Often times as a blind person, you are going to need to ask for help. When you do this, it is very important to give specific details of what you need. With the right way of asking for information, you will clearly communicate your desires.
There are many situations where you may need someone else to give you information. This could be when you ask for directions, are looking for objects, or if you need to know certain information. Using specific questions will make it so you can get any details you need from others.
When you need help, the first thing to do is get someone’s attention. A great way to do this is to listen for someone nearby and then say something like: “Excuse me, I am blind. can I ask you something?” This will let them know your disability and that you will need assistance.
Now that you have their attention, you need to ask for assistance, giving them specific detail. You don’t want to just say something like, “Can you help me get to the door?” Rather, you need to give detail of what you need and how they can help.
When you’ve gotten someone’s attention, let them know what you are looking for. Be specific by saying, “I need help finding the front door of the grocery store. Can I put my hand on your shoulder while you lead me there?” This makes it so they not only know where you need to go but, how to get you there.
The last thing you may need help with is finding certain items. Wether you’ve dropped something or need to find an item in the store, always give a very specific description of what it is. An example of this could be, “Can you hand me that milk?” The problem with this is that it could result in you getting skim milk when you wanted whole milk. When you clearly state the characteristics of what you need, there will be much less chance of confusion.
With the right communication, you will be able to get the help you need. This skill makes it so that others will know exactly how to help you and they may not have to ask follow up questions at all. Proper communication with others will both get you what you need and perhaps teach others about your disability.