Guiding III:Stairs, Doors & CarsChapter 4.1.5

Overview• This presentation covers guiding up and

down stairs, through doors and into cars.

• The DB person uses touch to orient themselves with the help of the SSP.

• The SSP guides the DB person’s hand to orienting objects.

• The DB person then goes on the stairs, through doors and into cars on their own.

STAIRS

Stairs• It is important that the DB person

knows you are about to go up or down stairs. This is the main point.

• How much verbal communication is needed will vary with the situation.

Pausing• Pause at the beginning of the stairs.• Guide the DB person’s hand to the

railing.• Pause on the first step.• Pause again at the bottom.

Pausing (in the following slides)• In the next slide, note the DB man

using his cane to locate the first step.• Note the SSP indicating the handrail.• Notice that the guide’s hand is under

the deaf-blind person’s hand. This way the SSP is guiding the hand, not ‘moving it’ or controlling it.

Contact While WalkingDB people prefer contact in different ways. In the next slide you will see the DB man using the rail and his cane, while the SSP keeps contact with the DB person arm-to-arm. In the next following slide, the DB woman also uses the railing and her cane while her SSP keeps contact by placing her hand on her shoulder.

Handrail and VisionIn the next slide the SSP has guided the DB woman to the handrail. The DB woman then uses the handrail, her experience with steps (proprioception), and her partial vision to descend.

Everything and Guide Only• In the next two slides the first DB woman

uses her cane, the rail and the SSP.• The second woman uses just the SSP.• Rails are not always available. This is

one reason it is good for the SSP to have solid, flat shoes for guiding that provide both support and balance.

• Notice that in both cases the SSP-Guide is one step ahead of the DB person.

Stairs• Notice in the previous slide that the

SSP-Guide is visually checking the footing of the DB woman.

• When walking through a familiar space, body movements will be enough to communicate.

• Signals for stairs:• Pause• Hand to the rail

Atypical Stairs• If the space is new or unusual (e.g.

curving stairs) it is best to verbally describe the situation.

• If there is no handrail, communicate that and make sure you maintain your own balance.

TRANSITIONS

Handrail and Cane• Many DB people prefer to go up or

down stairs ‘free’ of the SSP-Guide, using their cane and the handrail.

• The SSP-Guide indicates the handrail and meets the DB person at the other end.

Beginning and End• There is a pause at the beginning of the

steps in which you make sure the DB person has located the first step.

• Pause again when you’ve made the last step.

• Pause – steps – pause.• Pause at landings for the information

from the cane or handrail to be clear.

Approach• SSP-Guide begins to shift position.

Approach, cont.• SSP-Guide begins to indicate the handrail.

PauseSSP-guide & DB man have both paused.

Pause, cont.Hand on rail; cane shifting position.

Going Up, Pause

Going Up, Pause, cont.SSP-Guide is ready for transition again as the DB man pauses.

Body Cues• In the previous pictures, the DB person

was oriented to where they were and was ready for the steps.

• As they approached the steps the SSP-Guide’s pace slowed and her arm moved forward from her body towards the rail.

• The DB man used his cane while following the guide’s hand to the rail.

Landings• If there is a landing, pause slightly.• If the stairs continue the DB person will

probably get this information from their cane and the rail, but will need a moment’s extra time to do so.

• Note on the next slide, the guide watching to be sure there are no missteps.

Landings, cont.

Curbs• A curb is basically a single step.

Approach the curb and stop.• If the DB person is using their cane, they

will feel both the curb and its depth.• Step off or onto the curb and proceed.• When in doubt, communicate and let the

DB person know you are now stepping off or onto a curb.

Ramps• If the ramp incline is very slight,

slowing your pace will indicate a change. The DB person’s cane will pick up the change.

• Some people prefer to use a ramp to using stairs if one is available.

• Here too the cane is useful.

Ramps, cont.• In the next slide, the hard-of-hearing

DB woman releases her SSP-Guide saying, “I’ve got it”.

• In the second slide, the DB woman gets information from both the SSP-Guide and her cane.

Balance• Many DB people have poor balance; it’s

related to being deaf.• It’s good for the SSP to wear shoes that

provide good balance and to know that, especially for stairs, this might be an issue.

• Pause or stop for changes in terrain (e.g. rough ground).

• Remember, practice and reflect on your experiences.

Blindfolds and GogglesFrom time to time practice with a buddy using blindfolds, goggles and ear-plugs. Practice going into different environments and see how your perceptions work for you. What would you want your buddy-SSP to do differently?

DOORS

DoorsFour possible ways:• Open toward you on the DB person’s

side.• Open towards you on the guide’s side.• Push away on the DB person’s side.• Push away on the guide’s side.

Doors, cont.

Variation • Just as there was variation in the way

DB people prefer to go up and down stairs, there is variation in the way DB people go through doors.

• The SSP adjusts to how the DB person tends to go through doors.

Variation, cont. • There are a few tricky parts about doors:

narrow space, something (the door) to hold, and sometimes the need to step backwards.

Non-Verbal Movements• If the DB person knows you are leaving

or entering a building, it is not really necessary to tell the DB person verbally that you are now at the door. The DB person will feel your body shift. In the next few slides, watch the SSP-Guides’ bodies and how the DB people automatically shift behind (to become narrower as a pair).

Non-Verbal Movements, cont.• Notice too that many DB people help

hold the door.

Closing Doors• Doors that close by themselves are

easier than ones you must turn and close yourselves.

• Doors in public buildings are set to close slowly. Walking at a slightly slower than a normal pace is fine, just keep walking.

• In the next slides the DB man is leaving his home. He is familiar with the gate. Watch the guide’s movements.

Hands• Notice that the DB person uses their

hands for virtually everything: to manipulate the gate, stay in touch with the SSP, hold the cane and for communication.

• The DB man in the previous picture is holding out his left hand in the ‘ready’ position, waiting for the SSP to move back to that side to communicate.

Which Side?• It depends on whether the SSP-Guide

and the DB person is left or right handed (i.e. which ‘communication hand’ is used).

• Hard-of-Hearing DB people may have a ‘better ear’ which will determine which side the SSP-Guide uses.

Sides and Doors• When the door opens toward the guide,

the SSP-Guide must get close enough to the door to open it, but then step back a pace or two to make space for the door itself.

• As always the principles are: take your time and communicate.

Doorways• If you are entering a room full of people

or in a busy mall, don’t stand in the doorway to look around, talk, take off your coat, etc. but move further into the room.

• Don’t stop and stand in a path where others walk, but step aside so others can pass.

Doorways, cont.• The same principle applies to moving

away from a counter after making a purchase.

CARS

Getting into a CarGetting into a car uses the same principles that the SSP-Guide uses to approach stairs:• The DB person is oriented (knows

you are approaching the car).• The SSP-Guide does not grab, pull

or move the DB person’s hand, but guides their hand.

Getting into a Car, cont. • The SSP-Guide guides the DB person’s

hand to the door handle.• Cars are different sizes and shapes.• Points of orientation are:• Door handle• Top of the door• Roof of the car

Approaching the carWalking into the parking garage, chatting.

Approaching the car, cont.Pause.

ReadyThe car…

Ready, cont.…there.

Ready, cont.…is parked…

Ready, cont.The SSP-Guide gets his keys.

Ready, cont.The SSP gets his keys then...

Ready, cont.…holds his hand at the ready.

DB People Get In By Themselves• The SSP-Guide does not open the door

but guides the DB person’s hand to the handle.

• The DB person opens the door and gets in.• The DB person seats themselves, then

closes the door themselves.• Depending on how familiar the DB person

is with the car, it is a good idea to indicate top of the door and top or roof of the car.

Door Handle• The SSP’s hand is between the DB

person’s two hands indicating the type and direction of the door handle.

• Once the DB person’s hand is in position, the SSP slips his hand out.

Size and Shape of the Door • As the DB man opens the car door, he

checks the size and shape of the door.• The SSP makes sure this tall man is

aware of the top corner of the door (some actually curve towards the back making them somewhat of a hazard).

• Just to be sure, the SSP indicates the corner and height of the car roof for this very tall man.

Closing the DoorsMost DB people prefer to close the door themselves. This avoids accidents (closing the door on the DB person) and frankly, is less paternalistic.

Points of OrientationSometimes you are parked close to other cars. It may be easier for the DB person to simply start at the back of the car and move along the side of the car to the door, and then get in by themselves.

Points of Orientation, cont.The SSP-Guide explains there is another car parked just to the side of his car.

From the Back, Along the SideThe SSP-Guide touches the side of his car.

From the Back, Along the Side, cont.The DB man moves forward to the passenger door, opens it and gets in.

Getting out of a carThere are two points regarding getting out of a car:1. Is there any obstruction next to the

passenger door (pole, other car, bush, etc.) that the DB person should know about?

2. Should the DB person go to the back or front of the car to meet you (the SSP)?

Traffic?• Again, the DB person gets out of the

car without assistance.• Except! On rare occasions, the DB

person will be getting out of the car in the lane of traffic. In this case – Safety First.• Use judgment.• Communicate.

Vans• Vans are higher, doors open differently

& they have multiple ‘back-seats’.• The principles of guiding a DB person

to a van however, are the same as to a car:• Communication • DB person gets in by themselves.

Vans, cont.• The SSP informs the DB person

(including those with tunnel vision) about the location of the van handle, doors etc.

• Be sure the DB person knows of obstructions such as open doors, luggage or other objects that may be in the way.

• Also let the DB person know if other people are already in some of the seats.

ConclusionYou will encounter other configurations of stairs and vehicles. The principles remain the same: • Pay attention,• Take your time,• Communicate, and• Trust the DB person.