1. Community Sighted Guide training
My Guide service sighted guide training programme
Sighted guiding is a recognised technique used as
a way of helping blind or partially sighted people
get around safely.

2. My Guide service sighted guide training
Developed in partnership
The My Guide training programme has been developed by Guide Dogs, in collaboration with its partners. However, the delivery of the training is the responsibility of the trainer or organisation providing the training.

3. Course objectives
To understand and be aware of the benefits of sighted guiding
To learn how to give safe community sighted guiding and develop practical skills
To learn about sight loss and understand the emotional and practical consequences and barriers to independence

4. Programme Introduction and welcome Awareness of visual impairment
Exercise
Feedback
Sighted guide techniques
Practice
Next steps
Close

5. What is a Community Sighted Guide?
Trained to act as eyes/vision with confidence
In public as part of normal daily life
‘A sighted person giving appropriate assistance to a
blind or partially sighted person to help them
negotiate the environment safely, whilst maintaining
dignity and promoting independence’.

6. 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

7. True or false?
Exercise

8. Barriers to independence
Can’t drive
How would I do my job?
Going to new places
Unable to apply make-up
How would I look after my children?
How would I feel about cooking?
People are anxious about approaching me
I used to be chatty but lack of eye contact
changes that
How would I use the internet?
Change in job situation may mean I have less money

9. Emotional consequences of sight loss
Isolation
Depression
Feeling cut off from friends and family
Low confidence
Low self-esteem
Poor self-image
Loneliness
Changed relationships if family are also carers
The world becomes smaller
Higher levels of anxiety

10. Personal stories

11. Exercise Important! We do not want you to feel scared or worried
You do not have to pretend to completely understand being visually impaired
If at any point you feel too uncomfortable to continue, please tell your partner and stop

12. How did it feel? We can use our experience to Make us better guides
Understand what’s most important when being guided
Practice in a safe, friendly environment
Feel what it’s like to be guided well

13. Tips for sighted guides
How to guide a blind or partially sighted person

14. 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 the elbow
You start walking and they will follow about half a step behind
If they have a guide dog, approach from the opposite side

15. 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

16. 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

17. Going up or down stairs or steps
Say if the steps go up or down
The person’s free hand should be on the side of the handrail
Going up – pause for the person to find the bottom step then move off 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

18. 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

19. 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 it
In 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

20. Getting into a car Say if the car is facing left or right
Open the car door and place your guiding hand on it – the person you’re guiding can slide their hand down your arm to hold the door
Then place your guiding hand on the top of the door frame – the person you’re guiding will slide their other hand down your arm and get into the car

21. Leaving or finishing assistance
Always check with the person you’re guiding that they know where they are before you leave
Tell the person clearly that you will be leaving them now
Leave them in a safe place, away from danger

22. Being person centred These tips are 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

23. Safety tips Things to consider:
The person may have a medical condition
Try to avoid unfamiliar or unknown surroundings that could cause either of you to feel uncomfortable, threatened or concerned
Be aware of other people coming into contact with either of you, causing a collision or being aggressive or violent
Make sure you’re aware of what to do in the event of a fire, incident or other emergency situations

24. Safety tips Further things to consider:
Avoid lifting or restraining the person so you don’t get hurt
Look out for objects/people to avoid tripping or slipping
Think about the weather conditions e.g. ice, snow, extreme heat, and how this could affect your journey

25. Tips for other situations

26. How to guide a person with a guide dog
A guide dog owner will show they need help by laying the handle of the harness on the dog’s back
Approach from the opposite side to the dog
Talk to the person, not the dog
Never take the lead or harness handle
Guide the person as you would anyone else

27. 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

28. 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

29. Well done To achieve a Level 1 certificate with distinction or to
move on to Level 2 you will need to complete
assessed observed practice:
One hour’s sighted guiding with two different blind or partially sighted people
Thirty minutes with each person, one will feed back as part of your assessment
During the hour you will be assessed for thirty minutes by your trainer

30. Next steps – other modules and roles
My Guide volunteer
Complete Levels 1 and 2 learning, assessment and practice
Provide a My Guide service for an agreed period to enhance the service user’s independence, through getting out and about
My Guide Practitioner
Complete Levels 1, 2 and 3 learning, assessment and practice
Provide training and support to Community Sighted Guides and My Guide volunteers

31. Before you go...
If you are progressing to Level 2, make sure you inform the trainer
You can view the techniques video and find more information on sighted guiding on our website or take a free DVD or leaflet
Don’t forget your handouts
Thank you for coming!