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So last night Other Half & I enjoyed a fascinating tour of the disused tube station Down Street.
It was a great night out, I loved the sensory experience & had loads of fun.
However, other guests were very 'worried' & tried to intervene a lot, which became quite annoying. 1/9
It was a great night out, I loved the sensory experience & had loads of fun.
However, other guests were very 'worried' & tried to intervene a lot, which became quite annoying. 1/9
Other Half & I need to communicate when he guides me.
We talk A LOT! He warns me about hazards, we often pause to discuss how we will tackle a complex maneuver, he also moves his arms & uses tactile indications to cue me for changes in position.
We're a great team
2/9
We talk A LOT! He warns me about hazards, we often pause to discuss how we will tackle a complex maneuver, he also moves his arms & uses tactile indications to cue me for changes in position.
We're a great team
2/9
Although often people are trying to be helpful, constantly interrupting us to 'warn' us of steps, doors, floors etc is actually really distracting & counter-productive.
Last night one man repeatedly kept hovering around us & saying "STEPS!" every time we reached a step. 3/9
Last night one man repeatedly kept hovering around us & saying "STEPS!" every time we reached a step. 3/9
By the third interruption OH had to quite firmly say "we're ok thanks", as it was confusing me.
OH needed to focus on guiding me instead of repeatedly saying "yup we've got it" to this guy.
Luckily the step man listened, stopped panicking & let us get on with the tour. 4/9
OH needed to focus on guiding me instead of repeatedly saying "yup we've got it" to this guy.
Luckily the step man listened, stopped panicking & let us get on with the tour. 4/9
The thing that frustrates me about these encounters is that the person is presuming that Other Half isn't capable.
I'm used to people assuming that I'm unable to exist independently but when OH is so obviously guiding me, the constant interjections are really annoying! 5/9
I'm used to people assuming that I'm unable to exist independently but when OH is so obviously guiding me, the constant interjections are really annoying! 5/9
At one point another person stopped me & said in THE LOUD SLOW VOICE that there was some water on the floor, but that I mustn't worry because it wasn't deep.
As if they thought I needed to be reassured that OH wasn't about to walk me into a swimming pool. 6/9
As if they thought I needed to be reassured that OH wasn't about to walk me into a swimming pool. 6/9
People are so unused to seeing blind people navigating the world that even when I'm being well supported by my partner they still feel the need to impose their concerns on us.
They simply couldn't trust that OH & I could be confident & safe in that environment 7/9
They simply couldn't trust that OH & I could be confident & safe in that environment 7/9
The irony of the entire thing was that given we were walking around pitch black tunnels as a visually impaired white cane user I was actually the best equipped person to be safe!
Also, the TFL tour staff had absolutely no concerns, they only offered support when requested. 8/9
Also, the TFL tour staff had absolutely no concerns, they only offered support when requested. 8/9
Please trust disabled people to know what support they need & respect their choice of support.
Other Half has received training on how to sighted guide me, he's been doing it for years.
We are adults who know how to be safe & responsible. If we want help, we'll ask. 9/9
Other Half has received training on how to sighted guide me, he's been doing it for years.
We are adults who know how to be safe & responsible. If we want help, we'll ask. 9/9
