be because that is their natural pace. Doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

There was a blind student in my class at college.

I came up behind her while it was just the two of us taking a path through a garden area headed to the same class. She had just bumped into a hedge and I spoke up “Hi Wendy it’s Jane Smith from class, would you like me to walk with you?” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to her.

In this definite tone of voice she said, “I don’t need your help.” She seemed annoyed.

Well, okay then. “OK, see you in class” and I walked on ahead of her. I felt really bad ever after for phrasing it like that, but never tried speaking to her again.

She passed away in her 30s, have no idea how or why,

I still think of her sometimes and if would have done anything differently, but I come up blank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a blind student in my class at college.

I came up behind her while it was just the two of us taking a path through a garden area headed to the same class. She had just bumped into a hedge and I spoke up “Hi Wendy it’s Jane Smith from class, would you like me to walk with you?” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to her.

In this definite tone of voice she said, “I don’t need your help.” She seemed annoyed.

Well, okay then. “OK, see you in class” and I walked on ahead of her. I felt really bad ever after for phrasing it like that, but never tried speaking to her again.

She passed away in her 30s, have no idea how or why,

I still think of her sometimes and if would have done anything differently, but I come up blank.

Your offer sounded perfectly fine to me! And also think it was fine for her to decline (politely)

[Anonymous]

I would probably walk around them but would give them plenty of notice first.

And I would move slowly around them as I pass. 👨🏼‍🦯

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a blind student in my class at college.

I came up behind her while it was just the two of us taking a path through a garden area headed to the same class. She had just bumped into a hedge and I spoke up “Hi Wendy it’s Jane Smith from class, would you like me to walk with you?” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to her.

In this definite tone of voice she said, “I don’t need your help.” She seemed annoyed.

Well, okay then. “OK, see you in class” and I walked on ahead of her. I felt really bad ever after for phrasing it like that, but never tried speaking to her again.

She passed away in her 30s, have no idea how or why,

I still think of her sometimes and if would have done anything differently, but I come up blank.

Your offer sounded perfectly fine to me! And also think it was fine for her to decline (politely)

If it was anyone else, would you have added that last bit the way you did? That is what makes the difference. “Hi Wendy, it’s Jane Smith from class. How’s it going?” Then chat a little and walk with her. Like you would with any other person.

[Anonymous]

I'd say "on your left" and then pass them on their left. I ain't got time for that!

[Anonymous]

Pass them but alert them first. Odds are they’ll hear you anyway but if it’s always awkward to pass someone on a path, doesn’t matter if they’re blind or seeing.

[Anonymous]

Was the blind person struggling and you weren't sure what to do? Or are you asking here because you're generally unsure what to do when someone walks slower than you on the sidewalk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say "on your left" and then pass them on their left. I ain't got time for that!

Same here."Excuse me, I need to get by you on your left" would be even clearer.

Pretend you're on a bicycle approaching someone walking. Same deal. And they would have to be a blind person, they could just be someone who walks slow who may or may not have a disability as the reason.

[Anonymous]

I grabbed a blind man because he was about to trip on a train track that his stick skipped over. Well he was pissed off and said he could do things himself. I told him that I saw his stick miss over the track and he was about to trip and he said he knew where he was at. Do ok fine.

I also once saw an older blind man who gets on the train around king st in Alexandria hitting his seeing eye dog.

So I personally would mind my own business and go around

[Anonymous]

I would walk around them and not think much of it. If they were struggling in some way I might offer help. I helped a blind man find the bus stop once. His white cane hadn’t arrived so he was winging it. I hadn’t realized he we blind at first until he asked for help. I was happy to help, it was about a block and a half walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a blind student in my class at college.

I came up behind her while it was just the two of us taking a path through a garden area headed to the same class. She had just bumped into a hedge and I spoke up “Hi Wendy it’s Jane Smith from class, would you like me to walk with you?” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to her.

In this definite tone of voice she said, “I don’t need your help.” She seemed annoyed.

Well, okay then. “OK, see you in class” and I walked on ahead of her. I felt really bad ever after for phrasing it like that, but never tried speaking to her again.

She passed away in her 30s, have no idea how or why,

I still think of her sometimes and if would have done anything differently, but I come up blank.

Your offer sounded perfectly fine to me! And also think it was fine for her to decline (politely)

If it was anyone else, would you have added that last bit the way you did? That is what makes the difference. “Hi Wendy, it’s Jane Smith from class. How’s it going?” Then chat a little and walk with her. Like you would with any other person.

Not something I would do with any other person I did not really know